BOWEN FACT SHEET
What is the Bowen Technique?
The Bowen technique is a gentle remedial therapy which stimulates the body to rebalance itself and promotes healing, pain relief and recovery of energy.
How did it get its name?
Tom Bowen was born in 1916 in Brunswick, Australia. He treated the aches and pains of the people with whom he worked in the cement works and woollen mill in Geelong. He had a particular interest in bad backs. In the 1960s, he opened his own clinic. During the 1970s, the Webb Report (Australian Government Report into Complementary Therapies) found that Tom Bowen was treating 13,000 people a year. He died in 1982.
The Bowen technique is now being taught to final year university students of Osteopathy in Australia.
Bowen in the UK
There are several training organisations recognised by the Bowen Therapists' European Register (BTER) - the autonomous and impartial professional body formed in October 1998 to represent trained Bowen therapists. BTER members are trained and accredited at BTER-approved establishments, have certificates in Anatomy and Physiology and First Aid, have professional insurance and undertake continuing professional development. BTER has a referral list available to people seeking a qualified practitioner.
Bowen treatment
Bowen therapists treat people holistically. People present with a wide range of aches and pains, injuries and health problems. There are no contra--indications to treatment. However, Bowen therapists will always advise people to consult their doctors if there is any doubt over whether or not to treat. (The Bowen Technique is not intended as a substitute for medical advice or treatment.)
Common conditions that are often treated:
Back pain, neck pain, headaches & migraine, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, RSI, respiratory problems, hay fever, kidney problems, high blood pressure, arthritis, and knee pain.
Bowen can also be used for stress management, fatigue and sleep problems.
What is the treatment like?
The treatment is gentle and therefore appropriate for everyone, from new-born babies to the elderly and infirm. The therapist makes gentle rolling movements over muscles, tendons and ligaments on the body, mostly using their fingers and thumbs. No hard-tissue manipulation or force is used.
Bowen treatment is not usually mixed with other physical therapies, e.g. physiotherapy, osteopathy, massage, chiropractic etc. A gap of 5 to 10 days is usually allowed between Bowen and any other physical therapy so that the subtle information supplied to the body during a Bowen session can be processed.
Treatment usually takes from 30 to 45 minutes and can be performed through light clothing. After treatment, the patient will be advised to drink lots of water to help their recovery.
Bowen for horses and animals
Tom Bowen treated race horses and other animals. Specialist training - Canine or Equine Bowen Therapy - is undertaken by Bowen therapists who work with animals.
Further information
If you would like more information about Bowen therapy please contact BTER who will be happy to send you a list of qualified practitioners or give you the details of a practitioner in your locality.
The BTER Press and PR Officer will be happy to send articles about Bowen therapy to anyone working in the media or medical field who wishes to know more about the Bowen Technique or the work of the Bowen Therapists' European Register. Please contact pr@bter.org for this information.
For General Enquiries, telephone 07986 008384. The Membership Secretary can be contacted by telephone on 07986 008386 or email on membership@bter.org
