Jo Lunn explains how the Bowen Technique can improve fertility, help with common pregnancy concerns, and also assist with the health of babies and young children.

In this article I shall explain how the Bowen Technique can help with infertility, pregnancy and how it is even suitable for young children.

What is Bowen Technique?

The Bowen Technique is a gentle hands-on therapy that enables the body to work at optimum health. Rolling type moves are made with the thumbs and fingers on muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia bringing tension release through connective tissue and the nervous system, restoring the body’s natural healing ability. It promotes pain relief, recovery of energy and functionality to the body.
When a gentle Bowen move is made, a profound effect occurs in the body. The brain is focused onto that part of the body and begins to ask questions as to the state of health that area is in. The body responds by sending the answers to those questions back to the brain via the nerves. The brain is then able to work out exactly what state the body is in and what is required for it to gain optimum health. The brain then sends the appropriate response to the body, for the body corrects itself. This is the unique benefit of the Bowen Technique as the body is not asked to react to anything that’s done to it; instead it is given the opportunity for the body to correct itself, by bringing tension release throughout the body with the Bowen Technique, tension and imbalances are prevented from building up and thus the body in its optimum state.

Bowen and Infertility

Bowen Technique has been proven to have a great success with fertility. In 2001 The Guardian reported that trials in UK, Australia and New Zealand showed remarkable success rates with the Bowen Technique treating infertility.

Bowen technique can help both partners gain their optimum physical, emotional and mental condition so that conception can naturally occur.

The health of both partners is important for conception and Bowen helps by releasing tension in the soft tissues of the body by detoxing and rebalancing the body. Fertility problems are not always physical; the functioning of the body through the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system (hormones) are influenced by the mind. The stress of trying to get pregnant can be immense for both partners. The more stressed we become the more imbalanced the body is a whole. Stress puts the body into a state called survival mode. In this primal state the body is intent on keeping itself alive and thus thoughts of reproducing are very minimal. Consequently blood supply to the reproductive organs along with digestion is reduced thus vital nutrients and fluid is restricted to these areas. The Bowen Technique induces great relaxation and calming of the mind. This helps bring the body out of survival mode and encourages great positivity and emotional stability.

Pregnancy & Beyond

Through the many changes that occur during pregnancy any support that a mum-to-be can be given is going to be of great help.

Morning sickness, tiredness and fatigue, back pain, sciatica, neck and shoulder tension, tender breast, aching legs, swollen ankles and legs, carpal tunnel, constipation, haemorrhoids, mood swings, acne are all conditions that can occur during pregnancy. Many of these symptoms are caused by the ever changing conditions that the mum is going through due to the development of her baby.

A unique benefit of the Bowen Technique is that is can be received through either light clothing or lying on one side, sitting up or even standing thus ensuring the mum-to-be’s comfort at all times. The treatment is very gentle and can be performed on new borns through to the elderly. It is found that toddlers and youngsters enjoy the treatment immensely and are willing to receive it.

During pregnancy the Bowen Technique plays an important and integral role. As the mum-to-be’s posture changes through pregnancy, the spine and pelvis are vulnerable due to the stresses from carrying her unborn child. Pregnancy can create problems and exacerbate existing ones. By ensuring that the pelvis is correctly aligned through the pregnancy this will not only help to alleviate back pain and sciatica as well as tension in the shoulders and neck, but it will also help ensure that there is no restricted blood flow to the baby and uterus and neural pathways are unhindered to the uterine and pelvic area during the pregnancy too. This will also help alleviate digestive problems such as constipation, haemorrhoids, acid reflux etc. Correct alignment to the pelvis is very beneficial for giving birth too.

When receiving a Bowen treatment it is also common for the mum to say that she can feel the baby moving about in response.

For some they find that 1-4 treatments is sufficient to help alleviate symptoms during pregnancy, for others a treatment every 3-4 weeks keeps them in optimum form.

Mrs Vickers was 6 months pregnant when she went for treatment for a very painful lower back and sciatica down one leg. After 1 treatment, the pain had disappeared and did not return during the remainder of the pregnancy. She says “It has been quite remarkable how my sciatic pain disappeared after just one treatment. Being pain free has enabled me to enjoy my pregnancy at last and given me the time and ability to prepare for the birth.”

During her first pregnancy Mrs Archer found that a whiplash injury from 15 years ago resurfaced. She could hardly turn her head to either the left or right and was getting recurring headaches. She was also suffering from low back pain which was made worse when sitting or driving. She went for some Bowen treatment to see if it would help. After 2 Bowen treatments she found her symptoms were greatly reduced, and after the third she was symptom free. When she was pregnant for the second time she was suffering from sciatica, and just 2 Bowen treatments sorted her out. Knowing how well she felt after having the Bowen Technique from her first pregnancy, Mrs Archer decided to continue with treatments every 3 weeks.

She says “The Bowen technique is a fantastic therapy. It’s easy to take even when heavily pregnant because there’s not the hassle to having to get undressed for the treatment and you can lie or sit in any way that is comfortable for you. As well as taking away my aches and pains I find a great benefit from Bowen to my general well being. I find my concentration is better I’m not so tired and have more energy. Also I find that in this second pregnancy I’ve had far less acid reflux and constipation - both of which I suffered from in my first pregnancy before I went for Bowen treatment.”

She has since taken both her children for Bowen treatment. Her son at the age of 3 months for colic and her daughter at the age of 3 years for digestive problems and recurring hiccups. He was very colicky, crying a great deal and wouldn’t settle down to sleep at any time of the day. After just 3 treatments given within a week the colic was gone and I found that he was very easy to settle down to sleep. The colic never returned. His mum says “Our 3 month old son had been getting quite colicky and just three Bowen treatments sorted him out. He didn't cry at all and was not upset or disturbed by the treatment which was a real bonus as other things we had tried made him pretty upset.”

Her daughter also suffered but from of digestive problems; she was constipated, bloated and had frequent tummy ache. She also had recurring hiccups. After the first treatment she had a bowel movement and her bloating went down. Between the first and the second treatment that was 5 days later her hiccups also abated and she had no more tummy aches. After the second treatment all her bloating had gone. Mum says “Jo has also treated our 3 year old daughter for digestive problems and I was surprised that my daughter let herself be treated but she found it fun and a bit tickly! The effects were clear to see as her digestion settled and her recurrent hiccups also abated.”

Mrs Barron took her 5 year old for treatment who was suffering from very frequent and persistent colds and ear, nose and throat infections:

Miss B was frequently suffering from ear infections, blocked sinuses and sore throats. She used to miss a lot of school because of this and her mother was was also aware that she was becoming quiet and withdrawn and not wanting to go back to school. She went for her first treatment whilst she had a cold and by the end her sinuses were much clearer and she could breathe easily and her earache had disappeared. She was also happy and ‘bouncy’ and said how much she enjoyed the treatment.

A cold would normally last about 10 days, but after the Bowen treatment she was able to return to school after just 3 days. Over 2 months she had a total of 4 treatments. During that time she only had one further cold and this was mild enough that she only missed 2 days of school. Since then she has only about 2-3 colds a year and her mother has reported how much happier and confident she is in herself and she even looks forward to going to school.

“My daughter frequently suffered from colds with ear infections, blocked sinuses and sore throats. She missed a lot of school and became quiet and withdrawn. She had her first Bowen treatment when she had a cold and by the end she could breathe easily and her earache had disappeared. She was happy and ‘bouncy’ and said she really enjoyed the treatment. Her cold cleared up much faster than usual. Since then she has only about 2-3 colds a year and is much happier and confident in herself and even looks forward to going to school.”

The diversity of the Bowen Technique is immense and can go further than treating infertility, pregnancy troubles and treating newborns as I have discussed here. The elderly and those in palliative care; from neck, frozen shoulder, knee and back trouble to infantile colic, IBS, RSI, hayfever, migraines, ME and strokes can all benefit from the treatment, which is why it is becoming an increasingly popular choice across the globe for those looking for a safe and gentle way to treat a range of conditions across the whole family.

©2009 Jo Lunn. All rights reserved. Published with permission on 21-Aug-09.

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