Bowen Therapy
What is Bowen Therapy & how does it work
Bowen moves are done at the level of the superficial fascia and affects the relationship between the fascia and the nerve, muscle or tendon being mobilised. Fascia plays a major role in muscle co-ordination, postural alignment and overall structural and functional integrity. All of these are negatively affected when the fascia stiffens, contracts, torques or dehydrates. Following a Bowen session it is not uncommon to see adhesions loosen up, soften scar tissue and posture and mobility improve without harsh mobilisation or stretching. Rather than focusing on a single complaint, Bowen addresses the entire body, by restoring balance via the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS controls over 80% of bodily functions and is very susceptible to external stressors. Most people today live in a constant state of high stress and sympathetic ANS over-stimulation (fight, flight or freeze mode). Healing can occur only after the ANS shifts from sympathetic to parasympathetic dominance (rest, relax and repair mode). When faced with an acute injury, the practitioner may address only the traumatised parts of the body because there hasn’t been enough time for the injured client to begin compensating for, and accommodating to, the injury.
Bowen Therapy is a 'complementary' modality in the sense that it enhances and complements, but does not interfere with, traditional medical attention. It is a holistic non-invasive hands-on modality. Specially placed Bowen moves are gentle, but purposeful, with no forceful manipulation, that trigger the regulating mechanism of the body. Responses within the body can be noted for up to 5 days after treatment. Another key feature of Bowen Therapy is the integration or processing times after the application of moves to allow the body to respond and unwind back to a healthier state. For this reason, it's best to have Bowen Therapy as a stand-alone session and to avoid other manipulative therapies for several days after the Bowen treatment so as not to disrupt or over-ride the Bowen messages or overload the system.
Bowen Therapy holds an important place in the broader health care system by virtue of its gentle, non-invasive yet effective approach to helping people find relief from their discomfort and or stressors of life. Many people are looking for a gentler approach than some other manipulative therapies. Bowen Therapy is also a helpful addition for people wishing to prevent injuries or illness as well as during the rehabilitation process after injury or surgery.
Bowen Therapy can be beneficial in a wide range of situations. It can assist recovery from many conditions, from traumatic injury to chronic illness, depending upon each individual’s capacity to heal. Bowen is designed to make you “heal better” rather than “instantly heal” during a treatment which is why you may not feel instant relief ( a lot of people do though) and you need to allow the body to heal over the week following a treatment.
Some of the conditions that often respond favourably to Bowenwork are:-
How often and recommendations
Most conditions will only require two treatments spaced a week apart however some will require further treatments depending on how your body responds to the treatment, the requirements of the condition being worked on and how chronic or severe the injury is. Everybody reacts differently therefore what works for one person in a time frame may be different for others. In the case of shoulder problems the recommended treatment schedule is week 1 and week 2 with a follow up at week 6 allowing the body to adjust to the moves with a space of 4 weeks between treatment 2 and 3. Note that with Bowen therapy it is best to avoid any heavy lifting, lawn mowing for the first few days and also avoid any other modalities for up to 5 days. This allows the Bowen to do it’s work as it will continue to work on resolving the issue within your body after the treatment day for up to 5 days.
Bowen Therapy is a 'complementary' modality in the sense that it enhances and complements, but does not interfere with, traditional medical attention. It is a holistic non-invasive hands-on modality. Specially placed Bowen moves are gentle, but purposeful, with no forceful manipulation, that trigger the regulating mechanism of the body. Responses within the body can be noted for up to 5 days after treatment. Another key feature of Bowen Therapy is the integration or processing times after the application of moves to allow the body to respond and unwind back to a healthier state. For this reason, it's best to have Bowen Therapy as a stand-alone session and to avoid other manipulative therapies for several days after the Bowen treatment so as not to disrupt or over-ride the Bowen messages or overload the system.
Bowen Therapy holds an important place in the broader health care system by virtue of its gentle, non-invasive yet effective approach to helping people find relief from their discomfort and or stressors of life. Many people are looking for a gentler approach than some other manipulative therapies. Bowen Therapy is also a helpful addition for people wishing to prevent injuries or illness as well as during the rehabilitation process after injury or surgery.
Bowen Therapy can be beneficial in a wide range of situations. It can assist recovery from many conditions, from traumatic injury to chronic illness, depending upon each individual’s capacity to heal. Bowen is designed to make you “heal better” rather than “instantly heal” during a treatment which is why you may not feel instant relief ( a lot of people do though) and you need to allow the body to heal over the week following a treatment.
Some of the conditions that often respond favourably to Bowenwork are:-
- Back pain and sciatica (eg scoliosis or thoracic/lumbar pain)
- Mobility issues with walking (leg, knee, hip and foot problems)
- Menstrual and hormonal irragularities
- Digestion and bowel problems
- Earache, hearing and TMJ problems
- General oedema
- Dizziness
- Depression
- Arthritis
- Incontinence
- Improve lymphatics
- Stress relief
- Hypertension (High blood pressure)
- Migraines and other types of headaches
- Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome
- Neck and shoulder problems including frozen shoulder
- Groin pain, pelvic tilt and uneven leg length
- Respiratory problems e.g. bronchitis, emphysema, coughs, bloating, heartburn, hayfever
- RSI, carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow
How often and recommendations
Most conditions will only require two treatments spaced a week apart however some will require further treatments depending on how your body responds to the treatment, the requirements of the condition being worked on and how chronic or severe the injury is. Everybody reacts differently therefore what works for one person in a time frame may be different for others. In the case of shoulder problems the recommended treatment schedule is week 1 and week 2 with a follow up at week 6 allowing the body to adjust to the moves with a space of 4 weeks between treatment 2 and 3. Note that with Bowen therapy it is best to avoid any heavy lifting, lawn mowing for the first few days and also avoid any other modalities for up to 5 days. This allows the Bowen to do it’s work as it will continue to work on resolving the issue within your body after the treatment day for up to 5 days.
Some History on how it started
Bowen Therapy was developed by the late Tom Bowen (1916-1982) who lived in Geelong, Victoria starting in 1957 and initially worked from a home clinic at a friends and his secretary’s house Rene Horwood before setting up his clinic full time and home visits. He also visited sporting fields to offer his services. Mr Bowen became interested in helping human suffering and developed and refined the Bowen Therapy technique. Mr Bowen had found that by making certain moves on the body it had particular effects. He performed approximately 13,000 treatments a year (about 250 a week) and was extremely busy. Mr Bowen also held free clinics for children, people with disabilities and community service workers.
