From helping babies overcome colic to treating a survivor of the 2005 London bombings, Seed’s Craniosacral Therapist, Amber Kelly, tells us how this age-old therapy can transform lives.
By Kate Kirrane
My first experience of Craniosacral Therapy was when my daughter, then aged 2 months old, was suffering from extreme colic and a friend recommended I try it. I was at my wit’s end with the constant crying, sleepless nights and intense stress and pain my baby was experiencing. I was open to trying anything.
I went along with an open mind and as I handed my baby over to the therapist, I watched with intrigue as he held her in certain positions, working gently to manipulate muscles, bones and connective tissue around her head, neck and spine. After the first treatment there was a marked improvement. I went three times in total and never had to go back.
So, what exactly did this therapist do to stop my baby’s colic in its tracks?
Craniosacral therapy helps to release tension in the head and spine and calm the central nervous system. Here Seed’s Craniosacral Therapist, Amber Kelly, shares her views on why this amazing light touch therapy can be so healing for people of every age.
“Craniosacral therapists use gentle hands-on techniques to help unwind areas of compression and misalignment in the cranium (head) and body. In a baby’s case, this compression is often caused during birth due to the intense pressure on the head and neck as he/she squeezes through the birth canal and into the outside world. The result is that cranial bones are compressed and misaligned and the connective tissue distorted and strained.
By restoring alignment and releasing tension, this helps to alleviate pain and discomfort including colic, ear infections and more.
In fact, anecdotal evidence suggests that many newborn babies could benefit from a Craniosacral treatment within two weeks of birth, in particular, those delivered by forceps, ventouse (suction) or after a traumatic prolonged / traumatic birth. This could help prevent many subsequent problems in childhood and adulthood, including some ear problems, developmental problems, headaches, neck pain and spinal disorders.”
1: What do you love most about Craniosacral therapy?
It is gentle and profound and connects the mind and body. I love the way the human body tells its “story” through the dynamic of the nervous system and fluids that surround the brain and spinal areas. Any stress or tension in this system can tell me a lot about what is happening in the body physically and emotionally and it’s wonderful to help people make their own mind-body connections too.
Recently I treated a 10-year-old boy and he said at the end of his treatment, “I feel everything and nothing”. I thought that was an amazing statement to make. He also told his mum that “this is the best I have ever felt”. Children are very honest so I was very touched when he said this.
2. What are you best success stories?
Physically I have helped people with severe back and sciatic pain; reduced migraine episodes and epileptic fit episodes; released pain from the impact of whiplash and emotion that was held around an accident or surgery; or helped a baby with colic after a difficult labour with forceps.
I have a wonderful opera singing client who has really benefited from the release of tension in her throat and tongue to allow her to free up her voice more. And I love treating children as they tend to respond very quickly.
Working with David who survived the London bombings in 2005 was probably my most profound series of treatments. The blast of the bomb had left energy in his vertebrae which we released in the treatments and he was much more pain free as a result. It also helped with facial nerve pain and in general, he felt more confident to go out into the world as a result. We were both so impacted by the treatments – it was a real privilege to work with him.
I also love working with horses as they have a complex nervous system that can be very impacted by their environment and the treatment can help them restore, relax and therefore work and move better.
3. What have you learned most from your work as a cranio therapist?
That everyone is unique but the human body always wants to heal pain and discomfort and move towards good health. Craniosacral therapy supports this process naturally and gently by boosting this healing process.
However, I will also say that it’s also very important that the person I am working with takes full responsibility for their well-being. For example, I feel it’s very important to move your body daily and have time to be still and quiet.
Diet is also a crucial factor. And whilst I do what I can, it’s a partnership with the person I am working with to get the best results. They also have to play their part. I also feel we don’t give enough time and process to our emotional state and a healthy mind is also important for good physical health.
4. What else do you incorporate into your treatments and why?
I use Bach Flower Remedies to support emotional health. These are powerful flower essences that help with emotions such as anger, loneliness or anxiety…. and so much more. By prescribing them I find they also help people become more aware of their emotional health as sometimes we ‘feel’ but we don’t join the dots with what that can mean from a wider perspective.
There is also a strong soul connection in the philosophy of the remedies and this too, I believe, is an important factor in our health – our soul connection. Dr Bach said that “health depends on being in harmony with our souls”. Our emotions are our guidance system and we should pay attention to them. When we do, life gets easier and we feel more in command and then the world can feel less hostile and more gentle.
Ultimately, the body never lies and there is a magic with this therapy in helping the body to tell its story in a safe space.
Amber is based in Bourne End and works out of her private treatment space. A treatment can vary between £40 to £75.
She also runs a low-cost Parent & Baby clinic to allow you to see if Craniosacral Therapy can help with any issues your newborn may be experiencing, especially if the birth was a challenging one. Sessions are 30 minutes per child and cost £20.
If you wish to contact Amber directly, please emailamber@seedwellness.co.uk or call 07880 905932 / 01628 528981.
