Unlocking Brain Health: Sleep and Craniosacaral Therapy
Have you ever wondered how your brain clears away toxins and waste? Enter the glymphatic system—a powerful waste removal system in your brain that works mainly while you sleep. This unsung hero is responsible for flushing out harmful byproducts, ensuring your brain stays healthy and functions optimally. It is akin to the lymphatic system but specific to the brain. It relies on the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to flush out waste products from the brain’s interstitial spaces.
The Glymphatic System: Your Brain’s Night Time Janitor
The way to think about it is that the glymphatic system is the detox team that works while you’re catching Zzzz’s. It clears out the build-up of proteins and other waste that can accumulate in the brain over time. Since it’s only activated at night and during periods of deep sleep, consistent quality sleep is more than just recharging your energy—it’s critical for brain detoxification.
Latest sleep studies looking at the brains of sleeping mice found that there are specific neurons that drive cleaning efforts by firing electrical signals in a coordinated fashion to generate rhythmic waves in the brain. Scientists have determined that these waves are what propels the fluid movement, which then allows fresh cerebrospinal fluid to flow through and get rid of trapped waste from the brain tissue.
Other studies also show how the disruptions in the glymphatic system may contribute to the accumulation of toxic proteins, potentially leading to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Therefore, maintaining a regular sleep schedule, ensuring adequate sleep duration, and promoting good sleep hygiene are all essential in keeping our nighttime janitor happy!
Craniosacral Therapy: A Gentle Boost for Brain Detox
You might be surprised to learn how much your daily habits and intentional self-care rituals can impact the glymphatic system. Simple choices like maintaining good hydration, managing stress levels throughout the day, or prioritising sleep can make a big difference. So the lack of sleep isn’t just depleting our overall body battery but it’s also slowing down your brain’s cleanup crew.
While sleep is multi-faceted and does not have a one-size-fits-all solution, one of the most tried-and-tested protocols for Deep Sleep at Soma Haus has been Craniosacral Therapy (CST) combined with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). CST is a gentle, hands-on technique that focuses on improving the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) around the brain and spinal cord. By releasing tension in the craniosacral system and promoting relaxation, CST helps to optimise the glymphatic system’s function, improve cognitive performance and enhance overall brain health. Unsure if this is right for you, reach out to our Educators for a Discovery Call to get you started.