BIODYNAMIC OSTEOPATHY AND CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY
Biodynamic osteopathy is a branch of the mainstream cranial osteopathy, both are based on work of W. G. Sutherland, DO. Dr. Sutherland discovered subtle movements in the fluids and tissues of his patients. He called this phenomena the primary respiratory mechanism. Dr. Sutherland believed that the primary respiratory mechanism was governed by a transcendental power which he called the Breath of Life. While in every osteopathic modality the clinician applies a force (however subtle) to correct a lesion, biodynamic osteopathy uses corrections generated by the Breath of Life without the influence of the external forces applied by the therapist. Despite the undeniable clinical success, the effectiveness of cranial and biodynamic osteopathy has not been yet statistically established. The method is very powerful, and it is not advisable using it without a deep understanding of all processes involved and a mentor’s guidance. The exquisite skills and the long and rigorous training required for a DO to become an adept in biodynamic osteopathy puts a cap on its availability to the general public. The training in biodynamic osteopathy is provided exclusively for osteopaths by an American physician James Jealous, DO.
Craniosacral Therapy is a derivative of the cranial osteopathy and is much more popular than biodynamic osteopathy. It is performed by practitioners who do not have to have either a medical education and/or a lengthy training. It is effective and simple, however it is possibly a more controversial version of its parent, the cranial osteopathy. The most popular form of Craniosacral Therapy was originated by John Upledger, DO. Doctor Upledger greatly simplified cranial osteopathy without compromizing its effectiveness. This approach does not use the Breath of Life as a prime treatment facilitator. Rather, it is the practitioner who finds and releases the lesions, primary respiratory mechanism being merely a therapist’s reference. Upledger’s remarkable role in the popularization of cranial osteopathy was the founding and directing an institution that teaches some basic therapeutic skills to hundreds of thousands of lay people all over the World. Dr. Upledger also was the first physician who publicly demystified the connection between connective tissue and emotions and popularized a technique of somato-emotional release (SER). The certification in Craniosacral Therapy is provided by the Upledger Institute. While the Upledger classes are available to everyone, only a few practitioners went through a rigorous certification process and may be legitimately called Craniosacral Therapists.
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy or Craniosacral Biodynamic is less popular than the Craniosacral Therapy of Dr. Upledger. It requires lengthier training although it is also taught to lay people. The Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy is closer to the biodynamic osteopathy then the Upledger method. It is originated by Franklin Sills of Karuna Institute, UK. The registration in Craniosacral Biodynamic is provided by Craniosacral Therapy Associations of North America, UK, and other countries. Without a proper certification or licensing, practitioners cannot call themselves Craniosacral Therapists.
The term “Biodynamic” was first used by Rollin Becker, DO (ca. 1963) to describe a force creating subtle movement in the body, and later, and independently by a German embryologist Erich Blechschmidt (1978) to describe a holistic understanding of living systems. The term “Craniosacral” (as in “craniosacral mechanism”) was first used by Sutherland’s student and colleague Harold Magoun, DO, (1951) to describe the presence of synchronized, coordinated movement in the head, spine and pelvis.
