Dr. Areti’s Treatment Protocol

In medical cranial therapy, I begin with muscles related to breath and SBJ release. The sphenoid basilar joint (SBJ) is often viewed as the key joint in the body.

William Garner Sutherland, DO (1873-1954), who is often described as the father of Cranial Osteopathy, felt that all the other bones in the body move to accommodate the SBJ – which is why it is so important to have a functional SBJ. He was interested in freeing the bones and sutures of this area in order to positively affect the rest of the body, including muscles and organs.

Next, I address organs and structures related to breath. My goal is to focus on decompression if compensating for the mouth/wrong breathing pattern.

Mouth breathing compensation often comes with a price. Because of the forward head movement, the rest of our body will alter its position in order to keep us upright and not fall over. Muscles tend to become tired and nerves, arteries, and veins become sore and tender, out of order, and can lead to headaches, irregular blood pressure, and irregular heart rate.

There is a significant link between airways, jaw disorders, posture and head/neck pain.  Also, the position of the tongue is vital in keeping the orofacial complex in a relaxed state. The tongue needs to stay slightly suctioned to the roof of the mouth during rest with the tip of the tongue slightly back from the front upper teeth.

Typically, I release the tongue in my practice, as it is a very important organ for overall mental, physical, hormonal (related to thyroid) issues, orientation/changing direction, balance, and structural health. The soft patty of flesh we call the tongue is not just one muscle, it’s a conglomeration of eight separate muscles. Unlike other muscles, tongue muscles do not develop around a supporting bone. In consideration of all of this, I work on mouth structures one by one including teeth and to support release of the diaphragm.