Bowen therapy, or bowenwork, is a bodywork technique that uses gentle hand movements to stretch fascia and promote pain relief by stimulating the nervous system. Developed by Thomas Ambrose Bowen in Australia, it aims to reduce pain by activating the parasympathetic nervous system while inhibiting the sympathetic response. This therapy is commonly employed to address various ailments such as frozen shoulder, headaches, back pain, and knee injuries.

1. What Is Bowen Therapy?

2. Bowen therapy, also called Bowenwork or Bowtech, is a form of bodywork. It involves
gently stretching the fascia — the soft tissue that covers all your muscles and organs
— to promote pain relief.
Specifically, this form of therapy uses precise and gentle, rolling hand movements.
These motions focus on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments, along with the fascia and
skin around them. The idea is to reduce pain by stimulating the nervous system.

3. The technique was created by Thomas Ambrose Bowen (1916–1982) in Australia.
Though Bowen wasn’t a medical practitioner, he claimed the therapy could reset the
body’s pain response.
According to therapists who practice Bowenwork, this type of therapy acts on the
autonomic nervous system. It’s said to inhibit the sympathetic nervous system (your
fight-or-flight response) and activate the parasympathetic nervous system (your rest-
and-digest response).

4. What’s it typically used for?
Bowen therapy is used to treat a variety of ailments. Generally, it’s done to relieve pain
increase motor function.
Depending on the underlying symptoms, it may be used as a complementary or
treatment.
The method may be used to treat the following ailments:
• Frozen shoulder
• Headaches and migraine attacks
• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Knee injuries

5. Source
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