Bowen Therapy For Migraines

Correcting Migraines with Bowen by Peter Short

15 years ago when I started with Bowen I found that the Headache procedure, as set out in our teaching, didn’t work for me for more than an hour or so. I put it down to the fact that perhaps my hands were not as “Magic” as others. Perhaps it relaxes some people for long enough for them to believe it has made a difference.

The following is a system that has been effective for me, in correcting in excess of 90% of all migraines, no matter how severe they are. This procedure uses only basic Bowtech moves. Sometimes we can report a permanent correction which has lasted 12 months, & up to 2 years so far.

This process allows both practitioner and client to firstly assess that they have a migraine and again when it has cleared? This part is not exactly part of Bowtech teaching but can be done by most of you. In fact more than 65% of my clients can now assess when their danger period for a migraine is about to arrive so as they can be treated and avoid the unpleasantness of this debilitating problem.

So are you interested in relieving a person who has a migraine, is vomiting, cannot make coherent conversation, has to have the blinds pulled to cut out the light, or at least wear dark glasses, and knows that the next step is to get a jab in the backside with some drug that will have them feeling yuck for the next 3 or more days?. Because this is how they feel and you can do something that will reverse this problem in about 30 to 35 minutes.

If you have been taught Basic Bowen Procedures, you may have to change some beliefs which you were taught in the basic course but you will have the knowledge to relieve someone of their migraine in about half an hour.

Firstly, the test procedure.

By running your hand over a person’s head that has a headache or migraine, you may feel a warm spot just over the fontanel. 65% or more of my clients can feel this hot spot so most of you will be able to feel it, so have them try and see if they too can feel it. For those who can’t I have another way of testing using muscle testing which I can teach you another day.

MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE A COCCYX PROBLEM ALSO HAVE THE WARM SPOT ON THE HEAD AT THE FONTANEL. Not all but most! They may not have a headache, but may have concussion problems, had a stroke, or may have another brain disorder, panic attacks, anxiety attacks, low self esteem, ADDH, ADHD, PSAS, or other.

First Correction.

After completing BRM’s 1&2 do the coccyx in the direction indicated by the client as per the procedure taught in Basic Bowen.
After relaxing, turn the client to supine, Lock in the Coccyx, Complete BRM 3, and hit the lats.

Test again

Run the hand over the head and if the Coccyx Procedure has been effective the warm spot will have moved towards the “crown of the head” ie 2 inches further back from the Fontanel.
This is the indicator point for excess blood pressure to the head in another therapy I sometimes use.

By this time your client will have noticed a change to their discomfort. This varies on different clients.
After a suitable rest period sit the client up* and do the Shoulder procedure. If the shoulder procedure has been effective the warm spot on the head will now have disappeared and the client will notice their headache has almost gone or it may be still “hanging around” at another spot.

Lie the client down in the recovery position for 5 or more minutes, or until they feel comfortable about getting up. The above procedure is sometimes a shock to their system and it is advisable to offer a glass of water to avoid having any unpleasant experiences.
Clients tell me they then feel they had their migraine yesterday and are able to tolerate the light. They are not nauseas and best of all, their headache is gone and they can carry out a coherent conversation.

Explanations:-

For some years I carried out the above procedure not knowing how or why it worked. It wasn’t until I was introduced to a book by Dr. Paul Sherwood , “The Back and Beyond”, that the information as to why, was revealed. Dr Paul Sherwood is recognized as the UK's leading back specialist.
In it he states:-

A The coccyx move has a direct effect upon the cerebral spinal fluid which in turn has a direct effect on the pituitary gland which releases hormones into the system.

B That a primary cause of migraine is a dysfunction in the stellate ganglion situated in the thoracic spine. (C- 7)

C Frozen shoulder is a special version of inflammation associated with the malfunctioning of the stellate ganglion.

A1 When we run our hand over the head for a start and feel the warm spot, we are getting a reading of the Pituitary gland.** The Coccyx procedure has the effect of correcting the malfunctioning pituitary gland. Immediately this is done the warm spot shifts to the crown of the head. Hence the necessity to proceed with the shoulder procedure to complete the exercise.

B2 The stellate Ganglion. (At C7.) It appears this ganglion is the same one responsible for blood flow to the head and the shoulders. If this ganglion mal functions it may send excess blood to the head and not compensate by releasing the equivalent amount back to the heart. A build up of pressure is created within the cranium squeezing on the optic nerve and other parts of the brain and creating pain to the head.

C3 The Frozen Shoulder is a special version of a malfunctioning stellate Ganglion where the Axillary Nerve branches off from the posterior cord. It runs posterior to the neck of the Humerus and intervates the Deltoid and Teres Minor muscles and the skin and joint capsul of the shoulder, i.e. the posterior border of the Deltoid.
By activating the Axillary nerve under the Deltoid we send a message to the Stellate Ganglion that re-sets it and corrects the malfunction referred to earlier.

* Re--position of client for the Shoulder procedure. Any pressure to the client’s upper torso by lying in a supine position, or sitting hard against the back of a chair, during this shoulder procedure seems to negate the effectiveness of this procedure.( I note that some instructors promote doing the shoulder procedure while their client is in a supine position. The above procedure is non effective and simply doesn’t work for migraines, if there is any pressure to the upper torso. See notes on “Explanations” for further details) Diagram

** The Pituitary Gland. This is the most important endocrine gland in our body. It controls all other glands in our body. It controls the way we feel. It decides if we are to be fat or slim. It controls our sex life. It controls our mood, tells us to wake up in the morning. It releases hormones into our system. In fact it controls our life. This gland is situated at the front of our head, just above our eyes and for some, it is known as our third eye.

What I have found is that a person with a headache or migraine, or who has had one in the previous few hours has a Warm Spot on the Fontanel; that soft spot on the head half way between the fore head and the top of the head. The correction point for this is at the other end of the spine; the Coccyx. As soon as the Coccyx procedure is applied, the client will notice a change to their headache. Bowen practitioners use the coccyx procedure to address problems including “women’s problems”, infertility, menopausal problems, incontinence, prostate and other lower back problems. The first five you will note all involve the Pituitary Gland. People who have an accident to their coccyx often develop migraines a few months later. The Coccyx. has been referred to as the pump that sends cerebral fluid up the spine to the brain. As soon as this coccyx procedure is completed the warm spot at the fontanel disappears. Move the test point back two inches to the crown of the head and the warm spot is now there.

Working with Migraine sufferers has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It is truly a humbling experience to be able to help a person suffering such a debilitating problem. I am still learning and perfecting the procedure, just as Mr. Bowen did right up until his death. By next year I hope to be able to show you a quickie system that regular migrainers can use on themselves to avoid a migraine.

References:-

1- “The Bowen Technique” an interpretation by Osward Rentsch
2- “The Back and Beyond” by Dr. Paul Sherwood, MD
3- “Touch For Health” By John F. Thee, D.C.
4- Human Anatomy & Physiology By Elaine Marieb
The Axillary Nerve is illustrated inside the red border and joins the middle nerve to C7

Copyright Peter Short