We all experience some form of  ‘stress’ and it’s essentially an unavoidable part of life, especially in New York City.  Stress is a reality of modern living where longer hours are being worked and the media is constantly overloading our senses with the latest fake news. The American Psychological Association conducted a wide-reaching study of Stress in people. Nearly one third of the participants surveyed indicated they have experienced physical symptoms associated with stress such as trouble falling asleep, stomachaches, and headaches. Stress is how the body responds to a stimulus (fear or pain) interfering with the normal physiological equilibrium. While it is considered normal and expected, too much stress can result in major health complications and minor side effects that reduce the quality of life.  Stress can surface in unique ways for each person experiencing it, with the most common symptoms being;  

• Headache
• Neck and low back tension and pain
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Change in sex drive
• Stomach upset
• Sleep problems
• Nervous System Issues 
• Loss of REM Sleep
• Irritability/mood swings

Carrying more stress than what is “normal” can also create neck pain and stiffness, low back pain, skin problems, ulcers, hair loss, hypertension, poor overall general health and many other symptoms and conditions. These effects of stress are serious and should not be taken lightly, they are the body’s way of communicating that it has reached a limit that is no longer safe, and changes need to be made for good health to continue.  Sources of stress vary from person to person but the most commonly reported causes of stress are money, work, the economy, family responsibilities, and health concerns – all unavoidable and can be overwhelming. When this happens, it can be beneficial to turn to Chiropractic care and Craniosacral Therapy for help. 

A form of craniosacral therapy have been used to bring relief to stress related health repercussions, and that is Somato Emotional Release technique. It is a light hands-on therapeutic touch where the practitioner will locate pressure points and locations in the body where the person may have energy blockages. By utilizing craniosacral therapy in the areas where muscles are tense, stress hormones are released and a patient will experience much relief in their stress related symptoms.

Much of the work that a chiropractor does is with the spine, the root of the nervous system.  Abnormalities in the alignment of the spine are called subluxations: misalignments, restrictions, affected nerves, and or pain that adversely impact your spine and health.  We call these subluxations interferences because they cause interference in the natural function of the body. Because your nervous system controls all organs of the body, interferences will naturally cause dysfunction beyond the spine. The nervous system is directly responsible for managing stressors and most interference to your system can be grouped into one of three categories of stressors:

Physical Stress:  Any instance where your body becomes mistreated, misused, and maladjusted may become a physical stressor and interfere with innate processes that should lead to health.

Chemical Stress: environmental toxins, cleaning products, cosmetics, medications we take, and even the food and water we consume bombards your body with toxins that have an immediate, but also cumulative impact.  

Emotional Stress: Stress can also dramatically impact mental and emotional health, manifesting as mood disturbances including anxiety, depression, and irritability. 

If there is spinal subluxation (interference to your nervous system), the nervous system’s ability to function optimally is blocked and you become less equipped to handle stress. Each chiropractic adjustment reduces interference to the nervous system and improves function. As our nervous system’s functioning increases, so does the body’s ability to cope with external stressors. Hence because stress generally triggers symptoms in the nervous system, spinal manipulation or adjustments can be effective in restoring balance to the nervous system and hormonal system.

Be mindful chiropractic focuses on the spine (the root of the nervous system). As chronic stress produces muscle tension and contraction, that too often then leads to uneven pressure on the musculoskeletal system, which in turn leads to subluxations.  Thus spinal adjustments help reduce muscle tension easing the stress on certain parts of the skeleton along with the subluxations. Easing subluxations can balance the spine and is an essential step in reducing and managing stress.  

This is how spinal misalignments lead to a host of health and wellness benefits in the body.  Also the misalignments (subluxations) can interrupt nerve function and communication which will ultimately lead to chemical imbalances in the body.  Chemical balance is a primary importance for stress management. Not only do subluxations result in these imbalances, but prolonged stress also increases cortisol levels, the stress hormone, which can weaken the immune system, cause adrenal fatigue, and make the sufferer more susceptible to anxiety and depression. 

With this being said, spinal adjustments with a skilled Chiropractic treatment can correct the misalignments and also bring the body’s chemistry back into balance. When the body is working at its most optimal capacity it is better suited to fight illness and handle the daily stress of life. Including improvement in REM sleep. Chiropractic care is not limited to neck or back pain but has been shown to provide holistic health benefits from the inside out. 

About Dr. Kaminsky & Craniosacral Therapy

Dr. Kaminsky earned his Chiropractic degree in the year 2000 and is licensed to practice in NY. He has since completed close to three thousand hours of continuing education seminars in various healthcare fields.

Since 2015, he is implementing primarily the hands-on techniques of Craniosacral Therapy (CST), a gentle, non-invasive, laying of the hands that brings about reversal and restoration.

The Craniosacral Mechanism is the driver of moving fluid in the body and head called cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF), which is produced by the Choroid Plexus of the brain and encapsulated within the head and spine.

The craniosacral system is the hydraulic mechanism of a human being and is a component of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and (ANS) Autonomic Nervous system.

There is a function inside of your brain that autonomically generates rhythmic impulses that function to pump CSF throughout your body via the craniosacral pathways, regulating your central and peripheral nerves, nervous system and organ systems, musculoskeletal system, etc.

This moving fluid is palpable to a trained craniosacral therapist, like the heart rate, pulse rhythm, breath, that can all be seen, heard or felt, so too can the Cranial Sacral Rhythm (CSR) be palpated and diagnosed for its health.

By placing his or her hands on your body, including your head and sacrum, the therapist can detect, feel and evaluate the SQAR (symmetry, quality, amplitude, rate) of this fluid rhythm.

The health of your body and mind are dependent on the vitality of this fluid. Compromises of your CSR’s rhythmic impulse correlates to CSF flow restrictions in the system which, when the fluid isn’t flowing optimally, your bodily rejuvenation and recovery is affected.

With anatomically correct hand placement on different parts the body during a session, through gentle manipulation and mobilization the therapist guides and facilitates a positive change in that region of the body which brings forth a correction. A myofascial release in a sense.

A craniosacral therapist stimulates and helps your rhythm refocus, allowing for improvement of musculoskeletal tightness and spasms, neurological issues, organ function, many common conditions, pain, and the mind-body re-connect.

Through a practitioners properly focused and individually attuned touch, your body is facilitated to release channels of fluid stagnation and flow restriction, which ultimately breakthrough, overcome and improve your rhythmic fluid and your potential for health improvement.

The existence of the Craniosacral mechanism was first discovered by Osteopath Dr. William Sutherland in the early 1900’s, who called it Cranial Osteopathy. And many years later, renamed to Craniosacral Therapy by Osteopath, Dr. John Upledger.

Dr. Alex Kaminsky is an advanced and certified Craniosacral Therapist, having studied advanced levels including SER, Brain and Pediatric courses. He has built a significant skill-set with many years of experience treating adults, children and babies. To learn more, visit the other pages on this website. Call to schedule your appointment with Dr. Kaminsky.