How Does Cranial Release Feel?

This is probably the most anticipated question simply because the whole idea of getting your head adjusted from the inside seems like such a bizarre thought. I know it was definitely one of the biggest questions I had before trying it.

I think one of the biggest things to keep in mind is that it's not a painful experience for most people. I have met two people who found their initial experience pretty painful when it happened,, but were fine afterwards, As for myself, it wasn't painful at all, though I can't say it was pleasant either.

While the balloon is being inflated, you feel a pressure inside your head that slowly grows, and sort of feels like something is trying to squeeze it's way through something very stiff. Not really in a bad way, but just something that does require effort. One of the things I actually appreciated about this sensation was the knowledge that this pressure was a result of something needing to be moved and something that needed to be done.

Once the balloon is fully inflated, there is a brief sensation of fullness in your nose and head, sort of like the sensation you get when you jump into a pool too quickly and water goes up your nose. You feel the inflated balloon go into the upper part of your throat, which is the indication that the inflation was successful.

The balloon is then quickly deflated and removed. You may feel a bit of tenderness afterwards, but I felt no real residual issues afterwards.

The craziest thing about the whole experience for me however, were the cracking sounds I heard and felt in my skull. They weren't crazy loud or scary- and sounded more like Rice Krispies crackling- but it was still an insane experience because it was inside my head.

It's hard to explain, but I also felt and heard pressure in my head being relieved. Kind of like the sound of a blow off valve on a car releasing, or the whistling sound of a boiling tea kettle, though in a much softer and more subtle way.

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One of my biggest concerns prior to getting the treatment was the balloon popping inside my head, but there is also no real reason to be concerned that the balloon may pop. The balloon is never inflated to its maximum capacity, so the balloon popping is virtually impossible. The balloon is also not inflated with enough force to cause it to pop.

After Treatment

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After getting the Balloon Therapy done, it is typical to continue feeling changes and shifts 3-4 weeks after. The bones in the skull continue to shift throughout this time, and you may feel these shifts taking place. As the bones in the skull start to shift, this may also cause shifts through the rest of your body as well.

For me, I could feel things moving around, especially when I was sleeping. It's a bit unreal, but just know that anything you are experiencing is just the body adapting to this new state of being.

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Is Cranial Release For You?

If you're someone who is unsure about the treatment or scared of getting it, there is no easy answer. It's definitely not for everyone because of how unorthodox it is, and how extreme it seems.

I was certainly really really concerned about getting it. In fact, I was petrified at just the thought of getting it done, because I was scared it could potentially make things worse for me. As time went on and I became more and more desperate however, it eventually got to the point where I had no choice- there was nothing left to try.

Still, I was petrified. It took my chiropractor 9 months to finally convince me to try it, and I remember literally shaking as he inserted the balloon into my nose for the first time ever. I still remember the office manager Anna holding my hand as I got the first treatment. I didn't realize it at the time because everything was such a haze for me, but it was one of the best decisions I made for my health.

I know some of you may really be unsure and on the fence about it, so hopefully my thought process at the time will make it easier to make a decision.

The first thing that really inspired me to try it was my trust in my Chiropractor. Up to this point, he was the only one that was able to help me. It wasn't easy and was the first time I had done up to this point, but I decided to just trust him and go for it.

The second thing was watching videos and testimonials of other patients who had the treatment done. Youtube wasn't what it is today when I was looking for videos to watch, but there were still a handful that I was able to find.

Watching these videos and really listening to the patients and their stories- what they felt, things they've tried, and their experiences- helped me feel a connection and really gave me the confidence to do it.

Hopefully, watching other people's experiences will give you a better idea of whether or not Cranial Release is right for you.

There still isn't much on Cranial Release available on Youtube, but there's definitely more than there was when I was searching which is great. I'll include some links that may be worth checking out if you're interested in seeing other patient's experiences.

Dr. Doug Willen is a chiropractor who recently learned Cranial Facial Release, and has been making videos of his patients getting the treatment. One of the great things about his videos is that he shows the patient's whole visit, so you really get an idea of what the patient's full experience is. He's also a great chiropractor overall, and one of my favorites. I'll link his videos below as well.

Alternative Treatments

If getting Cranial Release is something that seems too intense for you, there are two alternatives that you can try. Both aim to release cranial pressure by moving the sphenoid bone, but in very different ways.

Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral Therapy is structural work that is done with very light pressure. Oftentimes, the pressure is almost imperceptible, and it feels like nothing is being done. However, great results can often be achieved with CST.

CST aims to release the sphenoid bone, by primarily making contact with the bone from the inside of the mouth. Very gentle pressure is applied, which brings movement back to the sphenoid.

One thing to keep in mind is that the cranial changes from Cranial Release are often more noticeable, since it is a much more aggressive technique. If you're looking for something gentler however, CST may be a good alternative.

Cranial Release Technique

Cranial Release Technique also aims to release the sphenoid bone, but with a very deep stretching technique.
It does so by deeply stretching the trapezius muscle, which attaches to the occiput. Since the occiput articulates with the sphenoid, this stretching is believed to bring motion to the sphenoid through the pulling of the occiput by the stretched trapezius muscle.

Much like CST, it is much gentler than balloon based Cranial Release work. The results may not be as pronounced, but it may be easier for people looking for an alternative.