The following case histories demonstrate the power and effectiveness of Bowen. It is important to remember that although we are here mentioning the resolutions to certain conditions, this does not mean a guaranteed cure in all cases for all the named problems. The Bowen Technique treats the body as a whole, without referral to named disease, but naturally enough there are many situations whereby presenting problems are resolved.
Achilles Tendon - David 34, Runner
I recently changed my running shoes and began to notice an uncomfortable strain down my left Achilles. On finishing each run the area would burn and be painful for some hours later. This developed until running became impossible without pain. Direct work with massage and other hands-on approaches to the area created little relief. On seeing a Bowen practitioner a suggestion was made that the problem could be coming from the sacroiliac joint in the lower back. Three sessions working in this area gave permanent relief. I now see the Bowen practitioner only if I am preparing for a big race."
Ankles – Swelling Susan
My ankles were swollen. They’d been swelling several times a year for two years. The diuretics prescribed by my physician generally worked in less than a week, but I had not taken them this time. I tried Bowen. Twice during the session I got off the table to urinate, and when I was getting dressed afterwards I saw that the swelling was already subsiding. Five days later I had a second session. The swelling has not recurred in the six months since.
ANXIETY, NIGHTMARES, POOR CONCENTRATION, REPETITIVE MOVEMENTS Girl 9, 5 treatments
A nine-year-old came with her mother, complaining of feeling anxious about school, having nightmares, difficulties with concentration, and making odd repetitive movements with her arms which other members of the family were finding irritating. Sessions one and two produced considerable improvement in general anxiety and behaviour. By the third session she looked much happier and more relaxed. School friends commented on how much better she was concentrating in class, and she herself found she was able to get on with schoolwork much faster. After five sessions, all odd arm movements had stopped; she was sleeping well, rarely having bad dreams.
ANXIETY, POOR SLEEP, CLAUSTROPHOBIA Boy, 11, 4 treatments
Eleven-year-old J. came with his mother. About a year previously, around the time of his SATS exams at primary school, he had changed from an easy-going relaxed young man to feeling generally anxious and panicky, sleeping poorly, with attacks of claustrophobia. He found himself getting very anxious being left with a sitter when his parents went out, worrying about accidents, illness, germs and other disasters. School assemblies and church services became an ordeal, and he had to sit near the door to lessen the feelings of panic. His parents had been worried enough about him to ask their G.P. for a psychiatric referral, which was now in the pipeline. J. had four treatments. After the first treatment he felt an increase in energy and released a lot of anger. A similar picture followed the second treatment. During these two weeks he had no panic attacks, and felt a reduction in anxiety about being away from his parents. Assembly had become less of an ordeal, and after the second treatment his parents were aware of much improvement on an emotional level. After the third treatment there were only small pockets of anxiety remaining, and when J. came for his final treatment, his mother said that he was so much improved that she had decided to cancel the coming psychiatric referral.
ANXIETY ABOUT SCHOOL Girl, 8, 3 treatments
Eight-year-old J. came with mother, as she had been feeling very anxious about school. After three treatments she was feeling very much better, and her nervous nail biting had improved considerably. She did not feel the need for any more treatment, and was feeling much happier.
ANXIETY & CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS Woman, 68, 3 treatments + monthly follow-ups
D has had cervical spondylosis for 5 years and suffers with tremors in her right hand. It also causes dizziness and pain in the back of her head. She was previously on anti depressants for 3 years, prescribed after suffering with stress from work then a series of medical conditions including high blood pressure, a hysterectomy, pernicious anaemia and suspected cancer. She suffers with tension, anxiety, shaking and lip tremble and is very lacking in confidence, shy and retiring. D felt wonderful after the first treatment and walked two and a half miles. After the second treatment, the pain had reduced and she felt 'good in spirits' and noticed an improvement in her piano playing. Her blood pressure was down and she managed to drink a cup of tea without shaking. After a third Bowen treatment she managed to drive a round trip of 400 miles and is gaining in confidence. She has continued to improve with monthly treatments. She is more in control of her anxiety, coping better with stressful situations and is now resuming her social life and activities
ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS of the LUMBAR SPINE Man, 76, ongoing treatments as needed
Diagnosis by GP - ankylosing spondylitis of the lumbar spine, and confirmed by an MRI scan. G was in constant pain but refusing painkillers. He was unable to walk, without a walking stick, to his bank, which is only 5 minutes from his house, and he frequently has to sit down. His GP said the only cure for the pain was an operation that could put him in a wheelchair. Neither G nor his GP were keen on this idea. G decided to try Bowen Technique. He had previously tried osteopathy, physiotherapy and acupuncture with little or no result. He is a tall slim man who was in obvious pain. There were no obvious signs of muscle wastage. When he came for his second treatment, he was very much improved, walking without a stick and had no need to sit down on short walks. The pain was less, muscle tension almost normal, and range of movement improved. When he came for his third treatment, his movement was excellent, no pain, and very little pins and needles in feet. Since then, he has continued with a maintenance treatment once or twice monthly. He can walk around the town with no problems and no stick. He has remained pain free for a year, apart from a slight hiccup when he walked his son's very boisterous dog, but this settled after treatment. He also had right knee problems 18 months after his first Bowen treatment but this settled after two treatments one week apart. He really is thrilled with Bowen and talks about it to anyone who will listen!
ARTHRITIS - RHEUMATOID Peggy, 23
I was diagnosed at the age of twelve as having rheumatoid arthritis. Since that time I had been taking medication and drugs to relieve the pain. After two Bowen treatments my life was pain free. I couldn't believe it! I could now lead a normal life, not one dictated by pain.
Arthritis – Rheumatoid JJ, 50
I developed rheumatoid arthritis twenty years ago. Ugh! It started in my hands and slowly spread through my whole body. I have tried all anti-inflammatory drugs, gold injections to no avail and I have been to chiropractors and physiotherapists/masseurs and it made me worse. I am on some nasty drugs such as steroids, methotrexate and cyclosporin. I was always stiff and sore and I seemed to hurt all the time. I have had three operations on my feet. Pins have been put in the big toes to try and straighten them followed by fusing them together to hold them up. This didn’t work and the pain was still there. I had a synovectomy on my knee with further injections. I also had surgery to my wrists as I was always in so much pain. And then I found Bowen Therapy. I have found relief and a lot of my pain has gone.
Arthritis- Rheumatoid female, 70
A 70-year-old with rheumatoid arthritis suffered excruciating hip pain. After one treatment her hip pain was better and after four treatments was only “annoying”. Her energy has improved and she is able to do more.
ARTHRITIS IN HIP Woman, 51, series of treatments
Cath, who has an arthritic hip, says that before her experience with Bowen "I would have laughed in your face if you'd said that this could help me". She was told in September 2000 that she had osteoarthritis and that she'd have to wait for a hip replacement - a long wait on the NHS because she was comparatively young. She couldn't walk without a stick and found it difficult to lift things. She had to stop her work in a convenience store, but a customer had recommended that she try Bowen. Cath said: "It was like nothing I've ever had before. It was very relaxing and after the relaxation you get a wonderful rush of energy. I went on a Thursday and by the Friday night I was walking a bit better. By the following Thursday I didn't need to use a stick to walk - and since then I haven't looked back." Cath had weekly sessions for four weeks, reducing to monthly and then two-monthly visits. Now she goes every three months. Not only has she continued to walk without a stick but she can lift things again and she has a new part-time job working as a house manager at local retirement flats. She still plans to have a hip replacement but until then she is free of her previous pain and limitations.
ARTHRITIS, WHIPLASH & FALL woman, 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.
ASTHMA Girl, 2, 1 treatment
T, aged 2 years, suffers with asthma. At her first treatment she was very wheezy and had been prescribed steroids, which her mother was reluctant to use. Both parents smoke. The wheezing reduced after the first treatment and has now disappeared, though there was a period of mucus being produced. Her breathing has improved after 4 treatments, so much so that the school have commented on it. The steroids were discontinued before the first treatment. It is very difficult to treat a two-year-old child who is sitting and squirming on her mother's knees. However, it seemed to work well despite those difficulties. Normally, the child has had asthma attacks every two weeks or so during the winter. She has had none for over two months now. Her mother wrote: "My 2.5 year old daughter has suffered from asthma and also an over-production of mucus from birth. She has Ventolin and also Becotide on occasions. In November 1999, her asthma worsened and the GP advised restarting steroids at a higher dose. She took a severe reaction to steroids so we stopped them immediately. That week she received her first Bowen and has had treatment once or twice a month since. She has not needed any medication since; she has a very slight period of wheezing occasionally which is managed with essential oils. It has been a remarkable improvement, particularly as she is a lively two year old who doesn't always stay still for the treatments." Signed BC - Feb 2000
ASTHMA Boy, 6, 1 treatment
O's asthma was worsening and his mother did not tell him that his visit to Bowen therapist was connected to his breathing problems. As he is normally quite a stubborn little boy and wary of anything new, his mother was surprised when he accepted the treatment and did as he was told. The next evening, when she reminded him to take his usual dose from his inhaler, he announced: "I don't need my puffer any more". He then enjoyed a summer free of asthma, including hour-long football practices with his brother, and a mountain-biking holiday in Scotland.
ASTHMA AND CHEST INFECTIONS Girl, 8, 3 treatments
F is 8 years old and suffered with asthma and chest infections. She was small for her age and had a poor appetite. She had 3 inhalers: 5 puffs of one twice a day; 3 of another twice a day and the last one every 4 hours. Distressed with the amount of medication F was taking, her mother was looking for an alternative and discovered The Bowen Technique. After one treatment, F became full of life, energetic, hungry and didn't need the last 4 hourly inhaler. At the end of treatment 3, she was off all inhalers, had grown, was still full of life and hungry. At a routine check up with the GP, just after Bowen treatment 3, he immediately picked up the difference. The bright, alert look in her eyes, weight and height gain, clear, good, strong breathing. He was so pleased he wanted Bowen information to give to other patients.
ASTHMA & STRESS Boy (teenager), 2 treatments
A teenager, K had had asthma, a constant backache and severe 'morning motivational' problems for years. He often had problems getting to sleep, but after a 6.30 p.m. treatment he fell sound asleep till next morning. After two sessions he complained of little result, but carried on. After the third treatment, he drank a lot of water and has not looked back. His backache and asthma are gone and, amazingly, for the first time in his life he is experiencing a sustained motivation to get up and going in the mornings
ASTHMA ATTACK Girl, 17, 1 emergency treatment
England Junior Basketball Team Member, K, was involved with the multistage fitness test used to analyse an athlete's aerobic performance. A standard is expected at this level and the peer pressure to achieve the necessary grade is immense. K was struggling for breath soon into the test causing some concern early on. Determination kept her going until she had to stop because she could not gain a breath at all and had commenced a panic attack, which complicated the situation. K was removed from the concerned crowd and the Bowen emergency asthma move carried out. Immediately a normal breathing pattern resumed and after 30 minutes K carried on training with no further symptoms.
BACK: DEGENERATIVE DISC Woman, 30's, regular treatments
B had pain in her lower and middle back with some spasm evident, plus stiffness around her shoulders. She had had a lower back injury as a child. She also suffered from stress. She had three children between 8 months and 4 years. She was moving house shortly after her second treatment. The pain in her back disappeared after the second treatment when the Bowen pelvic move was added and, despite carrying many heavy boxes during the move, she had no problems with her back. As the Bowen treatment is helping with her stress, this has continued. She claims she has never gone through the winter without frequently falling ill, but has been fine ever since she started the Bowen sessions. In her own words: "I have been diagnosed with degenerative disc disorder and have suffered for 12 years with lower back pain which has worsened since my children were born. "All of summer 1999 the pain was severe and occurred frequently, often the pain going down into my legs and also up my neck and shoulder. After two sessions of Bowen it was almost completely better. Since then I had slight twinges, which have gone after a few days. "In addition, the Bowen treatment seems to have had a marked effect on my general health, with practically no illness all winter, and also my mental/emotional health is much better. I don't have the down days and depression that I suffered with for years."
BACK PAIN Dave, 48
For ten years I suffered from low back pain. I was referred to a Bowen practitioner, and after four sessions the pain in my back was lessened. After my next treatment, I drove home feeling drowsy and slept eleven hours straight that night. The next morning I woke up and a miracle had happened. My hip was free. I had no pain in my lower back. The tightness in my shoulder and neck were gone. It was the first time I felt physically free.
BACK: CONSTANT LOWER BACK ACHE Woman, 40's, 1 treatment
I am a Consultant Paediatrician and, while my training has been in orthodox medicine, I have long been aware of the limitations of modern Western medicine in addressing basic issues relating to the promotion of health and well being and prevention of disturbed function, of the human organism. Over the last few years I have explored the preventive and therapeutic benefits of a number of practices complementary to medicine and have trained in several therapies. I was introduced to The Bowen Technique during a joint consultation with a kinesiologist who had trained in it. I had been experiencing a constant ache in my lower back for some time and therefore became the fortunate recipient of a Bowen treatment. To my amazement, I experienced immediate relief and this happy state held over time. I was so impressed that I enrolled in the training course and now also use The Bowen Technique on a number of conditions. If only The Bowen Technique could fit the criteria for acceptance in the current climate of Evidence Based Medicine, the benefits to individuals and the savings for the NHS would be enormous.
BACK PAIN Matt, 60
For 20 years I had been suffering from low back pain following a horseback riding accident. I was in so much pain that I could barely walk for five minutes at a time. After my first Bowen treatment, I went home and followed all the instructions for 5 days. The second day I had pain everywhere, but it started to dissipate after the 3rd day. On the 5th day, it was like I had never had a back problem. All the pain was gone. I thank the Bowen Technique for giving me a new life and hope for the future at 60 years old.
BACK PAIN Joe, 34
I have had a bad back for as long as I can remember. Back pain was something I just lived with. Over the past fifteen years, no one could offer me morethan just temporary relief. After three Bowen sessions the pain was gone! No pain putting on socks and shoes. No pain bending down to pick up a tennis ball. I have complete and pain free mobility. The Bowen Technique saved my life and reintroduced me to a pain free existence.
Back Pain Kwinana
I would like to express my sincere thanks Bowen Therapy. After 25 years of back pain and hundreds of visits to Doctors, Physiotherapists and Chiropractors (and in particular 103 visits in one year) I was told that I would never be without pain or to be able to bend down.
After three visits I no longer had any pain and after subsequent visits I am now able to bend down. I am now after 25 years starting to live a normal life again.
Back Pain male, 57
A 57- year-old man suffered from chronic back pain and could walk only with the help of a cane. Housebound, he could walk or sit only 20 minutes at a time and took constant medication for the pain. After three Bowen treatments he was able to fish again and resume a normal life.
BACK, GROIN & LEG PAIN Footballer
"I was asked to try Bowen therapy by my football physio as I had been having problems with my back, groins and upper leg muscles for most of the season. I'd been to a chiropractor a few times and on my last visit she had advised there was nothing really wrong with my bone structure. I continued to play but still felt restricted in my movements so I decided to give Bowen a try. "I didn't really know what to expect but I was determined to keep an open mind and give it a go. I can't explain how it worked but after a couple of treatments the problems I had been having virtually disappeared. I was able to touch my toes with the palms of my hands - something I'd not been able to do for a long while and I seemed to be able to go the duration of a game easily where I had been struggling before. "When people ask 'does it work?' I find the best way to tell them about it is my scoring ratio since having Bowen. I'd only scored 5 goals in 27 games before Bowen treatment. From the time I started having treatment until the end of the season, I scored 10 in 12 and from my point of view, that says it all! I also didn't miss a game through injury." - Danny Adams, footballer
Back Pain Sports Injury David, 30
David S a 30-year-old accountant presented complaining of lower back pain due to a football injury that had persisted for 11 years. Although very skeptical during his first NST session he admitted to feeling 80% better within the following days. “Okay I feel heaps better, but how could such light moves on my body possibly provide this much relief”? His second visit convinced him, as he now remains absolutely pain free.
BACK PAIN – SCIATICA Man, 40, 1 treatment
P. was unable to put weight on his right foot and the therapist paid a home visit. He was in severe pain and had been all day, from the buttock right down the leg. He was extremely tense and tight. The therapist gave him one treatment and was able to observe his body relaxing during the 40 minute session.. He was virtually pain free when he got up and was walking normally. Two years later, the therapist reports that the problem has not returned.
BACK PAIN Roy, 22
For many years, I suffered from low back pain. The problem started in high school when I improperly lifted some heavy weights. Since then, my third lumbar would pop out of place, and I would have it corrected by chiropractic every six months or so. Three hours after my first Bowen treatment, while driving home, my lumbar moved back into place on its own! It has been more than a year since then, and I've had no more back problems.
BACK PAIN R.M.
"I'm 54 and when I strained my back moving house I thought I was in big trouble! I was worried I'd be out of action for a week and I can't afford that. I rang up and had a Bowen session that day. The relief was instant and I was able to keep on working. That night I felt so good I even went for a bike ride.”
BACK PAIN - NERVE Footballer
Quick Bowen sessions were provided at a football match. The sessions were effective at loosening the players muscles before playing football. Natasha a player with the Polish team had trapped a nerve in her back the day before. She was in a lot of pain and massage had not helped. On performing a twenty-minute Bowen session using back moves her pain was relieved.
BACK PAIN into Hips and Knee woman, 26, three treatment
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.
BACK PAIN SLIPPED DISC / SCIATICA Angela, 59
I came from the doctors with a bag of medicines prescribed for slipped disc and sciatica. They told me to lay on my back until the problem improved and to take two weeks off work. I could not afford to do this. After one Bowen treatment I was up and around the very next day! A day later, I had a boost of energy I had never experienced before. I was completely recovered.
BACK PAIN - SCIATICA Paul, 42
I was unable to put weight on my right foot and was in severe pain from my buttock down my right leg. I felt extremely tense and tight. After my first Bowen session, my body completely relaxed. When I got up, I was virtually pain free and could walk normally! After two years, the problem has not returned.
BACK PAIN - Scoliosis girl, 8
An 8 year old girl, presented with impaired co-ordination, scoliotic pelvis, perception disorder of the muscles, and heavy binocular squint (especially when tired). The child had previously received the best possible medical care available. After the first application of NST the child said she “felt different”; after the second application of NST she was able to ride her scooter and walk up and down the stairs, an activity she was previously unable to do without the help of somebody else. For the first time in her life she felt pain after muscular exertion. After the third application of NST her physiotherapist asserted that the scoliotic pelvis was now straight, as were relevant points on the scapulae as well. At the same time the co-ordination and perception of the muscles had improved so much that even a forward somersault was possible.After the fourth application of NST – incredible but true – the ophthalmologist asserted that the child squinted no longer. In fact this test was carried out when the child was quite tired, having come straight from school. She continues to
improve Dr. Michaele Buckmann, Dusseldorf, Germany, 1998.
BACK PAIN & HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE Woman, 54, 3 treatments
C came with a history of back pain, which included a particularly bad episode two years previously. In addition, she also looks after her disabled mother at home. Typically, her back pain would also travel down to her left knee. An x-ray revealed that 3 lumbar vertebra had reduced cartilage. Two weeks before she came for Bowen treatment, C's back "went" during a skiing holiday when she stood up from a sitting position! When she came for the first treatment, C also had high blood pressure. During the first treatment, C felt very woozy and was hot and flushed after, so remained lying down for a while. She said that her back was then painful for two days following the treatment but that something "snapped" as she was walking and the pain was gone. At her third treatment, she reported feeling a bit stiff, still, but had been playing tennis. In addition, her blood pressure was normal for the first time in two years. One week later, she was feeling fine and has not needed further treatment.
BEDWETTING Girl, 7, 3 treatments + ongoing 'top-ups'
T was taken for Bowen treatment because of a bedwetting problem. After discussion with T's mother, it was decided to say the treatment was for her frequent bouts of tonsillitis rather than emphasize the bedwetting to the child. T would wet the bed four or five times a week, and occasionally more than once a night. T's mother was instructed to cut out apples and apple juice from T's diet. T wet the bed three times the first week. She had really enjoyed her Bowen session and was looking forward to the next one. After the second treatment, T wet the bed twice. Following the third Bowen treatment T was completely dry all week and stayed dry for two and a half months (she had one accident during this time). T now has a Bowen 'top up' every two to three months. As a bonus, T has had only one very sore throat in the last year which would normally have required antibiotics but which cleared up naturally after 24 hours much to mum's amazement.
BEDWETTING child, 10
I had a child of 10 who was a chronic bedwetter. His grandmother used to wake him every 2 hours to try and keep him dry but with little success. They came to me and I told them about the diet and that it would be a fairly long term treatment. I gave 5 treatments. The grandmother then decided that the Bowen was not working even though he was starting to have longer dry periods. I asked her to please keep him on the 75/25% alkaline/acid diet and to keep his dairy and apple consumption to a minimum. Two months later I received a phone call to say that the kid had been dry for 6 weeks.
BELL'S PALSY Woman, 54, 2 treatments
R. writes: "On Friday, 1st September 2000, I was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy and was given a 5 day course of steroids and advised to see a neurologist. This would have probably taken several weeks with the NHS. I contacted Bowen practitioner on Monday 12th September. "The symptoms of the Bell's Palsy were that my left eye had gone right up in the socket and the right side of my mouth had dropped so that I had great difficulty in drinking and eating. "During the course of the first treatment, during one of the short breaks [that are a part of Bowen treatment], I could still feel movements around and under my left eye as though he were still working on it. When the treatment was finished, I looked in the mirror and was amazed to see that my eyes were symmetrical and back to normal. A week later I had a second treatment and my mouth showed a little improvement on that occasion. I had a third appointment provisionally booked for a week later but my face was so improved that I did not need it. "I also had a private appointment with a neurologist on the 27th of September, by which time my face was completely recovered."
BLOCKED TEAR DUCT Mitchell
Mitchell had difficulty with a blocked tear duct in his left eye from the first days of life. His GP prescribed eye drops which did little to help then the GP recommended surgery to remove the blockage in the tear duct. His mother took him to a Bowen therapist. After 1 session there was a dramatic change in Mitchell’s eyes. Since then he has had no further trouble with his eyes and thankfully no need for the surgery.
Bunion female, 50
A 50-year-old female runner with a large bunion found she had to stop running. Three weeks after one Bowen treatment, the bunion had completely resolved.
CALF PAIN / BACK PAIN Mary, 62
Since my accident nine years ago, I suffered with severe back pain, and my right calf has been in spasm. I often experienced pain down the whole right side of my body. After my first Bowen treatment, I had far less tension in my right calf. After the second treatment I could not believe the difference in my back: almost 100 percent pain free! The pains in my knee and hip were also much lessened, and in general I felt much better. After the third treatment, the back pain I had had for nine years was now completely gone!
CANCER: PLEASE NOTE;The Bowen Technique is not suggested as a cure or even as a treatment for cancer. Instead it aims to offer an improved quality of life and more comfort during treatment and thereafter.
CANCER - BLADDER Man, 60's, 8 treatments
"Following a relapse into a second instance of bladder cancer, The Bowen Technique was recommended to me by a very caring friend who had been a great help to me earlier. Bowen practitioner agreed to treat me just as my chemotherapy course began and after only three sessions the effect was so noticeable that one of the chemotherapy nurses remarked that I was the most relaxed patient they had ever treated on that unit. "The Bowen Technique therapy has dramatically reduced stress in both by body and in my mental attitude, removing old tensions and grievances to clear the way to a more balanced feeling now. The treatment has also considerably reduced the pain and physical problem of a frozen shoulder, which had disturbed my sleep for months and was painful to use, even making dressing difficult at times. There is now little more than the stiffness following unaccustomed exercise. In the space of eight weeks, the application of the Bowen Technique to my body and problems has immeasurably increased the well-being I feel and, I am sure, has played a very important part in supplementing the conventional cancer treatment, to the extent that I now feel better than I have felt for over two years."
CANCER - PROSTATE Man, 60's, regular treatments
"I suffer from prostate cancer with metastases in the spine, pelvis and ribs. The Macmillan Day hospice I attend provides a variety of therapies including aromatherapy once medical approval has been obtained for each individual patient. Some time ago our therapist suggested using the Bowen Technique in an effort to give me longer relief from joint and bone pains and relieve spasms of intense kidney pain. I am delighted to say the results have been excellent. "Nearly fifty years ago, a Polio attack left me with a weakness down my left side and constant pain that varied in intensity. Following Bowen treatment, this discomfort is considerably reduced. This is incredible after so many years. As the Bowen technique is so unobtrusive I couldn't believe it would achieve any improvement in the light of my experience. I am now a keen advocate of the Bowen Technique. It has certainly improved my quality of life."
CANCER -STOMACH Woman, 3 treatments
M had had a number of abdominal operations and had been bedridden for some months. She had been unable to keep either food or drink down for over two months and, as a consequence, was now very weak and in great pain all over. She was on strong painkillers and was unable to sleep much. She had not laid on her stomach for over two years so getting her into a sort of position to start Bowen treatment was difficult, and she only managed a 2/3 turn. There was very little muscle to work with and body geography was very difficult. At the first treatment, after the initial moves, she felt her whole body relax for the first time in months. On the next visit, 5 days later, she was sitting up and had started eating and drinking "proper food" with no sickness. She had also stopped taking painkillers. At the third treatment she was very perky and feeling much stronger as she was now able to eat. However, the cause of her considerable problems has now been diagnosed as stomach cancer.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
I treated a young lady using the Bowen basic treatment and added an advanced wrist procedure. Within the next week she called to tell me that the pain disappeared shortly after leaving my office and her wrist did not bother her at all. I treated her one more time and I have seen her at the theatre since the treatments and she remains pain free.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Geoff, 67
I am a recently retired cabinet maker, having worked at my trade for over 50 years. For the last 20 years I have had problems with my shoulders as a result of using power tools and to sleep at night I have had to prop myself up with 3 pillows to ease the shoulder pain. Then for the last 5 years I have also had trouble with my hands and wrists – tingling, cold fingers, numbness and pain. It was diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome. For this I have worn gloves and wrist supports to help ease the pain. I couldn’t pick up small things (nails, screws, and even a $2 coin) and was even having trouble driving the car and doing small household jobs. Then I saw a small ad in our local newspaper suggesting Bowen therapy as a way of easing carpal tunnel syndrome. This was a simple muscle manipulation and exercise regime and after just one session I could notice a change. After each of the following 5 sessions there were more changes. My symptoms have been improved by say 80% and hopefully if I continue my exercises and perhaps have a few more treatments later, this may improve even more. In the meantime, I have a life back – much less pain and inconvenience. I’m back to driving and working. I am very grateful to my therapist who was able to help me so much.
CEREBRAL PALSY Girl, 3, regular treatments
I first saw little T. a year ago, when she was three. She is a delightful little girl, very determined and full of fun. T. has cerebral palsy, with a mild left-sided hemiplegia. Her left arm and hand are somewhat slow and clumsy, and her left leg is marginally shorter than her right, with erratic muscle tone. T. was managing pretty well, but fell over more than the average, and was prone to more crying tantrums and outbursts than most three year olds. Her parents were concerned to do all they could to get her off to the best start they could. It has been a very gradual process of gaining T's confidence through games, tiny rewards, and general fun and nonsense in the treatment room. She was initially very reluctant to leave her parent's laps. I did tiny treatments in situ, or on my lap, as and when I could. Very quickly improvement was seen in general behaviour and the number of tantrums decreased. As time has gone on, she and I have become the best of friends; she will now lie on my couch and remain still for treatment. We hope that as time goes on, regular treatment will help prevent complications with her left ankle, which inverts slightly and has erratic tone. She now verbalises well, is friendly, confident and outgoing, and showing every sign of being ready to make a smooth transition to school in a few month's time.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/MYALGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS (M.E.) man, 30's, 9 treatments
He had been laid low with ME/CFS about 8 months before he came for Bowen treatment. He had recovered from the very debilitating stage of the illness but was still far from well. He was only able to go in to work for two hours a day, and sometimes not even that much. He had to have a nap in the afternoons and go to bed early. Socialising was a rare event. He began responding almost immediately to Bowen treatment with improvement in a stiff and aching neck, headaches, a feeling of stuffiness in the ears, "woozey" head, and energy levels. Each weekly treatment added to the improvement and within a month he was able to do without the naps and begin to accept social invitations again. After several months, he undertook two trips abroad and suffered no real ill effects from the plane journeys, climate changes and activities. Bowen treatment moved S into a continually improving state which held steady as he got back to his regular duties.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / MYALGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS (M.E.) Woman, 50's, treatment every 2 - 4 months
Bowen can have the effect of re-integrating, or re-connecting not only the body's systems, but also the body-mind-spirit connections that are so crucial to a sense of wholeness as a person. This is a subtle effect and often difficult to quantify or put into adequate words but nonetheless, this effect seems to be of great importance to the CFS patient. One woman had been faithfully following a very exacting exercise regimen - but sadly with little result - to try to regain a sense that her legs were connected to her brain and the rest of her body, as she felt they were weightless and didn't connect her to the ground properly. This sensation, of course, constantly made her feel unsure of her balance and steps. After her second Bowen treatment, she stood up and started laughing with delight and amazement, saying over and over that her legs felt heavy and solid, connected to her upper body, and she could feel the ground under her feet! Bowen treatment has maintained this "re-connection" now over many months for her.
COCCYX PAIN Louise, 27
Post-labor I suffered a tremendous pain upon sitting and was duly fobbed off by the medical staff. Having been a theatre nurse for many years I was offered and refused an operation as I did not believe the results would be worth it. My coccyx was not broken just misaligned badly. Finally after no success with pain killers, physio etc. I discovered Bowen Therapy and thankfully after two treatments I was completely recovered after nearly two years of constant pain. It was like a miracle as I would have paid anything at the time to get rid of the pain. Happy to share this experience with anyone as I am so grateful for the relief I have been given.
COLLITIS Peg, 78
Peg aged 78 had been diagnosed 40 yrs earlier as having colitis. She continued to suffer with this disorder until she came to me for Bowen treatment. Shewas taking six different tablets a day some to address the problem others to address the side affects caused by the drugs. After only onetreatment Pegfelt relief from her symptoms. Over the next few months having only three treatments her colitis was so much improved she cameoff of her tablets and was diagnosed by her doctor as clear!
COLIC. Boy, 4 months, 1 treatment
J. was four months old and suffering from severe colic after meals which was distressing for him and for his poor parents. During the Bowen treatment he seemed to relax completely. After this one treatment he had no further colic.
Constipation & Sinuses Oscar MD
Two chronic problems cleared up after a few Bowen sessions three months ago. As far back as I can remember, I tended toward constipation. After eighty-five years of laxatives, enemas, and suppositories, I’m now regular — even without Metamucil. My sinus condition began in the early 1950s. After the doctor’s initial treatments with iodine, I irrigated my sinuses with saline solution for about ten years, then used Neosynephrine for thirty years, and finally used Nasacor daily for ten years. Since the Bowen, my sinuses are clear without any medication.
DEPRESSION woman, 29, 4 treatments + ongoing
C was diagnosed as having depression and was prescribed medication - Prozac. She felt herself to be "on an emotional roller coaster, full of negative thoughts and very tense and snappy" and she hated taking this medication because it made her fuzzy. Seven days after the first treatment C said that she had felt much more relaxed and asked if I felt that she should stop her medication. I advised that this was something she should discuss with her GP. "By her third session, nine days later, C had seen her GP who had reduced her medication prior to withdrawal. C was much more positive and delighted with the effects of the Bowen Technique. Eight days later, at her fourth session, C was relaxed and positive. She had successfully applied for a new job and feels able to cope well with her life. She asked if I would see her on a regular basis as she felt that Bowen helped her to relax and that it is "much better for me than medication". We agreed that she would make an appointment when she felt it would help. C has had several sessions since. She rings every 6-8 weeks.
DEPRESSION & EMOTIONAL RELEASE woman, 43, 1 treatment
B. is quite a sensitive person and is currently 'coming off' anti-depressants. After the first basic Bowen moves, she immediately felt 'spaced out'. After about half an hour, she got a terrific pain in her throat, whereupon there poured out all sorts of confessions about her childhood, and deep secrets she'd never told anyone before (sexual abuse etc). Then she had a cry (I gave her Rescue Remedy & just listened). After this huge outburst of very personal horror stories, all of a sudden the pain in her throat cleared completely and she felt much brighter and somewhat amazed at what had happened. Clearly, Bowen had prompted this enormous ''release'. It certainly proves that Bowen works on many different levels.
EAR INFECTIONS Sue
I have been practicing the Bowen Technique on my grandson who suffers from autism. My grandson was suffering from re-current ear infections since he was 10 months old, I used the Bowen Technique on my grandson when he was 2 years old. After just one treatment his ear infection cleared and he has not suffered from them since. He is now 7.
ECZEMA girl, 3, 5 treatments
P arrived for her appointment with the saddest little face. Her eyes looked worried and wary, her mouth was in a tight, down-turned frown. She was suffering considerably with her eczema. Her scalp, through her blonde hair, was scaly and red; her arms were encased in special gloves from her fingertips to her armpits. She also had significant patches on her back and stomach and legs. Her skin was red and raw looking, clearly painfully inflamed from this condition. She was constantly agitated and scratching one area or another, her mother trying to calm her and keep her from doing so as much as possible. P's eczema first appeared around 8 months of age. She had seen hospital specialists during the following year but the eczema remained the same. Around age 2, P was taken off dairy and the eczema cleared for about 6 months. Then it came back, quite suddenly and severely, for no apparent reason. Her mother was using two different creams, a special soap and antihistamine tablets at bedtime to try to stop the itching. P had been tested for allergies and was off everything to which she showed sensitivity. Her sleep was very disturbed, her appetite poor and the eczema was affecting her behaviour in negative ways. It was at this point that they came to try Bowen.
P was understandably nervous about a new treatment and was very weepy and anxious. She sat in her mother's lap while I did the gentle little Bowen moves on her back, legs and around her neck. Relieved that that was all there was to it, she gave me a tiny smile as she left. When she came for her second treatment one week later, the change in her scalp was immediately noticeable - it was much less scaly and more hair had started to grow in.Her mother reported she was not itching as much and was settling at night and sleeping through most nights. Again, treatment while she sat on her mother's lap. One week later, for the third treatment, her mother reported that her body was reacting to the treatment and, in conjunction with the eczema diminishing, lymph glands in her groin and neck had swollen during the week. Flaky skin patches were now clearing in a couple of days, where it used to take a couple of weeks. Her hair was continuing to grow in and thicken.
P's fourth treatment was two weeks later and the glands were now only slightly swollen and the eczema reduced even further. There had been periods when P hadn't been itching for a day or so. P had even gone without her arm-length gloves for two days. She was much less weepy, whiney and agitated than during previous treatments and sat happily during it. She was thirsty afterwards and gave me a smile and said "thank you" when she left. The day booked for treatment #5, a fortnight later, was a lovely sunny day and P had been out running and playing in the sun with her sister - without her gloves on. She was so much better and having such a great day, her mother forgot the appointment! So the fifth treatment took place a week after that and the difference in P was amazing. She did not have her gloves on and her arms were a normal skin colour, although still a bit rough to the touch. She was eating better, sleeping better, hair still thickening and only a very few small dry patches on her scalp. P was bouncy, happy, smiling, excited and very happy to have her treatment. A transformed little girl.
EXTREME CASE
An older gentleman came to me on a referral from his daughter. Eleven years before I met this man he was severely injured by 750 pounds of material that fell off a forklift onto his head and shoulders. Doctors had fused his neck and lower back in an attempt to put him together and to help him have some kind of a life after the accident. He was always in constant relentless pain in various areas of his body since the accident and was on extreme medication for the pain. When he first came to me he was walking with full force on two canes, all crippled up, bent over, severely dragging one foot. In this condition he stood approximately 4'6." When he laid on the table, I was surprised to find that he did not fit on the table because he was so tall. I asked how tall he really was and he said "A little over 6' 4." Because his body was so bent up, in severe discomfort and I had never seen someone in this condition, I told him that there would be no charge for treatment because I did not know if there was anything I could do for him. I proceeded with a Bowen basic treatment and added the ankle release procedure. During the treatment his body began to calm down and relax. Immediately after receiving the treatment, and upon my suggestion, he slid off the table and with some effort, he very slowly and gingerly began to take small and cautious steps around the room. He was taken by surprise that he, for the first time in 11 years, although with effort, was able to walk without use of his canes. "I am somewhat chi