BOWEN TECHNIQUE

What is The Bowen Technique?

Bowen provides, in effect, 'a wake up call' for the body, encouraging its own healing system to 'kick start'. This promotes pain relief, recovery of energy & healing, in a gentle and relaxing way.

What treatment is involved?

The practitioner makes precise gentle moves over specific nerve and muscle junctions. The aim is to disturb the soft tissue, muscles and energy flow in the body to provide its 'wake up call'. This draws the body's attention to the area and triggers it to commence it's own healing process. As part of the treatment the client is left alone from time to time to absorb the moves which have been made. This allows the body to make the fine adjustments which aid the relief of pain and tension as it begins the healing process. Each time the practitioner returns, she reassesses the changes made, before making the next move. This constant process of reassessment ensures a personalised treatment, specifically designed for your individual body's needs.

What can the Bowen Technique safely treat?

Bowen is so gentle that it is safe to use it to aid any injury, disease or age group. It has been used successfully to treat babies for colic and 80 year olds for arthritis. Go to the Bowen web site (click on 'Useful Links' to the left of this screen) for more details of research confirming its effectiveness.

Some examples of previous successes:

Sports Injury (man 42 years): A football injury had led to a chronic groin problem resulting in an unsuccessful operation to the abdominal wall . After one Bowen treatment the reduction in pain was such that he told me 'It is the best money I have ever spent.'

Multiple problems (woman 60's): Leg collapsing on walking, lower back pain, poor sleeping due to pain, trapped nerve. After a series of treatments she told me 'It's wonderful; it's the first time I've been pain free in 15 years". She went on to receive occasional maintenance treatments.

Neck Restriction (woman 16): Injured neck causing pain and restriction. After one treatment she found that her neck felt much looser and was pain free.

Do you need to prepare before you come?

Yes, there are things that you need to do or be aware of before you come. These are:
* No other physical therapy should take place up to 5 days before, or after, a Bowen session,
* Once a course of Bowen treatment is completed it is best not to have any other physical therapy for 6 weeks. This is to prevent the body becoming overloaded with messages, which may neutralise the effect of the Bowen sessions,
* Light, loose clothing should be worn; no jeans, heavy seams or back pockets and no lycra, or other slippery type material. This includes tights and slips. No boxer shorts,
* Begin to drink a minimum of 2 litres of still water a day, or as much as you can manage. Tea, coffee, soft drinks and fruit juice do not count as water,
* For follow up sessions, a series of exercises may be given. These form part of the treatment and need to be completed as directed.

How long does a treatment take?

The first session lasts about an hour. Subsequent sessions can last anywhere between 15 minutes and an hour but on average they last 45 minutes. In some cases additional therapies may be recommended to complement the work completed and to look more deeply at emotional or other causes of your problem.

How many sessions do I need?

This is variable but often 3 is sufficient. However, there are cases of long term or multiple problems, which require treatment over a more extended period of time. Conversely, some cases only require 1 or 2 treatments. The aim is to give whatever is required.

Do people need to come back?

Sometimes people need to come back for maintenance treatments to manage a chronic problem, or to reduce the possibility of re-injury. Sometimes people choose to come back because it makes them feel good.

So how do I make an appointment to experience it for myself?

Click on the Bookings link on the left and follow the links. Alternatively, just call Christine on 0191 2847615 or e-mail her on christinefowler@yahoo.co.uk