Bowen Therapy / Jim Fessler

How does Bowen Technique Work?:

Bowen Technique therapy helps the body remember how to heal through its stimulation of the proprioceptors, the sense organs
the body uses for proper movement and balance. The messages sent to the nervous system remind the body to regain normal
movement in our joints, muscles, and tendons. In its unique manner it sends corrective signals through the body along the 
passageways nerve impulses from the proprioceptors use. In this way the signals go directly into the central processor of
the brain for body functions, the neocortex. Bowen bypasses the reactive nerve pathways in the body and reduces the alarm
reaction sent along those pathways by the brain that produces and maintains pain, spasm and inflammation in the body. While
doing this Bowen Technique can restore correct muscle tone in the affected areas of the body with immediate responses of
pain reduction, general muscular relaxation, and deeper, slower breathing.
Bowen Technique strongly affects the autonomic nervous system. the system responsible for stress reactions such as the 
"fight or flight" reaction, as well as the recovery responses of the body. When Bowen helps reduce the "stress-oriented"
dominance of the sympathetic part of the system muscle tension decreases, nerve hypersensitivity is reduced and the feedback
loops that control acute pain in the body are interrupted. At the same time that is happening, the parasympathetic portion
is reciprocally restored, increasing blood and lymph flow, feeding starved tissue and reducing inflammation. People can 
feel shifts in their bodies during and after Bowen sessions while the autonomic system comes back into balance. As  this 
happens, the healing process can accelerate.
Spasm and inflammation, normally healthy responses immediately after and injury, too often remain long after and become
the problem. Bowen Technique can directly relieve these symptoms through reducing sympathetically maintained muscle
contraction and increased blood and lymph flow. While there are often immediate positive results, they are just as likely
to unfold over a longer preiod of a few days to a week. Patterns of dysfunction that have arisen over time may take time
and repetition to be replaced with the new, healthy patterns. Bowen Technique can restore patterns of normal function within
3-4 sessions with 3-8 being an ordinary treatment protocol. 
Bowen Technique can be seen as new more efficient software for the body's computer. If the software is more efficient, the
computer works faster and easier, and "crashes" less often. Bowen Technique introduces a carefully calibrated input to the
body's computer to facilitate a faster, more effective response to stress, trauma, and injury. Bowen Technique acts as a 
dynamic catalyst for healing.
Bowen Technique complements and amplifies other healthcare modalities, but as in computers, too many commands can overwhelm
the program that is running, over stimulating the body can distract it from responding fully to its new recovery program. 
Bowen is best used in a rotation with other modalities.
Bowen Technique is an innovative healthcare modality, providing a quick complementary and very effective way to accelerate
healing and recovery.