Healing From Concussion with CST

Concussions and Craniosacral Therapy (CST)
By Emily Klik, CST

What is a concussion?

A concussion is often described as a lingering headache following a blow to the head. Medically, it refers to a mild brain injury caused by a high-velocity impact or sudden acceleration to the skull. This could occur from a direct blow or even from rapid movement, such as the jarring forces felt on a rollercoaster. Inside the skull, the brain floats in a protective layer of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which serves as both a cushion and a vital support for brain function. When a sudden impact or acceleration causes the brain to move rapidly through this fluid, it can strike the inside of the skull, leading to an injury. The recovery from a concussion can range from a few weeks to several months, and in some cases, symptoms may persist, leading to a diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

A common symptom of a concussion is a sensation of internal pressure, often felt as though a vice is tightly clamping down on the center of the skull. This discomfort is typically accompanied by other neurological symptoms.

What are neurological symptoms?

Neurological symptoms indicate an issue within the nervous system. When affecting the brain, some of the symptoms may include:

-Double vision or difficulty focusing the eyes

-Uncoordinated eye movements

-Eye fatigue or aching eyes

-Altered taste or smell

-Sudden dizziness or vertigo

-Cognitive changes

-Sensitivity to light and sound

And there can be more. These symptoms are indicative of disruption in specific cranial nerves or muscles and can often be addressed with craniosacral therapy.

How Craniosacral Therapy helps

Craniosacral therapy can assist by gently decompressing the cranial plates and releasing tension in the membranes surrounding the brain. This manual therapy helps alleviate pressure inside the skull, improves blood and cerebrospinal fluid circulation, and reduces brain fog and pain. Additionally, craniosacral therapy can help regulate vital functions such as digestion, heart rate, breathing, and even processes like sweating and salivation.

If a concussion has led to neck or back pain, this therapy can also help address the referred pain, often within the same session.

What to expect in a Craniosacral session

During your initial session, your therapist will inquire about the circumstances of the injury—whether it was caused by a direct impact or acceleration—to better understand the origin of the concussion. You'll also discuss any current symptoms to help the therapist identify which cranial nerves and plates may be affected, guiding the treatment plan.

How long before I feel better?

The duration of recovery varies greatly, depending on the severity of the injury and any complementary therapies being used in conjunction with craniosacral therapy. For more severe concussions, additional therapies such as occupational therapy, vision therapy, or vestibular rehabilitation may be recommended. Some people may see improvement within a few weeks, while for others, symptoms may persist for years. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question.

Why do symptoms last so long?

Many long-standing concussion symptoms are caused by compression of the cranial plates or injury to the internal membranes of the skull (the dura mater, arachnoid membrane, and pia mater). These structures can create pressure on the brain, hindering proper circulation of cerebrospinal fluid. In most cases, once the cranial plates become compressed, they can remain in that state until released through manual therapy. In my practice, I've worked with individuals who have experienced cranial compression for days, up to decades.

The good news is that even chronic symptoms can often be improved with craniosacral therapy. I recommend trying a series of 3-4 sessions to assess progress. Many clients report feeling noticeable improvements after just one or two sessions, and some find that they begin to feel better in other areas of their body as well.

In Conclusion

Craniosacral therapy offers a gentle yet powerful approach to healing after a concussion. Not only does it help with concussion symptoms, but many clients report feeling better overall—more balanced and at ease in their bodies.

If you have any questions or would like to explore how craniosacral therapy could help with your recovery, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Back on Track: Detoxifying from Summer

With the joy, warmth, socialization, festivals and fun of summer~ comes more unhealthy eating, drinking, stress, fatigue, and skipping routines.  Our bodies LOVE routine, so the waning of summer also brings back the steadiness of structure.  As we get back to our roots and recover from the summer holiday, we can use this transitional time to prepare our bodies for a healthy autumn.

heal your gut: Before your body can handle a real effective detoxification, the digestive tract needs to be addressed. Are you feeling bloated after eating? Do you get cramping or see changes in your bowel patterns? For baseline indigestion, bloating, belching and flatulence a daily dose of fermented foods and probiotics may do the trick.  If you are struggling to get digestion under control- invest in your health! Our nutritionist will get to the root of the problem with you and help you find the right foods to heal your gut.

sweat it out : Studies have shown that perspiration contains trace amounts of heavy metals like lead, mercury and arsenic.  A well-hydrated work out or sauna session can activate your lymphatic system and help you sweat out some of that bad stuff.    

go green : Green vegetables have a high inventory of nutrients.  Many of the body’s detox processes are linked to having adequate levels of vitamins and minerals.  Start cooking with generous amounts of spinach and cruciferous vegetables to maximize your detox nutrients.

citrus boost : Vitamin C is an immune booster.  It helps the body produce an antioxidant that neutralizes toxins and also enhances digestive enzymes.  Because we cannot produce our own vitamin C in the body, eating adequate sources in whole foods or supplements is vital to better immune health. Start and end each day with a glass of warm lemon water!   (strawberry, acerola cherry, citrus fruits, papaya, black currant, kiwi, bell peppers, brussels sprouts, melons, and dark leafy greens are great food sources)

controlled breathing : Oxygen is a critical component of natural detoxification.  Controlled breathing: a deep, 5 second inhalation through the nose followed by a long exhalation through the mouth- you will achieve a full oxygen exchange, swapping incoming oxygen for outgoing carbon dioxide.  This supercharges your lymphatic system to ward of toxins, pathogens, and waste. Integrate this controlled breathing practice several times per day.

drink more tea : Green tea leaves are withered and steamed, rather than fermented, so it produces a beverage that is rich in compounds that eliminate free radicals.  Start your day with a cup of green tea and a squeeze of lemon. 

assess your water quality: It is not just about quantity! Ditch plastic bottles of commercially packaged water and invest in a stainless steel bottle.  Update your water filters or start using one for all of you water needs at home.  Tap water can be full of chemicals used to clean the water- but also add more to the chemical load in your body.  Drinking filtered, cleaner water will help your body flush out waste at the cellular level and also support the GI tract and kidneys as they flush out those toxins. How much water? At least 1/2 to 3/4 your body weight in ounces.