The Bowen Technique And Migraine Relief
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HomeThe Bowen Technique And Migraine Relief
Author: Nikke
Ariff and Janie Godfrey
Published in European College of Bowen Studies
Migraines affect some 10% of the UK population. More prevalent than
diabetes, epilepsy and asthma combined, the effects can be devastating,
causing sufferers (in addition to the pain) anything from nausea and
vomiting to visual disturbances and confusion.
A migraine is certainly no ordinary headache. If you have ever suffered
a migraine you are in no need of creative descriptions to convey the
agony it brings. If you have had to witness the pain and disruption of
migraine on friends, family members or clients, then you have longed to
do something to help. So far there has been no standard cure for
migraine and sufferers have had to rely on medication in the hope that
it will prevent or alleviate some of the symptoms.
But now, thanks to the results of a new study there is documented work
to show that The Bowen Technique can dramatically reduce the severity
and frequency of migraine attacks. London-based Bowen Technique
practitioner Nikke Ariff recently completed The Bowen Technique National
Migraine Research Program which sought to determine the efficacy of The
Bowen Technique in the treatment of the migraine condition. The Bowen
therapists were all fully qualified and experienced in The Bowen
Technique.
Selection of candidates: The Volunteer Group
No parameters were set before the research program to attract a certain
'profile' of migraine sufferer. This was deliberate to ensure that the
Volunteer Group was random but united by the fact that they were willing
to try something new in the treatment of their migraine condition.
From the number of applicants for the program the final migraine
volunteers incorporated the following factors.-
Diagnosed as a migraine sufferer by a GP or hospital specialist. Women
were well represented at different stages of their menstrual life, i.e.,
regular periods; pre-menopausal; menopausal with/without hormone
therapy; post-menopausal; hysterectomy.
A far as was ascertainable the migraine condition was their main health
complaint.
That the migraine volunteer did not have known food intolerances that
were being ingested on a daily basis. That the migraine volunteer could
be successfully paired to a conveniently located Bowen Therapist.
There were a total of 105 migraine volunteers at the outset. Of this
group, 42 took part in the study. The rest of the volunteers were not
able to participate due to the presence of an additional complicated
medical condition or because there was no Bowen therapist available in
their area.
Of the 42 who began it 39 completed the research program. The three not
completing the programme did not meet the completion requirements due to
a) an alteration of medication by their GP during the course of the
program, b) failure to return a completed Final Questionnaire and c)
withdrawal from the program due to a healing crisis.
The 39 migraine volunteers consisted of 37 women and 2 men. 13 of them
had been suffering from migraines for one to fifteen years; 17 of them
had been having migraines for sixteen to thirty years and 9 had had
migraines for over thirty years. The causes, according to The City of
London Migraine Clinic can range from hormonal imbalances, exercise,
food sensitivities, allergies, missing a meal, a change in sleeping
pattern and many other triggers in isolation or in combination. The
migraine pattern for each individual is unique as are their warning
signs, levels of stress, emotional make-up and combination of trigger
factors.
The volunteers recorded any changes in their migraine patterns according
to frequency and severity, over a six-week period. This comprised a
two-week treatment period during which the volunteer received three
Bowen treatments in the first two weeks of the program (i.e. Day 1, Day
7 & Day 14), followed by a four-week observational period. The migraine
volunteer kept a Migraine Diary throughout the 6-week period recording
any migraine attack experienced during the Research Period.
The Results:
Of the 39 participants, 7 registered no change in their migraine
condition, 11 experienced a decrease in frequency of attacks, 9
experienced a decrease in severity of their migraine, 11 experienced a
decrease in severity and frequency of attacks, 1 participant experienced
an increase in frequency.
In all, 31 participants experienced a positive result representing 79.5%
of participants - a very impressive response rate showing
significant improvement. At the end of the program, 36 of the 39
volunteers said they would recommend Bowen as a treatment to a friend or
colleague.
Ann Turner, Director of the Migraine Action Association writes, "The
results from the Bowen Technique National Migraine Research Programme
are very encouraging. It confirms that this gentle, non-invasive,
holistic therapy can help a wide range of migraine sufferers. The
results confirm the findings of the pilot study and the fact that
several different therapists were involved illustrates that it is the
Bowen Technique which is effective not just one skilled or gifted
practitioner."
The Bowen Treatments:
The Bowen Technique is a form of light-touch therapy in which the
practitioner uses thumbs and fingers to make gentle, rolling-type moves
at very precise points around the body. There are many moves available
to the practitioner and most are grouped together in sets of moves which
address specific areas such as shoulders, knees, spine, pelvic, jaw,
etc. In planning the migraine research, Nikke realised that although
their uniting characteristic is a severe amount of pain to a particular
part of their body (the head), each migraine volunteer would have any
number of trigger factors, known and unknown to the sufferer. Therefore,
Nikke deliberately did not dictate a specific and limited sequence of
Bowen 'moves' to be performed with no deviation by all the therapists on
all the migraine volunteers. She felt it was important that The Bowen
Technique as delivered by an individual therapist in consultation with
an individual patient, be the standard of treatment and that this not be
limited by prescribed sequences. Each individual therapist was given
total freedom to decide the Bowen moves used in each treatment session
in accordance with how they would normally work in response to the
individual patient's condition and circumstances.
Nikke says: "I felt that it was important for a migraine sufferer,
reading the results of the study and deciding to try Bowen, to be able
to present themselves to any qualified Bowen Therapist in the country
and experience Bowen as it was being practised."
Having given total freedom as far as the Bowen treatment was concerned;
Nikke did give the study's therapist's one guideline: that
post-treatment advice to each patient was to be limited to drinking
plenty of water only. No other advice was to be offered during the
6-week research period.
And what did the migraine volunteers have to say after their experiences
of Bowen?
- "It's the only treatment apart from Triptans that has helped my migraines"
- "I have been so used to frequent migraines; I can't quite mentally adjust to not having pain."
- "The most relaxing and enjoyable of any treatments I have previously
tried."
- "After the 2nd treatment, I had 9 days without Migraines which was
wonderful."
- "I feel I am calmer since having the treatment."
- "I do not feel Migraine is now inevitable."
- "I generally feel improvement and that I might be able to find relief or
a cure for my migraines other than taking medication."
- "During treatment, my attacks were less severe and shorter and I was
able to get back to work a lot quicker."
- "I feel more able to participate in activities without fear of an
attack."
- "I feel more relaxed and don't feel my migraines rule my life anymore."
- "I am extremely happy with the outcome and will probably continue a
maintenance treatment as it was so pleasant and relaxed me, which I feel
I need."
- "Pain lasts a shorter time. I feel better quicker, so not so 'fragile' for so long."
As a holistic therapy The Bowen Technique treats the individual as an
integrated biodynamic system as opposed to treating an isolated ailment.
Migraines can be triggered by any one or a combination of factors
ranging from hormonal, sleeping patterns, head and neck pain, exercise,
travel, lack of food, allergies, stress levels of the individual etc.
These factors are so varied that a holistic therapy like Bowen must be
considered as a valid option for the treatment of the migraine
condition.
Nikke says of the outcomes: "I am very pleased and not at all surprised
at the success rate documented by The Bowen Technique National Migraine
Research Program. I trust that more people will be encouraged to
approach complementary therapies with an open mind for the maintenance
of their health and well being." TT
For a list of accredited practitioners contact:
The Bowen Therapists' European Register (B.T.E.R.) Tel: 07986 008384
Email: [email protected]
Website:
www.bter.org
For a full course prospectus of training courses: European College of
Bowen Studies,
38 Portway, FROME, Somerset BA11 1QU Tel/Fax: 01373 461 873
Email: info@thebowentechnique
Web:
www.thebowentechnique.com
Nikke Ariff is a Bowen Therapist based in London W1. She can be
contacted at:
Mind Body Positive Ltd - Tel: 07941 417441.
