Bowenwork

Bowenwork is a type of bodywork that uses a form of measured massage as a holistic treatment for a variety of ailments. Holistic therapies incorporate the overall health of someone in lieu of concentrating on a single area. Bowenwork is the gentle stimulation of the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. It is believed that by addressing the autonomic nervous system, or ANS, balance can be restored to the body, as the ANS controls most bodily functions. Practitioners of Bowenwork claim that the process allows the body to heal in its own way, in its own time. The movements performed in a Bowenworks session attempt to take the ANS out of a high-stress sympathetic mode (normally referred to as “fight or flight”) into the parasympathetic mode (relaxation). No scientific medical research exists that shows Bowenwork is an effective treatment for any specific disease, however, it does provide some degree of relaxation and stress reduction. Patients diagnosed with cancers such as mesothelioma may benefit from this type of alternative therapy.

The Procedure

Bowenwork sessions last from 45 to 60 minutes. The massaging involved is very gentle, but targets specific areas. It can be performed through clothing with several pauses taken throughout the treatment so the body has time to respond and adapt. Unlike other forms of massage, Bowenwork is minimalistic. The technique was developed in Australia by Tom Bowen in the 1950s. In the 1970s Bowen passed down his techniques to a handful of other people that have since trained others upon Bowen’s death in 1982. Today Bowen practitioners are located in 50 countries worldwide.

Bowenwork and Mesothelioma

The treatment has been noted for its ability to ease physical symptoms. Those diagnosed with cancers such as mesothelioma might be especially interested in applying Bowenwork therapy as a way to alleviate pain. Mesothelioma exhibits especially long latency periods, normally being diagnosed in the later stages. Because of this, pain can be of particular issue for mesothelioma patients. Those diagnosed with mesothelioma and other cancers might consider these types of alternative treatments in conjunction with standard methods.

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Bowenwork