Cranio Fascial Dynamics (CFD) is a gentle and remarkably effective approach to health and wellbeing.
Developed by Jonathan Howat, this method focuses on restoring balance to the delicate tissues surrounding your brain and spinal cord. Brain congestion and underlying neurological problems might ensue as a result of head trauma and upper cervical injuries from whiplash.
By addressing restrictions within these tissues, CFD may hold the potential to help ease a wide range of conditions, from traumatic brain injuries to everyday aches and pains.
CFD works on the concept of de-torquing the delicate tissues that surround the brain and spinal cord, restoring the natural irrigation system of the brain.
Picture a powerful river flowing freely – that’s how fluids should move through your brain and spinal cord for optimal health. Sometimes, life events like injuries or stress can create disruptions in this flow.
CFD gently addresses the root causes of those disruptions, aiming to restore that healthy flow and ease its impact on your body as a whole.
CFD has its roots in osteopathy and fascial therapy, drawing on those practices and established principles.
It was Jonathan Howat, in 2004, who made the groundbreaking connections and refined the techniques that form the foundation of CFD today.
Think of your body as an interconnected web. This web is your fascia, a type of connective tissue that envelops literally everything inside you – muscles, bones, organs, and nerves. Not only a supporting structure but also a richly innervated sensory system informing the brain of the body’s position in space.
Healthy fascia is flexible and lets your body move as it should. When something restricts the fascia, it can throw off your entire system in subtle but far-reaching ways. CFD works to release restrictions in the fascia, bringing ease back into your body.
The dural membranes within your skull form a crucial part of the fascial system.
They not only protect your brain but also play a key role in the circulation of fluids essential to your brain’s function.
These membranes work a bit like a pump, facilitating a rhythmic movement that helps your brain stay healthy.
Your skull isn’t just a bony helmet protecting your brain; it’s a dynamic part of your overall structure!
It houses and protects your brain but also anchors strong membranes subtly responding to the movement of tissues throughout your body. Through CFD, we pay attention to how membranes within your skull might be holding onto patterns of tension and aim to gently release those patterns.
Life happens, and our bodies hold onto those experiences. Injuries, big and small, stress, and even how we were positioned in the womb can all leave their mark on our fascia.
CFD sees these as potential places where the free flow of fluids through your system may be hampered.
The heart of CFD lies in the Howat 8-Step Protocol. This systematic approach is designed to gently work with your body’s natural ability to heal and find balance.
By applying precise techniques inside the mouth and around the skull, a skilled practitioner helps release tension patterns within your fascial system.
The goal is to encourage the dural membranes, which surround your brain and spinal cord, to regain their healthy, rhythmic movement. This, in turn, promotes optimal circulation of essential fluids, supporting your brain, nerves, and overall well-being.
The underlying philosophy is simple: your body has a remarkable capacity for self-repair.
The Howat 8-Step Protocol aims to remove obstacles, allowing your innate healing abilities to restore harmony and balance within your system.
As patterns of tension develop in the body, they can create something called cranial torque.
Picture a gentle twisting motion throughout your skull and spine – CFD aims to unwind this torque, allowing your tissues to relax, fluids to flow better, and your body to find more balance.
CFD practitioners have sensitive hands, trained to feel the subtle rhythms and patterns within your tissues.
They’ll use this information, along with your health history, to tailor a treatment plan unique to you. CFD treatment itself is deeply relaxing, as practitioners apply gentle pressure to specific areas of your body.
One particularly difficult ‘lumbar disc’ patient at Ewell Chiropractic who was making limited sustained improvement – on further questioning he revealed a very significant head injury after he fell off a roof years earlier.
Once I added CFD protocol into his care plan he turned the corner with his lumbar spine issue. By restoring the balance between the sacrum and cranium, the dynamic flow of CSF reduced the painful pressure in his lumbar discs.
Cranio Fascial Dynamics (CFD) offers a unique and holistic approach to understanding and promoting health within the body.
By addressing the delicate balance of tissues surrounding your brain and spine (your craniofascial system), CFD works to release restrictions and restore ease of movement. This, in turn, supports your body’s powerful self-healing capabilities.
Whether you’re managing pain, recovering from an injury, or seeking an overall boost to your well-being, CFD’s gentle touch may offer a pathway for improved mobility, reduced discomfort, and a greater sense of vitality.
Ewell Chiropractic
9A Cheam Road, Ewell, Epsom KT17 1SP
Our practice is next to the central car park in the Ewell village if you travel by car. And just a 10-minute wander from both train stations in Ewell.
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