Where did Bowen Therapy originate?

Bowen Therapy, or The Bowen Technique, is based on the extraordinary work of Tom Bowen. Tom lived in Geelong, in South Australia, where he practised and developed his approach to bodywork.

Tom referred to his work as 'soft tissue osteopathy'. According to a government report in 1975, Tom stated that he was treating 13,000 patients a year for a wide range of conditions, with an 80% success rate. However, despite this, he was never officially accepted for the Australian register of osteopaths due to his lack of formal medical training.

He never documented his work, but did allow other therapists to watch him work.  Six men, known as ‘Tom’s boys’, with mostly osteopathic or chiropractic backgrounds, are considered to be those with whom he shared most of his work. They continued to use his technique after his death in 1982. Before he died, Australian osteopath, Oswald Rentsch, sought Tom's permission to formally teach his work to others.

What conditions can Bowen treat?

Bowen therapists do not diagnose, or treat, specific conditions, but essentially treat the person as a whole. In this way, Bowen can, potentially, help with any problem. It has been used successfully to reduce, if not eliminate, pain and symptoms for a wide range of conditions, including back and neck pain, joint stiffness, sporting injuries, respiratory and stress-related problems.

For a more detailed list, see What Conditions Typically Respond Well to Bowen Therapy?

How long does a treatment last?

Treatments generally last around 45 minutes. The first treatment includes a consultation during which clients talk about presenting symptoms, general health and medical history, so please allow an hour and 15 minutes for your first visit.

How many treatments will I need?

Most new clients are asked to commit to a course of 3 treatments, initially. For optimum results, these are spaced 5 – 10 days apart.  Three to five treatments are often sufficient to achieve lasting relief, though further treatments may be required, depending on the condition, the cause, the length of time symptoms have been present, and the age and general health of the client.

What should I wear?

Bowen moves can either be done directly onto the skin, or through light, loose-fitting, clothing.  Moves are difficult to apply through heavy or tight-fitting materials such as denim and lycra. No underwear needs to be removed and you will be covered by towels or blankets during the treatment. 

What happens during a treatment?

During the treatment, a series of precise, rolling type moves are made over the body’s soft tissue i.e. muscles, tendons. fascia and ligaments. The moves are relatively gentle, using only as much pressure as is comfortable for your body.  A typical feature of Bowen Therapy are the ‘rest periods’ of 2-5 minutes between sets of moves. These allow the body and brain time and space to ‘interpret’ the moves and respond in the optimal way.

How will I feel after my treatment?

Each body responds differently. Most clients find Bowen deeply relaxing and experience a feeling of overall well-being as tension is relieved. However, clients may experience any of the following reactions within the first few days after treatment: hot and cold flushes, emotional releases, headaches, body aches, and tiredness. Most reactions normally clear within 48 hours, and are a positive sign that the healing process is working. All new clients are given an After Care sheet with advice on what to do, and what not to do, after their treatment.

 Is there any proof that Bowen Therapy works?

There is no ‘proof’ that Bowen Therapy works - this is because it is impossible to conduct the type of study that would provide conclusive evidence to support such a claim. This is the case with most complementary therapies. As with any physical intervention, Bowen Therapy will not help 100% of clients and there are numerous reasons for this. However, many Bowen therapists, like myself, have witnessed amazing successes where severity of symptoms have significantly improved, dysfunction has been corrected and chronic pain reduced, if not entirely eliminated - sometimes after just 2 or 3 treatments. Reports of positive outcomes such as this are regarded as ‘anecdotal’, and Bowen Therapists around the world can cite a huge number of ‘anecdotal’ accounts from satisfied clients.