Can ‘Bowen Treatment’ help you?
by Darleen Sumner

Often a new journey in our life begins so innocently. Mine began when I took my good friend to her Naturopath appointment. Her sciatica pain was so bad she could barely walk. I was amazed when she walked out of the doctor’s office with just a mild limp. She said her Naturopath had given her a “Bowen Treatment.” My next question would be one that I myself would soon be answering many times over; “What is Bowen?” She said she couldn’t quite explain it because it isn’t like anything else that we know. It isn’t like massage, acupuncture. pressure point reflexology, reike, cranial sacral or any other body treatment.

I was intrigued. After doing some research, I decided to study Bowen. I found it is not derived from any other form of “hands-on” body treatment. The mechanisms of action are not completely understood. However, it is generally agreed that it works primarily through the nervous system on structural, muscular and energetic levels. After a treatment or series of treatments, people’s pain either disappears or the intensity of the pain decreases dramatically. It is not an instant fix that only works on symptoms. It works to get to the root of the health problem. The length of treatment depends upon each person’s body.

The treatments are non-evasive and very gentle. Anyone can have Bowen; new-born babies, children, adults, pregnant women and athletes. There are no known side-effects. Most people think after the first few Bowen moves are made that this is too gentle to do anything. However, as the treatment progresses, there is a cumulative effect. At the end of the treatment, most people can feel a change in their body.

Some people’s bodies have been in chronic pain for so long that they cannot feel anything for a few treatments. They have had to quit listening to their bodies just to survive daily life. As the healing process begins, they start feeling and listening to their body again. Bowen is truly a “whole body” treatment. Because the fundamental premise of Bowen is balance and alignment, I see people becoming more aware of how their physical actions and mental thoughts affect the physical state of their entire body. People become more centered in both the physical and emotional. Many comment on having a sense of being more “grounded.” The range of physical ailments it can treat is remarkable; migraines, colitis, back pain, neck pain, sciatic pain, old or new injuries, plantar facietis, fibromyalgia, spinal cord issues, sprained ankles, sports injuries, fertility issues, hip alignment, joint pain, arthritis, digestive and urinary tract, COPD, asthma, chronic pain and many, many more.

As I was learning the Bowen moves, I had the opportunity to “practice” on anyone willing to be a “guinea pig.” What I saw left me dumbfounded. Serious health conditions at which Western Medicine throws pills, surgery, long treatment plans or no treatment responding to the Bowen moves. I was seeing remarkable healing occurring daily

One elderly woman had problems with her hips, gout, and life-long varicose veins. Her left knee was swollen from gout and her toes had turned purple. After 2 Bowen Treatments, her hips did not hurt when she walked. Another treatment and her gout disappeared and her toes were less purple. After the fifth treatment, her toes were pink and the varicose veins disappeared. Having had significant protruding varicose veins her entire life; at 82 she was very proud of her new “sexy legs.” A woman with a broken arm, after just 1 treatment, saw her arm straighten 20-30 degrees overnight. A 32-year-old yoga instructor had a bulging disc in her neck. She had been unable to sleep lying down for weeks. After three treatments, she could sleep lying down and she could finally resume teaching yoga.

The sooner you get a Bowen Treatment after any injury or accident, the less pain and bruising, if any, you will feel the next day. For example, a 35-year-old woman tripped in her garage and fell hitting her face, elbow and knee on the concrete floor. She immediately got up, did a few quick Bowen moves around the place her face and knee hit the concrete. She forgot to treat her elbow. The next day, she had absolutely no bruises on her face and knees but her elbow was swollen, bruised and painful. She said her cheek should have been black and blue because she hit the concrete floor hard.

I have seen so many people who have tried every form of medical or alternative treatment known to resolve their health issues or chronic pain. Many have been searching for years. Western Medicine told them they would have to live with the pain and there was nothing that could be done. They did not want to get their hopes up because they were so weary from trying one more thing. They are so thankful to have finally found Bowen, which has made an impact on their health issues and pain. After giving so many Bowen treatments for a vast range of health issues, I can see Bowen being one of the top choices of treatment for many of the physical health problems to which Western medicine prescribes pills, surgeries, or no treatment. The human body, with just a little assistance from Bowen, can repair itself so much more effectively and naturally without intervention from external sources. A sprained ankle is a good example of Bowen vs. Western Medicine:

• Western Medicine: Wrap ankle, treat with ice, possible pain pills, and 2-4 weeks for recovery.
• Bowen: Not wrapped (depends on how quickly treated from injury), no ice, no pain pills and within 1 hour the swelling will be decreased 80-90%. The ankle may feel slightly sore and the next day a little or no pain, with recovery time about 1-2 weeks. If the treatment is within minutes from the sprain, there will be no swelling, no pain and just a slight twinge the next day. Recovery could be the same day or the next day.

Bowen’s impact on health care and people’s quality of life is enormous. It is a natural treatment that assists your body’s ability to heal itself, plus, in most instances, has much quicker recovery times. The MAMA Clinic is now scheduling for Bowen Treatments - CALL 503-233-4202

Check it out! - Coupon good for one free introductory Bowen treatment in the March Newsletter