FEBRUARY 2018 / 27 / YOGAJOURNAL.COM
ACUPUNCTURE INVOLVES PRICKING SKIN and body tis-
sues with needles. The application of these needles along
the body’s energy meridians is an ancient Chinese medical
intervention—thought to be used more than 8,000 years
ago—which has been proven to help ease and prevent a
host of health conditions. “Acupuncture is just one modal-
ity within Chinese medicine, so we look at the whole being
when deciding where to place acupuncture needles,” says
Villella. “For example, while you might have pain in your
back, we look at what meridian that pain is on and will
place needles along that meridian to help you fi nd relief.”
TRY THIS THERAPY IF ... you tend to be skeptical and want
proof that a therapy will work. Acupuncture is backed by
satisfying scientifi c evidence. Research shows acupunc-
ture’s benefi ts range from helping relatively minor health
complaints (one study published in the American Journal
of Rhinology & Allergy found that acupuncture relieves
sinus problems due to allergies) to more serious issues
(researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and Temple
University found acupuncture helps ease cancer pain).
And when it comes to treating chronic pain, there
are hundreds of studies published in well-respected medi-
cal journals that reported positive results when acupunc-
ture is used to treat ailments from back, neck, and nerve
pain to premenstrual cramps.
HOW CAN A PRACTITIONER
who lightly holds her patient’s
skull and sacrum create profound
health benefi ts using barely detect-
able movements? Craniosacral
therapists believe these minute
manipulations boost circulation
of cerebrospinal fl uid—the stuff
that cushions the spinal cord and
brain—improving the function-
ing of the central nervous system.
“When my hands are holding
someone’s body, I’m listening for
the tidal movement in their cere-
brospinal fl uid,” says Manchester,
a certifi ed craniosacral therapist.
“Once that person reaches what’s
called a ‘still point,’ the body is able
to drop out of fi ght-or-fl ight mode
and drop into the wider wisdom
fi eld, where there’s more capacity
and less contraction.”TRY THIS THERAPY IF ... you don’t
need scientifi c evidence to prove
the eff ectiveness of subtle-body
energy work. Craniosacral therapy
was developed by an osteopath in
the 1970s, yet since then there’s
been little research proving its eff ec-
tiveness. While the American Can-
cer Society says this therapy may
relieve the symptoms of stress or
tension, the organization also notes
that there’s no evidence proving
craniosacral therapy’s eff ectiveness
in treating cancer or other diseases.
However, proponents fi nd it deeply
relaxing and a helpful adjunct to
other treatments for pain, trauma,
chronic fatigue, and more.