Please note! As from 1st July 2011 the British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) insists that except for a very limited range of conditions, no claims for efficacy may be made for The Bowen Technique, either in describing problems treated or testimonials given by patients about successful treatments, unless what is called “robust” scientific evidence is given in support.
However we have recently released a peer reviewed, ethically approved piece of research, allowing us to state clearly, that a single treatment of The Bowen Technique, significantly increases and maintains hamstring flexibility. You can read the summary here: Hamstrings reasearch pdf.
Bowen appears to improve the working of the cardiovascular system, circulation, nerve (neurological) system, digestive, endocrine and reproductive systems. And it can help balance the different sides of the body.
Here is a list of some of the conditions it is most well known for helping:
- Frozen shoulder
- Carpal Tunnel syndrome
- Neck, Back and Shoulder problems and pain
- Digestion
- Breathing, asthma, chronic cough
- Migraines and headaches
- Endocrine, hormonal problems, including infertility
- Stress and nervous tension
- Musculoskeletal problems ie muscular, tendon, bone pain, scoliosis
- Hamstring tension
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Sciatica
But it isn’t a cure-all! Like every form of therapy, it has limits. It’s not the first therapy we would recommend for skin problems like eczema and psoriaris, for instance, though a course of Bowen nearly always improves the tone and vitality of your skin.
On the other hand, it has been used very successfully for conditions you might think wouldn’t respond to it, like nightmares, pain from degeneration of intervertebral discs, migraines, glue ear, and – on an ongoing basis – for conditions like cerebral palsy.
It is also used to keep people healthy while they undergo chemotherapy and other conditions requiring the administration of ‘strong’ medicine.
Tom Bowen is reported as saying that, in most cases, if the condition didn’t respond within 3 treatments, further treatment wouldn’t help. And we have found this to be mostly true: many conditions are greatly improved if not apparently cured within three treatments, at weekly intervals. Often only one or two treatments are needed.
In other cases, people notice a considerable improvement within one or two treatments, but need some further treatments to consolidate the improvement.