Breakthrough Discovery about the Cranio-Sacral System

The fate of the spine is largely determined by the Cranio-Sacral System (CSS). For the un-initiated, the cranium is the ever-expanding-and-contracting complex of head bones, otherwise known as the skull. The cranium sits on top of the uppermost neck bone. The sacrum is a wedge-shaped bone that separates the two sides of the pelvis on its right and left sides. The low back or lumbar vertebrae (spinal bones) sits on top of the sacrum. So, the spine lives between the sacrum on the bottom and the skull at the top.

If you know anyone who has been living with pain or health issues, you may want to forward this newsletter to them. It's that important. If you ARE that 'anyone', I've got good news for you.

Ask any chiropractor, orthopedic surgeon, massage therapist or other body worker, and they will tell you: Back and neck pain take a lot of people down. Nerve roots exiting the spine are also responsible for plenty of misery in the shoulders arms and hands, and in the hips, legs and feet. The pharmaceutical companies that make pain meds and the attorneys that represent clients in pain will confirm this, as well.

I became interested in the CSS in the mid-1970s as it became increasingly obvious that without releasing tension from inside the head, there was no long term improvement of the spine. I like getting testimonials like the one in the next section, but they only happen when patients feel that something extraordinary has happened to them.

After studying, using and teaching Bio Cranial, and later Cranial Spinal Integration, I saw tremendous improvements in my patients' posture, as well as dramatic changes in spinal curves like scoliosis and in comfort levels as stubborn pains reduced and went away. But something bothered me. The sacrum sometimes contributed to an unraveling of the good work being accomplished.

The sacrum can rotate, tilt or jam between the two sacroiliac joints. In doing research with my patients, I've been able to distinguish ten separate patterns of dysfunction that the sacrum is capable of! Each pattern can undermine structural stability and cause the spine to go into painful compensations and distortion patterns.

Why does the sacrum 'misbehave?' It turns out that specific endocrine and nutritional imbalances are linked to the ten patterns. By supplying the proper nutritional supplement (different in each pattern!)--we can correct the sacrum on the spot and through feeding the body what it isn't getting--change the spinal pain patterns that correspond with the sacral imbalances.

Testimonial: Function Fully Restored to Hand

Dr. Stuart has been caring for my body for at least 2 decades, and here is why - only one example. Recently I awoke with my right hand virtually useless out of the blue. I could not write, hold a toothbrush or grip anything. And if I tried the pain was intense. I was scheduled to move in a few days, and I could not pack! I called and was fortunate enough to get an appointment with Dr. Stuart so I drove to Houston from my home in Austin the next day. I walked out of his office pain free and with 90% function returned to my right hand. By the next morning I was 100% healed! I was simply ecstatic - all in one visit. And all done with no pain or jarring moves. His work is sublime - how fortunate I am to know him.

Elizabeth Hastings
Austin, Texas

Phasing Out Our Packages--the How and the Why

Several years back, I introduced prepaid packages to my practice. A high percentage of my patients were new patients who needed to see me more often during the initial part of their care. Once they experienced what it was like to feel a lot better, they often wanted to bring in other family members, so I wanted to make it easier for them by offering bundles of visits at a lower cost per visit.

After going through a first package, I allowed my patients to renew the packages at this same lower rate, even they no longer needed to come in as often. It's true that we all need maintenance care (because our physical and emotional worlds can really dish out some stresses which affect the spine). Still, the frequency of visits generally goes down after some of the original problems are corrected and the body becomes more stable.

I became concerned when I analyzed the statistics and found that a lot of people were waiting until they were in horrible pain before coming in--even when they had unused package visits. I have to take responsibility for doing an inadequate job of education when something like this happens. Can somebody maintain a healthy nervous system for three months at a time? I think that some people may be able to. Not me, though. But when someone comes in after not seeing me for three or four years, it's a problem. I cannot do my job properly if someone tries to set the record for the longest time between chiropractic visits, even with the best of techniques.

All new packages issued now have understood expiration dates on them. Ten-visit packages are good for one year from the date of purchase. Five-visit packages are valid for six months from the date of purchase. If someone is coming for cranial and spinal care less often than once every six weeks, I am happy they are doing so well. And, the need for a bulk rate is less obvious.

Many of my patients have paid the visit-by-visit rate all along and been delighted with the value they've received. For my patients who are used to coming in at a package rate, I am extending the opportunity to buy packages until the end of August, 2010. It was never my intention to reduce my rates across the board indefinitely. I haven't raised my office visit fees since November of 2006, based on the state of the overall economy. Unfortunately, overhead and the cost of living has continued to rise over the last several, so I need to take this action in order to continue serving you.

A Reminder about how to contact me, and how NOT to

Making and rescheduling appointments: Phone 713-831-6875 between 8:30 and 5:00 Monday through Friday. Please do not email me or leave voice mail about your appointments. Reschedule at least 24 hours before your scheduled time to avoid being charged for missed appointments.

Please do not reply to emails coming from contact@drstuart.net or cranialdoc@att.net. You will receive appointment confirmations and newsletters originating from these accounts, but I will likely not get your message if you hit the reply button to write to me there.. Use the contact form on my website at http://www.drstuart.net/feedback.php. When I reply to you, you will have my personal email address, which you can use from then onwards. My website does not list that email address because life is too short to encourage spammers.

I hope all of you enjoyed a Happy Fathers Day. I did!

Yours in and for good health,

Dr. Stuart

Stuart C. Marmorstein, D.C., D.B.C.S.