Maybe It Is All in Your Head: How Cranial Bones Affect Your Total Health

By Dr. Sadie Laronde, D.C. & Anna Crandlemire, CST
Chiropractic & Craniosacral Therapy for Whole Body Wellness | Ottawa, ON

When we think about health, we often forget what’s right at the top—our skull. But what if many of your recurring symptoms—chronic headaches, sinus pressure, TMJ pain, vertigo, or even emotional stress—were actually rooted in the subtle mechanics of your cranial bones?

At The Effect Healing Collective in Ottawa, we help patients reconnect with their bodies by looking at craniosacral function, a powerful yet often overlooked system that influences your brain, spine, nerves, and whole-body regulation.

What Are the Cranial Bones and Why Do They Matter?

The human skull is made up of multiple individual bones, each connected by joints and sutures. Though these joints are stronger and less mobile than those in the rest of the body, they do move—and that movement is crucial.

These bones:

• Protect your brain and top of the spinal cord

• Influence posture, vision, and breathing

• Affect the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), lymph, and blood

• Interact with the cranial nerves, responsible for vision, hearing, balance, facial expression, and more

Subtle movement (expansion and contraction) occurs in the cranium approximately every six seconds. When even one bone is jammed, it can disrupt the balance of the entire craniosacral system.

What Causes Cranial Bone Imbalance?

Cranial dysfunction can happen suddenly or cumulatively:

Sudden Causes

• Birth trauma (especially long, fast, or assisted labor)

• Concussions and head injuries

• Sports injuries or car accidents

• Surgical trauma, like mastectomies or spinal fusions

• Stitches or scars that restrict tissue mobility

Cumulative Causes

• Everyday bumps and falls

• Poor posture (sitting, driving, sleeping on your stomach)

• Chronic inflammation from poor diet or environmental toxins

• Emotional trauma that keeps the body in protective tension

Symptoms That May Be Rooted in the Skull

If your cranial bones are misaligned, they can lead to a wide range of physical, emotional, and neurological symptoms. Here are just a few conditions we've seen respond well to cranial care:

• TMJ dysfunction and jaw pain

• Tinnitus, ear pressure, and balance issues

• Chronic sinus congestion and seasonal allergies

• Migraines, eye strain, and headaches

• Sleep apnea, snoring, or mouth breathing

• Facial nerve issues like Bell’s Palsy or Trigeminal Neuralgia

• Septum deviation without improvement post-surgery

Real-Life Success Stories

• A 45-year-old woman suffering from Bell’s Palsy following a vaccination saw complete symptom relief in just 3 sessions of craniosacral and spinal care.

• A 26-year-old patient experienced relief from long-standing TMJ pain, nosebleeds, and seasonal allergies after pelvic and cranial adjustments.

• A 47-year-old man with chronic snoring and sleep apnea improved his sleep quality and relaxation following cranial realignment.

These cases demonstrate how the body and brain are deeply interconnected—and how releasing tension at the skull can restore flow, function, and well-being.

What You Can Do to Support Cranial Health

Simple self-care techniques can help maintain mobility in your cranial system:

1. Be Calm Balls

This tool uses gentle pressure to soothe the nervous system and promote parasympathetic function. Benefits include:

• Reduced pain and tension

• Deeper breathing

• Mental focus

• Nervous system regulation

2. Fruit Jar Exercise

A hands-on technique to support eye, ear, and sinus function:

• Place fingers on your forehead and cheekbones

• Apply gentle inward pressure

• Promotes movement of facial and cranial joints

NOTE: These exercises are best used as maintenance or in conjunction with care—not as a replacement for a professional assessment.

Final Thoughts

Your head holds more than your thoughts—it holds the key to your nervous system health. If you’ve been dealing with stubborn symptoms that haven’t responded to conventional treatments, it may be time to take a closer look at your cranial alignment and craniosacral rhythm.

At The Effect Healing Collective, we integrate gentle chiropractic, SOT cranial techniques, and craniosacral therapy to assess and treat the root cause—not just the symptoms.

If this resonates with your experience, we invite you to book a free consultation and discover what’s possible when you support your body from the top down.

Stay curious, stay open, and keep on growing.

—Dr. Sadie Laronde, D.C. & Anna Crandlemire, CST