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Tuesday, May 17, 2016

This is an explanation iexcerpted from the article:
 “Introduction of Bowenwork for Nurses” by Susan Symmons, RN. Dip. BT. Instructor
One of the easiest and (most) recognizable medical explanations of how Bowen Therapy may work is by explaining the tendon reflex, whose function is to protect the tendons and muscles from excessive tension forces. The golgi tendons lie within the tendon organs, near the junction of the muscle and the tendon. Muscle spindles are sensitive to changes in muscle length. During passive stretching of the golgi tendons, muscular contraction impulses are transmitted to the spinal cord. In this reflex arc an inhibitory association neuron connects to the motor neuron. As the tension in the tendon organ increases, the inhibitory impulses increase and cause a relaxation of the muscle.
In this reflex arc, synapses with motor neurons controlling the antagonistic muscles occur, causing contraction of the opposing muscle. This in turn potentially will physically balance the muscle structure, which when injured is often found to be in a compensatory state of weakness or contraction. Hence Bowen can physically straighten the posture and balance muscle function over joints. An impulse is also sent to the brain from this arc giving the brain feedback of the state of the musculature.
An intersegmental reflex arc is created with stimulation to one muscle. This is when the impulse is from one site, but several muscles in the associated group respond. This lends itself to support the knowledge that a Bowen response can be over a general area without working on all the painful muscles. Eg, working on the vastus lateralis above the knee will provide relaxation to many muscles of the leg, just from doing one Bowen move.
The first two moves around the waist in Bowen Therapy result in an overall balancing effect to the body. They may be the only moves done for the day for some patients. During injury or compensation for injury, it is suggested that the fascia which surrounds the muscle fibers, which is an elastic strong layer between the skin and underlying tissues, shrink around the injured part to strengthen and protect it. After a broken bone, for example, the muscle may not be able to return to normal due to kinking of the fascia and impedance of lymph flow and circulation. Many proprioceptors are situated in the fascia. Under normal circumstances the fascia is lubricated with nutrients and a small amount of fluid allowing the muscle groups to glide effortlessly over each other.

To recap, Bowen stimulates the peripheral nervous system and central nervous system, causing the body to recognize compensatory patterns and to correct them, returning back to a normal healthy state. Involvement of the brain results in the body being able to prioritize which type of healing it requires, whether a fine tuning of the emotions is to take place, or healing on a physical level creating a balanced state of well being and lessening of  presenting symptoms and pain reduction.”

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Tendinitis and Bursitis- What to Do?

Tendinitis, Bursitis and Bowenwork

   As we start into the warmer months we rush to increase our exercise and healthy activity. Unfortunately, however enthusiastic we are, we may be trying to build our exercise and activity level too quickly, as if we were trying to go 60 miles per hour immediately from a dead stop.

   The result is often mild to severe joint and muscle pain. While some soreness can be a natural product of exercise, when we have pain that doesn’t respond quickly and easily we pay a call on our physician. The physician may say that we have a case of Tendonitis or Bursitis, depending on whether the area affected is between a muscle and a joint or directly at a joint. The most common recommendation will be rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medication, together with the suggestion that “it should clear right up”. We dutifully begin our rest and ice applications, pick up and begin to take our meds and wait for the pain to decrease.

   The story can be picked up a few days later, with no change in our pain level, except for increased stomach upset from the medication. We ask our physician what else to do and are told there is nothing else to be done, either “it will improve” or “it is just a part of growing older”. This is not what we wanted to hear, or keep feeling. Where is our healing capacity? Where is our resilience? Are we becoming decrepit?

   Of course we are not falling apart even though we have begun to think so. It may be that we have been given a series of what can be called “arms-length” diagnoses. “Arms-length” meaning the physician is keeping us at a safe distance when they have no concrete answer to our problem. This isn’t to criticize the doctor; rather it is just an example of a profession-wide gap in training on musculo-skeletal and soft tissue issues. Physicians don’t have tools in their toolkits to address these issues, so they may resort to the arms-length suggestions to pacify their patients.

   If we use a system like Bowenwork or Voila that was designed to address structural imbalances and soft-tissue problems, we immediately have the tools in our toolkit that can provide solutions that are fast, safe and effective. Bowenwork or Voila can take the “heat” right out of a joint or muscle. What may seem to be tendonitis may be a muscle imbalance on either side of a joint or an over-contracting muscle, in either case they can help. What looks like bursitis may be a misalignment of the joint surfaces, which they can help, and without any joint manipulation, or “cracking”. If it is truly tendonitis or bursitis, there are specific protocols for each issue in either the Bowenwork or Voila toolkit.


   So if we are looking to start correctly and to keep going with our exercise resolutions, Bowenwork can be central in insuring that. Bowenwork can also be great as a tune-up to keep us humming along well after we have gotten fully into our warm weather activities. 

Monday, February 1, 2016

EFT- Emotional Freedom Technique Freeing Yourself from Painful Triggers

Emotional Freedom Technique

   This is an energy medicine technique developed out of a merging of acupuncture and psychotherapy. It has been effective as a therapy and self-care tool for more than 20 years. It allows us the opprtunity to disconnect from painful emotional triggers in our active and subconscious memories without having to actively process the memories or to try and forget them. The simplest analogy is cutting the wire between the explosives and the detonator.

We can have traumas in our lives that can serve as triggers for all types of emotional and physical responses long after we have experienced them. Even when we think we have let them go, we can be subconsciously reacting to a similar stimulus.  EFT gives us the freedom to release these uhealthy reactions.

EFT works by using tapping on sequences of acupuncture meridian points with specific verbal cues. The activation of the points serves to interrupt the feedback loop that is causing the triggered reactions.

There are many EFT sites and Youtube  videos that demonstrate the work if you are interested. I will simply leave a precis of the work below. I hope this is helpful. Please feel free to contact me.

EFT on a Page
EFT IN A NUTSHELL
THE DISCOVERY STATEMENT
"The cause of all negative emotions
is a disruption in the body's energy system."
Memorize The Basic Recipe.
Aim it at anyemotional or physical problem by customizing
it with an appropriate Setup affirmation and Reminder Phrase
.
Be specific where possible and aim EFT at the specific emotional events in one’s
life that may underlie the problem.
Where necessary, be persistent until all aspects of the problem have vanished. Try it on everything!!

THE BASIC RECIPE
1. The Setup...Repeat 3 times this affirmation:
"Even though I have this ________ ,
I deeply and completely accept myself."
while continuously rubbing the Sore Spot or tapping the Karate Chop point.

2. The Sequence...Tap about 7 times on each of the following energy points while
repeating the Reminder Phrase at each point.
EB, SE, UE, UN, Ch, CB, UA, BN, Th, IF, MF, BF, KC

3.. The Sequence (again)...Tap about 7 times on each of the following energy points
while repeating the Reminder Phrase at each point.
EB, SE, UE, UN, Ch, CB, UA, BN, Th, IF, MF, BF, KC
Note: In subsequent rounds The Setup affirmation and the Reminder Phrase are
adjusted to reflect the fact that you are addressing the remaining problem.

EB = Beginning of the EyeBrow
SE = Side of the Eye
UE = Under the Eye
UN = Under the Nose
Ch = Chin
CB = Beginning of the CollarBone
UA = Under the Arm
BN = Below the Nipple
Th = Thumb
IF = Index Finger
MF = Middle Finger
BF = Baby Finger

KC = Karate Chop - edge of hand