BOWEN TECHNIQUE (Bowen/ANS)
BALANCING THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (ANS)
by Deanna J. Naddy, DSN, RN

I would like to share my passion with you about the Bowen Technique, because it is one the most important healing modality I have learned. It does not need a stethoscope, an otoscope, an ophthalmoscope or any other technological device to perform. All it takes are healing hands and willingness to participate. Bowen is a unique, gentle, hands-on therapy that has minimal side effects and works on mind, body and spirit. It involves specific moves, which defy explanation, but our research indicates that the real answer is that the technique stimulates the body to balance the Autonomic Nervous System.

Bowen therapy was developed in the 1950’s by an Australian named Thomas Bowen, who successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of his brilliant method to relieve the pain of many acute and chronic conditions. Bowen therapy is well known in Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe, and becoming more known in the United States. Anyone is eligible to take the training classes, but practicing Bowen depends on local licensing laws.

For any peak performance, all systems, including the Autonomic Nervous System, the central Nervous System and motor nerves, must be in concert with the personality of each individual, whether a CEO or a housewife. The ANS regulates eighty to ninety percent (80-90%) of physiological and emotional functions and governs such things as digestion, respiration, heart and circulatory function, blood pressure, muscles, glands, immune function and gross and fine motor skills.(1) The sympathetic readies us to achieve the task before us or can escalate into fear, acute anxiety and panic, whereas the parasympathetic comes into play to maintain the balance needed for peak performance, providing an inner calmness to go along with the readiness. Since the ANS affects all body systems, Bowen/ANS allows the body to adjust physiologically and psychologically to bring itself into a balanced state. Alternative therapies like Bowen/ANS provide an efficient, non-invasive way to support inner calmness without harmful effects. These two systems must be balanced to support optimum health and peak performance.(2)

A typical Bowen/ANS session involves an interview to assess the person’s history and problems. The technique is performed on a padded table or bed, beginning in the prone position with the person fully clothed preferably in loose fitting clothes. The desired affect is enhanced by a quiet environment, one in which the client can relax and be as comfortable as possible.

The treatment involves a series of moves consisting of pulling the skin away from the underlying muscle or tendon, applying gentle pressure against the side of a muscle or tendon, holding and releasing it allowing the underlying structure to spring back to its normal position. The moves are performed in a specific pattern. The basic treatments involve three sets of moves on the lower back, upper back and neck. Other moves, specific to the client’s problem, can be added.

The moves are so subtle people often wonder how this technique can be of benefit. Bowen/ANS is like homeopathy in the sense that less is best. Between moves the therapist steps out of the clients energy field to allow the full energetic effect of the treatment. There are waiting periods, between sets of moves so several clients can be treated at the same time. Sessions last from 20-45 minutes.

At the end of the treatment process, the client is assisted to a sitting position then to stand putting weight equally on both feet and walk briefly around the room, to help the body absorb the full effect of the changes that have been made. Post treatment instructions include drinking plenty of water, not sitting for longer than 30 minutes without walking around for a short time on the day of treatment, and avoiding other therapies for 5-7 days following a Bowen/ANS treatment. Effects of the treatment may be immediate, or may take place over the next few days. Occasionally clients experience a residual soreness, or flu-like symptoms, the day following treatment that will subside with more water intake and walking. Typically client’s symptoms are completely relieved in one to three treatments. Chronic conditions may involve more long-term therapy.
 
Bowen/ANS can be performed on healthy or ill individuals, on any age group from newborns to the elderly. It is especially effective for relieving the back pain experienced during pregnancy. Cognitive functions and mood are enhanced and clients experience overall improvement of presenting symptoms, if not relief. Bowen/ANS therapy is especially successful in treating all kinds of pain, stress, TMJ, frozen shoulder, sports injuries, work related injuries and a host of others. Bowen/ANS allows the body to relax completely. Emotional release may occur during the treatment or afterwards, often releasing long-term emotional conflicts. Prichard reported preliminary studies on ten healthy college students, stating that they experienced consistently enhanced positive moods, and reduced feelings of tension, fatigue, anger, depression and confusion with Bowen Therapy.(3)

The body is like a fine Stradivarius violin. In order to extract sound from this instrument, specific areas of the strings must be stroked or plucked and proper tension and release employed. Bowen/ANS, like the Stradivarius is based on resonance, it is hypothesized that the Bowen technique creates a frequency that seems to unblock communication channels within the body, and balances the ANS, thereby restoring the body’s natural healing system.(4) A balanced ANS holds the key to the quality of life, mobility and overall wellness and maximum performance.

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) can assess the ANS. HRV is a non-invasive methodology, which evaluates both cardiac and ANS function. HRV is a simple measure of beat-to-beat degree of evenness of consecutive heartbeats.(5) It is a prognostic indicator of risk associated with a variety of chronic diseases, behavioral disorders, mortality and aging. HRV can be explained as the variation in the beat-to-beat time interval of the heart.

HRV patterns of individuals with fibromyalgia typically have very low power and little or no parasympathetic activity, that corresponds with the sleep disturbances many of these individuals have. Sleep disturbances result from low parasympathetic activity. After a series of Bowen treatments the parasympathetic response returns. Sleep problems dissipate and well-being greatly improves in these clients.(6)

We live in a high tech, fast paced, stressful world, where a balanced ANS is impossible for most people to achieve. Following a Bowen/ANS treatment, clients report relief of many physical and emotional symptoms relieved and HRV shows an increase in total energy and a more balanced ANS. We recommend all individuals use Bowen/ANS as a tune up maintenance program to balance the ANS and optimize energies, in order that performance can achieve maximum potential.

We have come full circle, and after more than eight years of Bowen experience and research, we are back to the dolphins. I believe we can now say the Bowen/ANS works through harmonic vibration simulating the energy frequencies emitted like the dolphins. Heart Rate Variability offers a plausible explanation as to why the technique works as well on bunions as it does getting people off the heart transplant list.

Just as your car needs gas and oil to run efficiently, healthy and ill individuals need Bowen/ANS tune up too for a balanced ANS.

References
1. Jacob, S., Francone, C. (1989). Element of Anatomy & Physiology, 2nd Ed. Philadelphia, WB Saunders.

2. Whitaker, J.A., Naddy, D.J. (2001). Breaking Records In Golf by Balancing The Autonomic Nervous System. Future of Golf Conference, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona. March 12, 2001 – March 15, 2001. [Abstract].

3. Pritchard, A.G. (1993). The psychophysiological effects of the Bowen Technique. Swinburne University, Department of Psychophysiology. Melbourne, Australia

4. Whitaker, J.A. (1997). The Bowen Technique: A Non-Invasive Healing Modality. The International Association for New Science for the Eighth Annual Forum, Denver, Colorado [Abstract].

5. Darkik, I. (1996). The origin of disease and health heart waves. Cycles (46) 3: 67-77.

6. Whitaker, J.A., Marlowe, S. (1998). The Bowen Technique: A healing modality, alleviates Myofacial pain of Fibromyalgia (FM) and balance the dysfunctional changes of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) as measured by clinical assessment and Heart Rate Variability. MYOPAIN ’98, Silvi Marina, Italy [Abstract].