Conditions Treated
Bowen can achieve dramatic results on digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, asthma, stress-related conditions, hormonal imbalances and the problems associated with pregnancy.
Musculo-skeletal problems, sports injuries and joint problems usually improve very quickly, often within the course of just one session.
Bowen is gentle enough to be used on anyone of any age, and as there is no forceful manipulation it can even be used over soft tissue injuries.
People who are used to living with long-term pain and discomfort often find that Bowen is one of the few treatments that can help them.
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“After 45 years of trying to straighten my posture and being restricted in doing so by my scoliosis, I walked out of the session more upright than ever.”
P Garret
Back and Neck Problems
Bowen Therapy is the ideal treatment for all types of back and neck pain, joint problems and stiffness.
Whether you suffer from a problem affecting the spinal structure, such as curvature of the spine or a slipped disc, or whether you suffer from muscular tension, Bowen can offer dramatic relief from pain and discomfort.
“I was in the office when the most excruciating pain struck. I could not move as one of my back muscles went into spasm. … I had to phone a friend to bring me to Michael. Four sessions later I was able to go back to my demanding yoga routine. A full recovery followed. 10 out of 10!”
Alec Egan
Sports injuries
Michael specialises in the treatment of sports injuries. Bowen therapy is ideal for treating these types of injuries because it is so gentle that it can be used immediately, even over swollen tissue. Unlike most bodywork, there is no forceful manipulation. Soft tissue and muscle injuries heal twice as fast with Bowen therapy as they do with traditional treatments.
Bowen therapy is now increasingly used by sports professionals, notably in tennis, football, squash, and rugby. It is used to help players recover faster from injury but regular treatments are also used as a preventative measure, to keep players at the top of their game and reduce the risk of injury occurring.
In my experience as a squash pro for the past 24 years, I’ve tried all types of therapy and bodywork. Nothing I’ve had has ever been as effective as Bowen. … In my opinion it is the fastest way to recover from all types of sports injuries.
Jaz Karim
Respiratory problems
The UK has the highest rate of asthma sufferers in Europe. Bowen therapy can offer help to those who suffer from asthma and other respiratory disorders, and is effective on both adults and children.
The treatment is very gentle and non-invasive, and does not have to be long-term. Many people experience a lasting dramatic improvement after only a few sessions. Bowen therapy aims to relieve tightness in the chest, and also decrease the frequency of the attacks. Respiratory problems are usually caused by allergies, and the Bowen therapist will try and help you identify the cause of your symptoms so they can be avoided in future.
Stress and anxiety
We often live our lives at a much faster and more stressful pace than our body is designed to cope with. Stress has a massive physical impact on the body, though we may often be unaware of its effects. The long-term effects of stress can be devastating. Stress makes us release adrenalin; it tenses our muscles and suppresses our digestion. It contributes to health problems such as high blood pressure, headaches, hormone imbalance, digestive problems and all kinds of muscular aches and pains.
Bowen Therapy is clinically proven to significantly reduce anxiety, tension and fatigue*. Bowen releases muscular tension and helps the body return to the ‘parasympathetic’ nervous system in which it can rest and heal itself. Through gentle movements over muscles and nerves the Bowen practitioner will target the key areas to release tension and anxiety and help get you back to you best.
*Effects of the Bowen Technique on the Autonomic Nervous System and the Heart: by Dr Whitaker MD
Digestive disorders
Bowen Therapy is of great benefit anyone who wants to improve their digestive health. Poor diet and stress have a big impact on our ability to absorb nutrients from food effectively. We also become less capable of eliminating toxins and waste, and this bad for our long-term health.
Bowen therapy helps clear our lymphatic system and in doing so helps the body eliminate toxins and strengthen its immune system. Bowen is also clinically proven to improve hormonal and metabolic balance. By helping the body absorb nutrients, it reduces the body’s need to store fat reserves, so it is a very useful treatment for anyone looking to lose weight.
Bowen therapy is especially helpful to those who suffer from:
bloating
acid reflux
thyroid conditions
hormonal imbalance
weight issues
kidney problems
gall bladder disorder
ileocecal valve issues
crohn’s diseas
diarrhea
Headaches and Migraines
Headaches and migraines can be horribly painful and affect huge numbers of people. Yet conventional medicine offers little help to migraine sufferers.
Yet there is a lot that can be done to treat the cause of migraines and headaches, which can differ from person to person. Bowen therapy aims to gradually ease the pain caused by migraines and headaches, and in some cases can help eliminate them entirely.
Migraines and headaches are often hormone-related. They can also be caused by inflammation in the sinuses or retained tension in the neck and shoulders. Stress, dehydration and diet can all play a role. Bowen therapy helps relax the body and release retained tension. It helps the body attain its optimum hormonal and metabolic balance. With regular Bowen sessions you should see a marked improvement in your headaches. You will learn more about the root causes, and how to avoid them in future.
I’ve been a lifelong sufferer of migraines. … I was having to take pills to ease the excruciating pain. It was only when a friend recommended trying Bowen therapy that I thought it might be worth giving it a go. I’ve had ten sessions and with each treatment I can really feel improvements in the severity of my migraines. … Bowen has been a huge help.
Lesley
Mother and baby
For pregnancy
During pregnancy the body undergoes dramatic transformation. Along the way it is quite normal to experience discomfort or pain as the body changes to nourish and protect the growing baby. The hormonal changes pregnancy involves also have an impact on psychological and emotional well-being.
Bowen therapy is well-suited to treating the problems associated with pregnancy. It is more gentle than osteopathy or massage, so it can be used to treat back pain, pelvic pain or pubic pain with a minimal amount of contact. The client can be seated, or lie on their side, and remain clothed. Sciatica or pubis symphasis dysfunction can be successfully resolved, often in just one session.
Bowen is also useful in helping the body prepare for labour. Many women find that they experience relatively quick births after Bowen treatment. For those who are interested in a natural birth, this can be helpful as it makes it more likely that the woman can get through childbirth without medication. Bowen can also be helpful for those who are planning a caesarian birth as it aids recovery from operations.
For new mothers
Bowen is also helpful in speeding recovery after birth. Treatment focuses on encouraging the uterus to contract and helping the pelvis to realign. The sooner after labour the mother comes for treatment, the more effective Bowen therapy will be.
For babies
For babies birth is an incredibly intense experience. The baby’s head and body are hugely compressed in the birth canal, and after they are born their digestive systems have to adapt to their new milk diet. Some babies experience a lot of wind and digestive discomfort, which in extreme cases is called ‘colic’. Bowen can be hugely helpful in treating colic, or any kind of digestive problem, as it is gentle enough to be used on the most delicate of babies. As babies change so fast often the results can be seen during the course of the session.