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The Alternative Vet Practice
Dr. med. vet. Miriam Krause
Veterinary Surgeon
Qualified Dog Behaviourist & Trainer (IDBTS)
Qualified Canine Bowen Technique Practitioner (EGCBT)
Qualified Human Bowen Technique Practitioner (ECBS)
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Human Bowen Technique - Bowen Therapy for people

What actually is the Bowen Technique?

Bild M. Krause The Bowen Technique is a gentle hands-on soft tissue remedial therapy developed in the 1950s by Tom Bowen from Geelong, Australia, and was brought to the UK in 1992 by Julian Baker who runs the European College of Bowen Studies (ECBS).

Bowen technics It is a holistic therapy treating the whole body and mind to re-balance, relieve tension and reduce pain. During the subtle and relaxing treatment, the practitioner uses thumbs and fingers on precise points of the body to perform rolling-type moves over muscles, tendons and soft tissue to send a stimulus to the brain.

A feature of Bowen is that, in regular intervalls between sets of moves, the practitioner will leave the room for several minutes, allowing your body time to gently respond to the treatment at its own pace and to start re-aligning and repairing itself.

As this process develops its strongest effect over a period of a few days, it is common to leave the treatment in the same condition as before with improvement only starting to take place over the next few days.

Almost all treatment can be given through light clothing and in addition, you will be covered by towels during the treatment session.

What kind of conditions of adults and children can be treated?

As with all holistic therapies, the Bowen Technique is treating the whole body and mind and not any specific condition.
It can be used preventatively as well as therapeutically.
As with all therapies, some people will respond better to it than others. Children also tend to respond well to Bowen treatment.
Common conditions of adults that tend to respond well to Bowen Therapy include:
  • neck and back pain
  • 'frozen' shoulder
  • sciatica
  • repetitive strain injury
  • sports injury (acute and chronic)
  • joint pain
  • pain management
  • MS
  • hayfever
  • asthma
  • IBS
  • migraine
  • stress
... to name but a few.

Common conditions that might prompt parents to bring their child for Bowen treatment are:
  • colic
  • sleep disturbances
  • asthma
  • eczema
  • stomach aches
  • worry and anxiety
  • behavioural problems
  • Asperger's syndrome
and many other things that upset young lifes... and disrupt the lifes of their families. Unlike many other hands-on therapies, the gentle Bowen Therapy usually doesn't alarm or upset the child. Unlike adults, children also don't need to lay on a massage couch, in fact, most children can be treated while sitting securely in mum's or dad's lap.
As I don't want to add financial constraints to the pressure of looking after an unwell child, I offer treatments for children 15 years and younger at a very reduced rate.

Are there any contraindications?

No. The Bowen Technique is a very gentle therapy, both on the client and on the therapist. There are no contraindications and it can be used even in very acute situations from the tiniest of babies, during pregnancy, through to the frailest of adults.
However, some of the procedures should be avoided or used with caution during pregnancy or in people with dentures or implants. This will be discussed during the consultation.

What will happen during the treatment?

Bowen technics 2 An appointment will take approximately 60-90 minutes and will start with a short session of questions to find out about any existing medical conditions, aches and pains.
You will then be asked to make yourself comfortable on a massage couch on which you will be covered with towels and blankets to keep you warm and cosy throughout the treatment.
From this point on you can just close your eyes, relax and enjoy!
The treatment consists of a series of precise, rolling-type moves over muscles and tendons made by thumbs and fingers. The moves will not cause any pain, although some moves can be a bit more tender than others.
An important feature of Bowen is that, between moves, the practitioner will leave the room for several minutes, allowing your body time to gently respond to the treatment at its own pace and to start re-aligning and repairing itself.
With some procedures or due to the person's condition, the patient is sitting or standing rather than lying.

What do I need to bring/wear for the Bowen treatment?

Please wear light clothing to your appointment such as a sleeveless top and sports shorts made of cotton. Almost all treatment can be given through light clothing and for additonal warmth and comfort, you will be covered by towels during the treatment session. However, some moves are difficult to apply through synthetic fabrics or thick material such as blue jeans or thick trousers with stitched-on pockets. Due to this you may be asked to remove such items but you will never be asked to remove underwear or slips.
Please bring a list of any medication you are currently taking.

Can Bowen Technique be mixed with other therapies and/or conventional medicine?

Please do not book an appointment for ANY other physical therapy such as reflexology, physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, rolfing, massage, acupuncture etc, within seven days before your first or within seven days after your last Bowen treatment. This is to ensure that the body is not overloaded with information or given differing therapeutic information to deal with at the same time.
However, the Bowen Technique does combine very well with non-manual therapies such as conventional medicine, homoeopathy, herbal medicine, aromatherapy etc.

Aftercare advice

To allow the treatment to develop its full effect, there are a few things to consider after a treatment session:
  • Rest: Even though the method is very gentle, the body will be receiving a lot of impulses to work with. Hence it is important to take it easy and not to plan any strenuous activities for the same day if possible.
  • Water: Please ensure that you drink at least 5 glasses of still water each day. One of the essentials for good health, water is also essential following a Bowen treatment. As a result of Bowen the body will increase blood supply to nerve endings and will increase lymph movement throughout the body. The effective functioning of these systems is entirely reliant on water. Water should be taken in small but regular quantities throughout the day. This should be tap water or bottled water; tea (even herbal teas), coffee, squash, fruit juice or fizzy drinks are not useful for this purpose.
  • Moving: In the days immediately following a Bowen Technique treatment, try not to sit still for more than 30 minutes at a time. A little walk around the room to have a stretch is all that is required to keep things moving. As with water, walking will assist the movement of fluid and more particularly lymph around the body. Lymph removes all kinds of debris from the body.
  • Responses: Responses to Bowen treatment, which may be experienced, can include hot and cold flushes, headaches, emotional relapses, thirst, tiredness and body aches and pains. These are all positive signs that the healing process is working. These responses usually clear after a few days.
  • Exercise: Continue with any comfortable and gentle exercise regime that you already have, unless otherwise advised.
  • Medication: Do not alter any medication or diet that has been prescribed for you.
  • Heat/Cold: Do not use ice packs or heat pads during a course of Bowen treatment.
  • Other therapies: During the course of treatment with the Bowen Technique, do not receive another physical therapy such as reflexology, physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, etc., within seven days before your first or seven days after your last Bowen treatment. This is to ensure that the body is not overloaded with information or given differing therapeutic information to deal with at the same time.
  • Treatment intervalls: The recommended time period between treatments is five to ten days, with seven days being the optimum to allow your body to re–align and repair itself in reaction to the treatment. Three to four treatments at weekly intervals are often sufficient to achieve lasting relief, although in some cases further treatments may be required. Some people like to use the Bowen Technique as a means of stress management and health maintenance and benefit from regular 'top–up' treatments.

For more information or to book an appointment, please phone 01595 890234 or 07900 201571

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