Better Health with CranioSacral Therapy

CranioSacral Therapy: What is it?

CranioSacral therapy (or CST) is a bodywork approach using light touch to release deep tension patterns in the body, relieving pain & dysfunction, and improving overall function and performance.

Your health and wellness is greatly influenced by your central nervous system, and the soft tissues and fluid that surround and protect these structures (the brain and spinal cord) are known as the craniosacral system.

We encounter many physical and emotional strains and stresses in our daily lives, and our bodies work hard to absorb and compensate their negative effects in order for us to keep going. However, your body can only handle so much tension before the tissues begin to tighten, potentially affecting the brain and spinal cord, thereby compromising the function of the central nervous system and nearly every other body system as a result.

CST releases these tension patterns to allow the entire body to relax and use its innate ability to self-correct. Practitioners use gentle touch techniques to locate and release restrictions and strain patterns, freeing the central nervous system to work optimally. This in turn can naturally reduce pain and stress, strengthen your immune system, and improve your general health and well-being. Because CST is very gentle and non-invasive, it is safe and effective for all ages, from newborns to elders. It can be used alone or integrated with other therapies to facilitate powerful changes.

What Conditions Can CST Help?

CST enhances your body's ability to take care of itself, and therefore can be used to help a wide variety of pain and dysfunction, including:

• Headaches and migraines
• Chronic neck and back pain
• Stress and tension-related disorders
• Motor-coordination impairments
• Infant and childhood disorders
• Tethered oral tissues (tongue, lip, and buccal ties)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Post-concussion symptoms
• Chronic fatigue
• Fibromyalgia
• TMJ Syndrome
• Scoliosis
• Central Nervous System disorders
• Learning disabilities
• ADD/ADHD
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Orthopedic problems
• and many more

What Can I Expect From a CST Session?

Your CST session in our office will take place in a quiet, private room. You will remain fully clothed as you rest comfortably on the treatment table, and your practitioner will begin by gently touching various points on your head and body to monitor your craniosacral rhythm, i.e., the flow of the fluid within your central nervous system.

By carefully listening with the hands to locate areas of weak or restricted fluid flow or tissue motion, your practitioner can trace these areas of weakness through the body to the original source of dysfunction. Delicate manual techniques are then used to release problem areas, and improve the form and function of your central nervous system.

Sessions generally last an hour to 90 minutes for adults, and up to 1 hour for infants and children. What you experience from each session is highly individual. Most people report feeling deeply relaxed during and after a session, with feelings of warmth or gentle pulsing in the areas where the therapist is working. Effects of CST can be experienced from hours to days following the session.

Scheduling, Hours, & Rates

CST and massage therapy appointments are available on Mondays and Wednesdays with Moriah, our Licensed Massage Therapist with specialized training in CST for adults, children, and infants. Alternate appointment days/times may be arranged upon request; check with Moriah for availability.

Prices per session are $90 for 60 minutes and $135 for 90 minutes. Your treatment will be individualized based on your personal therapeutic needs and treatment goals.

Call East Berlin Smiles/PA Tongue-Tie Center at (717)259-9596, or email moriah@patonguetie.com with additional questions or to schedule.

For More Information:

Frequently asked questions about CST, plus research, articles, case studies, and more are available at www.upledger.com.

Consequences of having a Tongue Tie: For Children

There are several consequences that patients experience when they or infant of theirs has a tongue tie. TongueTie.net is a wonderful resource for patients who struggle daily with an untreated tongue tie. As stated on their website, they are 'Dispelling the myths and revealing the facts about this little-understood condition'.

 

This excerpt below has been taken from TongueTie.net and is on the consequences of untreated tongue tie in children.

Children with a tongue tie have to contend with difficulties which may only be discovered as they grow older. These can include:

• Inability to chew age appropriate solid foods
• Gagging, choking or vomiting foods
• Persisting food fads
• Difficulties related to dental hygiene
• Persistence of dribbling
• Delayed development of speech
• Deterioration in speech
• Behaviour problems
• Dental problems starting to appear
• Loss of self confidence because they feel and sound ‘different’
• Strong, incorrect habits of compensation being acquired

To read the full posting regarding tongue tie consequences, please visit TongueTie.net

 

East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

Example of a Tongue-Tie in an Infant

The infographic below shows what a tongue-tie may look like in an infant.

East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it really exist?
Tongue tie, also called Ankyloglossia (or crooked or looped tongue) is a real medical condition and has its own typical problems and presentation. Symptoms can be mild or severe, and where no difficulties are caused no intervention is needed. Where problems exist, it can be diagnosed, assessed, and successfully treated. It is not well known - although the expression  'tongue tied' is generally used to mean 'unable to speak'.
Can anything be done?

Much can be done to counter the problems caused by a tongue tie which is causing significant difficulties. Since it is caused by a structural anomaly, the structural defect must be physically corrected before other treatments for presenting problems will have a chance to succeed. Early intervention is recommended to avoid the formation of incorrect habits of using the tongue in feeding and speech.
 
Does it hurt?
Release of the frenum by snipping causes little pain, some babies sleep through the procedure. Surgery in hospital with a general anaesthetic will cause soreness until healing takes place in a week to 10 days. Revision by laser causes very little pain in most cases.

How is it caused?
The frenum is a remnant of tissue that was part of the facial structure of the infant during early pregnancy. Usually it disappears or reduces to a very slight membrane which is elastic and does not limit the tongue in its movements or disrupt function. Similar webs of tissue can also occur joining the cheeks or lips to the gums and these - like a tongue tie - also can be released surgically. When the lingual frenum does cause problems it is because tightness, thickness or width of the frenum  affects the function of the tongue in various ways. There is a very strong tendency for tongue tie to run in families, and it is more common in boys.
Who should diagnose it?

Tongue tie may be diagnosed by family doctors, dentists, lactation consultants, ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctors, surgeons, or speech-language pathologists.

Is it too late for adults?
No. it is never too late. Adults with problems report the following improvements: ability to chew better, not biting their tongues or cheeks when chewing, a sense of space in the mouth, improvements with speech, not having to think before they speak, relief of tight, clicky jaws, tension headaches and migraine, improved oral and dental health, and ability to control a lower denture! However, the strong oromuscular habits acquired while the tongue tie was present will be harder to get rid of in older persons. Speech therapy after surgical revision is strongly recommended.

To read this entire article, which provides some Tongue Tie FAQ's, please visit TongueTie.net

Dental Clinic East Berlin -  East Berlin Smiles 

Tel: 717-259-9596 

418 West King Street 

East Berlin, PA 17316 

USA

Background: What is Tongue Tie?

Terms
The ‘lingual frenum’ (or lingual frenulum) is the cord that stretches from under the tongue to the floor of the mouth.

‘Tongue tie’, ‘Ankyloglossia’ or ‘short frenum’ are the terms used when the lingual frenum is short and restricts the mobility of the tongue.

Introduction
Tongue tie can be defined as a structural abnormality of the lingual frenum. When the frenum is normal, it is elastic and does not interfere with the movements of the tongue in sucking, eating, clearing food off the teeth in preparation for swallowing and, of course, in speech. When it is short, thick, tight or broad it has an adverse effect on oromuscular function, feeding and speech. It can also cause problems when it extends from the margin of the tongue and across the floor of the mouth to finish at the base of the teeth.

Genesis
The frenum is tissue left over from the time the foetus was developing in the mother’s womb and which would normally reduce to insignificance before birth. In the first 3 months of life, the face becomes differentiated into its various parts, and the frenum is what is left of the tissues that should have disappeared as the oral areas are formed. Such vestigial structures are not uncommon, and ‘webbing’, as it is sometimes called, can occur between upper or lower lips and gums, cheeks and gums as well as in tongue tie.

To read this entire article, which provides background information on what a Tongue Tie is, please visit TongueTie.net

Dental Clinic East Berlin -  East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

The Significance of Tongue and Lip Ties and Why You Should Consider Correcting Them

Dr. Lawrence A. Kotlow, D.D.S., P.C. is a Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Dentistry and has written many wonderful articles regarding Pediatric Dental Care. 

Dr. Kotlow has written an excellent article titled "The Significance of Tongue and Lip ties and Why You Should Consider Correcting Them."

Some of the items discussed in this article:

• "problems which can be associated with ankyloglossia or a tongue"
• "Immediate problems for Infant and Mother"
• "Long term concerns when infants cannot breastfeed"
• "Lip-ties: Potential problems for infants"
• "Lip-ties: Potential problems as an adult"

To read the above article follow this link to the PDF Copy.
To read other article written by Dr. Kotlow please visit his website www.KiddsTeeth.com

Dental Clinic East Berlin -  East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

Dr. Kotlow Shows How to Examine for TOTS (Tethered Oral Tissues) in Infants

Watch a video where Dr. Kotlow shows the optimal way to examine infants for TOTS(tethered oral tissues) lip-ties and tongue-ties. Videos of CO2 laser (Solea) surgery and post surgical active wound management therapy.

The above video is found on the YouTube Channel of Dr. Lawrence Kotlow.

Dental Clinic East Berlin -  East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

Treatment for Tongue-ties (Ankyloglossia) and Other TOTs

Dr. Lori Cockley has a special interest and advanced training in the diagnosis and treatment of TOTs (tethered oral tissues), commonly known as "tongue-ties" and "lip ties." She is a member of the International Affiliation of Tongue-tie Professionals (IATP) and has trained nationally and internationally with some of the most renowned names in the field. She is a member of several internet tongue-tie forums and the co-author of an article published in the Winter 2015 edition of the Journal of the American Orthodontic Society describing the significance of tongue-ties in orthodontics. 

Between 4% and 15% of children are born with tongue-ties. This means their tongues have a congenital abnormality characterized by an excessively short, tight membrane of tissue (frenum) connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth. These vary greatly in degrees of severity but may cause impingement of mobility and function of the tongue. This can cause anything from moderate inconveniences (e.g., inability to lick an ice cream cone), to more severe impairments (e.g., inability to breastfeed in infancy and the development of significant speech impediments).

A diagnosis of TOTs is based on symptoms as well as clinical appearance. Some TOTs are obvious, while others, such as posterior tongue-ties, require careful examination to detect.
A frenectomy is a delicate surgical procedure to release these restrictions. It is done with a diode laser with little to no anesthetic, no pain, and typically no bleeding. The procedure takes only a few moments. While Dr. Cockley performs these frenectomy procedures on patients of all ages, she is one of the few practitioners in the area who is experienced in treating infants as young as 24 hours old.
For your convenience, consultations and procedures may be done at the same visit. Parents are welcome to stay in the room during the procedure if requested. Immediately after the procedure, our comfortable, private breastfeeding area is available for you to bond with your baby.

Dental Clinic East Berlin -  East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA