Bowen Therapy for Headaches and Migraines

Bowen therapy is a non-invasive, gentle treatment that can help improve the frequency and severity of headaches and migraines.

What is Bowen Therapy?

Bowen therapy involves the therapist making small, rolling-type moves over the body’s soft tissues such as fascia, muscles, tendons and ligaments. The moves are made on specific points of the body that have far-reaching connections within the body.

The treatment includes breaks of 2 – 4 minutes where the therapist will leave the room so that the brain has time to process where it has been touched and assess whether it needs to take action. The action could be: relaxing tight muscles, improving blood flow, making changes to the alignment of the body and increasing lymphatic drainage. The aim of Bowen Therapy is to stimulate the body’s own healing response.

How can it help Headaches and Migraines?

• Tension in the jaw, neck, shoulders and upper back can contribute to migraines and headaches. Bowen therapy encourages the body to relax muscles and release this tension which can improve symptoms.

• It stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system which is responsible for relaxing your body after periods of stress and controls heart rate, blood pressure and digestion. This gentle therapy encourages your body to enter a restful state and calm the nervous system which can reduce pain.  

• Bowen can address small misalignments in the body that may be contributing to the pain. The therapist does this by making small moves at certain points on the body and then leaving a break for the body to adjust itself. There is no forceful manipulation.

• Another benefit of Bowen is improved lymphatic drainage. Our lymphatic systems control the lymph fluid and help remove bacteria and waste from our bodies. Headaches and brain fog can be a sign of a struggling lymphatic system. Bowen includes moves that encourages the flow of lymph back into the bloodstream where it is filtered by the kidneys and liver and then released from the body.

What is a migraine?

A migraine is more than just a headache. It causes strong pain on one side of your head. It can cause nausea, sickness, anxiety, dizziness and fatigue. It can be accompanied by vision changes and auras, but not in every case. You might be sensitive to light, sound and movement. Migraines can last up to 3 days and be very debilitating. Hopefully you won’t suffer with these too often but if you experience migraines on more than 15 days per month then these are considered chronic migraines.

Causes of Migraines

·         Stress

·         Hormonal changes

·         Too little or too much sleep

·         Dehydration

·         Changes in your environment

·         Head injuries

·         Genetics

·         Exercise – too much or too little

·         Food and drink

Bowen is a holistic therapy and you are encouraged to consider lifestyle changes to support the therapy too. Sometimes small changes such as drinking more water or regular breaks from sitting at a desk can help improve symptoms as well.

Food and Drink

If you suffer from chronic migraines and have not found any medication or treatment that helps please consider the food and drink that you consume and I’m not just talking about cheese, wine and chocolate! Foods that are high in a substance called tyramine can cause migraines. I know, because this is what was causing my chronic migraines for years and it is high in all sorts of food. If you want to find out more, there are two books that I recommend: The Tyramine Intolerance Handbook by Dr Christie Hartman, and The Migraine Relief Plan by Stephanie Weaver. There is also a private Facebook support group called Tyramine Sensitivity Support that you can join.

Bowen is a gentle yet powerful treatment option. It can aid relaxation, assist in realignment and improve lymphatic drainage. It is gentle with no forceful manipulations or needles. It is suitable for all ages and is a great option for people suffering with headaches and migraines.  

Bowen is not a substitute for medical advice. Please speak to your Doctor if you are suffering with frequent headaches or migraines.

Results vary from person to person.