Ernest Walter Retzlaff, Ph.D. (February 19, 1918 – 1989) was an American neurophysiologist and histologist who helped develop a form of manipulative healing therapy called Craniosacral therapy

Craniosacral therapy

Craniosacral therapy is an alternative medicine therapy used by osteopaths, massage therapists, naturopaths, and chiropractors. A craniosacral therapy session involves the therapist placing their hands on the patient, which allows them to "tune into the craniosacral rhythm"...

 with Dr. John Upledger at Michigan State University

Michigan State University

Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...

 in the 1970s.

In 1987, he published The Cranium and Its Sutures: Anatomy, Physiology, Clinical Applications and Annotated Bibliography of Research in the Cranial Field (Springer-Verlag) with his colleague Fredric L. Mitchell, Jr.

He was born to German immigrant parents in Helena, Montana

Helena, Montana

Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...

, on Feb. 19, 1918.