In early Fall of 2019 I was participating in a class at a Barre studio when suddenly the room started to spin. It took all my resolve to get myself to the floor before I fell. The experience was frightening.The dizziness and loss of balance continued without pause for weeks on end
When I got out of bed in the morning I would have to grab onto inanimate objects to get to the sink
When flying I asked for assistance in getting my carry on luggage into the overhead because my dizziness made me fear that I'd drop the bag and injure a fellow passenger.
When lying in a prone position or if I was leaning back into a shampoo bowl I would become so disoriented that I required assistance from someone to help me regain my balance
My primary care doctor diagnosed me with Vertigo and referred me to a Neurologist who scheduled an MRI of my brain and prescribed a treatment called the Epley Maneuver to hopefully make my Vertigo disappear.
Around this time a friend, DeeDee Markes was being certified in Cranial Sacral and Lymph Drainage Therapy. I asked her to investigate the Epley Maneuver thinking that she might be able to perform that therapy on me. She responded that yes she could
After the session there was some relief but I definitely still had Vertigo. Then DeeDee explained the Cranial Sacral therapy to me and explained why she felt it would be an effective combatant to my Vertigo.
After 2 sessions in January of 2020 I have been completely free of any Vertigo symptoms Not a single episode. This therapy is non invasive and pain free.
If one thinks that these treatments coincided with the fact that my Vertigo would have disappeared anyway. That is not the case Vertigo does not go away without treatment.
Best of all I did not have to be subjected to an MRI of my brain
After my "miracle" cure I investigated Cranial Sacral as a treatment for Vertigo. And yes it was one of the therapies mentioned as being successful in treating Vertigo
It's unfortunate that this information is not readily available to those who suffer from Vertigo. The treatment is so successful and cost effective
Thank you Dee Dee
Jane Clarke
Hi Dee Dee, It's lovely to hear from you! My back is doing really well! It hurts a bit but not the same depth of pain as before so it is much improved! I am so happy it seems to mostly be holding the work you did and I can't wait to see you next week! I got to my parents' place on Thursday and burst into happy tears when I told my Mom that, for the first time in 12 years, since that back injury, I didn't have pain. I am so thankful to you and for you and so happy you've come into my life. You, Dr. Armen and Dr. Mike are all so awesome.
Thank you,
Diana L. Glendale
Dear Dee Dee,
I can't even tell you how much you're hands and skills helped me to heal postpartum.
Emily S. Los Angeles
A recent study has shown craniosacral therapy to be effective in improving pain intensity, functional disability, and health-related quality of life. It is a non-invasive approach that uses gentle manual palpation techniques to release fascial restrictions between the cranium and the sacrum.
In this study, 54 patients were randomized into either 8 weekly units of craniosacral therapy or light-touch sham treatment. Outcomes were assessed before and after treatment (week 8) and again 3 months later (week 20). It was observed significant effects on reducing neck pain intensity for up to 3 months after the intervention.
Craniosacral therapy is also a popular non-pharmacological approach to the treatment or prevention of migraines. According to an experimental research ,on people who suffered from at least two migraine attacks per month, CST alleviates migraine symptoms. The 20 participants of this experiment received six craniosacral treatments over four weeks, and all participants reported that CST was effective.
How does Craniosacral Therapy impact the body?
A CST trained osteopath, chiropractor or massage therapist will use manual palpation to regulate the cranial sacral system, (also called parasympathetic system), which is responsible for slowing the heart rate, increasing intestinal and gland activity, and relaxing sphincter muscles in the gastrointestinal tract. There are two functions that are affected by craniosacral therapy:
1) The cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), which is part of the craniosacral system and has been shown to have a role in ongoing migraine episodes. Some studies have linked increased CSF pressure to migraine episodes, and craniosacral therapy regulates the pressure of CSF. The regulation of the CSF is extremely beneficial to the patient, as this body fluid is responsible for protecting the brain within the skull, to serve as a shock absorber for the central nervous system, as well as circulate nutrients and chemicals filtered from the blood, while also removing waste products from the brain.
2) Enhances the function of the Autonomic Nervous System , which consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems (or craniosacral system). Interestingly, Migraines as well as Chronic neck pain have been linked with a dysfunction in the Sympathetic Nervous System, which studies have demonstrated to be positively affected by craniosacral therapy.