What is Bowen Therapy and how does it work?

Bowen Therapy is a holistic technique that consists of sequences of small moves, each at a specific site on the body. These gentle rolling movements can also be used over muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and fascia. It can be done through light clothing.

Thomas Ambrose Bowen (1916-1982) began developing this technique in the 1950's in Geelong, Australia. This was achieved through ascertaining precise body locations and developing sequences of ‘moves’ to treat each individual he saw. Bowen therapy’s use of light pressure follows the Arndt-Schulze law, which states that the body responds more deeply and positively to low-pressure stimuli than it does to painful, strong stimuli. Tom Bowen discovered and employed the principle long before the Arndt-Schulze law had been formulated.

The Bowtech™ technique was developed by Ossie and Elaine Rentsch who studied Tom Bowen's work and with Mr Bowen's blessing brought this modality to practitioners around the world by documenting and devising methods and manuals.

The Bowen technique is safe to use on anyone, from newborns to the elderly and for any musculoskeletal or related neuromuscular complaint. Being a holistic treatment, it aims to treat the whole person and the cause of problems, rather than the symptoms.

Bowen Therapy can help with a wide range of complaints including acute sports injuries, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine, colic and chronic or organic conditions. It is gentle and relaxing and does not use forceful manipulation. It stimulates the body via the muscular, nervous, lymphatic, endocrine and fascial systems, to activate the body's own innate healing mechanism.

An important and unique process in Bowen Therapy is the 2-5 minute pause between each set of moves. This rest time allows for the integration of the messages and the nervous system response. As the tension level is normalised, fluid movements of the lymph and blood are increased in the area, which enhances tissue repair in injury sites. (ref Hansen and Taylor-Pillae 2011)

Bowen Therapy is performed on the superficial and deep fascia. The fascia, or soft tissue, is the part of the connective tissue that envelopes, separates and influences every organ and tissue in the body. The gentle moves are performed in precise locations to gain maximal influence of the receptors of the nervous system with minimal inputs.

You can view a demonstration of a basic Bowen treatment HERE