CranioSacral Therapy
Craniosacral therapy (also called CST, also spelled Cranial Sacral bodywork or therapy) is an alternative medicine therapy used by osteopaths, massage therapists, naturopaths, and chiropractors. It was developed in 1899 by William Garner Sutherland.
A craniosacral therapy session involves the therapist placing their hands on the patient, which allows them to "tune into the craniosacral rhythm". Craniosacral therapists claim to treat mental stress, neck and back pain, migraines, TMJ Syndrome, and for chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia.
Craniosacral therapy lacks any meaningful mainstream support and its base premises have been characterised as "fanciful".
A systematic review conducted in 1999 "did not find valid scientific evidence that craniosacral therapy provides a benefit to patients", noting that "the available health outcome research consists of low grade of evidence derived from weak study designs" and "adverse events have been reported in head-injured patients following craniosacral therapy." Craniosacral therapy has been characterized as pseudoscientific and as lacking a biologically plausible mechanism and diagnostic reliability.