8/14/08

Natural healing the goal of Bowenwork therapist

by Beckye Randall

As we take advantage of our short but beautiful northwest summer, the bustling activity of hiking, sightseeing and even gardening often translates into aches and pains that last well into the fall. According to local practitioner Nancy Clark, a form of natural health care called Bowenwork can alleviate pain, regardless of the cause.

Clark, who operates Bowenwork Health Center at 609-C State Avenue in Marysville, has been a health care provider since 1978, specializing in natural healing practices since 1985. In 2004, while working as a natural therapeutic specialist in conjunction with an Albuquerque chiropractic practice, she tried Bowenwork for relief of a frozen shoulder and was amazed by the swift recovery she experienced. She traveled to Australia to study the discipline and became a registered Bowenwork therapist in June 2005.

So exactly what is Bowenwork? Developed by Tom Bowen, the practice is based on the principle that our bodies have an inherent and continuous self-healing and self-correcting process that can be stimulated to return us to our previous healthy condition. Bowen techniques are effective because they work in partnership with this healing process, taking into account each person’s unique structure and tissue tone.

Unlike chiropractic, which focuses on the spine and bony structure of the body, Bowenwork addresses the soft tissue of tendons, muscles and nerves. The practitioner applies gentle pressure that sends a stimulus to relax and heal through neural connections that bypass conscious thought.

Bowenwork therapists locate points on the body over muscle and connective tissue, and then perform precise yet gentle “stretch and release” movements. These movements act on the autonomic nervous system to create a calm internal environment that enables the body to “reset and rebalance itself,” Clark said.

 “Bowenwork can address injuries that just won’t heal,” said Clark. “When the body is in balance, it can function at greater capacity.”

“Patients generally come to us from a doctor with a specific diagnosis,” she explained. “Often they have completed other treatments without pain relief. We explore the patient’s history and assess their physical condition to determine how to best return them to pain-free balance.”

Those suffering from chronic conditions can benefit from Bowenwork, as can people recovering from recent traumatic accidents.

“Bowenwork is effective in treating low back pain, osteoarthritis and other inflammatory diseases, migraines, sports injuries, joint problems, and even chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia,” Clark explained.

The clinic’s Web site explains that Bowenwork triggers “the pivotal moment when the body shifts from a state of emergency to a place of relaxation. When the body is calm, its natural healing process returns.”

In addition to the Marysville location, Clark also has an office in LaConnor and in Mukilteo.

Licensed as a massage practitioner, Clark’s services are covered by most insurance plans. To find out more about Bowenwork and its application for pain relief, call (360) 658-6071 or visit www.bowenworkhealthcenter.com.