Frequently Asked Questions

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What is Bowen Therapy?

Bowen Therapy is an effective hands-on therapy for the treatment of chronic and acute pain, as well as stress relief and general well-being. The practitioner uses thumbs and fingers to make gentle but purposeful rolling movements over specific areas of the body. These movements reset your nervous system to both relax and energize you. This resetting brings the body back into balance facilitating the body’s ability to heal.

How does Bowen Therapy work?

The Bowen Therapy moves stimulate special receptors in the tendons, muscles, and ligaments of the body that send signals to the brain to promote healing and recovery. These stimuli can result in deep relaxation, resetting of muscle tension and range of motion, lymph drainage, pain and inflammation reduction, and pain relief.

Where did Bowen Therapy come from?

This work is named after Mr Tom Bowen. Mr Bowen developed Bowen Therapy in the 1950s in Australia and continued to develop it for 30 years until he passed in 1982. It was only known in Australia in Mr Bowen’s lifetime, but thanks to his students, it was brought into a teaching format and is now taught and practiced worldwide.

What conditions or symptoms can Bowen Therapy address?

Bowen Therapy is known for addressing a wide range of conditions. It can help with muscle and joint problems like back and neck pain; shoulder, elbow and knee pain, and even TMJ. It can also help with nerve pain like plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel, and sciatica.

Bowen Therapy is highly effective on internal conditions, such as asthma, migraines, digestive and elimination issues. It is famous for eliminating colic in babies, usually in just one session! It has also had astounding effectiveness with infertility – it doesn’t resolve it for all people, but it does for many. Chronic conditions such as MS, arthritis, Parkinson’s, and fibromyalgia may be vastly improved by ongoing work.

How long does a session last?

A session usually lasts about 45 mins to an hour. Your intake session may last up an hour and 30 mins. You lie on a soft treatment table or are seated in a chair if required for comfort. A series of gentle but purposeful moves are applied to specific areas of the body. These moves are done on the skin or through light clothing. There are specific pauses between various sets of moves to allow the body to integrate and process the received messages, and to activate the healing process.

How often and how many times will I need to come?

I usually schedule the first 2 to 3 sessions one week apart. Clients often notice significant improvement within these 2 to 3 sessions. Additional sessions are scheduled as needed at least a week apart, with many conditions resolving within 3 to 8 sessions.

Once a condition is resolved, I don’t expect to see you for treatment unless you have a new injury or a relapse. That being said, there are times when ongoing treatment is beneficial, for example, if:

  • You suffer from a chronic condition such as MS, arthritis, or fibromyalgia.
  • You repeatedly re-injure yourself as a result of the type of work or activity you do, for example, you sit at a computer for long hours daily.
  • You love and benefit from the stress-relief, relaxation, and feelings of well-being you get from regular Bowen Therapy sessions.

Is Bowen Therapy covered by my private health insurance plan?

Probably not at this time but we’re working on it. Bowen Therapy is a relatively new therapy in this country and is not that well known yet. I’m hopeful that as more and more people become aware of this therapy and its benefits, we’ll start to see insurance coverage when you are treated by a certified practitioner.

Even if you can’t claim your Bowen treatment, I encourage you to consider Bowen Therapy. Have you tried other therapies and not found lasting relief? Many clients notice a significant improvement in their symptoms within 2 to 3 Bowen sessions. Did you just injure yourself? Acute injuries can often be resolved in 1 session. Have you been told there’s nothing more that can be done? I have seen and heard amazing stories of people who have responded to Bowen Therapy after being told “they would have to live with the pain.”