Frequent traveler Karen Steele suffers from shoulder, neck and back problems. While on the go, Steele brings a little red foam device to use as an mini, CranioSacral therapy session.
"It's very convenient and easy to pack it helps to maintain my good health when I'm away as well as to relax me," she said.
During actual CranioSacral therapy sessions therapists use very light touch on the head, neck and body to gently release tension in tissues. Proponents say these adjustments help restore balance and rhythm to a person's cerebral spinal fluid, which cushions the brain and spinal cord.
"Most people do experience deep relaxation as well as reduction of pain and increase in energy," said chiropractor Lynn Mabry.
Medical experts and organizations say there are currently few scientific studies that have rigorously examined the role of this type of massage in treating pain and disease. But, the Upledger Institute, a well known CranioSacral teaching center, says that is changing.
"We've got over 125,000 therapists in over 100 countries that have treated millions of people, the anecdotal evidence is overwhelming. There's also been a lot of research, over the past 30 years there's been a lot of outcome studies as well as some evidence based studies," said John Upledger with the Upledger Institute.
We found now the therapy is hitting home with self help devices. For example, the Cranio Cradle Home Therapy System and the Be Calm Balls which are supposed to produce a "feeling of instant relaxation." The Still Point Inducer, which Steele uses, says it "may help in" relieving headaches and enhancing your immune system.
Pain management specialist Dr. Ronald Glick says for most people there is no harm in trying CranioSacral therapy, but the home products may not work as well.
"I don't think it's going to provide the same level of treatment or benefit that CranioSacral Therapy does with a skilled therapist. What I think it does is treat the muscles, treat sore or tight muscles at the back of the head and provide some trigger point relief," explained Glick.
He says you can make your own device. Just take two tennis balls and put them in a sock with a rubber band.
"They can substitute 
something like racquetballs then you just tie off the end like with a rubber band and they can use that to provide the same kind of pressure," he said.
Steele says ten minutes with her still point device makes a huge difference.
"I use the still point to continue the good work of a therapist and the body's natural healing process," she said.
The Upledger Institute also agrees the devices are best used in conjunction with therapy, but you can still get some benefit using them at home. If you have a head or neck injury yo may want to consult your doctor before using any type of cranio therapy device.
Links to the devices
The Cranio Cradle:
http://www.craniocradle.com/
Becalm Balls:
http://www.cranialtherapycentre.com/becalm-balls/
Still Point Inducer
http://stillpointinducer.com