Cranial Sacral Therapy (massage) and Cranial Electrical Stimulation offered at Shangri La BioSpa & Resort stimulate frequencies in specific parts of the brain that are responsible for healthy states of mind such as alpha, (healthy) beta, and theta ranges. In instances of addiction and withdrawal, these brain waves are significantly reduced with fewer occurrences when the dominant sympathetic nervous system expresses higher beta brain waves responsible for many of the symptoms that cause people to seek legal and illegal drug-based medications. In todays over-stimulating, neurotoxic environment. it is more common for the patient to require alpha and theta stimulation and reduce elevated beta waves than it is to induce higher beta waves.

Below is a synopsis of the frequency patterns and pros and cons of each of the four major categories of brain frequencies. The good news about these therapies is that the brain can actually be trained to produce healthy waves on its own. At a certain point in therapy, the brain will consistently produce healthy frequencies responsible for tranquility, peaceful alertness, emotional well-being, focus, creative thinking and many other favorable states of mind.

At Shangri La BioSpa & Resort you will also benefit from the diet and lifestyle changes focused on eliminating the many neurotoxic and over-stimulating influences that caused the brain waves to produce the unhealthy frequencies. This will become your foundation that maintains the success achieved at our Resort and makes our treatment model a curative approachyou dont have to submit to treatment for the rest of your life, just as long as it takes to sustain the healthy states of mind you seek.

WHAT ARE BRAIN WAVES & WHAT DO THEY DO?

Using EEG devices we can measure the brain waves as they are produced by our brain. Brain waves are the electrical fluctuations in the brain associated with various states of cortical arousal (thinking, learning, relaxing, recuperating etc.). Brain waves are all oscillating electrical voltages in the brain, but they are very tiny voltages, just a few millionths of a volt. Brain waves are measured in terms of Hertz (Hz). Research has demonstrated that the brain has the quality of neural-plasticity, (able to change and learn new pathways) therefore our brain can be trained to produce certain brainwaves at certain parts of the brain thus enabling us to move from one state of cortical arousal to another depending on our goals. Brain entrainment techniques used at Shangri La BioSpa & Resort include sound and rhythm (Holosync assisted meditation), extremely low level electrical stimulation (CES), and Cranial Sacral Massage (opens the energy channels (meridians) of the nervous system) which all work together to not only re-entrain the brain to produce the healthy frequency patterns, but also accelerates the biorepair of the nervous system by enhancing oxygen and nutrient delivery to the brain and nervous system.

When the body is over-stimulated you suffer corticol inhibition and go into fight or flight mode which is the protection mode designed by nature to give you every chance of successfully fleeing from a threat or fighting it off. The body will use energy and nutrients for this mode and divert its biochemical functions away from the growth mode where healing and repair take place. The Energy Medicine of Holosync assisted meditation, CES, and Cranial Sacral Massage all work together to not only quickly stablize you and eliminate transitional discomfort from drug withdrawal but also deliver you to the growth mode required for healing the damaged neuroendocrine system which produces the symptoms and cravings that brought you to drug/alcohol addiction.

Ulimately the Energy Medicine provided at Shangri La BioSpa & Resort teaches the brain to hardwire itself into a more harmonious function within itself and with its environment and providing you adopt the healthy lifestyle practices taught at our Resort the entrainment achieved at the Resort will be maintained without further treatment after you leave.

Brain Frequencies and their Related States of Mind

DELTA 0.5- 3 Hz

Known Functions

Energy Medicine for:


It is thought that Delta is the first primal or core frequency that is produced in the RAS. The care frequency of Delta is then altered by various brain structures to produce all the other waves

  • Present during deep sleep
  • Large & slow waves
  • Human Growth Hormone Release
  • Beneficial for healing & Regeneration
  • High Delta Ratio whilst awake can indicate depression & exhaustion
  • Access to collective unconscious
  • Intuition, ESP
  • Detached awareness

  • Reduction of Anxiety

THETA 4 7 Hz

Known Functions

Energy Medicine for:


Theta is also known as the twilight state which we normally only experience fleetingly as we rise up out of the depths of delta upon waking, or drifting off to sleep. In Theta, we are in a waking dream, vivid imagery flashes before the minds eye and we are receptive to information beyond our normal conscious awareness. Theta has also been identified as the gateway to learning and memory.
In Theta state, brain cells are able to restore their sodium and potassium levels, which is essential for proper brain functioning. The sodium & potassium levels are involved in osmosis which is the chemical process that transports chemicals into and out of your brain cells. After an extended period in the Beta state the ratio between potassium and sodium is out of balance. This the main cause of what is known as "mental fatigue". A brief period in Theta (about 5 15min) can restore the ratio to normal resulting in mental refreshment

  • Super learning (children tend to activate Theta whilst learning)
  • Theta can activate stored painful memories
  • ADD/ADHD individual usually produce too much Theta in relation to Beta
  • feelings of silence and being one with the universe; revelation
  • moving beyond knowledge into knowing
  • Heightened receptivity
  • Reprogramming the Mind
  • Insomnia control
  • Increase in Creativity
  • Stuttering
  • ADD/ADHD

ALPHA 8-12 Hz

Known Functions

Energy Medicine for:


The brain waves called "Alpha" were the first to be discovered (around 1908, by an Austrian Psychiatrist named Hans Berger ).
Alpha brainwaves originate in the occipital lobe and move up towards the frontal lobes. When individuals do not produce sufficient alpha or alpha of insufficient power, then it never reaches the frontal lobes and they tend to operate in Beta which generates varying levels of anxiety and stress.
This range (between 7 8 Hz) encompasses the resonant frequency of the earth and ionosphere, and is known to aid in migraine/headache alleviation with visualization techniques. The Alpha and theta border also helps to boost the bodys immune functions. Neuro- chemical levels of norepinephrine, serotonin and Beta-endorphins are increased.

  • Peak performance
  • less anxiety and, correspondingly, stronger immune systems
  • associated with light relaxation
  • super learning/enhanced learning mode
  • positive thinking
  • mind/body integration
  • intuition
  • extra sensory perception
  • day dreaming
  • self reflection
  • bridge between conscious & unconscious
  • emotional balance & mood elevation
  • inner awareness
  • Associated with earths magnetic field
  • Enhances serotonin release
  • Facilitates nicotine withdrawal
  • Deficient in Alcoholics
  • Excess can cause spaceness
  • expanded awareness
  • sense of peace & wellbeing

  • Relief from pain
  • Drug, Alcohol, Cigarette Addiction
  • Hypertension
  • Obtaining the state of Zen
  • Clearing of past trauma
  • Increased physical performance
  • Increased creativity

SMR 12- 15 Hz

Known Functions

Energy Medicine for:

SMR stands for Sensory Motor Rhythm, it is this brainwave that we use for passive intellectual activities. Ideally we should use SMR for everyday function and reserve Beta for more intense situation, However, for many Beta is the brainwave habitually used.

  • Training SMR can help ameliate Epilepsy
  • Reduces anxiety
  • Strengthen basic physiological functions
  • Strengthen the Mind and conscious Ego in a positive way
  • Calm intellectual processing

  • Anxiety Reduction
  • ADD/ADHD
  • Fearfulness
  • lack of body awareness
  • migraines
  • stomach aches with stress
  • Aspergers
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Difficulty falling asleep
  • Epilepsy
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Menopausal symptoms
  • Panic attacks
  • Premenstrual Syndrome
  • Improve maths conceptualisation
  • Nightmares
  • Improved spatial skills
  • Reduction of Type A personality traits

BETA 14- 37 Hz

Known Functions

Energy Medicine for:


From an evolutionary point of view beta allows us to assess and learn new information quickly, Beta activates all systems, it main function was for survival. However, Beta demands and uses large amounts of physical resources and when Beta goes into overdrive it eventually results in physical exhaustion. Think of constantly running through a jungle and not knowing were the next tiger is going to spring from!

  • highly abstract, complex mental functioning
  • Strengthens basic physiological functions
  • Strengthens the Mind and Ego in a positive way
  • Excess hypertension, anxiety, muscular tension, exhaustion
  • alertness, concentration

  • ADD/ADHD
  • Anxiety
  • Increase sequential processing
  • Improved articulation/Language
  • Chronic Pain
  • Addictions
  • Depression
  • Diabetes
  • Difficulty staying asleep
  • Dyslexia
  • Fatigue
  • Tension headaches
  • Hypoglycaemia
  • Insomnia
  • Irregular Menstrual Cycle
  • Improved sense of wellbeing
  • Menopausal symptoms
  • Panic attacks
  • Improved maths & language skills
  • sugar cravings
  • inattentive
  • learning difficulties
  • social anxiety
  • spacey

GAMMA 38- 90 Hz

Known Functions

Energy Medicine for:

Gamma is a newer brainwave only because it is difficult to get instrumentation to accurately measure it. It is thought the Gamma is the harmonizing frequency for example when you are observing an object, its colour, size, texture etc are all perceived and processed by different parts of the brain, it is thought that Gamma allows for unification of all the different information.

  • Harmonizing & Healing
  • High level information processing
  • Disappear with general anaesthesia

Cranial Sacral Therapy
A Clinical Report

We began this series of experiments by applying electrodes on the midline of each patients anterior thigh, three inches above the superior border of the patella. The grounding electrodes were placed upon the dorsum of each foot on the anterior midline over the tarso-metatarsal junctions. We also monitored cardiac activity through a V-2-placed electrode, and we tracked pulmonary/respiratory activity by placing sensitive strain-gauge and band apparatuses around the thoracic cage at the level of the juncture of the manubrium sterni with the xiphoid bone. Circumferential variations in thoracic-cage volume reflected breathing activity. These four measuring devices were then plugged into a polygraph that recorded the heart rhythm, breathing activity, and total-body millivoltage changes.

Dr. Karni monitored the readings on polygraph paper. Initially I told him what was happening as I initiated treatment techniques or patient changes occurred, and he noted the comments on the polygraph paper at appropriate locations. After a while, he was making accurate patient observations by simply monitoring changes in the polygraph recordings. We treated more than 150 patients this way and collected what seemed like miles of data. By demonstrating correlations in total-body electrical potential, we again confirmed the activity of what we called the craniosacral system.

As all of these laboratory studies were taking place, my colleagues and I conducted two clinical inter-rater reliability studies on children. I developed a 19-parameter evaluation protocol used to rate the level of mobility for various bones of the skull and sacrum. The first study was carried out on 25 nursery-school children examined by myself, one of two other cranial osteopaths, and a student assistant. The four of us evaluated the children independently, and reported our findings on each parameter to an independent research assistant. No one had any knowledge of the others findings until after an independent statistician completed the statistical analysis. The percentage of agreement between the examiners varied from 72 percent to 92 percent, with the allowed variance of 0-0.5 percent. Once again, these findings supported the existence of a craniosacral system and sutural movement.

Still not satisfied, I went on to use the same examination protocol on 203 grade-school children. I personally evaluated the children with no knowledge of their histories. I then reported my findings to a research assistant who faithfully recorded them. An independent statistician then collected information from each childs school file, along with historical data from parent interviews. He correlated my findings with the data he recovered, and reported a very high level of agreement between the craniosacral examination findings and learning behavior; seizure problems; head injuries; hearing problems; and even obstetrical problems.
The study, because of its scientific design, obviated the possibility of random agreement. The results showed that standardized, quantifiable craniosacral system examinations represent a practical approach to the study of relationships between craniosacral system dysfunctions and a variety of health, behavior and performance problems. Other researchers have performed similar studies related to psychiatric disorders and symptomatology in newborns. Again, most of this work has been published. This is but a small portion of the research that has been done to prove the efficacy of therapy upon the craniosacral system.
Today, there are close to 100,000 CranioSacral Therapists around the world and even more reports of patients helped by its noninvasive techniques. I find it odd that this information counts for nothing in the eyes of some skeptics who continue to proclaim the craniosacral system a fantasy. In any case, the craniosacral system will continue to exist and be used therapeutically with essentially no risk.

CranioSacral Therapy
Celebrate the Healing Power of a Gentle Touch

Mr. Thomas Bianco, M.S.P.T.
Physical Therapist
CranioSacral Therapy
East Longmeadow, MA

Sometimes all the body needs to activate the healing process is a light touch by a skilled hand. CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle approach that works to alleviate a range of sensory, motor or neurological disorders.

Its no secret that among the keys to good health are proper nutrition, exercise, a stress-free life (to the extent thats possible) and steering clear of harmful habits. But what about that aspect of health that originates from inside, within our internal self-healing system? We know that the body is designed to defend us from disease and assist in healing, as evidenced every time we fight off a cold or a cut heals. What we may not be aware of are the innovative hands-on techniques available to facilitate that process.

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a light-touch manual approach that enhances the bodys natural healing capabilities. For nearly 30 years is has been shown to be effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and loss of function. CST is useful as both a primary treatment method and combined with other traditional or complementary techniques.

How CST Works

The CranioSacral Therapy practitioner works with the patient to assist the bodys self-correcting mechanisms. Generally using about five grams of pressure, or about the weight of a nickel, the practitioner evaluates the bodys craniosacral system. This system plays a vital role of maintaining the environment in which the central nervous system functions. It consists of the membranes and fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord as well as the attached bones including the skull, face and mouth, which make up the cranium, and the tailbone area, or sacrum. Since the brain and spinal cord are contained within the central nervous system, it is easy to see that the craniosacral system has powerful influence over a wide variety of bodily functions.
The CranioSacral Therapy practitioner essentially helps the body release restrictions which it has been unable to overcome on its own that inhibit the bodys normal, self-correcting tendencies. Rather than deciding how these changes should be made, the therapist follows cues from the body on how to proceed. When the therapist follows this gentle approach, the method is extremely safe and effective. The few contraindications to CST are aneurysm, intracranial hemorrhage, and other conditions where altering intracranial fluid is not recommended.

Benefits of CranioSacral Therapy

CST has been shown to alleviate a wide range of conditions, including traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, migraine headaches, chronic fatigue, motor-coordination impairments, chronic neck and back pain, scoliosis , central nervous system disorders, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), stress and tension-related problems, and orthopedic problems. While the focus of CST is to uncover the source of the problem, symptom relief also is achieved. The length of time and number of sessions needed is extremely variable and depends, among other factors, on the complex layers of injury and trauma that may mask the original cause of the problem as well as the bodys defense mechanisms. Due to its gentleness and effectiveness, many people include CST as a component in their personal wellness programs. They report having more energy, sleeping better and being sick less often.

The Foundations of CranioSacral Therapy

In the early part of this century, osteopathic physician William Sutherland put forth the original concepts for what is now known as the craniosacral system. Dr. Sutherlands studies culminated in a system of treatment known as Cranial Osteopathy. Another osteopath, John Upledger, is credited with developing CranioSacral Therapy. While assisting during a surgery in 1970, Dr. Upledger observed a rhythmic movement of the dura mater, the membrane that encompasses the brain and spinal cord. Neither his colleagues nor medical texts could explain his observation. Dr. Upledgers curiosity led him to the work of Dr. Sutherland, and later to develop his own scientific studies to confirm the existence of the craniosacral system. This work went on from 2023 to 2023, while he served as a clinical researcher and Professor of Biomechanics at Michigan State University. The findings of the research team he supervised first established the scientific basis for the craniosacral system.
Dr. Upledgers continued work resulted in his development of CST. He formed The Upledger Institute in 2023 to educate the public and healthcare practitioners about the benefits of CST. To date, the Institute has trained more than 40,00 healthcare practitioners worldwide in the use of CST. Practitioners include osteopathic physicians, medical doctors, doctors of chiropractic , doctors of Oriental Medicine, naturopathic physicians, psychiatric specialists, psychologists, dentists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, acupuncturists, and massage therapists.
With a growing number of practitioners, CST provides a new healthcare option one that uses a gentle approach working with the body. By following the bodys lead, the CST practitioner often can uncover the source of pain or dysfunction that can open the path to wellness.

Further Information

Your Inner Physician and You by John Upledger, D.O. (North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA, and UI Enterprises, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, 2023) describes CranioSacral Therapy in greater detail and offers a number of case histories.