Case Study: Bowen Technique for Back
Pain and Other Conditions
by Liz James ITEC BTAA
The Bowen Technique enables the body
to re-balance and restore. This gentle, non-invasive therapy
produces an integrated body response and consequently improves
circulation, lymphatic and venous drainage, the assimilation of
nutrients and elimination of toxins, joint mobility, posture,
clearance of dysfunctional debris and normalisation of cellular
physiology and tissue integrity. There is no condition that cannot
be addressed (with medical supervision where appropriate).
Case A
A 63 year old man shuffled and limped
into my treatment room presenting with severe lumbar, left hip and
sacro-iliac pain. He showed a pelvic malalignment with painful,
restricted movement abducting and adducting both lower and upper
limbs. Having retired 12 months earlier, he had looked forward to
enjoying more of his hobbies. Eight months of pain had prevented
him enjoying anything at all. After hearing other success stories
with Bowen, he felt he had nothing to lose.
Immediately following his initial
treatment (lasting all of 30 minutes), he showed improved posture
and range of movement. Pain had begun to disperse with eased joint
mobility. He walked out of my room with considerable comfort. I
had worked around his pelvis and hips to ease the pressure on the
sciatic nerve as well as the upper back and neck.
On his return, seven days later, my
client was thrilled with his progress of needing just another
session to consolidate the rebalancing. Following this second
session where I concentrated on work around his neck and
Temporo-Mandibular Joints (TMJ), he wrote me a letter:
“I am delighted to report that my
two recent Bowen treatments have enabled me to resume my daily walk
of two miles. This in itself would have achieved my original quest
when contacting you Liz, however, after the initial treatment some
long-term problems have incredibly disappeared:
-
Allergies of approx 40
years - I have lived with incessant bouts of sneezing instigated
by consumption of dairy products and inhalation of perfume,
varnish, paint and dust;
-
Loss of sense of taste
for approx 10 years;
-
Constant wheezy chest
for 18 months;
-
Restricted mobility of
right shoulder - something I have adapted my life around for 15
years.
I have been totally amazed by the
Bowen Technique which has improved the quality of my life in such an
incredible short space of time. I am pain-free and now able to
taste and enjoy my food. I cannot believe the allergies disappeared
overnight!”
Case B
Another client writes: “I first
realized I was suffering from depression a year ago when my employer
remarked I looked unwell and advised me to 'Google' depression on
the internet! I had the classic symptoms – no concentration,
anxiety, tearful, insomnia (I remember spending most nights in
tears). My GP prescribed anti-depressants. Although I didn't want
to take any medication, they did enable me to function. Concerned
friends recommended I seek help from Liz. I had never heard of the
Bowen Technique and I was sceptical, but had reached the point of
trying anything!”
This 37 year-old client presented
with a troublesome lumbar and limited range of movement for 3 years,
initiated by a fall. She suffered frequent headaches, depression,
anxiety and low self-esteem. She was due to marry in four months, a
day she was dreading. She needed to lose weight for her wedding
gown to fit, and due to pain and discomfort, exercise was virtually
impossible. Recent comfort-eating and weight gain had resulted in
even deeper depression.
The first treatment involved basic
relaxation work to initiate the re-balancing of the body; also moves
over hamstrings and diaphragm to clear the lung and large intestine
meridians. The next day she reported feeling quite different. The
intense pain had dissipated and she actually felt motivated to
swim. She continued exercising daily (walking, cycling or
swimming). She returned seven days later for a subsequent
treatment, glowing and grinning from ear to ear! She had renewed
zest and abundant energy. Now on track, reducing her intake of
caffeine, alcohol and chocolate, she was eating a healthy balanced
diet. After one session she felt fantastic, the best in years!
The second treatment consisted of
moves to re-balance her pelvic girdle and to address residual
anxiety. The following week she reduced her anti-depressants by
half. She felt upright, walking tall, proud of who she was and how
she looked. She could now exercise for longer periods and felt she
could once again enjoy life.
One more treatment was needed before
the big day to settle 'butterfly' nerves. She had lost three inches
from her waist and hips, enabling her dress to fit. She was
ecstatic.
From these three sessions, Bowen had
transformed this desperate young woman into a positive and confident
individual. She was able to enjoy a wonderful pain-free wedding and
writes: “Here I am a year on – very happy, healthy and no
anti-depressants and feeling fantastic!”
As a practitioner, Bowen will never
cease to amaze me. Over the past six years, many of my clients who
have presented with long-standing complaints find great relief after
just a small number of treatments. This therapy produces maximum
results with minimum intervention.
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