How it all started
Bowen Technique is a holistic manual therapy. It has been developed by Thomas Ambrose Bowen in Australia in 1950. Thomas Bowen spent most of his life on discovering and perfecting this new form of hands-on therapy. He had an amazing gift and knew intuitively what the body needed to re-set itself. Tom usually treated 50-60 people a day and his success rate of healing was 88%! After his death in 1982 his method started being taught to others by one of his students Ossie Rentsch.
Basic idea behind Bowen Technique
Gentle rolling moves are performed on muscle, fascia, tendons and peripheral nerves in various parts of the body. The force applied on the skin is very subtle and is described as “the eyeball pressure”, the one which can be put on closed eyelids without causing any pain or damage to the eye.
Bowen Therapy only creates impulses which are integrated into the body so rebalancing and self healing can take place. This method helps the body, in a very subtle way, to use it’s inner power to find it’s healthy blueprint, a matrix of health.
Breaks between each set of moves are essential so the brain can process and integrate impulses. During those fundamental pauses body has got a time to interpret those sensations.
This technique triggers so much within the body:
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rebalancing the left and the right side
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relaxation
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stimulating self-healing powers
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releasing energy flow
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stimulating blood and lymphatic circulation
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detoxification
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decreasing pain
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improving fascia mobility
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releasing emotions
How the Bowen works?
Well, unfortunately Bowen therapy is still very poorly understood. There are few different theories explaining why Bowen Technique works but there is probably a grain of truth in each of them. Some of the theories are based on Western traditional medicine whereas others offer an explanation grounded in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The theory of nerve stimulation
Bowen moves stimulate receptors which send messages to the central nervous system about the state of muscles, ligaments, fascia and organs. Then brain starts correcting the tension in muscles, normalizing the joint function, loosening up stuck fascia, stimulating organs, blood and lymph circulation.
The stress release theory
Bowen Technique has a strong influence on the Autonomic Nervous System, helping to shift from sympathetic over-stimulation (fight or flight response) into parasympathetic dominance (rest, relax and repair mode). Once this change occurs, stress levels lower and healing begins.
The vibration theory
Bowen rolling moves create specific vibrations which re-tunes the body to healthy frequency, even at the cellular level.
The meridian theory
Most Bowen moves overlap acupuncture points and some are performed along meridians and therefore adjust the energy of the body and function of the internal organs.
The list of conditions which Bowen may be helpful with
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sport injuries
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tension headaches and migraine
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dizziness
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jaw problems, teeth grinding and earache
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stiff neck and whiplash injury
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allergies, hay fever and asthma
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frozen shoulder, tennis elbow and carpal tunnel syndrome
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lower and upper back pain, sciatica
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hip, knee, ankle and foot problems
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repetitive strain injuries (RSI)
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digestive problems
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low energy levels, fibromyalgia
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depression
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stress and hypertension
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irregular menstruation and premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
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pregnancy complaints
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menopausal complaints
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bed-wetting
- scoliosis
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…and many more