Bowen Technique By Karen
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Helping the Body to Rebalance and Repair
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The Bowen Technique Bell’s Palsy
Posted on 13 January, 2013 at 8:51 |
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Today’s
Therapist
International
Trade Journal - Issue 48 September October 2007
The Bowen
Technique
Bell’s Palsy by Janie Godfrey with case history from Clare Handforth
Bell's Palsy is a condition of facial paralysis, normally affecting one side of the face. It is more common among diabetics with high blood pressure and among pregnant women in the last third of their pregnancy but it can affect adults of all ages, genders and states of health. Most patients suspect they have
suffered a stroke when the symptoms suddenly occur, as these normally include a
drooping or sagging mouth, facial pain, drooling, loss of taste, inability to
close the eye resulting in tearing, and the need to wear an eye patch. In most cases the condition disappears after
3 - 6 months but for some, the symptoms can continue for longer and, in extreme
cases, indefinitely. In 75% of patients,
no cause for Bell's palsy can be established.
Alice developed Bells Palsy in early August, which paralysed
the right-hand side of her face making her appear to have had a stroke. The right hand side of her face no longer
worked. She could no longer frown, raise
the eyebrow, blink, smile, drink without dribbling, speak without holding her
mouth up at the side, or chew food without it getting stuck in between her
cheek and teeth. Her hearing was
intense. Her doctor diagnosed Bell’s
Palsy immediately and suggested the prescription of large doses of steroids and
anti-viral medication, which is a standard treatment offered for the
condition. Initially, Alice refused the
drug treatment and headed straight to her computer for her own research, which
did not disagree with the doctor. After 6 days, she agreed to take the steroids
and anti-viral prescriptions for a course of 6 days, and they did help a
little.
However, it soon became clear to her
that she was not one of the 85% of sufferers who recover in 6 months. Her
hearing was more normal and her eye would blink without manual intervention but
other problems remained little changed. In January, she started trophic neuromuscular stimulation under the
supervision of a physiotherapist. This
involved attaching 4 electrodes to various areas of her face, which then sent
electrical impulses to the muscles that were not being stimulated by the
affected nerves. It was hoped this would
improve recovery. The treatment was
quite painful, took an hour per day and was to be done in a quiet, relaxing environment
- not easy for Alice to achieve with 3 children and a full time job. After 5 months, she was still only seeing a
30% recovery, with no improvement to the eyebrow, cheek and chin areas.
Around this time, Clare Handforth was
completing her training to be a Bowen Technique practitioner and she asked
Alice to be one of the Bowen case studies required for her course work. Alice had not heard of Bowen but jumped at
the chance to try something that might get her smile back. Clare started treatment in June, and it was
now almost a year since the Bell’s Palsy had started - a long time for the
muscles not to have been in use.
As soon as Alice began the Bowen
treatments things began to shift. The
progress was gradual, but – finally – it was real progress. After a few months, Alice listed what had been
achieved with Bowen treatment: · My right eye now looks more normal and
equally balanced with the left eye. · My cheek movement has improved, dimple
reappeared, speaking without my lips sticking together and drinking and eating
are all much easier and more normal. · My smile has almost returned to normal
(very important to me a very smiley person) · My right eyebrow has begun to move
slightly, this started almost 19 months since the Bells Palsy’s onset. I am now
almost able to frown but still cannot raise this eyebrow. ·
My ‘crow’s feet’ have returned and other wrinkles (maybe could
have left this recovery out!)
As so often happens with Bowen
treatment, Alice reported a number of other benefits she experienced with the
treatment: · I have lost half a stone in weight. · Body realignment has given me a much
stronger back. I used to regularly
require osteopathic work on my back if I jarred it gardening or walking. Last year I did have an episode when I jarred
my back, thudding into an unseen hole.
At the time I thought, ‘Oh no, that’s me out of action for a few days’,
but next day I was absolutely fine. I
feel sure this would not have been the case in previous years. · Caesarean scar tissue, which was a
massive 1 inch deep / wide and 8 inches across, virtually disappeared after 2
or 3 Bowen treatment. Clare
informed me that this was not actually scar tissue but more likely to be badly
drained lymph. · A breast lump (already diagnosed as a
fatty tissue lump) reduced in size after just one treatment. · Much better sleep patterns. · Much more energy.
Recovery from Bell's palsy typically
begins 3 weeks after onset of symptoms for 85% of patients, who fully recover
within 6 months. Some take much longer
and about 5% experience permanent deformity. It is clear that Alice had a
more stubborn form of Bell’s Palsy, and the introduction of Bowen treatment
seems to have been the factor that re-started her recovery.
With
thanks to Clare Handforth and Alice for the case history. Clare practices in Middlewich, Cheshire Contents
provided by the European School of Bowen Studies (ECBS)
For
further details about the Bowen Technique please contact Karen on 01954 260 982
/ 07714 995 299 or email [email protected] |
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