The Sphenoid Bone
If you’re experiencing migraines, TMJ pain, vertigo, or hormonal disruption that hasn’t responded to conventional care, sphenoid bone dysfunction may be the underlying cause. At Body Wisdom CranioSacral Therapy in St. Petersburg, I specialize in treating sphenoid restrictions that most practitioners never assess.
One of the bones with which the sphenoid bone connects is the Occiput. The occiput forms part of the floor of the skull at the back of the head, just above where the head meets the neck. The Sphenoid bone, together with the Occiput, form the SphenoBasilar Joint or “SBJ”. The rhythmic movement of the SBJ is considered integral to health, as it is the SphenoBasilar Joint that supports the movement of fluids, nutrients, and information to and from the brain and spinal cord.
The SBJ can become dysfunctional from a variety of life experiences, such as head trauma (even minor bumps on the head can throw the SBJ functioning off), jaw imbalances, braces, tmj dysfunction, tooth malocclusion, falls, sports injuries, and accidents.
Sphenoid Bone Dysfunction Symptoms
When there is a dysfunction of the SphenoBasilar Joint (SBJ), a variety of symptoms can arise, including:
- Headaches
- Migraines: Learn more about our specialized approach to Migraine Relief
- Neck Pain
- Back Pain
- Pain Syndromes
- Sensory issues (imbalances related to vision, hearing, touch, speech, taste, or smell)
- Allergies
- Sinus issues
- TMJ Dysfunction (Jaw Issues and Pain): Sphenoid bone dysfunction often contributes to TMJ pain. Discover our TMJ treatment.
- Endocrine and Hormonal Imbalances (thyroid, adrenals, reproductive organs)
- Learning Disabilities
- Reading Problems
- Personality Disorders
- OCD (Obsessive-
Compulsive Disorder) - ADHD
- Emotional Imbalances
- Memory Issues
- Tremors, tics
- Tinnitus
- Scoliosis
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Insomnia and other Sleep Imbalances
What to Expect During Sphenoid Bone Treatment
Treating sphenoid and SphenoBasilar Joint dysfunction with CranioSacral Therapy is a subtle, deeply focused process. Using light touch — typically no more than five grams of pressure — I listen to the craniosacral rhythm and gently encourage the sphenoid and surrounding structures to release long-held restrictions. Many clients are surprised by how profound the effects can be from such a gentle approach. Sessions are deeply relaxing, and clients often notice shifts in head pressure, jaw tension, or visual clarity even during the first treatment.
Why Advanced Training Matters for Sphenoid Work
The sphenoid bone sits deep within the skull, making it one of the more nuanced structures to assess and treat. My 500+ hours of specialized CranioSacral training through the Upledger Institute — including advanced techniques developed during Dr. John Upledger’s teaching years — gives me the clinical foundation to work with complex sphenoid presentations that go beyond what introductory CST training covers. If you’ve seen other practitioners without lasting results, that depth of training may make the difference.
The Sphenoid Bone Connection: Migraines, TMJ, Vertigo & Head Injuries
Four of the most common — and most frustrating — conditions I see in my St. Petersburg practice share a common thread: the sphenoid bone. Chronic migraines often trace back to SBJ compression that disrupts cranial fluid dynamics and nerve pathways running through and around the sphenoid. TMJ dysfunction frequently involves sphenoid rotation that pulls the temporal bones out of alignment, creating jaw imbalance that no bite guard can fully correct. Vertigo and inner ear disturbances often reflect sphenoid and temporal bone restrictions affecting the vestibular system. And head injuries — even seemingly minor ones like hitting your head on a cabinet door — can jar the sphenoid into a strain pattern that persists for years, quietly driving symptoms that confound conventional diagnosis. CranioSacral Therapy addresses all four at their structural root.
If you’ve been experiencing Migraines, Chronic Pain, TMJ Dysfunction, or any of the above listed symptoms, CranioSacral Therapy can offer a gentle path to long lasting relief.
📞 Call or text: 727-415-4772
✉️ Email: body.wizdom@gmail.com
Advanced CranioSacral Therapy • 20+ Years Experience
Sphenoid Bone Dysfunction Treatment
Check out effective Treatment Options on our Symptoms Page if you’re experiencing any of the above.
In some cases, after an accident, one could have a vague sense that “something isn’t quite right”, yet scans and tests by your doctor come back inconclusive. This vague feeling that defies detection and diagnosis of the underlying problem, could very well be related to a SphenoBasilar Joint dysfunction.
Addressing and releasing dysfunctions of the Sphenoid and SphenoBasilar Joint is gentle, non-
As with all therapies and protocols, each person responds differently with the use of CranioSacral Therapy. Health status, chronic disease, medications, previous illnesses, and previous injuries are all factors in outcomes. Please call for a complimentary consultation to discuss your particulars and goals.
Hi, I’m Sandy Schell, a Certified CranioSacral Therapist with 20+ years experience. As an Advanced Level Therapist, I’ve helped people with a wide variety of health conditions. My primary focus is CranioSacral Therapy, although I will also combine other modalities as necessary into a session, such as Myofascial Release, Reiki, Grid Balancing, Vagus Nerve Balancing.
CranioSacral Therapy St Petersburg FL has a long, proven track record of being able to restore health and vitality by focusing on the core elements that “run” the body – the nervous system, it’s fluids, rhythms, and fascia (connective tissue).
CranioSacral Therapy is based in Osteopathic Medicine, and dates back to the early 1900’s. It’s safe, effective, and results-oriented.
The proper functioning of your nervous system is vitally important to your health and well-being. Your nervous system is based in communication, which happens through the cells, the energetic impulses, the fluids, and the connective tissues of the body. Having clear, strong, healthy communication, energy, and fluid movement is what underlies a health body. By focusing on the nervous system, a properly trained, experienced CranioSacral Therapist can release stress patterns at the causative level, resulting in symptoms disappearing once balance and communication throughout the body are restored.
Musculoskeletal tightness, neurological imbalances, autoimmune disease, many types of pain, and organ dysfunction are some of the many categories of health conditions that typically respond well with CranioSacral Therapy.
Please call for a complimentary consultation to discuss your particulars and goals.
Last Updated on 04/01/2026 by Sandy Schell
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