I often get asked if Bowen Therapy will help with headaches or migraines. I see so many therapists or physios/chiropractors making huge statements and promises about curing them There are some grand statements I am seeing about specialists in the field!. But is it possible?
My answer whenever I am asked if I can assist someone with this problem is it depends on the cause. Often it is a multilayered issue, and these layers to a situation are regularly overlooked by the mainstream providers of solutions for these symptoms. It can be hormonally related, a result of inflammation, blood sugar regulation issues, vitamin or mineral deficiency related and the list goes on. If these underlying causes are not addressed, most people will experience little to no improvement, or as is often the case by the time a client presents to me, what I hear is they are experiencing a few days improvement and then the symptoms return with full avengence!. My approach for any issue that presents in my clinic practice is to empower my client with the information they need to address their health issue and get long lasting results. If it is apparent that the issue is beyond my area of expertise, I have very trusted professionals that I am able to refer on to. How can Bowen Therapy assist? One of the most common causes of pain starting and escalating for a client, is a magnesium deficiency that goes undetected and slowly worsens over time. As the deficiency escalates, the symptoms will become wide and varied, since magnesium plays an important role in hundreds of biochemical pathways in the body. For example, the relation to headaches and migraines: Magnesium is an electrolyte. As soon as your levels become depleted, your ability to hydrate effectively is severely compromised. This impacts on your body hugely, in particular, your connective tissue/fascia. This tissue surrounds every structure in the body including muscles. Often when someone begins to feel the effects of a magnesium deficiency, they will start getting tighter muscles, muscle cramps, restless legs, all of which tend to worsen at night. (There is also a reason for this, however, this is explained in an intiial consultation as it is too intricate to discuss in a blog!). If you can imagine fascia, when hydrated, is fluid and ‘coats’ our muscles. Over time as hydration of this tissue becomes an issue (due to magnesium defiency among other things), it almost becomes vice-like around our structures, including our muscles. So the cycle goes a little like this: We see a professional of some kind (Dr, Chiropractor, physiotherapist, massage therapist, acupuncturist, etc), a Dr will often provide a script for pain relief and anti-inflammatories and refer you on to another professional for further treatment. They work on this muscle tension/pain. We feel some improvement initially after the treatment, however over approximately two days, we find ourselves in the same position we were in prior to having the treatment. Why? Because the contributing factor (magnesium deficiency and in turn dehydration), have been overlooked. These two factors are CRITICAL in the improvement of these issues, and often the type of muscle tension experienced from this issue is the common cause of headaches and migraines. It sounds too simple to be attainable doesn’t it? That something so simple could be overlooked and yet provide the missing piece to the puzzle of recovery. I promise you, if this is the issue in your particular case, if this is addressed, your pain issues will also be addressed/improved, and in a reasonably quick period of time. When I see a client for the first time, I explain how Bowen Therapy works and the contributing factors that will give you the best results for the issue I am seeing you for. I provide you with the correct information when it comes to purchasing a magnesium supplement. (The number of clients that I hear saying, ‘I’ve already tried magnesium, it doesn’t work’, is disturbing. There is a reason for this. You need to purchase the correct formula and know what to look for. Maybe your ability to absorb a formula could be the reason for not responding to the magnesium supplement, this is all looked at when I see a client for the first time. I also walk my clients through stretches that I have ‘tweeked’ over the years of seeing clients with these issues. I often hear ‘I’ve already been given stretches from my physio’. However, when I walk my clients through these stretches, they are surprised at how different and effective they are! All this information is provided and explained in an initial consultation. I also support my clients through their recovery period. I contact my clients in the 24 hours after their initial consultation to see how they are progressing and they are able to touch base with me if they have any concerns. I pride myself on attentive and professional service. So if you have had enough of the rollercoaster of taking pain relief, paying for ongoing treatment but only getting short term improvement, isn’t it time to give something different a try? I’ve heard this saying, ‘if you want change but you continue doing the same thing, how can you expect a different result?’ I will be honest with you, if after two Bowen Therapy sessions you are not progressing as I would expect, I will look at this and determine whether it is worthwhile continuing with further Bowen Therapy sessions. If it sounds like a different approach may be needed, why not contact me and discuss your situation. I can more than likely give you an idea when speaking to you if I think that my services would be of assistance to your situation. Looking forward to helping you on your path to recovery. Dayna
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Often people have heard of Bowen Therapy but don’t know what it is or mishear the name and think it is Bone therapy, etc.
So, let’s take a look at this therapy and learn a little about what Bowen Therapy does and the sorts of issues that may be assisted with Bowen Therapy. Firstly, Bowen Therapy is a ‘hands on’ therapy. What does this mean? Some therapies do not involve any touch, it is all energy based work where the hands ‘hover’ above the area of the body being ‘worked’ on. However, Bowen Therapy does involve the placing of the hands on the body and actually physically working on the body, similar to massage. The significant difference between Bowen Therapy and massage, is Bowen Therapy moves are specifically placed, cross fibre moves and are done in stages throughout a Bowen therapy session. What does this mean? Essentially, we approach a Bowen Therapy session differently to massage or other forms of therapy. The Bowen Therapy move is different and the intention of a Bowen Therapy therapist is to approach the body as a whole. We are intending to balance the body and impact on the Fascia. Fascia is very important and surrounds every structure in the body. Tendons, ligaments, lymphatics, muscles, blood vessels, major organs, skeletal system, everything is encased in this tissue. Bowen Therapy is impacting on this important tissue and in turn, improving the function of all of these structures as well. Improved blood flow, mobility, improved immunity, etc. If you are interested in reading more about fascia, then here is a link that gives some information: https://www.anatomytrains.com/fascia/ When dysfunction starts to occur in this tissue, (due to dehydration, lifestyle, stress, surgery, injuries, vitamin/mineral deficiencies, etc), then this in turn impacts on the fascia functioning as it should. As this continues, over time, more and more symptoms will tend to arise. Initially, it could be some pain or tension in muscles, reduced mobility, unexplained pain or symptoms. Often people will seek the advice and treatment from a doctor, then physiotherapist, chiropractor, or massage therapist, etc. During this process, certain things often get overlooked and so starts the slippery slope where a person can end up on strong pain medication, or other medication, yet their symptoms continue to escalate. This is often the point that clients present to me. After years of symptoms, that over time, have become quite debilitating. It seems too simple that a lot of issues could be arising from this tissue that on the surface seems so insignificant. Trust me, I have had so many cases such as this. Honestly, the simple factors get overlooked so often, once all the contributing factors are addressed, quickly, clients will start to feel improvement. Generally, this is within one to two Bowen Therapy sessions. My aim with any client, is to empower them with information and an understanding as to why they have arrived at the position they are in. Often issues become multilayered and more complicated as the underlying issues are overlooked. Hence, why there can be multiple symptoms that on the surface don't appear to be related. Once these issues are understood, the process of supporting a client through their improvement and usually recovery or atleast management of their symptoms begins. I tend to manage this within 3 – 4 Bowen Therapy sessions. I have been working in this field for 13+ years and the results are profound and ridiculously simple to achieve when all the dots are connected. Some of the conditions that have been assisted or resolved with Bowen Therapy are Sciatica, migraines, headaches, IBS symptoms, hormonal issues, muscular aches/pains/tension, growing pains, anxiety, depression, and many other symptoms. Bowen Therapy has also been found to assist in long term conditions such as Parkinsons, dementia, There has been some evidence of Bowen Therapy working on many levels other than just the physiological level. This is for another blog post though! Of course, if I feel that I am unable to assist a client with their health issue, I am honest and will advise the client. After reading this, if you have any queries or are wondering if I may be able to assist you with an issue, please feel free to contact me to discuss your individual issue. |
AuthorDayna Willesee Archives
February 2019
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