The implications of touch are phenomenal as new research shows how light touch has a profound effect by soothing the pain of social rejection. Here is a recent study... Have you ever wondered why you may not feel like like you need specific bodywork but you just want to go lie down and have someone touch you in a neutral way?  Well, it all makes sense, we need touch without an agenda, other than someone just "being" with us. 

     If you take this out into the larger field of awareness with what’s been happening on our planet it can be very comforting. For those groups that may feel ostracized, and not included, this is important research.

     Biodynamic craniosacral therapy is a powerful tool to support those who may not feel included in our culture. The reason for this is that the relational field is the primary focus of this type of work. By the relational field we are talking about the energetic, mental, emotional, and spiritual connection that is established between the practitioner and the client. When the relational field between two people is able to settle and feel safe, profound healing occurs. When a person feels heard and seen by another in a neutral, nonjudgmental way, healing happens. This is an unusual way to connect with another person, since we often  lead our relational field with our ego. In order to be a talented craniosacral therapist it requires you to  have an open heart. Having an open heart creates a safe, settled, relational field. Not all of us had a consistent supportive relational field growing up.  We get rewired when we are able to deepen into this type of connection with another person.  It is my believe that the more we can all relate to each other in this way,  it will heal the world from suffering. Much suffering has to do with splitting, denying, and separating us from each other as human beings.

     As I am about to embark upon starting a new two-year biodynamic craniosacral training with another group of students I tingle with excitement! The reason for that is that I get to share what I have learned through my human existence all these years to maybe help decrease suffering.  If I can help alleviate the splitting, dissatisfaction, and judgment in the relational field as a teacher and a practitioner, I will be jumping for joy.

     My lineage comes from both grandmother's being Irish, one grandfather being Jewish, and my other grandfather being Portuguese.  All of these parts of myself come forth in my teaching and how I am in the world. How can I judge another person’s race, sexual orientation, religion, or gender with my background as a mutt, an amalgam?

     My father was the principal and superintendent of schools who tried to support interracial busing in the 1960s, my grandfather was the first Portuguese person to graduate from Gloucester high school, who went on to become a dentist;  my mother got her doctorate after being widowed at 40 years old with six kids.  inside of me I carry their message in my own way.  Here we are again in the year 2017 facing some of the same issues that my immigrant ancestors faced nearly a century ago. The relational field needs to be strengthened on our planet!

     Science is catching up to what biodynamic craniosacral therapists have  known as common sense. Finally science is showing how we all need to have strong relational fields with each other. No one is perfect, but apologizing, and hearing and seeing what the person is feeling by using our mirror neurons can ultimately shift things in a big way between you and other people.   If we  repair conflict when we inadvertently  step on someone’s toes,  we can heal the world! This is a global world, we are not all operating in a nationalistic bubble, with our own race, religion, or creed.  Not in America; here most of us are amalgams of all kinds of ancestry. 

     Ask to put your hands on someone's shoulder's,  and if they let you, do it with neutrality,  See what happens as your relational field strengthens and you both begin to co-regulate both of your nervous systems.  Let the higher forces that really run the show do the wonderful job that they do, as you connect with someone.
Peace be with you, Dr Kate
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This new research is clarifying connections with understanding brain health and disease. In the case  exercise it would explain the  influence of exercise on brain health. By increasing circulation from exercise we can expedite elimination of waste products in the brain.
Using your brain for new learning  creates new pathways;  which help your brain, as blood supply follows brain usage. Craniosacral therapy sessions that  augment exhalation and inhalation still points could have  powerful results from the inside out. The ventricles/ caves in our brains are lined with capillaries. So this could quite possibly enhance the exchange of glymphatic fluid, and Cerebrospinal fluid. It has recently been discovered that cerebrospinal fluid is absorbed and reabsorbed from capillaries.  In terms of concussions and traumatic brain injuries it is highly likely that craniosacral therapy enhances the cleaning of the byproducts of cellular damage from injury.
Maybe we can reach out to Dr Nederguuard to see if she would like to do a study on craniosacral therapy!
Dr Nederguuard's Research Studies showed that Good Sleep and Sleeping on your side increase the opening and flow of the Glymphatic system by up to 60%:

Here are other activities that support optimal brain health:

• Regular Exercise
• Learning new things
• Craniosacral Therapy
• Gentle spinal manipulation to enhance lymph, blood, and venous flow around the cranial base, and spine.
• Methylation Supplements
• Good diet producing a healthy gut biome

AN ARTICLE FROM DR MERCOLA, DO... HE COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT BETTER:

• Medication is typically not the best option for treating neck pain. According to a new study, those who used a chiropractor or exercise were more than twice as likely to be pain free compared to those who took medication.
• Exercise often leads to improved posture, range of motion and functionality of the body which may help treat the underlying source of pain, as well as help prevent chronic neck pain from developing in the first place.
• Due to their comprehensive training in musculoskeletal management, numerous sources of evidence have shown that chiropractic management is much safer and often more effective than allopathic medical treatments, particularly for back and neck pain.
• There is good reason to explore the many natural options available for relieving and healing pain before opting for medicated relief, as drugs carry a significant risk for side effec
  

Chronic pain is an exceedingly common condition impacting an estimated 76.5 million Americans, one-third of whom describe their pain as severe and "disabling".i
Among them, many suffer from neck pain, which is the third most common type of pain according to the American Pain Foundation.
It is estimated that 70 percent of people will experience neck pain at some point in their lives but research into effective treatments is surprisingly limited.ii
If you visit a conventional physician for pain, there's a very good chance you'll leave with a prescription for a medication,as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen (Tylenol) and even opioids (OxyContin, Vicodin, etc.) are the go-to treatment for pain in the modern medical world.
However, there are better options than drugs for neck pain, not only in terms of pain relief, but also in helping to treat the underlying cause of the pain so that healing can truly occur.
New Study Shows Exercises and Chiropractic Care Beat Drugs for Neck PainAccording to a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine and funded by the National Institutes of Health, medication is not the best option for treating neck pain.
After following 272 neck-pain patients for 12 weeks, those who used a chiropractor or exercise were more than twice as likely to be pain free compared to those who took medication.
Specifically:

• 32 percent who received chiropractic care became pain free
• 30 percent of those who exercised became pain free
• 13 percent of those treated with medication became pain free

Researchers concluded:
"For participants with acute and subacute neck pain, SMT [spinal manipulation therapy] was more effective than medication in both the short and long term. However, a few instructional sessions of HEA [home exercise with advice] resulted in similar outcomes at most time points."
Why Exercise is Essential if You Have Neck PainBecause exercise often leads to improved posture, range of motion and functionality of your body, it can help treat the underlying source of your pain as well as help prevent chronic neck pain from developing in the first place. Exercise helps prevent and relieve pain through a number of mechanisms including strengthening key supportive muscles and restoring flexibility.
Not surprisingly, repetitive strain injuries have become increasingly common as so many people spend most of their work days sitting in front of computers. Computer work is associated with neck pain specifically originating from the trapezius muscle, also referred to as trapezius myalgia, and many types of neck pain can be traced back to poor posture at work or during your commute.
It's a vicious cycle as poor sitting posture leads to neck pain and once neck pain develops, it can make your posture even worse. For instance, one study showed people with chronic neck pain demonstrate a reduced ability to maintain an upright posture when distracted.iii
The same study further revealed, however, that after following a specific exercise program, people with neck pain had an improved ability to maintain a neutral cervical posture during prolonged sitting, which suggests it may help break the poor posture/neck pain cycle. Other research has similarly shown that exercise is incredibly beneficial for treating neck pain including:

• Research in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that repetitive strain injury caused by office work can be reduced using certain strength training exercises.iv
• A study published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism showed that strength training targeting the neck and shoulder muscles is the most beneficial treatment for women with chronic neck muscle pain as opposed to a general fitness routine.v

Five Specific Exercises to Target Chronic Neck PainFive specific strength exercises target the neck and shoulder muscles involved in causing chronic neck pain. Both studies mentioned above involved the same five exercises using hand weights, and detailed explanations of how to perform each exercise are provided by the National Research Centre for the Working Environment:vi

1. Dumbbell shrug Stand upright with the hand weights at the side of your body. In one even motion, lift your shoulders up towards your ears and lower them again slowly. At the same time, try to relax your jaw and neck.
2. One-arm row Stand with one knee on the bench and lean on the same-side hand on the front of the bench. With the free arm you pull the weight up towards your lower chest. When the weight touches your chest, lower it in a controlled motion.
3. Upright row Stand upright with your arms stretched and the hand weights in front of your body. Lift the weights in a straight line as close to your body as possible, until they reach the middle of your chest and your elbows point up and out. During the whole exercise, the hand weights should be placed lower than the elbows.
4. Reverse fly Lie down on a bench in a 45° forward bent angle with the hand weights hanging towards the floor. Lift the weights outward and upward until they are horizontal, and then lower the weights in one controlled motion. During the exercise, the elbows should be slightly bent.
5. Lateral raise / shoulder abduction Stand upright with the hand weights at the side of your body. Lift the weights outward and upward until they are horizontal, and then lower the weights in one controlled motion. During the exercise, the elbows should be slightly bent.

The researchers recommended performing the exercises three times per week (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays) and alternating between exercises 1, 2, and 5 on one day, and exercises 1, 3, and 4 the next. When starting out, perform 2 sets of each exercise with 8-12 repetitions for each set. Increase at your own pace to 3 sets for each. Depending on the exercise and your current muscle strength, the recommended beginner's weight is between 6-12 lbs.
As a general rule of thumb, increase the weight as soon as you can comfortably execute all three sets. As a guideline, the participants in the study roughly doubled the weight used in 10 weeks. After approximately four weeks, you can reduce the number of repetitions of the last sets in order to increase the weight.
The Benefits of Chiropractic Care and Other Alternative Treatments for Neck PainSeeing a qualified chiropractor is another wise option if you suffer from chronic pain. I am an avid believer in the chiropractic philosophy, which places a strong emphasis on your body's innate healing wisdom and far less reliance on Band-Aids like drugs and surgery. Chiropractic, Osteopathic, and Naturopathic physicians receive extensive training in the management of musculoskeletal disorders during their course of graduate healthcare training, which typically lasts from 4-6 years.
Due to their comprehensive training in musculoskeletal management, numerous sources of evidence have shown that chiropractic management is much safer and often more effective than allopathic medical treatments, particularly for back and neck pain. In addition, researchers have also found that chiropractic adjustments affect our bodies on a deep cellular level.
What that means is that chiropractic care may affect the basic physiological processes that influence oxidative stress and DNA repair, so in addition to addressing any immediate spinal misalignment that might cause pain, it can also address deeper dysfunction in your body.
As many of you know I am an osteopathic physician. DOs, like chiropractors, also receive extensive additional training in spinal adjustments and may also be a good option for you. However, in my experience, only a small percentage of DOs are skilled in this area as they have chosen a more conventional allopathic model. So if you see a DO for this make sure they provide this service.
Overall, the important point to remember is that there are many other options for treating chronic pain than drugs. For instance, therapeutic massage has been found to offer clinically significant improvement in function and symptoms for those with neck pain,vii while a variety of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments (including acupuncture, massage, spinal manipulation, and mobilization) were deemed to be significantly more efficacious than no treatment, placebo, physical therapy, or usual care in reducing pain immediately or at short-term after treatment for those with neck or low-back pain.viii
So you have options when it comes to dealing with your pain, and there is good reason to explore them before you opt for medicated relief. Additionally, many massage and physical therapists can provide effective alternatives.
Pain Medications are Risky at BestMillions of Americans depend on anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain, but the drugs are among the most dangerous on the market. Aside from significantly increasing your heart risks (such as a two to fourfold increase in the risk of heart attacks, stroke or cardiovascular death), NSAIDs are linked to serious gastrointestinal risks like bleeding of the digestive tract, increased blood pressure and kidney problems. Remember, this applies not only to prescription medications like Celebrex but also to over-the-counter drugs like aspirin, Advil and Motrin.
It's very difficult to find a drug-based method of pain relief that is not saddled with severe side effects. The FDA has even recently limited the amount of acetaminophen allowed in prescription products and added a boxed warning due to liver toxicity concerns. Acetaminophen is actually the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States.
As for the opioid painkillers like OxyContin, they are among the most commonly abused prescription drugs and are a leading contributor to the rising rates of fatal prescription drug overdoses. Many become addicted after using them to treat conditions like back or neck pain.
But no matter what type of painkiller you choose, the bottom line to remember is that they do not come without risks! Unfortunately, if you visit your conventional physician with chronic pain, a long-term treatment plan will typically include a drug-combination approach, using anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-seizure medications, muscle relaxants and possibly other types of pain medication as well. In other words, the answer for pain relief is drugs, drugs and more drugs -- each one raising your risk of suffering potentially lethal side effects. Is there a better way?
More Natural Solutions for Neck (and Other Types of) PainIn the case of neck pain, the underlying cause is often related to body mechanics, meaning your posture or muscle balance is off kilter. Addressing your posture (or other factors that may be contributing to the strain, such as sleeping in an awkward position) and treating the condition with exercises is often effective at relieving the pain and addressing the underlying cause. If you have chronic pain of any kind, please understand that there are many safe and effective alternatives to prescription and over-the-counter painkillers, though they may require some patience.
Among the best are:

• Start taking a high-quality, animal-based omega-3 fat like krill oil. Omega-3 fats are precursors to mediators of inflammation called prostaglandins. (In fact, that is how anti-inflammatory painkillers work, they positively influence prostaglandins.) The omega-3 fats EPA and DHA contained in krill oil have also been found in many animal and clinical studies to have anti-inflammatory properties.
• Eliminate or radically reduce most grains and sugars (including fructose) from your diet. Avoiding grains and sugars will lower your insulin and leptin levels. Elevated insulin and leptin levels are one of the most profound stimulators of inflammatory prostaglandin production. That is why eliminating sugar and grains is so important to controlling your pain.
• Optimize your production of vitamin D by getting regular, appropriate sun exposure, which will work through a variety of different mechanisms to reduce your pain.

In the meantime, you don't need to suffer unnecessarily. Following are options that provide excellent pain relief without any of the health hazards that pain medications often carry.

• Astaxanthin: One of the most effective oil-soluble antioxidants known. It has very potent anti-inflammatory properties and in many cases works far more effectively than NSAIDs. Higher doses are typically required and one may need 8 mg or more per day to achieve this benefit.
• Ginger: This herb is anti-inflammatory and offers pain relief and stomach-settling properties. Fresh ginger works well steeped in boiling water as a tea or grated into vegetable juice.
• Curcumin: Curcumin is the primary therapeutic compound identified in the spice turmeric. In a study of osteoarthritis patients, those who added 200 mg of curcumin a day to their treatment plan had reduced pain and increased mobility. In fact, curcumin has been shown in over 50 clinical studies to have potent anti-inflammatory activity, as well as demonstrating the ability in four studies to reduce Tylenol-associated adverse health effects.
• Boswellia: Also known as boswellin or "Indian frankincense," this herb contains powerful anti-inflammatory properties, which have been prized for thousands of years. This is one of my personal favorites as I have seen it work well with many rheumatoid arthritis patients.
• Bromelain: This protein-digesting enzyme, found in pineapples, is a natural anti-inflammatory. It can be taken in supplement form, but eating fresh pineapple may also be helpful. Keep in mind that most of the bromelain is found within the core of the pineapple, so consider leaving a little of the pulpy core intact when you consume the fruit.
• Cetyl Myristoleate (CMO): This oil, found in fish and dairy butter, acts as a "joint lubricant" and an anti-inflammatory. I have used a topical preparation for myself to relieve ganglion cysts and a mild annoying carpal tunnel syndrome that pops up when I type too much on non-ergonomic keyboards.
• Evening Primrose, Black Currant and Borage Oils: These contain the fatty acid gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which is useful for treating arthritic pain.
• Cayenne Cream: Also called capsaicin cream, this spice comes from dried hot peppers. It alleviates pain by depleting the body's supply of substance P, a chemical component of nerve cells that transmits pain signals to your brain.
• Therapeutic modalities such as yoga, acupuncture, meditation, hot and cold packs, and even holding hands can also result in astonishing pain relief without any drugs.

References:

• i American Pain Foundation, Pain Facts & Stats (PDF)
• ii Annals of Internal Medicine January 3, 2012 vol. 156 no. 1 Part 1 1-10
• iii Physical Therapy April 2007 vol. 87 no. 4 408-417
• iv J Appl Physiol. 2009 Nov;107(5):1413-9.
• v Arthritis & Rheumatism Vol. 59, No. 1, January 15, 2008, pp 84–91
• vi National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Rehabilitation of Neck/Shoulder Muscle Pain
• vii Clinical Journal of Pain. 2009;25(3):233–238.
• viii Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:953139.

What is Cox Flexion Distraction?
Using flexion distraction, Dr. Kate will gently and carefully adjust your spine so that it can heal naturally. Created with the ideas of both chiropractic and osteopathy, this method offers relief quickly from lower back and leg pain and may help you avoid surgery. Most patients report that it actually feels quite good, and that relief is pretty immediate as far as the pain they were experiencing before the treatment. If patient's do not improve at least 50% in 4 weeks Dr Kate will refer  the patient to see a specialist for a potential steroid shot, or surgery. The way you know you are getting better is that the pain begins to become more localized in just your back, and not down your leg. The worst level of pain is when pain is only felt in the leg and not the back. The next worst level is low back and leg pain, and the least serious pain is when the pain  is only in the low back. Things that are helped are disc degeneration, disc herniation's, spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis of the spine, and scoliosis. 

What Cox Flexion Distraction Can Do for You
The objective of this therapy is to expand the space between the bones in your spine by applying mild stretching or traction of the lower back. The moving parts of the table allow Dr Kate to separate the different areas of the spine, and this allows for an increase of disc space between the bones in your back. This reestablishes precise alignment of your vertebrae and increases range of motion that you may have previously lost.
What’s great about this technique is that it uses gravity as well as mild manipulation to move your spine through a normal range of motion. There are no quick thrusts or extreme pressure, and you will feel instant relief from this treatment. In fact, this method has been recognized to decrease pressure within the discs of the spine, expand the spinal canal, improve posture, diminish pressure on spinal nerves, promote better circulation and advance communication between the nerves of the spine. This results in less pain for you as well as a higher level of overall wellness.
Dr Kate has helped patients with bowel constipation that is caused by spinal stenosis, eliminated leg and back pain. People usually need to come in twice a week for about 4 weeks to see results. This table is also a safe way to combat the degenerative changes that occur over time as we age. It restores the natural full range of motion, which slows down the aging process. Patients that are older than 60 are often helped the most when there are few options other than surgery; this is because Dr Kate is a conservative Chiropractor who does not recommend  using high velocity thrusts on their spine. The table actually decreases disc pressure up to 240 pounds per square inch. Much research has been done by Dr Cox, who is one of the originators of this technique who started practice the year Dr Kate was born. Come on in and give it a try!

Lets talk about Meniere's
It is kind of a nightmare. Imagine that you cannot go anywhere as the world would spin like a top inside your head...
Symptoms of Meniere’s disease include:

• vertigo (attacks can last anywhere from a few minutes to 24 hours)
• loss of hearing in the affected ear
• tinnitus (a sensation of ringing) in the affected ear
• a feeling of fullness in the affected ear
• loss of balance
• headaches
• nausea, vomiting, and sweating caused by severe vertigo

It is not fun. Western medicine does not have a cure, but there is a lot you can do. Look towards a combination of diet/nutrition through applied kinesiology,  craniosacral therapy, and gentle chiropractic.  Systemic inflammation manifests in people's body's in many different ways. Meniere's is one of the most  knarly ways.
Recently I had a lovely patient who was unable to go out in public because her Meniere's symptoms were so bad. We made huge dietary changes towards a paleo-mediterranean/ low inflammatory diet, and a methylation nutrition protocol. I supported her system in clearing toxins, repairing her gut, and feeding her cells good nutrition and supplements. She also continued on with biodynamic craniosacral therapy which was incredibly helpful. There was a lot going on with her, but she prevailed, and kept on with our work. It has not even been a year and she is doing much better.  Her husband drove her two and a half hours to get treatments. I have never met such kind spirits. There was stuff going on with her cerebellum, fourth ventricle, as well as a great need for settling. She is responding quite well, and understands that it was not going to be a quick fix pill situation. In the first few visits we worked on the floor as being up on the table was a bit too scary with the severe vertigo. Now for the first time she can lie down on the table!
I wanted to share this story because there is help for Meniere's. Never give up if you have this and have not had any relief. As a practitioner I stay present and orient to what arises nutritionally through applied kinesiology, as well as in the cranial territory of being with a person's system. I know I am a different sort of practitioner with the treatments that I combine. I am noticing in my practice that adding nutrition and supplements to my brain, nervous system, and mind body oriented practice of craniosacral therapy has vastly improved patient relief of various health concerns.
I truly love my work, and probably will never retire unless dealing with running a business becomes a complete killjoy. Patients like these are a gift, and they are who I was  put on earth to work with. I was also put on earth to teach as I have a different perspective on health that can be breath of fresh air for those that have not yet found their health. When you find your heart, you will find your health. Get your stinking thinking out of the way, open your heart, and listen. Each day you will learn something new. We need both science and intuition.
In Health, Dr Kate

Understanding What Pain Does…
Pain on a physical or emotional level causes us to go into protective mode. We seize up around our pain. Pain causes fragmentation,  encapsulation, and our life force is drained to contain the suffering. This is a good thing for our system to do for a short time. It helps the suffering  be less overwhelming.  Yet, over the long haul, this way of dealing with pain is no longer helpful. We stop functioning at our maximal potential. We become less coherent on a quantum/energetic level, and this shapes our tissue/structure over time.  We are all part energy, and part matter. The energy that breathes us is intelligent and directs all of our cells to do their job.


How does craniosacral help pain?
Craniosacral therapy supports a unified, coherent, mind-body field that helps us orient to health rather than suffering. On a daily basis the more still we become, (less active monkey mind), the more coherence occurs. The more coherence we have creates more  access to our inherent health and higher intelligence. That is why it is important to have time in your life each day if only for a few minutes to increase a quiet mind and create more energetic coherence.


Illness begins on any level of health:
Chemical= nutritional imbalances and toxins from air, water, and food
Structural= Imbalances in our structure (especially along the spine) can affect sympathetic nerves that influence our organs, lymphatics, blood supply, and nerves of the musculoskeletal system. This depletes our body’s energy to maintain optimal posture.
Energetic= this can be chronic exposure to EMF’s from: cell phones, wifi, etc…
Emotional= especially early events have a strong imprint on our neurochemical habits and pathways affecting our brain and entire cellular matrix. This is a huge part of health and wellness. Learning to work with emotional self regulation is optimal to staying healthy.

Coherence= health
Craniosacral helps with the overall coherence of the body to increase health. In combination with this powerful work I also check the layers above and treat and refer accordingly. Often people need support on more than one layer at a time. My goal is to help them figure out where the health issue is coming from. Symptoms are not always where you would think they are coming from. Chinese medicine is 5000 years old and clearly states that.  I will point you in the best direction for the quickest healing. When someone comes in with symptoms that persist, after getting treatments from other practitioners that is a flag for me that the kind of treatment was done well, but did not target the core problem. With chronic pain there is usually a perfect storm with pieces of a puzzle that brought their system out of coherence.
Fritz Popp speaks of coherence, and has studied health with respect to biophotons.  He is a German Physicist: http://www.biontologyarizona.com/dr-fritz-albert-popp/
In Health, Dr Kate