The Bowen Technique is a straightforward remedial therapy that is non-intrusive, gentle and very effective. It is one of the most simple and effective ‘hands on’ therapies available. It offers a gentle treatment for sports or work related injuries, muscular-skeletal disorders, stress and tension based problems, hay fever, sinus problems and respiratory conditions, general relaxation and body balancing

How does it work?
The practitioner uses thumbs and fingers on precise points on the body to make rolling type moves which aim to disturb the muscles, soft tissue and energy within the body. This disturbance affects the connection between the muscles and the brain and encourages an awareness within the brain of what parts of the body need healing. This is then the beginning of the healing process. During the treatment there are periods in which the client is left resting to allow the body to absorb the gentle moves that have been performed. This gives the brain and the energy system time to respond to the moves and the body time to make the subtle and fine adjustments, which help to relieve tension, reduce pain and initiate the healing process.

The Bowen Technique is not a form of massage. However, the client will usually experience a feeling of deep relaxation during the treatment and the more relaxed the client is, the deeper the treatment will be allowed to work. The Bowen Technique encourages the body to realign itself; there is no manipulation or adjustment of hard tissue and no force is used or needed.

What does a treatment involve?

Because of Fabienne’s vast experience within the field of holistic healing and complementary medicine over the last fifteen years, she chooses to approach the Bowen Technique in a slightly different way to a lot of other Bowen practitioners.

The initial consultation in Fabienne’s Bowen practice can last up to two hours. During this session, Fabienne will take your full history, perform a brief, non-intrusive physical examination which may include reading the energy pulses on the wrists, looking at areas of concern, feeling the temperature distribution and areas on the abdomen, relating to various organs and functions within the body, taking your blood pressure and measuring your leg length and so on. The first treatment is normally also given within this first session. This thorough initial examination allows Fabienne to determine your constitutional picture and any possible causes of your symptoms. It also allows time to look at ways in which you may be able to help yourself in your daily life to speed up the effectiveness of your treatment, and hopefully decrease the chances of reoccurrence, once your treatment has taken effect and is holding. It is however not intended to put medical labels on any of your symptoms and conditions.

Most Bowen therapists will choose to perform the treatment through light clothing. Fabienne prefers to work directly onto the skin. This allows her to make a more accurate assessment of your condition and perform the treatment with a higher level of energetic effect in her experience. You will therefore normally be asked to undress down to underpants (and also bra for women) both for the physical examination and for the following treatments.

The follow up sessions for the Bowen therapy in Fabienne’s practice, can last up to 11/2 hours. These sessions usually include a mini assessment of where you are at this point and what needs doing next. This is also an opportunity for you to discuss any issues which may have come to light or arisen following the previous session, before the actual Bowen treatment is given, allowing you to relax more deeply during the actual treatment. Fabienne’s experience is that the deeper you are able to relax whilst the Bowen moves are given, the more effective your treatment is likely to be, which is another reason for why she has chosen to approach the Bowen therapy in this way.

Treatments are usually weekly initially, depending on your individual situation, condition, and response to the treatment, but once you start to respond to the treatment and Fabienne feels happy that your treatment is holding well, the intervals between the sessions are then gradually increased.

To receive maximum benefit from the Bowen Technique, it is recommended that other physical therapies are not mixed with The Bowen Technique, e.g. massage, reflexology, physiotherapy, etc. It is vital that you consult Fabienne before embarking on other forms of treatment, so this can be discussed.

Where did it originate?
The Bowen Technique was pioneered by Thomas Ambrose Bowen, born in 1916 in Geelong, Australia. After working in miscellaneous labouring jobs as a young man, he developed a great interest in massage and body work and spent time observing football trainers and others involved with sports. By the time he was in his early 40’s, this gifted man had established a full time practice in remedial therapy using the technique he had developed.
In 1978, when he was interviewed by a parliamentary committee looking into complementary medicine, he stated, under oath, that he treated about 280 patients per week with the help of an assistant and a receptionist - an incredible 13,000 patients a year, 88% of whom only required two or three treatments! Mr Bowen died in the early 1980’s but today there are a number of flourishing therapies based on his work.

Case histories.
Malcolm Stemp an osteopath and homoeopath for 40 years and also a past lecturer in osteopathy at Oxford University says of the technique: ‘A great truth. It answers all the laws of natural medicine, namely, that the body be treated as a whole without reference to named disease. “

Infant Colic. Boy, aged 4 months 1 treatment J was suffering from severe colic after meals which was distressing for him and for his parents. During the Bowen treatment, the baby seemed to relax completely. After this one treatment he had no further colic.

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Sports Injury man, aged 23 4 treatments As a cricketer and rugby player, H’s left leg was in a brace following cartilage removal and damage to the AC ligament. His right leg was in plaster nearly to the knee due to further ligament problems and he was on anti-inflammatory tablets. Some severe pain followed the First Bowen treatment and the left knee became temporarily more swollen. However, after four treatments the hospital verdict was that the knees were now very stable and that a further anticipated operation would no longer be necessary.

Pain: Lower back into hips and Knee,  woman, aged 26 three treatments, F is a very tall (6’2”) nursery nurse, so works with tiny people and furniture all day. She had had this problem for 2 - 3 years. MRI scans had not revealed any cause for the pains and physiotherapy, treatment had been to no avail. After the second Bowen treatment she said “it is 99% better than it was”. After three treatments, the problems were completely gone and the resolution holding,

Sciatica, man, aged 40 1 treatment P was unable to put weight on his right foot and was in severe pain from the buttock right down the leg. He was extremely tense and tight. The therapist gave him one treatment, observing P’s body relaxing during the 40 minutes of the treatment. He was virtually pain free when he got up and was walking normally.
Two years later, the problem has not returned.

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Arthritis, Whiplash and Fall. woman, aged 58 series of treatments J is overweight with arthritis in both knees (for 23 years) which had spread to her neck, right foot and right hand. She had also had a whiplash injury twice and fell at work 11 years ago, pulling the ligaments from the backbone to the hips. Her job requires her to do quite a lot of lifting and carrying. After a few weeks of Bowen treatment her knees were much better. Following treatment on her hamstrings the results were amazing. She couldn’t remember when she last had that amount of flexibility in her knees. Further treatments brought the same results to other parts of her body. Headaches due to the arthritis are also gone.

Frozen Shoulder, man, aged 62 3 treatments D arrived with a frozen shoulder that had restricted his natural arm movement to less than 20% of normal. The shoulder was exceedingly painful to lie on and as an active man keen on amateur dramatics, it was making life difficult. He was seen three times, after which the shoulder had returned to 100% range of movement with no further pain.

Injury after fall, woman, aged 80 5 treatments When B was 73 she had a bad fall from a ladder which broke under her and a piece of it went through her left leg. A steel plate had to be attached to her leg with thick screws. When B first went for Bowen treatment, her left knee was solid, swollen, red and hot. With the first treatment, the swelling went down noticeably, the skin colour was normal and she could see her ankles! Two weeks later, she arrived for a second treatment with some swelling and redness, which had returned but was not as severe as it had been. From then on the improvement was steady and without relapse. After five treatments, the leg was very much better and she could wear normal shoes and sandals again.

source - THE EUROPEAN COLLEGE OF BOWEN STUDIES with their permission

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