Seth Hawkins (fluidhealthau)
The healthcare industry is undergoing a "miracle" change, according to some. With just a few touches, some claim it can transform people's lives. The Bowen Technique, also known as Bowen Therapy, is claimed to have a profound effect on how we feel in just three sessions. As far as I know,
So, let's start with the fact that it's an oddity. When it comes to Bowen Therapy's hands-on system of healing, it is not based on osteopathy, chiropratic procedures, or even just plain old massage. As a therapy in and of itself, it uses thumb and finger massages that come in short bursts to alleviate pain and stress in the body.
The practitioner actually leaves the room between bursts, ensuring that the patient is left alone until he or she returns. Because of its efficacy, many believe that this technique's unusual mix of quick movements interspersed with longer pauses and extreme precision is to blame.
An Overview of Bowen Therapy's Past
It's no surprise that an Australian with the last name Bowen came up with this rather unique method. In the 1950s, despite his lack of formal medical training, Tom Bowen was regarded as a gifted healer. What he had, or what he claimed he had, was the ability to sense vibrations in an individual's muscles, soft tissues, and ligaments.
Using his fingers and thumbs, Mr. Bowen claims to have helped the body's tension dissipate after he discovered these vibrations. His self-proclaimed ability was, of course, called a "gift from God" and he went about distributing it to the masses. To this end, a clinic employing his methods was established. In order to keep track of his patients, a receptionist was employed to help him treat nearly 300 patients each week. His reported success rate was 88%.
In spite of losing both of his legs to diabetes, Bowen remained a dedicated doctor to his patients. Until his death, Oswald Rentsch, a disciple who met him in 1974, was the first to bring the Bowen Method to the world. After bringing it to all of Australia and New Zealand, he and his wife Elaine eventually brought it to North America.
The Methods by which it Takes Place
Many principles underlie the Bowen Technique, which is similar to other complementary therapies. They're as follows:
Often, our bodies are out of whack, and we need to bring them back into balance in order to be healthy.
The nervous and energetic systems, the body's two primary regulatory systems, can be helped to achieve the equilibrium we so desperately need.
Chi, or universal life energy, must flow freely in our bodies if we are to remain healthy. Chi, the life force, is said to have to flow freely in traditional Chinese medicine. To accomplish this, the Bowen Method is designed.
It is recommended that patients lie down on a sports massage table, but they can also sit. Nothing has to be taken off. Initially, the practitioner will perform three basic sequences to rebalance the lower back, upper back, and neck. Additional sequences will be performed later based on the client's specific needs and wants, or the problems he or she is seeking to resolve.
Gentle and relaxing, the sessions are not uncommon for a client to fall asleep during one of them. When they receive this type of "massage," they report feeling their muscles relax. Unlike other forms of chiropractic care, Bowen Therapy does not employ joint-cracking techniques such as crunches or violent twists.
The pauses between sequences are critical. By allowing the patient's body enough time between movements, they benefit the patient. The patient can unwind, reflect, and feel at ease when they are taken out of the room. Patients can use their own body as a healing tool as part of the holistic treatment plan.
