YOUR STORIES

PAIN

DIAGNOSES

WOMEN

MIND & BODY

TREATMENTS

RECOVERY

RESOURCES

[?] Subscribe To This Site

Bowen Therapy

Bowen therapy is a touch healing system invented by Thomas Ambrose Bowen (1916-1982), in Australia. It is also commonly called Bowtech or Bowen Technique. The technique uses gentle touch to treat the soft tissue of the body. It is used for many general health problems, but it is known especially for treating back pain. Thomas Bowen had no medical training and considered his treatment a “gift from God.” According to original Bowen texts, it is not understood how the healing even works. It is believed to work by stimulating the body’s own healing mechanisms. Bowen is a holistic treatment.

Bowen Therapy for Back Pain

Bowen Therapy Ideology

Bowen employs a philosophy similar to Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is important for the body to maintain proper energy flow and this therapy is designed to encourage balanced life energy throughout the body. Patients have been known to report physical stimuli ranging from tingling to heat to relaxation during treatment. The goal of Bowen is to create optimum health, increased performance and the release of internal muscular tension.

Does Bowtech Work for Back Pain?

I have witnessed a few Bowen treatments and in every case, nothing seemed to happen. Bowen practitioners say that the patient will know if the technique will help them after 2 or 3 treatments. In my view, it takes 2 or 3 treatments to either realize that this is little more than a soothing massage, or to get a strong placebo reaction and feel better.

If you want to give Bowen a try, go for it. It can't hurt and at least you will not have to wait months to find out if it is working for you. I give Bowen therapists alot of credit. They are some of the few practitioners that do not make a client wait and wait in the hope that treatment will finally work for them.

Bowen Therapy to Back Pain Home page 6/2/06 Revised 9/7/09