What Is Bowen Therapy?
Bowen Therapy is a soft tissue physical therapy treatment named after its founder Tom Bowen. It uses gentle, subtle and guided rolling movements from the therapists to move muscle, tendons, nerves and fascia. Frequent essential pauses throughout the session allow the body time to respond and begin the healing process. The treatment is very relaxing and is particularly useful where other therapies may have failed.
Bowen technique is a holistic treatment that views the body as a whole and helps to restore natural healing to a sometimes disturbed environment.
What does Bowen Therapy treat?
Bowen Technique is a useful therapy for most muscular skeletal dysfunctions. Because of its gentle nature, it works well with inflammed problems and patients who don’t respond well to a more direct approach.
It has particular success for frozen shoulders, asthma, fibromyalgia, migraine and lymphoedema. Many of our patients who have long standing chronic conditions lasting years find great benefit with Bowen Therapy. Other conditions that respond well are:
- Back pain, sciatica & spinal problems
- Headaches & migraines
- Neck and Shoulder problems
- Knee, Ankle and Foot problems
- Sports & accident injuries
- Anxiety & stress related conditions
- Chronic fatigue & ME
- Menstrual and Hormonal imbalances
- Respiratory & sinus conditions • Post operative recovery
- Post dental trauma, temporomandibular joint problems & joint disorders
- Newborn baby problems e.g. colic, feeding & sleep related conditions
- Gynaecological conditions, heavy/painful periods, infertility
- Repetitive strain injuries, carpal tunnel and tennis elbow
- Groin pain and pelvis tilt and uneven leg length
- Earache
- General muscle stiffness & many more……
Is it safe?
Completely. There are no strong direct techniques applied to the body and can be used by babies and the elderly alike.
The only side effect of treatment is often one of deep relaxation and occasionally short lived fatigue.
The treatments are often administered with the patient lying down on our treatment table or occasionally from a chair. If the patient is initially self conscious, then treatment can be provided with the patient fully clothed.
What to expect from a treatment?
The therapist uses her thumbs or fingers on certain points around the body mostly directed on muscle. A client will be asked to take deep breaths before a move which encourages the muscle and body to relax. In between moves the therapist will leave the room or remain quiet to give time for a response to take effect. The moves are gentle and the client should experience little or no pain although certain areas might be sensitive.
Benefits of Bowen
Substantial relief is often achieved after only one session resulting in less or no pain
Increases mobility, balances the body and de-toxifies
Often results in an overall sense of deep relaxation
Allows the body to recharge and rebalance itself
Re-aligns the body often results in long lasting effects
Reduces stress levels
It’s gentle, stimulating and healing
Improves circulation, lymphatic and venous drainage
Helps address both physical and mental issues
Substantial relief is often achieved after only one session
