Evidence that Craniosacral therapy relieves PD Symptoms
 

http://www.blog.parkinsonsrecovery.com/?p=34

"...Results of the Parkinsons Energy
Project were remarkable given the
short time frame - only 4 months -
and the limited number of treatments
offered. Outcomes were documented
quantitatively using well accepted
research instruments and qualitatively
using interviews and pre-post videos of
motor functions. ..."

"...Person after person in my interviews
tell me the same thing: There is a direct
correlation between stress and their symptoms.

When their symptoms flare up, people
report they are always under more stress.
When they are able to find ways to get
relief from the stress, symptoms become
less troublesome...Craniosacral therapy is only one way
to help relieve stress. There are also
other excellent methods that help to
relieve stress, but we zeroed in on
craniosacral work as the intervention
of choice in the PEP study. .. '
"...All sources of evidence including
quantitative data and qualitative
observations showed the same
result. It is possible to find relief
from the symptoms of Parkinson’s.
Parkinsons Energy Project (PEP)
study results suggest that craniosacral
therapy can be useful in helping to
relieve the symptoms of Parkinson’s.
These results suggest releasing
stress does make a difference.

Robert Rodgers, Ph.D.
Parkinsons Recovery


Anybody avail themselves of this therapy? Madelyn

cranial-sacral therapy
 

I was diagnosed two years ago (symptoms for 3 years); have been receiving cranial-sacral treatments once every two weeks for a year and a half. So far no need for parkinson's meds and fairly minor symptoms progressing very slowly. Can't say for sure whether it's the c-s therapy, an incredibly loving spouse, CoQ10, a healthy diet, or all of the above. But I do feel the work, while subtle, is beneficial.

Yes, I have tried it and found it very beneficial. The easiest way to explain it is craino-sacral moves your energy. In my case from my feet to my brain. She was attempting to reverse my backwards flowing energy. I felt my energy actually moving. At that time it was not covered by my medical which could still be the case and at $100.00 a session I stopped going. My friend who did the treatment is a trained chiropractor but also trained in craino-sacral because she was interested in body work. She gave me two hard foam balls the size of a small baseball (we call them fastballs or hardballs). Anyway she put them in a wool sock and twist tied the sock. I lie on them and they rest on my pressure points at the base of my skull. This relieves tension and releases toxins. It really works.

Bonnie

stillpoint inducer from upledger institute
 

There is a product , the "stillpoint inducer" that works in the same way Bonnie has described for the tennis balls tied in a sock. the web site:
http://www.iahe.com/controller/IaheP...+Point+Inducer

I found an osteopath skilled in cranial-sacral. Thus the treatments are covered by my insurance (Blue Shield). Might want to call around to see if any D.O.s in your area include c-s in their practice. Also, there is a local practitioner who annually gives a day-long workshop which my wife took, so now I get a simplified spouse-version nearly every day. It always puts me back on center.

Jon

upledger institute
 

the upledger Institute web site has a feature for "finding a practitioner"
http://upledger.com/

What is it?
 

What is involved with these treatments? Are they a type of chiropractic, or are they more akin to massage or accupressure? Unfortunately, just the thought of having PD causes me stress...

craniosacral theory
 

Wikipedia has a fairly comprehensive description of craniosacral. It's a good place to start.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craniosacral_therapy

Growing up as a skeptical New Englander (and ending up in mysty-bisty California) I carry with me a fairly substantial load of disbelief in anything that cannot be measured. So I've approached c-s with caution. My own jury is still out, but as I mentioned previously, I'm doing quite well and perhaps c-s is part of that. At the least it's a treatment that doesn't have to cope with that old Beowulf, the bloodbrainbarricade.