Bowen Therapy came about through the simple, intuitive ‘hands on’ practices some 20 years ago of a gentleman by the name of Tom Bowen.

TOM HAD an eighth grade education and no formal medical training.   In the early 1950's Tom's day job was at the Geelong Cement Works as a general labourer but at night and during weekends he treated sports and workers injuries.   It was not unusual for people to be lined up, on his front lawn, in the middle of the night, waiting for treatment. FINALLY IN THE LATE 1950's, Tom moved into a permanent, full-time practice.   Apart from creating the technique, Tom's greatest ability was an uncanny knack of assessing just what "moves" a client needed and to apply them quickly and accurately.   He practiced and refined his technique over some thirty years, working right up to his death, in 1982, from diabetes.  

TOM BOWEN was a genuinely humble man, given to few words, but with an endless energy and passion for helping and relieving others of their ills, most especially those from less fortunate circumstances.   He treated his unique abilities as a 'gift from God' and gave of himself tirelessly to help others. 

THAT TOM, was able to create and develop a practice that treated tens of thousands of people, each with a few simple yet special "moves", speaks volumes for his personal dedication and tenacity and the success of his technique.   All those of us who have benefited from Bowen Therapy, owe Tom Bowen a debt of gratitude for without his perseverance, tenacity, dedication, generosity and goodwill, none of this would be possible.

The Bowen Therapy Technique

The Bowen Technique consists of a sequence of very specific, yet gentle, moves across tendons, muscles, organs and fascia throughout the body. The practitioner uses their thumbs and fingers to make gentle rolling moves, very often over accupressure points, which aim to disturb the muscles and energy pathways within the recipient’s body. (Similar to the gentle strumming of the individual strings on a guitar.)

These moves sends ripples of energy throughout the body stimulating the process of making the required adjustments that help to rebalance, relieve tension and reduce pain. There is no manipulation or adjustment of hard tissue. It is not a form of massage. The treatment stimulates the body in ways that promote healing, pain relief and recovery of energy.

To the recipient it may seem that very little is being done, but yet it doesn’t take much energy at all to turn on a household light switch. So too, is the consequence of Bowen on the human form. Each specific move is the gentle switching on of the body’s own healing switches from within. And the results are very often astounding.

How Does It Work?

Homeostasis is a state of balance in the body, that is, the maintenance of stable physiological conditions under fluctuating environmental and psychological circumstances.

Sorry to say that there are no absolutes in explaining exactly how this modality actually works! One idea is that Bowen simply connects the parts of the body with the brain, using the many receptors scattered throughout the body. The moves resonate a message to the brain, (similarly to the entering of a new updated programme into your computer) which then initiates the process of inner examination, the realization that action is required, the information is then formulated and the process of homeostasis, (or internal integrity) is restored.
What is important, however, is that the body is more than able to heal itself, and that the input from the practitioner is merely a form of communication! It is therefore up to the recipient as to whether this communication is acceptable or not.

What Makes Bowen Different?

There are a lot of other modalities and therapies that inflict the will of the therapist upon the recipient. That is, a diagnosis is conducted and the treatment given accordingly.
The Bowen Technique allows the body the space to formulate what is wrong and how to go about fixing it.
Just think…you cut your finger and it bleeds. This process cleans the wound of most impurities, the blood congeals and seals the wound, a scab forms protecting the sensitive element and within a matter of a short period of time the wound heals. So too is your body’s internal capacity to heal. Sounds that simple? It can be!
Bowen permits the opportunity for the client’s body to choose what it needs, rather than a set of symptoms being thrust upon it through a series of diagnoses.

Bowen is referred to as ‘complementary’ modality, which means it is to enhance and complement. Bowen is definitely NOT a substitute for medical advice, and the Bowen practitioner will make sure that you have researched the medical field first.

What conditions can be treated?

There is a profoundly long list of conditions that have been successfully treated with Bowen, and the reason being, the Bowen practitioner does not necessarily treat the condition, but rather treats the person. The treatment is offered to the body and it is given a choice, if the treatment is accepted and responds, then the condition is addressed. Some examples of conditions are as follows :-

MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN (such as back pain, sciatica, scoliosis, neck & shoulders, RSI carpal tunnel, fibro myalgia, arthritic pain, gait disorders, hernia, irregular leg length, groin strain, pelvic tilt, knee & hip restrictions, TMJ syndrome, migraines, headaches)

SPORTS INJURIES (such as frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, knee, ankle & foot problems, groin strain, pelvic tilt, arthritic pain).

PREGNANCY DISCOMFORT & CARE (such as sacral lower back discomfort, nausea, circulation, lymphatic drainage).

BABIES & CHILDREN (such as colic, bedwetting, allergies, asthma, sports injuries and accidents, obesity, ear problems, jaw problems).

GYNAECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS (such as PMS, menopause, infertility male/female, mastitis, breast lumps, thrush, menstrual irregularities).

RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS (such as hay fever, asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, allergies).

DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS (such as colic, Crohn’s Disease, indigestion, gall stones, constipation & other bowel problems).

THE ELDERLY (such as incontinence, allergies, osteoporosis, arthritis, heart conditions, asthma, circulation, thyroid, vision & hearing problems).