Should I try Bowen therapy?

If you’re experiencing aches or pain that other treatments haven’t been able to help with, like frequent migraines or persistent back pain, Bowen therapy may be able to help.

Targeting different parts of your body with gentle, rolling movement, the Bowen technique encourages your body to repair and reset itself.

Focusing on you as a whole person rather than a single pain or condition, a Bowen therapist uses pressure that works for you, making sure not to push too hard to provoke your body’s natural defences. It takes around about 45 minutes to an hour per session and can be applied at different speeds, in different directions, anywhere from your head to your toes.

What can Bowen therapy help with?

We still aren’t really sure why or exactly how the Bowen technique works. Research into how it helps promote our muscles and tissues to repair and heal is still ongoing; Dr Bernie Carter and researchers at the University of Lancaster found that 70% of volunteers experiencing a frozen shoulder managed to regain full mobility after having a series of Bowen therapy sessions. 100% of participants reported lower levels of pain and better mobility with daily activities. 

If you are experiencing any of the following, Bowen therapy may be able to help:

• back, neck and shoulder pain
• headaches and migraines
• athletic and sports injuries
• bedwetting and bladder problems
• stress and fatigue
• frozen shoulder
• knee and hip problems
• mobility issues
• repetitive strain injuries
• digestive issues
• menstrual pain

Safe and suitable for all ages, the Bowen technique helps kickstart our body’s healing response, helping us to let go of tension while resetting our posture back to the right alignment.

If you are interested in trying Bowen therapy, booking a consultation with a therapist is the first step. Do your research, and take your time in searching for the right therapist for you – make note of experience, qualifications and how they work. During your consultation, be sure to ask any questions you have. Your therapist will also want to discuss your medical history and what specific problems or pains you’re looking to get treated. This helps them assess the situation, and begin creating a personalised treatment plan.

If you are trying any other alternative therapies like massage, you might be advised to stop for a while and avoid having both types of treatment at once. Your body needs time to recover between treatments to make things as effective as possible.