Imagine improving posture and ease of movement, relaxing and
balancing the body’s nervous system to affect changes throughout the nervous,
endocrine, immune systems, as well as the muscles and bones. Tom Bowen of
Australia developed this innovative hands-on treatment. It is offered by a few
practitioners, although the numbers are growing throughout the world.
One can think of the treatment like playing the guitar on
the muscles of the body. Muscles and connective tissues are stretched from the
top of one joint to the lower area of another joint. One can challenge the
muscle and pluck causing a vibration to occur within the nerves that are found
deep within the muscle. After the plucking motion, the area is left alone to
continue to vibration, sending messages to the brain, which then determines
whether or not the system is “out of tune.” There is a process of retrieving
cellular memory of trauma and stress and unraveling it to another cellular
memory of a relaxed balanced way of life.
Just as in a piece of music, there are rest periods in the
treatment. A series of moves, a pattern, is executed on a portion of the body
and then it is left to rest for several minutes. One can address a particular
problem area such a sciatic pain, or one can do a whole body treatment.
Personally, I prefer to give a whole body treatment with an emphasis on the
current problem since many things are connected even though one might not think
they are.
Some conditions that have responded to Bowen therapy: back
pain, sciatica, old or new injuries, sports injuries, leg problems such as
foot, ankle and knee pain, neck and shoulder problems including frozen shoulder
and tennis elbow, hand problems such as carpel tunnel syndrome. Arthritis and
scoliosis pain has been relieved. Even internal problems such as menstrual and
hormonal irregularities, digestive and bowel problems, as well as circulation
and lymphatic concerns have responded to Bowen.
A Bowen session initiates a cascade of beneficial changes
over 4 to 5 days, so other manual therapies should be avoided for a few days:
acupuncture, chiropractic can be taken before a treatment, but should wait at
least 5 days after a Bowen session.
When other things don’t seem to help, consider Bowen therapy. While it is powerful, it is gentle and comprehensive. In fact, it is
actually easy for the layperson or the massage therapist to learn. A gentle touch
with remarkable pain relief.