Exploring Cranial Facial Release (CFR): An Overview and Potential Benefits for Patients

Exploring Cranial Facial Release: An Overview and Potential Benefits for Patients

In the world of alternative therapies, Cranial Facial Release (CFR) stands out as a specialized chiropractic technique aimed at addressing issues related to the skull, face, and nervous system. Often sought by those who haven't found relief through conventional treatments, CFR involves a unique approach to mobilizing cranial bones. While it's gaining attention in chiropractic circles, it's important to understand what it entails, how it's performed, and the reported benefits. This post draws from various sources to provide a balanced overview.

What is Cranial Facial Release?

Cranial Facial Release is a non-invasive, balloon-assisted endo-nasal adjusting technique developed within chiropractic care. It evolved from earlier methods like Bilateral Nasal Specific (BNS), refined by practitioners such as Dr. Adam J. Del Torto in the 1980s. The core idea is that the skull isn't a solid, fused structure but consists of 22 bones connected by sutures that should allow subtle movement, particularly in sync with breathing. Restrictions in these bones—often from trauma, stress, or congenital issues—can disrupt cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow, impacting the brain, nervous system, and overall health. Unlike gentler therapies like craniosacral therapy (CST), which uses light touch to address similar concepts, CFR is more direct and involves physical intervention inside the nasal passages.

Proponents describe CFR as a way to "unlock" cranial fixations, restoring normal motion and function. It's typically performed by trained chiropractors and is positioned as a last-resort option for chronic conditions, emphasizing its role in tapping into the "other 80%" of the nervous system not addressed by standard spinal adjustments. CFR also integrates concepts of SOT to assist in procedures.

The Procedure: What to Expect

The CFR process is relatively quick but requires multiple sessions for optimal results. Here's a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Initial Assessment: A chiropractor evaluates your medical history, symptoms, and cranial mobility to determine suitability.

2. Balloon Insertion: A small, lubricated balloon (attached to a blood pressure bulb) is gently inserted into one of the nasal passages, targeting the nasopharynx.

3. Inflation: You take a deep breath and hold it while the practitioner inflates the balloon for 1-3 seconds. This creates pressure that mobilizes the facial and cranial bones, often accompanied by a sensation of intense nasal pressure or a "popping" sound.

4. Repetition: The process is repeated in other nasal turbinates (up to six passageways total across sessions), alternating nostrils. A full series usually involves 4 treatments over several days, with 3-4 series recommended for maximum effect.

Each session lasts about 15 minutes, and patients can typically resume normal activities immediately. Some describe the feeling as similar to water rushing up the nose during a dive, but discomfort is brief.

How Does CFR Work?

At its heart, CFR targets the sphenoid bone—a central cranial structure that influences the nervous and endocrine systems. By inflating the balloon, it applies outward pressure to release stuck sutures and improve bone mobility. This is believed to enhance CSF circulation, which nourishes the brain, pituitary gland, and spinal cord while flushing out toxins. Improved flow can alleviate pressure on nerves, reduce inflammation, and support better respiratory and neurological function. Practitioners often combine it with other chiropractic methods for a holistic approach.

Claimed Benefits and Conditions Treated

Advocates of CFR highlight its potential to provide relief where other therapies fall short, often citing anecdotal success stories. Reported benefits include:

• Improved Breathing and Sinus Health: By opening nasal passages, it may reduce congestion, snoring, and sleep apnea, leading to better sleep quality.

• Pain Relief: Many patients report reductions in headaches, migraines, facial pain, and TMJ discomfort.

• Neurological Improvements: Enhanced CSF flow could help with symptoms like tinnitus, vertigo, dizziness, and even post-concussion issues.

• Overall Well-Being: Some experience better mood, reduced anxiety, improved focus, and hormonal balance due to pituitary gland stimulation.

Conditions commonly treated include:

• Sinusitis, deviated septum, and chronic nasal obstruction

• Migraines, trigeminal neuralgia, and Bell's palsy

• Sleep disorders like apnea and insomnia

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) symptoms, post-stroke effects, and seizures

• Infant cranial deformities (e.g., plagiocephaly) and learning disorders

• Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), where it may normalize CSF flow to ease dementia-like symptoms

Patient testimonials often describe life-changing relief, such as quieter breathing, less reliance on medications, and improved energy levels. However, results vary, and maintenance sessions may be needed.

Scientific Evidence and Considerations

While CFR is praised in chiropractic communities, scientific evidence remains limited. Related therapies like CST have been reviewed, showing mixed results for pain reduction and well-being, but with low-quality studies and no clear effectiveness in meta-analyses. Specific to CFR, evidence is mostly anecdotal or from case studies, with calls for more rigorous research. It's not universally accepted in mainstream medicine, and some view it as unproven.

However, it's worth noting that the human body is extraordinarily complex, and our current technology and scientific methods may not yet fully capture or understand its intricate mechanisms, especially in areas like the brain and nervous system. This limitation in our understanding doesn't inherently disprove the potential efficacy of therapies like CFR. Similarly, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), practiced for thousands of years, faces comparable challenges: its evidence is often inconclusive due to difficulties in standardizing complex herbal formulas, conducting high-quality trials, and validating empirical knowledge through Western scientific lenses. Yet, TCM is widely used and integrated into healthcare systems worldwide, providing benefits to many despite these research limitations—its adoption isn't solely due to a lack of information but reflects its holistic approach that may not fit neatly into modern study designs. For CFR, the scarcity of robust studies could stem from similar issues, such as funding constraints, methodological challenges in measuring subtle cranial changes, and the personalized nature of the treatment. This doesn't mean it doesn't work; rather, it highlights the need for innovative research approaches to bridge these gaps.

Please be wary of things you see online. People claim to be doing this technique but are in fact not doing it properly or using another nasal ballooning technique. You should not be seeing a balloon being expanded out of the mouth and being popped.

Not All Nasal Ballooning are Created Equally

CFR is the only nasal ballooning that integrates with SOT and the knowledge of that technique. Please read other post for more information on SOT and Cranial work. There are benefits of other techniques as they use similar methods, but the practitioner might potentially lack the understanding of the cranial movements and how it works.

List of other techniques:

Bilateral Nasal Specific (BNS) - Dr. Richard Stober

Neuro Cranial Restructuring (NCR) - Dr. Dean Howell

Functional Cranial Release (FCR) - Dr. John Lieurance - Florida

Balloon Assisted Cranial Adjusting (BACA) - Dr Stephen Berman

Nasal Release Technique - Cindy Stein P.T. - Pennsylvania

Nasal Specific - Dr. Dan Murphy

There range many different practitioners of such as medical doctors, osteopathic doctors, physical therapist, etc. Nasal ballooning works to mechanically open up the nasal passages with proven results. Here at Leap Chiropractic, after extensive consideration of other techniques. We have concluded that CFR has the highest standard and integrates well with care you will receive.

Here is a Link to another Certified CFR Practitioner who tracked cranial facial changes in his patients: https://campbell-chiropractic.com/cranial-facial-release/   

Images and Testimonials linked above.

Final Thoughts

Cranial Facial Release offers an intriguing option for those dealing with chronic cranial or sinus-related issues, potentially unlocking benefits like better breathing, reduced pain, and enhanced neurological function. If you're considering it, seek a certified chiropractor with CFR training here at Leap Chiropractic. As with any alternative therapy, individual experiences differ—listening to your body and combining it with chiropractic care might yield the best results. Ready to try CFR? Book your Appointment today!

Dr. Elbert Chao D.C.

Leap Chiropractic