Demystifying the Cranial Bones

of the sutures? Depending on the bones affected symptoms in both horses and humans can range from headaches dizziness and tension to lethargy migraines and confusion.
I was inspired to write this article by two recent cases. 
The first involves a dear friend who was involved in a horse accident and was traumatically impacted at the nasalmaxilla bone level in the centre of her face. This is a zone that can be highly affecting as it protects the midline bones including the ethmoid and sphenoid which are integral to healthy brain function and the primary respiratory mechanism also referred to as the craniosacral rhythm. As is common with this type of centreline impact she experienced vertigo lethargy and pain a concerning amount of time. Happily she is getting great care and will be working with both a talented osteopath and a medical specialist to regain the harmony of her cranium and vitality levels but it will take time to regain her equilibrium. Her injury has driven home an awareness of how debilitating a cranial injury can be particularly one affecting the central structures of the cranium and how important it is to receive support both medically and therapeutically to recalibrate the intricate harmony of these bones and the structures they support. 
The second case involves a horse I work with regularly who had a mysterious accident in his pasture that resulted in a substantial growth of bone and scar tissue between his eyes and down his nasal bone. Amazingly he doesnt present with any noticeable pain but he does show excess eye watering on one side and after one of our treatments will often have a big sinus clearing. He has also shown noticeable reduction in the size of his bump over a course of treatments using gentle cranial work. Luckily for this fellow his impact was out of the main danger zone of the brain but was over an area full of sinuses and responsible for drainage which could have an impact in the future although not as connected to his overall function. Hes also very lucky to have an owner who is committed to getting him back to his best and is open to this type of work. And happily he is a fan of treatment!
For me these two cases highlight the need for more understanding in this area so that both horses and people are able to receive
support if needed and their symptoms arising from a potential cranial issue are recognized and worked with effectively. Typically I find myself working cranially with more than threequarters of my equine and human clients. 
Other important factors that can shift the harmony of these bones are dental imbalances birth both giving birth and being born a poorlyfitting or illused bit tight facilitated muscles in the neck which attach onto important cranial bones a tight nuchal ligament in the neck the balance of the hyoid bone the balance of the upper cervical vertebrae which connect to the occiputal bone at the base of the skull and issues along the spine sacrum or pelvis. Over the years I have found that issues are more common in horses who have a tendency to pull back are orally fixated tend to giraffe or set their neck under saddle and hold a great deal of tension or discomfort in their muscle or fascial systems. I have also noticed a strong connection between head shy horses and cranial imbalances.