As a craniosacral therapist, I am always striving to improve patient outcome. Combining craniosacral therapy with dolphins has shown good results in preliminary research.

My patient Linda suffers from debilitating spinal and brain abnormalities. She has been diagnosed with Arnold Chiari Malformation Type 1, Klippel-Feil Syndrome, Agenesis of the Corpus Collosum, Encephalomalacia, Encephalocele, Reynaud’s Disease, and Scoliosis.

Linda was one of 19 participants who came on my week-long Vision Therapy Retreat in Bimini, Bahamas. All the patients have a variety of neurological, visual, and health related issues. Each day, we spent two hours experiencing primitive reflexes, light/color therapy and/or vision therapy activities. Then we went out on the boat and swam with the wild dolphins.

I first became interested in the combination of craniosacral therapy with the dolphins swimming nearby through my craniosacral training. Dr. John Upledger’s research on using this combination shows that people responded very favorably to this type of treatment.1

Neuroscientist Dr. John Lilly also studied the effects of wild dolphins on humans for over 20 years. He found that they have helped people improve their health.2 Psychologist, Dr. David Nathanson, has completed research on dolphin interactions with neurologically impaired children. He reports that the human-dolphin interactions have changed and improved many of his patients’ health. 3 British doctor Peter Guy Manners has found that the sounds produced by wild dolphins has had a positive therapeutic effect on patients with mental depression and paraplegia.4

Linda described her experience of receiving craniosacral therapy from me in the water.

“As I entered the water with the dolphins for the first time, the first dolphin I encountered swam right past my head, coming first towards my left side where the worst part of my brain disease is. When experiencing the dolphin assisted craniosacral session for the first time, I felt an electrical-type surge go through my body. As my craniosacral therapist started therapy on my spine, the dolphin was swimming across my whole body very slowly, while other dolphins were above and below me. I began to shake and then breathe somewhat heavily. Another dolphin then proceeded to gently lie across my legs for a few seconds.

“The next day, I experienced this same type of surge, but a little less powerful, while my craniosacral therapist connected with my spine while the dolphins were circling me. There was also one time when I felt euphoric, as they were above me, around me, and below me, while emitting their echolocation (sound). I could barely move because my body was so relaxed.

“This therapy brought me great strength in my whole body like I have never felt before. My legs feel incredible and my body is much more limber. I was able to climb up onto the boat without assistance whereas I needed help before the dolphin connections. Overall, I feel more relaxed and at peace.

“I can definitely do more than I could before I came to this retreat. I am also sleeping much better, and I don’t wake up feeling tired. In the morning, I no longer have to wait an hour for my eyes to focus. They have been focusing most mornings without a problem in five minutes.”

The retreat was gave like-minded people a chance to live in community, interact with nature, and work with the metaphor of vision being about focus, clarity, intention, and spiritual expansion. The participants experienced holistic health.

References:
1. Upledger, John, Cell Talk, Berkley, CA, North Atlantic Books, 2003.
2. Lilly, Dr. John C., Communication Between Man and Dolphin, New York, Julian Press, 1978.
3. Cochrane Amanda, Callen Karena., Dolphins and Their Power to Heal, Rochester, Vt, Healing Arts Press 1992
4. Ibid