Craniosacral Therapy Helps ADD/ADHD

Craniosacral Therapy is a light-touch approach that can create profound improvements in your life if you have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

ADD/ADHD is a neurobehavioral developmental disorder primarily characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. It is the most commonly studied and diagnosed psychiatric disorder in children, affecting about 3-5% of children globally, and diagnosed in about 2-16% of school aged children. It is a chronic disorder with about 30-60% of individuals diagnosed in childhood continuing to have symptoms into adulthood. Treatment usually involves some combination of medications, behavior modification and counseling.

Common problems and behaviors in adults with ADD/ADHD include anxiety, low self-esteem, employment problems, difficulty controlling anger, substance abuse or addiction problems, difficulty concentrating when reading, depression, mood swings and relationship problems. These symptoms may be mild to severe and may vary with the situation, or they may be present all the time.

Sometimes stressful events in life such as a difficult birth process, whiplash injuries or trauma can cause the base of the skull to compress against the top spinal segment. When this happens it places pressure on the bones and membrane layers at the base of the skull, affecting the openings which allow fluid movement into and out of the area of the brain. Neck muscles can chronically contract to prevent further jamming, maintaining restrictions in the bones and membranes, perhaps throughout an individual's lifetime.

In a 2007 interview in the publication 'Association for Comprehensive Neuro Therapy', Osteopath Dr. John E. Upledger stated that his clinical studies revealed that up to 50% of children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD had dysfunction in their craniosacral system (the system of fluids, bones and membranes surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord). Dramatically positive results were achieved when these children received Craniosacral Therapy. Even hyperactive children became so relaxed during their Craniosacral sessions that they fell asleep on the treatment table.

Restrictions in the cranial bones and membrane layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord can interfere with the normal flow of vital nutrients, as well as blood and lymph. Craniosacral Therapy gently relieves these types of restrictions and strain patterns. Better fluid flow is restored, allowing toxins to be constantly flushed from the brain and spinal cord. This enables the brain to normalize areas that are underactive or overactive. In many cases Craniosacral Therapy can dramatically improve ADD/ADHD or even completely alleviate it.

To find a practitioner of Craniosacral Therapy in your area, see the practitioner data base at www.iahp.com