How can NST Bowen help me?
Bowen is a holistic technique, gentle and safe to use in all people suffering from muscular-skeletal problems regardless of age, such as neck pain, back pain, fibromyalgia, frozen shoulder, and migraines. It can provide immediate and long-lasting relief from many chronic and acute conditions.
The underlying philosophy is that resolving imbalances in your spinal column allows for entire body auto-regulation and rejuvenation.
Once all the core components of the body are integrated, function is restored to the electrical system of the body (nervous system), allowing communication to travel freely to organs and glands in the body and initiate healing. It allows the free movement and assimilation of nutrients into areas of your body previously blocked by tension and congestion.
As symptoms disappear, energy levels are revitalised. Clients often hop off the table and report a feeling of ‘lightness’ and ease of movement.
How many treatments will I need?
Three successive treatments are recommended at weekly intervals to encourage continued improvement and lasting relief from long standing pain. Additional may be required for complex conditions or if re-injury occurs.
The majority of patients will report significant success in the ease of pain with 4-5 sessions. In fact, practitioners have rated the Bowen technique as 85% effective in relieving back and neck pain. This technique is also effective in relieving stress and tension and other muscle-related pain.
It is common to find relief or even complete resolution of many conditions once the ‘body is in balance’.
Much like maintaining your car, your body needs some regular maintenance and TLC to keep it ticking along smoothly. So, some clients may come once a month “just because it feels so relaxing“, others come every couple of months because they realise their body is getting tense or they feel pain from repetitive movements/heavy workloads/intense sporting activities. Some just come a few times a year, or when they notice they are feeling stressed or tight. It is entirely up to you and your body. You certainly don’t need to be here every week. It is about listening to your body. Most people comment that the Bowen/NST’s effect lasts longer than a massage, and is far more relaxing.
What to expect at a Bowen treatment
First I work on your back and spinal column and then focus on specific core muscles according to your needs. During a session the client will usually lie on a therapy table. Although each session will vary according to the presenting problems of the client, an initial treatment will address the whole body. If getting on and off a table is difficult, treatment can be done seated and standing.
Bowen therapy sessions typically last 45-60 minutes and are fully clothed. For the best experience, wear light, loose-fitting clothing for ease of movement.
A first appointment will usually be 60-90 minutes. General medical and symptom history is discussed over a glass of water. Once the hands-on treatment starts a few specific gentle rolling moves are applied to your back and may leave the room for a few minutes after each “set” of movements to allow your body to adjust to the treatment and enter a healing state. You’ll be covered with blankets and encouraged to relax. Some people experience mild tingling, goosebumps or hot and cold sensations during Bowen treatment. This is a sign your lymphatic system and circulation have been stimulated.
At the end of the session, you drink another glass of water and discuss your treatment plan with you before you leave. You’ll also be encouraged to hydrate and rest regularly in the days after treatment.
After care:
Following your treatment:
drink plenty of pure water – little and often is best
do plenty of walking – at least 15 minutes a day
avoid crossing your legs or ankles
don’t sit for more than ½ an hour at a time (on the day of treatment only). This does not mean that you have to spend all day standing up. If you stand and walk around the chair you were sitting on, and then sit down again, that is sufficient. Please don’t forget this if you are in a car.
And go easy on your body whilst it is rebooting – avoid shocking the body (preferably for 1 week after treatment), by having very hot bath/showers, pushing yourself hard, running a marathon etc.
If the jaw has been worked on, avoid hard food such as nuts, carrot, apples and very chewy foods like toffees. However, it is a good excuse not to go to the dentist between treatments!
Refrain from other therapies in the 7 days following such as massage, chiropractic, physiotherapy as it can interfere with the capacity of NST to settle in that time. Herbal and homoeopathic and any other conventional medicine, is fine.
You may feel stiff and achy after the treatment for a couple of days. Do not panic. This is perfectly normal and is your body trying to correct itself. Some people can feel a little emotional after Bowen, which is also ‘normal’.
Occasionally individuals receiving this work experience a wide range of reactions such as shifting body aches, hot and cold flushes, sweating, however these are a positive sign that the individual is returning to a better state of well being.
Aftercare advice given to each client will emphasise the importance of movement, the drinking of water and the return for treatments. It is vital that a client does not cease the treatment in response to a strong reaction. The moves are so subtle that if a strong reaction is experienced it demonstrates how profound the work can be and further treatments are essential if the full effect is going to be felt.
Subsequent treatments are recommended as needed, ideally between 5 and 10 days after the initial treatment, 7 days being optimum. Observing the above as much as possible will help Bowen to be effective.