Bowen Therapy

What is Bowen Therapy?

Bowen Therapy is a contact therapy used to treat or prevent injury or disorder. It maintains optimal level of health in the recipients.

Tom Bowen

Thomas Ambrose Bowen. (1916 - 1982) was the founder of Bowen therapy as we know it. He was born in Geelong in Victoria, Australia. He first started treating people with massage for musculo-skeletal problems, then developed his own style which became known as Bowen Therapy. Tom not only worked with people, but also with animals, and had much success treating local trotters.

He taught six selected men his techniques, who he called "his boys". They were the only ones he trusted to show others his methods. One of these, Oswald Rentsch set up the Bowen Academy of Australia, so that he could teach anyone who would like to learn.

Bowen Therapy can help:

1. Balance and reset energy channels and fields.

2. Normalize tissue physiology.

3. Allows the body to heal naturally.

How is Bowen performed?

Bowen is a gentle soft tissue rolling stretching technique which is applied in a series of two directional cross-fibre movements using the thumb or fingers on the skin. It can be applied over muscles, tendons or ligaments. Also works well over "trigger points".

This movement allows the fascia to be stretched which encourages re-hydration of the tissues. The re-hydration is also improved by stretching the muscle fibres within the fascia.

The stretching of the fibres helps to reset the proprioceptors in the muscles. (proprioceptors are specialized sensory nerve endings which are used to co-ordinate muscular activity)

The cross-fibre movement also works a bit like plucking a guitar string. It sets up a vibration within the structure being treated. The vibration is a form of energy and helps to separate the soft tissue fibres from one another.

The treatment releases toxins from the soft tissues.

When applied over trigger points it helps to deactivate them and assists in the dispersal of the toxins. This can be uncomfortable, and so the body releases endorphins, the bodies natural pain reliever, which results in an over all feeling of well being.

Assessment

When treating an animal a careful case history is taken from the owner including any veterinary reports. The animal is observed moving and any abnormalities noted. A full "hands on" assessment is made noting any pain reactions, muscle tension or weakness, and any trigger points, scars, swelling, heat, cold or any thing else which is different to normal for that animal.

A treatment plan is formulated, and the treatment carried out.

Who will benefit from treatment

Any animal will benefit from Bowen Therapy. Mostly I treat dogs and horses. Cats enjoy their therapy too, but are choosier as to when and how much they would like.

Bowen Therapy works very well after any injury or surgery, especially orthopaedic surgery when the vet feels the operation was successful, but the animal is not "quite right".

Horses who are "not performing" as usual may have had an unwitnessed injury and are sore, or new purchases who have problems inherited from badly fitting saddles, are head shy, or come with baggage from their previous handling. All respond well to therapy.

The other big group I see are older animals who are arthritic. Bowen treatment keeps their muscles supple, and helps relieve the arthritic pain.

These animals benefit from maintenance treatments every 2-3 months or as required.

Treatment is most effective when given twice at weekly intervals, but the occasional chronic problem sometimes needs three sessions.

Other modalities such as flower essences, homeopathy or herbs work well with Bowen treatments, especially if the animal has emotional issues which are presenting as pain and muscle tension.

The treatments are so gentle that even the most nervous or frail animals really enjoy their sessions, and even youngsters, who like to dash off for a play in the middle of the treatment, find their problems resolve.