Cranial Nerves for Vertigo, Sinusitis, Neck & Shoulder pain, TMJ, Anxiety and PolyVagal

Wait - Whaaa? You wanna do what to my Cranial Nerves?
To alleviate headaches, sore neck and shoulders, eye pain, ear problems, sinus problems, dizziness, tinnitus, TMJ, Vertigo, anxiety, neuralgia, sleeping problems, nausea, depression, balance problems and so much more.
​Cranial Nerves – what do they do?
We would not be able to smell, see, taste or be upright without our Cranial Nerves. The most famous Cranial Nerve Nr. 10 – The Vagus Nerve keeps our heart, lungs and digestion system functioning properly. Yet Cranial Nerves and the dysfunctions that they can cause - get very little attention and perhaps understanding in treatments of common or persistent health issues and problems. The table below lists our cranial nerves, their function and some examples of common dysfunctions they can cause in everyday ailments. Worth a check if you are suffering from any of those conditions, like TMJ, Tinnitus, Digestive Problems, Anxiety or Neck Problems and Shoulder problems.
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Cranial Nerves –Function and symptoms
We have 12 Cranial Nerves and they primarily serve the head and neck structures, with the exception of the Vagus Nerve, that extends all the way down to our intestines. They form a key part of our nervous system. The cranial nerves give us our special senses of smelling, seeing, hearing, balance and taste. They allow for facial expression, move our eyes, and turning our head. Cranial Nerves go through small openings (foramina) in the cranium to head and neck structures. The Vagus Nerve, which is for 75% responsible for our relaxation rest and digest state– goes all the way down the throat to the heart, lungs, stomach and intestines. Ten of the 12 cranial nerves originate in the brainstem – our reptilian brain in charge of our fight and flight stress responses. What are the changes these Cranial Nerves are going to react one way or another, when the body is on a constant high alert or in a state of emotional or physical stress, leading to sympathetic overstimulation? Pretty high.  “Cranial nerves control the secretion of enzymes and acids in the mouth and stomach, the production of bile in the liver, storage of bile in the gall bladder and production and storage of digestive enzymes in the pancreas. Additional functioning of individual cranial nerves: They regulate kidneys, bladder, heart, breathing and reproduction” (Stanley Rosenberg: Accessing the healing power of the Vagus Nerve). You can start to see how important cranial nerves and their proper functioning to our well-being are.

Cranial Nerve	Function	Symptoms	Bones& ​Muscles affecting the nerve	Special Feature
I Olfactory  Nose	Smell	Reduced smelling	Sphenoid, Frontal & Ethmoid bones	Direct pathway into the forebrain. Smells elicit a strong emotional reaction as a primitive and instinctual reflex
II Optic -Eyes	Vision	Blurred, foggy or double `vision Eye strain Headaches	Sphenoid Bone Rectus muscles of the eyes	Originates in Forebrain
III Oculomotor Eyes	Looking	Double Vision, lazy eye or difficulty with depth perception Reactivity to light Sinus problems Headaches	Sphenoid & Temporal Bones Rectus muscles of the eye	Part of the Parasympathetic Nervous System -rest and digest
IV Trochlear Eyes	Looking	Difficulty looking outwards and downwards Depth perception Double vision/Lazy eye Headaches	Sphenoid & Temporal bones Rectus muscles of the eye	-
​V- Trigeminal Face– 3 Divisions: Ophthalmic Maxillary Mandibular	​​Chewing & Swallowing	TMJ dysfunction Jaw problems Opening and closing jaw Sensory changes in face and teeth Tinnitus Trigeminal Neuralgia Headaches Migraines Sinusitis	Sphenoid, Temporal Maxilla (lower jaw) Bones	Polyvagal – Social Engagement & Responsible for Tensor Tympani – eardrum muscle can be involved in Tinnitus/Hyperacusis
VI - ​Abducens Eyes	Looking	Depth perception Lazy eye Headaches	Sphenoid Bone Rectus Muscles of the eye	-
VII - Facial	Chewing Movement of muscles of the face – tensing and relaxing	Changes in fascial muscle  – Bells Palsy Mouth asymetry Changes in nasal secretions and tear formation Hyperacusis - Tinnitus	Temporal Bone	Polyvagal – Social Engagement. Responsible for Stapedius muscle – protecting inner ear from high noise levels  Part of the Parasympathetic Nervous System -rest and digest
VIII Vestibulocochlear - Ears	Hearing: translates sound waves into nerve impulses & Equilibrium	Problems with hearing, Hearing sensitivity, Tinnitus, Problems with balance, Dizziness	Temporal Bone	Cochlear part responsible for hearing Vestibulo part for balance
IX-Glosso- Pharyngeal- Tongue	Swallowing	Changes in Blood pressure and breathing Difficulty swallowing Saliva problems Gag reflex Changes to taste sensation	Temporal & Occipital bones Sub-occipital muscles	Assists in regulating Blood pressure     Part of the Parasympathetic Nervous System -rest and digest
X-Vagus Nerve  Throat Lungs, Heart Abdomen organs: pancreas/liver Kidneys Intestines	Innervates Throat. esophagus, regulates heart and lungs, abdominal organs and small and ascending and transverse part of the large intestines.	Responsible for many symptoms like: Heart rate or blood pressure problems Swallowing problems Throat problems Nausea Throwing up Anxiety Depression	Temporal & Occipital Bones Suboccipital Muscles Thoracic inlet Respiratory Diaphragm	75% responsible for our Parasympathetic, rest and digest nervous system and Homeostasis   Poly Vagal Model: Two branches: Ventral Vagus Branch (Social Engagement) Dorsal Vagus Branch (withdrawal/shutdown)
XI - Accessory - Neck and Upper Shoulder	Innervates the Trapezius and Sterno Cleidomastoid Muscles – allows you to turn your head and neck	Tension in SCM and Trapezius muscles – Neck and Shoulders	Temporal & Occipital Bones Suboccipital muscles Lateral rectus muscle	SCM and Trapezius muscles can pull shoulder and spine out of alignment.
XII - Hypoglossal - Tongue​	Moves the tongue	Problems with speech or swallowing and sticking tongue out	Occipital bone & Sub-occipital muscles	-

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How does Craniosacral Therapy work with these Cranial Nerves and Symptoms?
Cranial nerves can be affected by a multitude of causes. It can be affected by head injuries, inflammation, muscular pulls in the neck and sub-occipital area, teeth grinding, birth trauma, bony or membranous restrictions, tension and stress. Cranial nerves pass through many bony structures and various foramina (little openings in the skull where nerves, arteries and veins go through) in and between the bones of the skull. The cranial nerves can be impacted by restrictions between the cranial bones and foramina’s, leading to a decreased mobility of the bones and/or compression of these openings. One important foramina is the Juglar Foramina between the occiput and temporal bones as many important structure pass through here. Bones like for instance the temporal bones can be in flexion, torsion or side bending due to muscular pulls or restrictions. In CST, we work v gently with the bones in the skull, assessing the movement or lack of movement of the cranial bones, we work with the fascia (membranes), facilitating releases and tracing the nerve pathway. Craniosacral therapy works on many levels to improve overall functioning of the cranial nerves:
·     Releasing tension in the membranes (connective tissues);
·     Releasing restrictions between the individual cranial bones, removing
      impingement of nerves;
·     Increasing blood supply to the brain stem;
·     Improving the flow of the CSF;
·     Lowering stress responses and improving functioning of the nervous system;
·     Releasing tension in muscular system – fascial unwinding;
·     Improving the function of the cranialsacral system – the spinal cord; the brain
      and nerves.

We do not massage nerves or apply deep pressure as it would not be very beneficial. It is no magic bullet, it can take time particularly if problems have been long-standing and are deeply ingrained but then again with acute vagal nerve disturbance or vertigo, 1 or 2 sessions can already produce amazing results. We use a very delicate, experienced and well-trained touch. People often totally zoom out when we work on the head and cranial nerves and will often say: “not too sure what she did - she was just holding my head, I think I feel asleep, but my pain is a lot better or I can move my neck or my jaw feels better, my tinnitus is lower or I am not dizzy anymore and I feel a whole heap lighter”. We are not just holding your head, we are tracing the pathway of the nerve, releasing tissue or bony constrictions, improving blood flood and CSF flow. We listen, touch and work with the bones, the muscles and the nerves with dedicated and precise touch. This allows the nerves to start to fire under their firing range, switch off and coming back into a place of balance: homeostasis. The gentle craniosacral touch really belies it power.

Conditions I treat in my clinic with Cranial Nerves
Personally, I love working with the Cranial Nerves and Cranial Bones. I find it extremely helpful for many conditions. In my clinic I work a lot but not exclusively with:
TMJ-The Trigeminal nerve is associated with receiving sensations from the face and teeth. The motor branch supplies the muscles of mastication (chewing) and can be implicated in teeth grinding but also in sinusitis and migraines. It is also important to work with the Trigeminal Ganglion where all nerves come together, cross over, relay information and go on their individual journey. Further information please see my blog on TMJ.
Tinnitus – tinnitus is a multi-variable condition that can include neck problems, jaw problems, nerve compression, bony restrictions or impingements, membranous restrictions, loud noise exposure, stress and unprocessed emotional issues. People with tinnitus often complain of hyperacusis (hypersensitivity to noise) and/ or a sense of fullness in the ear. This can be because of involuntary contraction of the tensor tympani muscle within the ear that is innervated by the Mandibular division of the Trigeminal nerve to reduce auditory output. (Thomas Attlee, Face to face with the face). The muscle contracts under tension and with loud noise is meant to dampen its vibration. One of the most common variable with Tinnitus clients is high levels of tension and stress (sometimes below their level of awareness) and can lead to involuntary contraction of muscles and nerves. Constant high Sympathetic nervous system activation due to stress, pressure, tension and inner turmoil can cause the tissue and nerves to become hyper sensitive and hyper reactive. (Please see my Tinnitus blog). The Vestibulo-cochlear nerve enables us to hear and receive sensations of hearing and balance and can be involved in Tinnitus when there is a disturbance in the cochlear division. Working with the Trigeminal nerve, the muscles, the bones and the delicate structures in and around the ears is very beneficial for Tinnitus.
Vertigo, Meniere’s disease, dizziness–The Vestibulo-division of nerve VIII is responsible for our balance. Disturbance to the vestibular division can lead to vertigo and/or Meniere’s disease. Here it is important to release restrictions and tension at the cranial base and sub-occipital area and working with the structures and nerves around the inner ear and neck. Instant improvement can often be experienced here after Craniosacral work.
Stress, sleeping problems. anxiety, depression, digestive problems, autism, chronic Fatigue, fibromylgia, inflammation - Vagus Nerve.
Vagus Nerve disturbance can be responsible for a multitude of health issues from inflammation to anxiety to digestive issues. The Vagus Nerve is one of the most important nerves in the body and plays a major role in regulating many aspects of our physiology. The Vagus Nerve travels all the way down from the brainstem, through the neck, where it is involved in speech and swallowing, the lungs where it is involved in respiratory function, the heart where it is involved with cardiac function, the abdomen and into the intestines, where it is involved with digestion. For instance with IBS and Crohn disease clients working with the vagus nerve is important. The Vagus nerve also plays a big role in psycho-emotional states (please see my 2 previous blogs on Vagus). All neurological activity increases by a nervous system that is in constant overdrive, stress and in sympathetic overstimulation. The Vagus is for 75% responsible for our rest and digest Parasympathetic nervous system. One nerve with so much power. You cannot go passed a balanced vagal tone for true optimal health and well-being and trauma recovery. You cannot go past reducing stress and sympathetic overstimulation by bringing the nervous system back into balance for good physiological functioning and optimal health. You have got to plug this hole first particularly in complex and chronic illness and trauma otherwise nothing else will stick.
Neck and upper shoulders problems
CN XI – the Accessory nerve innervates the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles. These muscles allow us to move and turn our head. The accessory nerve is often implicated in chronic tight neck and shoulders and in Torticollis, where the neck muscles contract and causing the head to twist to one side or when there is a problem with cervical rotation and shrugging of the upper trapezius muscles. Here we release the tension and restrictions in the neck and sub-occipital area through fascial unwinding and sub-occipital release.
Swallowing, speech or tongue problems
Adults with swallowing problems or babies with sucking problems or with tongue tie, CN XII – the hypoglossal nerve can be involved as this nerve moves the tongue and is also involved in swallowing and speaking. This nerve can be distorted when there is an imbalance or compression. Here it is important to work with the Occipital bone at the base of our head and some muscles and tissues of the throat like the suprahyoid muscles.

Polyvagal Model for Health and Well-Being
There are 5 Cranial Nerves that are necessary for social engagement in the leading Polyvagal Social Engagement and Communication Model. In previous blogs I have written about Polyvagal and how they relate to different states of our Nervous System: Engaged, Fight or Flight or Frozen. The 5 Cranial Nerves that support Social Engagement and our Well-being are: 5,7,9,10 and 11. Please see my previous blogs.

You wanna do what to what to my cranial nerves? Yes please, balance them out !

References :
The purpose of all my blogs is: would my mother understand it. I purposely don’t overcomplicate or name all there is to know about everything. For in-depth information including CN 0, sensory or motor components and polyvagal: I highly recommend below books.

• Class Notes Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy & Class notes Cranial Anatomy– Kientalerhof Switzerland 2011. As always, I deeply acknowledge my brilliant teacher Friedrich Wolf who provided an outstanding craniosacral education and not only included oa the Sutherland model, the Polyvagal model, Birth Trauma and Franklyn Sills, Michael Kern, Michael Shea & Hugh Milne teachings but also many of his own teachings and deep life lessons. 
• Face to Face with the Face by Thomas Attalee (2016)– a brilliant recommendable handbook for students and practitioners.

• Accessing the Healing power of the Vagus Nerve – Stanley Rosenberg (2017)

• Online: www.antranik.org/cranial nerves