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Whole Body Breathing CranioSacral Theory

The Breath Drives the CranioSacral Rythme
Or, at least, they drive eachother.
The accessory muscles of breathing in the upper body, quite specifically the SCM and Scalenes, help to pull open the chest on the inhale. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction - the attachment points of these muscle/fascia patterns on the skull receive a reciprocal tug. The way that the muscles attach to the skull, the force vectors that would be exhibited during contraction of these muscles, seems to be reflected in the joints of the skull - especially in the temporal bone, which looks to be beveled to allow such movement. The movements would also largely coincide with the movement findings of craniosacral therapists and cranial osteopaths.
 

Whole Body Breathing Craniosacral Theory

The Whole Body Breathing theory of movement for the skull, spine, and the fascial/muscle system around it is an approximate marriage between traditional craniosacral theory and the concept of fascial lines and meridians. In this video we will be exploring the theory for skull expansion and the origins of such thought. Whole Body Breathing looks at the anatomy of the body and sees how the various movements and systems fit together.
 

Studies:

Deep breathing couples CSF and venous flow dynamics
Venous system pathologies have increasingly been linked to clinically relevant disorders of CSF circulation whereas the exact coupling mechanisms still remain unknown. In this work, flow dynamics of both systems were studied using real-time phase-contrast flow MRI in 16 healthy subjects during normal and forced breathing. Flow evaluations in the aqueduct, at cervical level C3 and lumbar level L3 for both the CSF and venous fluid systems reveal temporal modulations by forced respiration. During normal breathing cardiac-related flow modulations prevailed, while forced breathing shifted the dominant frequency of both CSF and venous flow spectra towards the respiratory component and prompted a correlation between CSF and venous flow in the large vessels. The average of flow magnitude of CSF was increased during forced breathing at all spinal and intracranial positions. Venous flow in the large vessels of the upper body decreased and in the lower body increased during forced breathing. Deep respiration couples interdependent venous and brain fluid flow—most likely mediated by intrathoracic and intraabdominal pressure changes. Further insights into the driving forces of CSF and venous circulation and their correlation will facilitate our understanding how the venous system links to intracranial pressure regulation and of related forms of hydrocephalus.
Kollmeier, J.M., Gürbüz-Reiss, L., Sahoo, P. et al. Deep breathing couples CSF and venous flow dynamics. Sci Rep 12, 2568 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-06361-x
 
Respiration: A New Mechanism for CSF Circulation?
In conclusion, Dreha-Kulaczewski et al. (2017) identify the negative venous pressure occurring during inspiration as the main force driving CSF movement from the spine into the head. This work is crucial for our understanding of human CSF dynamics and has important clinical implications. Future studies should aim to unravel the role of respiration and venous pressure in the pathogenesis of different types of hydrocephalus and other pathologies.
Delaidelli A, Moiraghi A. Respiration: A New Mechanism for CSF Circulation? J Neurosci. 2017 Jul 26;37(30):7076-7078. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1155-17.2017. PMID: 28747391; PMCID: PMC6705733. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6705733/
 
Yogic Breathing Affects Cerebrospinal Fluid Dynamics During Breathing Practice
Findings from this study suggest that respiration can potentially be the primary driver of CSF dynamics, depending on the form of breathing an individual is practicing. The researchers noted that the next step is to see how long-term yogic breathing training could affect the CSF dynamics, and therefore, central nervous system health.
Yildiz S, Grinstead J, Hildebrand A, et al. Immediate impact of yogic breathing on pulsatile cerebrospinal fluid dynamics. Scientific Reports. 2022;12(1):10894. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/research/research-results/yogic-breathing-affects-cerebrospinal-fluid-dynamics-during-breathing-practice
 
Effect of Normal Breathing on the Movement of CSF in the Spinal Subarachnoid Space
At each level, CSF moved cephalad during inhalation and caudad during expiration. While the general pattern of fluid movement was the same in the 6 subjects, the flow rates, stroke volumes, and spine segment volume changes varied among subjects. Peak flow rates ranged from 0.60 to 1.59 mL/s in the cervical region, 0.46 to 3.17 mL/s in the thoracic region, and 0.75 to 3.64 mL/s in the lumbar region. The differences in flow rates along the canal yielded cyclic volume variations of spine segments that were largest in the lumbar spine, ranging from 0.76 to 3.07 mL among subjects. In the phantom study, flow velocities oscillated periodically during the respiratory cycle by up to 0.02 cm/s or 0.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory-gated measurements of the CSF motion in the spinal canal showed cyclic oscillatory movements of spinal fluid correlated to the breathing pattern.
C. Gutiérrez-Montes, W. Coenen, M. Vidorreta, S. Sincomb, C. Martínez-Bazán, A.L. Sánchez and V. Haughton
American Journal of Neuroradiology September 2022, 43 (9) 1369-1374; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.A7603
 
 
 
 
CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle, hands-on approach that aims to enhance the body's natural healing capabilities. It focuses on the craniosacral system, which includes the bones, soft tissues, and cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
During a CranioSacral Therapy session, the therapist uses light touch to evaluate and enhance the rhythm and flow of the cerebrospinal fluid. By doing so, they aim to release restrictions and tension in the body, promoting overall health and well-being.
This therapy is based on the concept that the craniosacral system plays a vital role in maintaining the body's health and proper functioning. It is believed that restrictions in this system can cause various health issues and discomfort.
CranioSacral Therapy is often used to alleviate a wide range of conditions, including headaches, neck and back pain, stress, and emotional difficulties. It is a non-invasive and gentle approach that can be suitable for people of all ages.
The mechanisms of CranioSacral Therapy are widely agreed upon, but the core driver of the craniosacral motion differs in both Whole Body Breathing and Holographic Breathing: The Breathe is the main driver in both of these methods, while in traditional craniosacral work the craniosacral rhythm has its own movement (which, as of yet, has not been replicable).

CranioSacral Fluid

CranioSacral Fluid, also known as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), is a clear, colorless fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and function of the central nervous system.
CSF is produced in the ventricles of the brain and circulates through the subarachnoid space, which is the space between the brain and the skull, as well as around the spinal cord. It provides cushioning and shock absorption for the delicate structures of the brain and spinal cord, helping to protect them from injury.
In addition to its protective function, CSF also helps to regulate the chemical environment of the central nervous system. It carries nutrients and removes waste products from the brain and spinal cord, ensuring their proper functioning. CSF also helps to distribute important substances, such as hormones and neurotransmitters, throughout the central nervous system.
The flow of CSF is regulated by a complex system of production, circulation, and absorption. Any disruption in this system can lead to a variety of health issues. For example, an increase in CSF pressure can result in conditions such as hydrocephalus, while a decrease in CSF production or absorption can lead to conditions such as intracranial hypotension.
Whole Body Breathing theory heavily overlaps with CranioSacral Theory in that the CSF is a core driver of respiration in the body. However, WBB theory contrasts to craniosacral theory by proposing that the breath is the main driver of CSF flow (or, at the very least, they drive each-other). Read more about WBB CranioSacral theory here

Resources for Further Research and Understanding:

http://www.craniosacral-biodynamics.org/