Cranial sutures are the name of the joints between the skull bones of the head. The sutures allow movement of the individual bones of the skull in relationship to one another. The space in between the bones is filled by very specialized ligaments called Sharpey’s Fibers. These fibers allow the joints to move and “float” without completely separating. This movement, and its freedom, is part of what allows our body to remain healthy. The sutures also contain nerves and blood vessels. These are what send the signals to our body that a stuck suture may not be “right” (we might experience a headache, for example). Freeing the restrictions of the bones can alleviate these symptoms.
William Garner Sutherland taught the sutural approach to AT Still’s grandson, George Laughlin, at the first cranial course. He did not share this approach with the rest of the students. George taught it to Ed Stiles, who practiced it for years in Norman, Oklahoma before coming to Pikeville, KY to teach osteopathic principles and practice to students. Based on this knowledge from his mentors of how the cranium works, Charlie teaches classes on sutural approaches to diagnose and treat the cranium. Working with the sutures is entirely different from the membranous approach taught in other cranial courses. Typically, treating the sutures allows the practitioner to go deeper, faster than the membranous approach - and, in many cases, to achieve more profound and lasting results. There are also restrictions that won’t free any other way. It is a powerful treatment tool that is not commonly taught in osteopathic education - anywhere in the world. For more information on these classes, or how the sutures work, you may also go to www.cranialsutures.com.