Craniosacral therapy: what the research says

Frequently asked questions

What happens in a craniosacral therapy session?

You lie down fully clothed while the practitioner uses very light touch, mostly on your head, neck, back and the base of your spine. Practitioners describe feeling for a gentle rhythm in the body.

Does craniosacral therapy help with back or neck pain?

There is limited evidence: reviews of long-term back, neck and muscle pain disagree with each other. One found less pain than with a pretend version, another found no real benefit. See a GP about pain that does not go away or keeps coming back.

Can craniosacral therapy help with headaches or migraine?

The evidence is limited: a review of four small studies found a change in headache pain too small to matter. The evidence is very weak, so see a GP about headaches that do not go away or keep coming back.

Can craniosacral therapy help with sleep or stress?

There is no good evidence yet: sleep, stress, worry, low mood, menopause and grief have not been studied in the sources we use. Sessions on Sissoo complement medical care and never replace it.

Is craniosacral therapy safe?

The touch is very light, and studies reported only mild effects, such as brief extra pain or sleepiness. Craniosacral therapists do not have to be registered by law in the UK. Please don’t stop or change any treatment without talking to your doctor.