Before I started learning about craniosacral therapy, I didn’t have a clue as to the bones that made up our skull. I thought, like many others, that once we became adults, our skulls fused solid and that was that!
Oh my!! How wrong I was!! I’m going to discuss the sphenoid in this post because of how often I find clients coming in with issues relating to it.|
If you wear glasses, have you ever noticed that sometimes they look tilted on your face but you take them off and put them on the table and they sit perfectly on the hard surface? Well, that my friends is more than likely due to your sphenoid being slightly out of position.
So, what IS the sphenoid?! The sphenoid bone is a complex cranial bone that is located in the middle of the skull between the frontal and temporal bones. It is shaped like a butterfly or a bat with wings spread out and consists of a body, two greater wings, and two lesser wings. It is also a part of the triad of compression. (Occiput, Sphenoid & Sacrum)
It has several important functions. It forms part of the base of the cranium and helps to support the weight of the brain. It also houses important structures such as the pituitary gland, optic nerves, and carotid arteries. Additionally, the sphenoid bone provides attachment sites for several muscles involved in chewing, swallowing, and head movement.
It is also known as the “keystone” bone of the cranium because it articulates with all the other cranial bones, making it a vital component of the cranial architecture. Dysfunction or injury to the sphenoid bone can result in a variety of symptoms:
- Headaches & Migraines
- Vision problems & lazy eye
- Sinusitis
- Head/Neck/Back Pain
- Learning disabilities (dyslexia, etc)
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Tinnitus/middle ear problems
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Hip issues
- And MORE!!
So, what can you do about sphenoid issues? With craniosacral therapy, I can address dysfunction or misalignment of the sphenoid bone. Craniosacral therapy uses specific techniques to gently manipulate the sphenoid bone and its surrounding structures to help improve its position and movement.
Visit my FAQ page if you’d like to learn more about craniosacral therapy, call me if you have additional questions or if you are READY to try craniosacral therapy, book your session now!
~Lynn