Ask the experts: What is Bowen therapy?

Complementary therapist Judith Kilgallon answers your questions on the Bowen technique

What exactly is Bowen therapy?

Bowen therapy is a gentle, hands-on therapy that treats the body in a holistic way. The therapist makes gentle rolling movements on specific muscles, tendons, ligaments, and soft tissue using their fingers and thumbs. After each set of moves, the therapist will move away, and may even leave the room for a few minutes. These are ‘breaks’, which allow the body’s parasympathetic nervous system to engage, and the healing process to begin.

Busy and stressful lifestyles can mean that the body is in a constant fight-or-flight mode, so Bowen aims to get the body to the opposite state. There is no hard tissue manipulation or massage, no adjustment or high-velocity movement, no deep or prolonged pressure, and you can keep your clothes on. The holistic nature of a Bowen treatment can mean that more than one issue can be addressed during a treatment.

What conditions can Bowen therapy help manage?

Bowen may help manage many conditions including back and neck pain, shoulder, knee, ankle, elbow, and hip pain, sciatica, headaches and migraines, asthma, stress, and anxiety. Bowen is gentle enough to help fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue sufferers, along with those with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. Bowen is suitable for all ages, so it can help a baby with colic or an elderly person with arthritis. Treatments can be adapted to suit the individual, and the treatment can be given while you are lying down, sitting, or even standing.

What should/shouldn’t I do following a treatment?

Following a treatment, your therapist will ask you not to have any other physical therapies for seven days, such as physiotherapy, osteopathy, and Reiki. This is because Bowen seems to tune your body into a certain frequency, allowing it to restore itself. Putting in other therapies can disturb that balance. However, you should continue with any prescribed medication, and nutrition and exercise programmes. It is essential to drink plenty of water and move as much as possible during a course of Bowen treatments to assist with the flow of lymph around the body. Mild symptoms may be experienced up to 48 hours following a treatment, such as thirst, mild headaches, and general aching and tiredness. A warm bath in Epsom salts may help, but should be avoided if you have high blood pressure.

Are there any risks or side-effects associated with the Bowen technique?

Unlike some other complementary therapies, there are no known risks or side-effects associated with Bowen therapy. Bowen can be used safely in all circumstances and there are no conditions where the use of Bowen is contra-indicated.