Bowen Therapy Post-Treatment Care

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The Bowen moves you have received have triggered waves in your connective tissue that continue for five to ten days after treatment.  Healing began on the table, and will continue until those waves cease.  It is important that you adhere to the following recommendations to maximise the effect of your Bowen treatment.

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• Avoid very hot showers or baths.

• Do not apply heat or ice.

• Avoid heavy physical activity.

• Refrain from having other body work.

• Walk.

• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

• Wait.

• Possible reactions.

• Do suggested exercises, where applicable.

• Be aware of your body.

• Follow-up appointment.

 

 

Avoid very hot showers or baths:

 

Do not have a hot shower or bath in the 24 hours after your Bowen treatment.  A warm shower or bath is acceptable.

 

Do not apply heat or ice:

 

Do not apply heat or ice on any inflamed area for 48 hours.

Also avoid balms, rubs or other similar heat treatments (such as saunas, etc.).

 

Avoid heavy physical activity:

 

Light Activity, such as walking and swimming, is fine for 48 hours after treatment.

 

Avoid heavy exercise programs for a minimum of 48 hours after treatment.  Also avoid housework such as vacuuming and sweeping, if possible, for at least the first 48 hours to avoid the twisting movements involved.

 

Lifting heavy objects – if you have to lift something, do so by keeping your back straight, bend your knees to the object, and do not twist your body.  This is a good practise at ALL times when lifting any object.

 

Refrain from having other bodywork:

 

Refrain from having any other bodywork (such as physiotherapy, massage or chiropractic) for at least 5 days as it can negate some of the work done.  Bowen work can take up to ten days to fully integrate.

 

Walk:

 

Moving around will assist your body to realign itself, especially if you have a back problem. In addition, the Bowen treatment you received has stimulated toxins to be released from the tissues in the body into the lymphatic system.  The lymphatic system relies upon muscle movement to pump the lymph through the body. Walking moves toxins in the body to be eliminated, strengthens the spine and helps the body realign itself.  I encourage you to stand up every 30 minutes, for the rest of the day, straighten your spine (shoulders back) and take a short walk with arms by your sides – this is the natural posture.

 

Drink plenty of water:

 

Drink small amounts of plain water often throughout the entire day.  It is more effective to sip water regularly than to consume a full glass at a time.  Water flushes toxins from the body and helps to hydrate cells and tissue, including the fascia.  This is very important in getting the best results from your Bowen treatment.  Aim to gradually increase your intake of water to about 25mL per kg of body weight per day.  As a general guide, that works out at:

 

Body weight     Water per day

      50kg                  1.25L

      60kg                  1.5L

      70kg                  1.75L

      80kg                  2L

      90kg                  2.25L

     100kg                 2.5L

 

Increase the amount with increased physical activity or hot weather.

 

A good indication that you are sufficiently hydrated is that your urine should be a light yellow colour.  If there is no colour then you are probably drinking too much water and a dark colour means you are probably not drinking enough. 

 

Note that if you are taking B complex vitamins then your urine will turn bright yellow for a while after taking them.

 

Wait:

 

Allow time for the Bowen session to work.  You may feel a reaction one to two days after your treatment.  This is an indication that the Bowen treatment has started to work.

 

Possible Reactions:

 

It is not unusual for symptoms to increase before they improve.  Give the Bowen time to integrate and “sort things out”.  Occasionally, clients may experience a strong response to Bowen.  If you have any concerns then please call Socrates on 0419 768 172 to discuss the response.

 

Please consult your doctor if you experience any alarming symptoms.

 

Do the exercises prescribed:

 

In some cases you may be given suggestions for exercises or other things to do to support the Bowen treatment.  Following these suggestions will help maximise the treatments.  If you choose not to do these exercises then that is okay.

 

Be aware of your body:

 

Note any differences in your pain, discomfort, sleeping patterns, stress levels, body restrictions and overall condition to discuss at the next session.

 

Make another appointment:

 

If you haven’t already done so, arrange for a follow up Bowen session.  It is best scheduled 5 to 10 days after treatment – a week is ideal. For most conditions, two to three sessions is all that is required to completely resolve.  The second and third treatment often consolidate the work done in the first treatment and also allows the practitioner to address any residual problems that were not completely addressed in the first session.  If your condition is chronic and long-standing, it could take longer to resolve.

 

Once your condition has been resolved you will know whether you need further treatments in the future.  Listen to your body and arrange for a treatment as required.  Some clients prefer to get regular “tune up” or maintenance  treatments (every 4 weeks) to keep the body balanced and prevent more serious conditions from emerging in the future.