Over the last several years, CranioSacral Therapy (CST) has made great strides as a complementary practice in integrative health care. The gentle, light-touch modality, developed through years of scientific research by John Upledger, DO, OMM, and known for its highly therapeutic effects in treating a wide range of disorders, continues to build a steady stream of proponents all over the world. That list continues to grow, with the addition of one of its newest supporters: Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

Three years ago, Senate Majority Leader Dennis L. Jones, DC, sponsored a state resolution declaring April "CranioSacral Therapy Awareness Month" in Florida. In honor of the occasion and in order to garner more legislative support for the practice, the Upledger Institute (UI) hosted its annual CST Awareness Day March 17 at the state capitol wherein staff members were invited to receive complementary CST sessions. The efforts paid off, and helped lay the groundwork for the possibility of a new working relationship between CST practitioners and chiropractors.

"More than 200 legislators and staff members stopped by for free mini sessions from a dozen CranioSacral Therapy practitioners," said Barb Richmond, UI's director of community relations. One of those staffers was the governor himself, who asked for a CST demonstration in his office. UI staff members Roy Desjarlais, LMT, CST-D, and Dottie Marvel, LMT, CST, happily obliged, and while Desjarlais explained the therapeutic benefits of CST, Marvel demonstrated the technique on the governor.¹

"That's when he suggested we work with the new chiropractic college being set up at Florida State University to explore ways our organizations could forge a mutually beneficial relationship," Richmond declared, referring to Senate Bill 2002, a measure Gov. Bush signed into law earlier in the month that allocates $9 million for the formation of a chiropractic college at Florida State University (FSU) - the second public university in the nation to offer a doctor of chiropractic degree.²

Both Dr. Upledger and Alan Adams, DC, PhD, a consultant to FSU on the chiropractic college project, expressed enthusiasm for the governor's proposal. "Cranio-Sacral Therapy complements the chiropractic practice every bit as well as it does massage therapy and many other health care specialties," Dr. Upledger said."There is virtually no limit to how well any dedicated practitioner can perform it."

And Adams expressed interest in building a productive partnership between the two organizations. "As things unfold and they begin to roll the [chiropractic] program out, we'll be able to think of ways we can help, support, and work with UI," he said.³

Currently, practitioners from all over the country are looking at implementing CST Legislative Awareness Days in their states.

For more information on this process, contact the UI at 800-233-5880 or visit www.upledger.com.

References

1. Press release. "Third annual CranioSacral Therapy legislative day in Tallahassee opens new doors." April 4, 2004. www.upledger.com.
2. "Florida legislation approves funding for chiropractic college at FSU." Dynamic Chiropractic. April 8, 2004. www.chiroweb.com/archives/22/08/06.html.
3. E-mail from UI to Massage Today with quote from Alan Adams.