MS Awareness Week

This week is MS Awareness Week, 7 days acknowledging an illness that affects 100,000 people in the UK.

 MS (Multiple Sclerosis) is an inflammatory disease in which a substance called myelin, which protects the nerve fibres in the central nervous system, is damaged.

Your immune system, which normally helps to fight off infections, mistakes myelin for a foreign body and attacks it.

This damages the myelin and strips it off the nerve fibres, either partially or completely, leaving scars known as lesions or plaques.

MS typically affects young adults but the age of sufferers can range. It is more common in women than men and includes various symptoms.

A person with MS can suffer almost any neurological symptom or sign, including changes in sensation, muscle weakness and spasms, difficulties with moving, coordination and balance, problems in speech or swallowing, visual problems, fatigue, and bladder and bowel difficulties.

MS can make the smallest of tasks a huge struggle, severely affecting a sufferer’s quality of life.

 

Michelle Obama admitted her dad was diagnosed with MS in his thirties

 

Bowen Therapy is known for its healing qualities and has had amazing results with MS sufferers.

The Bowen Technique is a natural, drug-free, non-invasive, complementary therapy that can also help people with MS.

Rather than 'making' the body change, Bowen 'asks' the body to recognise the ailment and make the changes it requires.

During the 30-60 minute treatment, the Bowen practitioner makes small, rolling movements over muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissue at precise points on the body, using only the amount of pressure appropriate for that individual.

 

No hard-tissue manipulation or force is needed or used.

Between each set of moves, the body is allowed to rest for a few minutes, to allow it to absorb the information it has received and initiate the healing process.

One client with MS who used Bowen to manage her symptoms said: “I discovered Bowen therapy during my last M.S. episode. 

“This was a particularly bad episode and I have been treated with steroids. 

“Unfortunately I had a lot of the side effects from the steroids and consequently I felt worse. 

“I had great difficulty walking; my energy levels on a scale of 1 to 10 were about 4. 

“My hands and arms were affected with lots of muscle spasms, which meant I was unable to write, sew or feed myself. 

“Although I have a positive outlook, all the above symptoms eventually got me down and I became quite depressed.

“Twenty four hours after my first Bowen therapy session I felt so much better.

“By my fourth session the spasms in my arms and hands had almost disappeared, my energy level had risen to an 8 and I walked for a whole shopping trip around Sainsbury’s. 

“I felt almost back to normal.  I have Bowen sessions every three to four weeks and am able to live life to the full and to continue with my quilt making and baking.”

 

 

If you suffer from MS, or know somebody that does, see if Bowen could help you. Find a qualified Bowen practitioner near to you by visiting www.bowentherapy.org.uk or call 0844 561 7173.

 

How Bowen could blow out your spring sniffles

How Bowen could blow out your spring sniffles

 

It’s the start of Allergy Awareness Week, and it looks like it’s arrived just in time as we approach the start of the dreaded hay-fever season.

 

The summer-spoiling symptoms of hay fever are caused by inflammation of the sinuses due to an allergic reaction to pollen.

 

Your immune system thinks it has come into contact with a harmful agent, meaning it overreacts and produces immunoglobulins which release the chemicals that irritate your nose, throat and eyes.

 

 

 

A-listers Hugh Grant, Kate Winslet, Orlando Bloom and Scarlett Johansen all suffer with the dreaded seasonal disorder, but the symptoms can result in a less than A-list look.

 

It was recently reported that acupuncture, combined with antihistamine medicine, has seen some results in making small improvements to hay fever symptoms.

 

However, if you’re not a fan of needles or some of the negative side effects often related to many antihistamines and nasal sprays, why not try another alternative…

 

The Bowen Technique is a natural, drug-free, non-invasive, complementary therapy that can also help treat the seasonal disorder without the unwanted secondary effects.

 

Rather than 'making' the body change, Bowen 'asks' the body to recognise the ailment and make the changes it requires.

 

During the 30-60 minute treatment, the Bowen practitioner makes small, rolling movements over muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissue at precise points on the body, using only the amount of pressure appropriate for that individual.

 

No hard-tissue manipulation or force is needed or used.

 

 

 

Between each set of moves, the body is allowed to rest for a few minutes, to allow it to absorb the information it has received and initiate the healing process.

 

The massage acts as lymphatic drainage which helps with the breathing and sensory difficulties associated with hay fever.

One client that used Bowen for hay fever said: “Since starting my Bowen sessions I have a general feeling of well-being, I feel calmer and more relaxed.

 

“As regards to specific problems I no longer have hay fever and therefore no need for use of antihistamines.

“By keeping on regular sessions I feel that I am maintaining my general health, both physically and psychologically.”

 

If you suffer from hay fever and are interested in Bowen Therapy, find a qualified Bowen practitioner near to you by visiting the website or call 0844 561 7173

Bowen for Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Week

Today sees the start of Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Week.

It is estimated that around 1 in 500 people are affected by Parkinson’s disease, a neurological disease that is caused by a loss of nerve cells in part of the brain called the substantia nigra.

The loss of nerve cells leads to a reduction in the amount dopamine in the brain.

Dopamine plays a vital role in regulating the movement of the body and this reduction in dopamine is responsible for many of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Symptoms include involuntary shaking of particular parts of the body (tremors), muscle stiffness that can make everyday tasks very difficult and physical movements becoming very slow.

Sufferers can also experience non-motor symptoms such as depression, daytime sleepiness and dysphagia (difficulties swallowing).

                  Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with a form of Parkinson’s syndrome in 1984

There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, though a medication called levodopa has proved effective in relieving symptoms.

Unfortunately after around 3-5 years use the effectiveness of levodopa is reduced.

The Bowen Technique is a natural, drug-free, non-invasive, complementary therapy that can be a gentle yet effective for sufferers of Parkinson’s disease.

 

Rather than 'making' the body change, Bowen 'asks' the body to recognise the ailment and make the changes it requires. It works ‘with’ the body as opposed to ‘against’ it.

 

During the 30-60 minute treatment, the Bowen practitioner makes small, rolling, movements over muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissue at precise points on the body, using only the amount of pressure appropriate for that individual.

 

 

 

No hard-tissue manipulation or force is needed or used.

Between each set of moves, the body is allowed to rest for a few minutes, to allow it to absorb the information it has received and initiate the healing process.

Read a testimonial from a client that has used Bowen to relieve the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

If you are caring for somebody with Parkinson’s and are interested in how Bowen Therapy can help with physical or mental stress visit the website to find a Bowen therapist near you or call 0844 561 7173.

 

Can’t stomach your IBS anymore? Try Bowen…

April is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month, a disturbance in the gut that affects approximately 1 in 5 people.

 

IBS is a common digestive condition that can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. The cause is unknown; however stress, certain foods and hormones are said to play a part in the development of the condition.

 

People with the healthiest of diets can develop IBS; 1 in 3 sufferers are women.

 

 

As the cause of the condition is relatively unknown, some treatments may not be effective. Bowen Therapy is one alternative treatment that can help IBS and other digestive conditions.

Bowen is a drug-free, non-invasive complementary therapy. With primarily fingers and thumbs, the Bowen practitioner makes small, rolling movements over muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissue at precise points on the body, using only the amount of pressure appropriate for that individual.

 

No hard-tissue manipulation or force is used and between each set of moves, the body is allowed to rest for a few minutes, to allow it to absorb the information it has received and initiate the healing process.

 

Bowen prides itself on being able to trigger the body’s own healing systems. Rather than 'making' the body change, Bowen 'asks' the body to recognise and make the changes it requires.

 

 

 

One Bowen clients said: “I initially saw Jen (Bowen practitioner) when my doctor said I had IBS and it couldn’t be treated.

 

After 3 sessions I had no symptoms and IBS has never returned.

 

That was 11 years ago and I visit Jen whenever I have a condition that needs treating. Jen’s work goes beyond the treatment that any doctor can give me.”

 

Another said: “Bowen is a truly amazing treatment, I cannot praise it enough!

It cured me of an illness that hospital consultants only scratched their heads at. I still use Bowen to keep me in check. Love it.”

 

Read more testimonials from people that have used Bowen for digestive problems here.

 

If you suffer from back pain and are interested in how Bowen Therapy can help you, visit the website visit www.bowentherapy.org.uk to find a Bowen therapist near you or call 0844 561 7173.

 

World Water Day

Today is World Water Day and, although the age-old ‘8 glasses a day’ theory may be a myth, water is very important to both lifelong health and top physical performance.

 

 

 

Water is essential to your body's temperature regulation, keeping it cool through perspiration. It flushes out toxins and wastes and is a major component of blood which carries nutrients and oxygen to and from all cells.

Water provides a moist environment for all body tissues. According to Dr. Michael Colgan if you dehydrate a muscle by only 3%, you will lose 10% contractile strength and 8% of your speed.

It is advised that you drink at least 5 glasses of still water each day and, if you have ever had a Bowen treatment you will know that water is especially essential before and after a treatment.

Before commencing treatment, the therapist may request you drink water due to the technique requiring fully hydrated cells and tissues.

Following a treatment, a common reaction can be headaches - this is due to dehydration.

 

Also, after your treatment, the body starts to increase blood supply to nerve endings which, in turn, affects the movement of lymph around the body. The effective functioning of these systems is entirely reliant on water and on average the recommendation is that everyone should drink at least two litres of water per day.

Water should be taken is small quantities in order to avoid excessive increase in urination, therefore have small, regular sips over the day.

World Kidney Day

Today is World Kidney Day; established in 2006 to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to our health and quality of life.

We can live quite well with only one kidney and some people live a healthy life even though born with one missing.

Most people are born with two bean-shaped kidneys, each one about the size of an adult fist. The kidneys are located at both sides of your backbone, just under the rib cage or above the small of your back. They are protected from injury by a large padding of fat, your lower ribs and several muscles

Kidneys are an extremely sophisticated, waste disposal system, which sorts non-recyclable waste from recyclable waste, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, while also cleaning your blood. They act like a filter to make sure the right amount of wastes and fluids are removed.

 

  

Every hour your blood supply circulates through the kidneys about 12 times. Each day your kidneys process around 200 litres of blood, with around 1 to 2 litres of waste leaving the body as urine.

 

Massaging can be a beneficial, natural treatment that can support the whole body to remove wastes, toxins and debris that build up in tight muscles. As a result of massaging the kidney area, some will feel that they will often find themselves visiting the bathroom more often. This is due to the fluids in the muscles getting pushed into the lymphatic system, which then gets filtered and excreted via the urinary system.

 

Although The Bowen Technique is not a conventional ‘massage’, it requires light touches at precise points on the body and is done through light clothing or skin. It is a drug free, complementary therapy and a gentle approach that can help body to equilibrium.. Rather than 'making' the body change, Bowen 'asks' the body to recognise the ailment and make the changes it requires.

 

During the 30-60 minute treatment, the Bowen practitioner makes small, rolling movements over muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissue at precise points on the body, using only the amount of pressure appropriate for that individual.

 

 

 

 

No hard-tissue manipulation or force is needed or used.

 

Between each set of moves, the body is allowed to rest for a few minutes, to allow it to absorb the information it has received and initiate the healing process.

 

If you would like to try Bowen, find a qualified Bowen practitioner near to you by visiting the Bowen website or calling 0844 561 7173.

 

 

 

One for the ladies... Period.

Today is International Women’s Day, so we thought we’d do a blog just for us girls.

We all know the feeling; the bloating, the oily skin, tender breasts, the mood swings and, of course, the infamous cramps… it’s period time.

Period pain, medically known as dysmenorrhoea, is caused by contractions in the uterus. The blood vessels in the muscle wall are compressed by the contractions, which cut off blood supply to the womb, starving it of oxygen and adding to the discomfort.

There are generally two types of dysmenorrhoea; that that is caused by a specific underlying condition such as endometriosis, and the more common primary dysmenorrhoea, which affects nine out of 10 women, which has no specific cause. It is generally worst in the first few years after starting your period, with symptoms tending to improve with age or after childbirth.

However, this isn’t always the case and many women find painkillers can’t mask the unbearable pain.

The Bowen Technique is a natural, drug-free, non-invasive, complementary therapy that can help the physical and emotional side-effects of periods without the side-effects of painkillers.

Rather than 'making' the body change, Bowen 'asks' the body to recognise the ailment and make the changes it requires.

One client said: “My heavy period meant I was iron deficient and consequently suffered with dizzy spells.

“With Jen’s treatment my periods went back to normal along with my iron levels and I haven’t suffered since the treatment.”

During the 30-60 minute treatment, the Bowen practitioner makes small, rolling movements over muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissue at precise points on the body, using only the amount of pressure appropriate for that individual.

No hard-tissue manipulation or force is needed or used.

Between each set of moves, the body is allowed to rest for a few minutes, allowing it to absorb the information it has received and initiate the healing process.

Bowen can help the physical complaints of menstrual cramps; however it is an extremely relaxing experience that can have many emotional and stress-relieving benefits too.

Another client said: “I had often heard my friend speak of lovely Bowen sessions but had little understanding of it, until I read it would help with menstrual pain and fertility.

“I was fairly open minded to the treatment and I found that my body was very receptive to Bowen, as after 3 sessions I found that my menstrual pain had significantly reduced.

“During some months I had no pain at all and this has continued during the 2+ years I have been receiving treatment.

“The whole experience has done wonders for my mental well-being and I would not be without my monthly Bowen sessions.”

 

If you suffer with menstrual pains and are interested in how Bowen Therapy can help you visit the website to find a Bowen therapist near you or call 0844 561 7173.