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Bowen Technique
What Is It?
How Does It Work?
What Happens During Treatment?
What Is It Used For?
Side Effects/Cautions
Recommended Books
What Is It?
The Bowen Technique (sometimes called “Bowtech”) is
a gentle form of bodywork involving a series of delicate moves
with the thumbs and fingers across muscle and tendons to relieve
pain and discomfort. These moves are thought to stimulate energy
throughout the body, allowing it to reset and heal itself. The
healing may occur at all levels as needed: physical, chemical,
emotional, mental and energetic.
The technique was developed by Australian Tom Bowen
from the 1950s until his death in 1982. Bowen’s
love of sports led him to become interested in massage
and other soft-tissue manipulation. He watched the
trainers of football teams treat injured players, and
observed that certain “moves” on the body’s
soft tissues had particular effects. Over many years
he developed the precise series of moves, or “procedures”,
that are used today.
How Does It Work?
The Bowen Technique is believed to work primarily through the nervous
system on both structural and energetic levels. Bowen moves send
electrical impulses to the brain, resulting in muscle relaxation
and pain reduction. The moves also stimulate blood flow and lymphatic
circulation and drainage.
Several of the moves are located along acupuncture
meridians or on specific acupuncture points which are
known to stimulate and balance the body’s energy.
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What Happens During
Treatment?
A Bowen therapy session involves several series of gentle moves
through loose clothing or directly on the skin. The patient lies
on a massage table or sits in a chair. There is no rubbing, friction
or prolonged pressure in the move, which uses the movement of the
skin to effect a rolling type of action over the muscle. The session
features lots of rests in between moves to allow the body to absorb
the changes.
Sessions last from 15 minutes to an hour. Most people
only need around three sessions to alleviate problems,
but chronic conditions may require ongoing treatment.
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What Is It Used
For?
Bowen therapy addresses the entire body and
doesn’t claim to treat specific conditions, however
it has been found to be useful for back and neck pain,
frozen shoulder, muscular injuries, migraines, sciatica,
carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, PMS, hernia,
asthma and stroke rehabilitation. It can also help
to calm the autonomic nervous system, slowing the heart
rate and promoting deep relaxation, so it may also
be useful for anxiety and emotional problems.
Side Effects/Cautions
Bowen therapy is considered safe for everyone, although there are
a few procedures that should be avoided for some:
• the “Coccyx Procedure” is not done on pregnant women.
• the “TMJ Procedure” is not done on people whose jaws have
been surgically altered.
• the “Breast Tenderness Procedure” is not done on women with
breast implants.
References
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Bowen Technique Practitioner
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Recommended
Books
Prices are in US Dollars
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Bowen Therapy: Tom Bowen's
Gift to the World
Frank Navratil
One of the few books in the world written
on this very popular Australian method of muscle
pressure release therapy commonly referred
to as Bowen Therapy. Over 40 years ago in Australia,
this method was conceived by Tom Bowen and
now it is taught and practiced in over 25 countries
around the world. This miraculous method has
been responsible for so many success stories
regarding relief of pain and allows the body
to self-heal. An exciting account by one of
natural medicine's foremost authorities.
Learn
more...
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The Bowen Technique
Julian Baker
This handbook looks at the Bowen Technique,
a holistic therapy, and guides the reader through
the various techniques involved. To be used
by students as a reference.
"a wonderful tool for the training therapist
in this very gentle hands on therapy."
Learn
more...
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