There are different styles of Osteopathy in practice today. One of the more subtle styles is termed Cranial Osteopathy. It is an example of a less direct and less physical approach to Osteopathy.

Cranial Osteopathy earned its name from the observations of practitioners in which a subtle relationship was seen to exist between the function of the cranium and the function of the sacrum in the pelvis. Techniques were discovered to interact with this relationship that became known as the cranio-sacral mechanism. This mechanism is also known to other practitioners who have not studied Osteopathy.

Cranial Osteopathy is the practice of interacting with the cranio-sacral mechanism while adhering to the philosophy of Osteopathy.

The exact nature of the cranio-sacral mechanism is not understood to date. Over the last 150 years Osteopaths have attempted to provide many explanations and theories to explain the treatment benefits seen when using Cranial Osteopathy. However current research has still not provided any convincing evidence as to the true nature of this phenomenon, though it has debunked many of the theories put forward so far.

What is apparent though is that built into all of us is the provision for adaptability at every tissue level. This we do see with modern science in every cell. Special attention is given to neural plasticity that provides dynamic functional change in cell structure measured in changes per millisecond. In many ways health can be measured as an index of potential for adaptation. As such poor health can be seen as a failure of an organism to effectively alter or adapt to its internal or external environment.

During development the cranium keeps open tiny interlocking sutures throughout its cranial bones so that it may grow and adapt to ever changing internal forces. It seems apparent to the Osteopath (but is yet to be shown in the science laboratory) that slight defects occur in the adaptability of these tiny systems. Defects that have a knock on effect to change larger health systems locally or remotely through chemical and neural disturbance perhaps. Osteopaths propose that "strain" occurs when these tiny systems are exposed to force or trauma. These "strains" are much like a fibre in spasm in a muscle that alters function of the whole limb by being painful, except in the cranio-sacral system these strains occur in more loosely defined tissues such as osseous membrane, ligament or fascia and can cause subtle changes over large areas by altering reflexes and other control mechanism that are part of a healthy regulated homeostasis. And a homeostasis is a fantastic name for the idea that something can be kept in a perfect balance while everything is changing constantly.

Whatever the mechanism for strain in the cranio-sacral system Osteopaths, and others, have reported ways to restore good adaptability where it has been reduced and when it is producing poor health.

Such "Cranial" techniques are subtle. Their approach uses concepts similar to describing fluid mechanics. Things are "brought back to balance". "Normal dynamics are restored".

Treatments using Cranial Osteopathy are quiet and relaxing and peaceful. They can be used just a few moments after birth. Such approaches are commonly used in babies and children where their cranio-sacral system is seen as more dynamic and more prone to change, and requiring more "instruction" in cases of strain. It is also commonly seen in the care of headaches, sinusitis, ear-ache and in protocols for restoring jaw mechanics and good dental health.

We eagerly await more clues from future scientific research to help reveal the paradigm in which such obscured concepts of health reside. Hopefully providing details to help us explain, focus and teach Osteopathic techniques with even greater precision in the future.