What is Bowen?

Bowen is a healing technique that stimulates a body’s reflexes. Bowen therapy originated in Australia where it was developed by Tom Bowen. Bowen moves are performed by the practitioner gently challenging muscles/connective tissue/nerves using rolling movements that are applied with either thumbs or fingers to key soft tissue points in the body. The Bowen practitioner then leaves the room for two minutes before returning. In Bowen, the routine of applying the moves and then leaving the room is unique and necessary to allow the body to fully integrate the stimulus received. This stimulus triggers the parasympathetic nervous system and puts the body into a state of deep relaxation. In this state the body is reminded how to heal and balance itself.  It begins to correct itself, striving toward finding homeostasis and achieving a total sense of health and well-being.

The essence of Bowen is simple, yet highly effective. The moves are light, and it only takes a few precisely located moves to achieve profound results. As the body progresses through its healing cycle, it experiences the release of stress, toxins, and old patterning which inhibit the body from achieving complete health.

Bowen helps to balance and stimulate the flow of energy through the body. For many people Bowen therapy interrupts the “pain-spasm” cycle that occurs with an injury. Once this cycle is broken both pain and muscle spasm begin to subside and patient experiences substantial relief from many of their symptoms such as: an improvement in joint mobility and muscle flexibility; an improvement in the circulation of lymphatic and venous fluids and a better overall flow of energy through the entire body.

Bowen is non-invasive and does not require the use of any medications. Another remarkable thing is that most patients experience substantial to complete relief from their symptoms after one to three sessions. In a few cases, those with long-standing, chronic conditions may need four to seven treatments. Sessions are commonly spaced 7 to 10 days apart and are safe for anyone from the newborn to the elderly as there are no vigorous manipulations and few contraindications to this modality.

Although Bowen may not be the miracle cure for everyone, without a doubt everyone who tries Bowen will benefit from it in some way as its primary aim is to put the body into a deeply relaxed state so that it may heal naturally, on its own.

Bowen has been found to significantly help people with the following conditions: