Craniosacral Therapy The First Phase in the Primary Respiratory Mechanism (PRM)
Carolyn Zepf
Craniosacral Therapy The First Phase in the Primary Respiratory Mechanism (PRM)
Phase 1 - The Inherent motility of the brain and spinal cord (CNS). The central nervous system (CNS) of every living organism, meaning the cells of the brain and spinal cord, exhibits a phenomenon called Inherent Motility This means that the cells that make up the CNS are constantly fluctuating, or expanding and retracting at a rhythm of their own accord. As mentioned in the last paper, the human CNS cells fluctuate at a rate of 8-12 cycles per minute, or about every 6 seconds.
Another way to describe this is by picturing a jelly fish. The brain and spinal cord rhythmically coil and uncoil like a swimming jelly fish. As the brain coils and uncoils, the cavities within the brain (ventricles) and around the brain (cisterns) change shape, and therefore the volume of these spaces and hence the amount of fluid that they hold will change as well. During the inhalation phase (flexion) the brain gets shorter and wider. During the exhalation phase (extension) the brain gets taller and narrower.
This is the first phase of what is commonly referred to as the Primary Respiratory Mechanism (PRM) or Cranial Rhythmic Impulse (CRI) in Craniosacral Therapy and Osteopathy. This pulsating rhythm can easily be felt by the trained hands of the Osteopath (D.O.(M.P) or Craniosacral Therapist (CST). By placing our hands on the head, spine, and sacrum of the patient, we can feel the pulsation of the CNS and the increase and decrease of fluidic pressure that it creates. This increase and decrease in fluidic pressure is commonly referred to as the tide since that is exactly what it feels like. Each rhythm of the CNS creates a wave that travels through the spine like a wave from head to tailbone.
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