1/9/2018 2 Comments Bowen Therapy for ArthritisArthritis is often worse during the cold, but so many people are in significant pain from arthritic joints all year round. And it is not necessarily the aged that experience pain from arthritis. Arthritis can start at any age, but it commonly begins or worsens as we get older, and there is no cure. Regardless of the age, it hurts, it gets worse in cold weather, often there is no relief, and it’s definitely no fun. Long-term pain can severely impact people’s quality of life, stealing their joy and often leading to depression. Most of my clients who see me for arthritic pain get significant to moderate pain relief with Bowen Therapy, and use regular fortnightly, monthly or bi-monthly Bowen treatments to manage their pain or their tolerance of it. A few of my arthritic clients have even become pain free! I do not believe that Bowen (or I) can cure arthritis, but I now believe that arthritis does not necessarily have to hurt. When we feel pain in one area, our body will try to use it as little as possible and over-use other parts, causing a cascade of compensating patterns throughout the whole body. Often people who present with arthritis in one area have developed chronic pain in other parts of their body as well. Here are some of the ways I think Bowen influences arthritic pain:
Bowen Therapy is a safe, effective and gentle form of bodywork that can successfully treat arthritis and many other aches and pains. It is a soft tissue therapy characterised by a series of gentle, precise moves carried out in a rolling motion, and is usually done with the person lying in loose clothing on a massage table although can be adapted to treat people in a sitting position if they are unable to lie down comfortably. It is very gentle, with no vigorous rubbing or excessive joint mobilisation techniques involved. It is safe for everyone of all ages. There isn’t any cure for arthritis but if you suffer from this painful condition a few things that can help are:
I believe that Bowen Therapy can contribute to making every body feel better. If you or a loved one are suffering from arthritis or chronic pain, book them in for a session with me. I wonder if you’re one of those people with arthritis who doesn’t need to be in pain? As one of my clients said recently: “Bowen can’t work if you don’t give it a go.” Visit my website, www.bowentherapydubbo.com.au for more information, or give me a call on 0427 143 743 to book a Bowen treatment soon.
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1/9/2018 1 Comment For our Young Adults to consider ... and those of us that are a bit older as well"I'm writing this article from the heart. I've been confronted by a serious health issue, and I would like to save others from the challenge of turning that around ... or not." Maintaining our health is a life-long journey where we try many things and listen to many different opinions. Yet unfortunately, when we are sick or in pain, we tend to rely solely on the advice from one source which makes us feel better quickly with as little interruption to our convenient daily lives as possible. We expect this source to know everything, and be capable of giving the advise that is in our best interests. This source is called ... doctors. Doctors are, without a doubt, some of the most intelligent and knowledgeable people around. They are revered in our society because they understand all about our bodies and how they work, chemicals and drugs that can have a quick impact on our illnesses, and how to save lives, which the rest of us will probably never get. Our society's conditioning has programmed our survival instinct to believe that we must rely on them for guidance and support to keep us alive and healthy. And so, as a matter of course, as we know no better, we believe what they tell us. We instinctively trust them, and we allow them to influence us enormously. Science recognises the power of suggestion. It has even been scientifically proven that the growth and development of plants can be influenced by positive or negative words and messages said to them, so imagine how much more influential the messages given by doctors can be on us. In my clinic, I have heard some interesting quotes:
Unlike some other people I know, these people didn't let their bodies wilt away after these negative messages, like the plants in the scientific experiments.
There is an option to mainstream medicine, you just need to be proactive and find it. And most options can and will work with doctors What I am particularly concerned about, and what I am hearing more and more, is that there is a growing acceptance and expectation of the inevitability that we will develop chronic pain and chronic illness in our early middle age. I ask my clients to list all their health and pain issues for me, and often they don't tell me about some because "That's just what happens when you get older, isn't it, you can't do anything about that". Where are they getting this message from? I am hearing quotes every day in my clinic like this one: "The doctor said to me what do you expect? Of course you're experiencing aches and pains - you're over 40." Now, I'm not sure what's going on here. I'd like to think these noble doctors who have devoted seven or more years of their lives studying their healing craft are not giving their patients these negative messages, so perhaps people are misinterpreting what they're being told by the doctor. If that is the case, I would like to encourage the doctors to take responsibility for this - understand the power they have over people, to change the messages they are giving their patients and to choose their words and messages very carefully so that this potentially hazardous misinterpretation that is changing our society's health expectations no longer occurs. I also don't believe these highly intelligent people are arrogant enough to think that the medical and allied health industry hold all the answers and there are no other solutions - they must see evidence on a regular basis of what the alternative health industry achieves when their methods don't succeed. I do think however that insurance plays a large part in what they can and cannot suggest to their patients. But then again, I might be wrong - who knows. What I do know, from my experience in my clinic and talking with my clients, is that:
The body has an innate and amazing ability to heal itself. Pain is the body's way of alerting you to the fact that something is not right. If you address the pain when it begins, in an effective way with postural alignment and anti-inflammatory habits, then you may well avoid years of pain from arthritis and surgery for joint replacements. My suggestion is not to put all your eggs in one basket. Be proactive about your health throughout your whole life, not just when you start having problems. From the age of 25 or younger, gather a team of health professionals around you that you trust.
The advice that you will get from your doctor and allied health professionals will be different from the advice you get from the good alternative health professional. Keep the end in mind, gather information and make your own decision. Unfortunately the most effective advice is often the most difficult to follow - changing your lifestyle and diet forever is much more daunting than not changing anything except taking a tablet every day for the rest of your life. If you find the support that works for you early in your life and follow the advice that makes sense to you, not necessarily what is most convenient to you, you will have a good chance of enjoying a long, pain free and healthy life. So you have a choice:
I'm writing this article from the heart. I've been confronted by a serious health issue, and I would like to save others from the challenge of turning that around ... or not. Also, I am constantly witnessing (and helping to treat) the outcome of eating what we have been told is a healthy balanced diet, doing the fat free thing, and exercising 30, no 60, no hang on now it's 90 minutes a day. I have no doubt that the high incidence of heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimers and other chronic conditions as well as surgeries for joint replacements and the removal of gall bladders is caused by our diet, our lifestyle, our medicines. When Bowen isn't enough, I encourage my clients to seek other assistance. Depending on the nature of the challenge, that assistance may be from a doctor or an alternative health professional. The alternative health professionals I refer to are the best in their field in our region. We are very blessed to have their experience and expertise here, as you would be hard pressed to find a similar quality of natural health support in a metropolitan or coastal area. Please don't leave this choice until you realise that you're not a superhero (about 30yo) and not immortal (about 50yo), because by then you're probably well on the way to Outcome Number 1 and, believe me, it's tough to turn it around - but I imagine even tougher to live it out if you don't manage to turn it around. Start early so you can enjoy Outcome Number 2 - a long life just as it should be - graceful, happy, healthy and comfortable.
If you would like to know more about how Bowen Therapy may be able to assist you to achieve your goal of a long, healthy, happy and pain free life, or you would like some introductions to some very good alternative health professionals in our region, I'd be delighted to spend some time talking with you. Give me a call on 0427 143 743. 14/9/2017 2 Comments Equine Muscle Release TherapyIn December I graduated from the Equine Muscle Release Therapy (EMRT) course run by Ali Goward in Tiaro, Qld. EMRT is one method of applying Bowen to horses, and it is an honour and pleasure to be able to work on these noble animals. Amazingly, using only about a third of the pressure I would on people, horses respond in the most incredible ways. Whilst they cannot talk and tell me what's wrong, Ali's training has honed my observation skills. Sometimes there are no obvious responses, or the horses just go to sleep which is not very exciting, and sometimes the horses get themselves into some very strange positions to stretch muscles or release tension. Sometimes there are no obvious changes in how the horses look, and sometimes muscles bulge or quiver or even disappear for a while. Sometimes the result great, and sometimes it isn't what the owner is looking for, but generally people report back that the horse is much calmer, friendlier, more willing, or has a much nicer attitude. Like working with Bowen on humans, it often takes a bit of time, and a few treatments may be necessary to get the desired result. Ali says that EMRT is known to normalise temperature, normalise respiratory rate and reduce pain. Whilst we can measure the response in temperature and respiratory rate, but how can she know that pain has been reduced? I recently treated a horse with an abcess that had come out at the top of the hoof. The poor neddie was restless and anxious, very lame and sore and wouldn't let us touch the leg, let alone the wound to clean it up. During the treatment she did lots of yawning, and towards the end of the treatment she finally calmed down and whilst she didn't go to sleep like some horses do, she was much more relaxed. About 15 minutes after the treatment finished we were able to clean and dress the wound without her flinching at all, indicating a marked reduction in pain - interesting. We also noticed that the swelling above the wound decreased significantly over the 30 minutes after the treatment. Whilst I still suggested that the owners contact the vet, or at least show him some photos, they decided they would wait and see what she was like the next day, by which time she was sound and well on the mend. Since graduating in December I have treated about 30 horses, and whilst I don't consider I have much, I am gaining confidence and getting some good results. Click here to find out what EMRT can do for horses. If you think that EMRT might benefit your horse, please give me a call on 0427143743 to discuss the situation and make an appointment. Cheers for now, Prue After ten years of practising Bowen Therapy, I am still so surprised how quickly chronic pain can clear - pain that has plagued a person for many years often resolves with three treatments, and occasionally resolves after one! I thought I'd share a testimonial I just received from a hairdresser who I treated recently. "I’ve been a hairdresser for 30 years, and have been getting aches and pains in the right side of my body off and on for ages – neck, mid back, lower back, hip, knee and ankle. I just thought it was because of my work and I’d have to put up with it forever. This summer I slipped and did the splits (not very elegantly I might add!) and must have hurt something because I was in a lot of pain in my hip, glutes and down the back of my right leg, kind of like sciatica. Nothing seemed to make any difference until I started Pilates, and it gradually got better but didn’t go away completely, and was worst at night. By winter all the aches and pains in my right side were constant, and the sciatica was really bad at night and when I was working. In July I heard about Bowen Therapy. It sounded really gentle and as I was so sore I thought I could handle it better than massage. I was astounded by the result. When I stood up after the treatment I felt really light with no pain at all except in my neck. Prue did a few more things on my neck and I had no pain at all, anywhere. It was two weeks before I could get back for my second treatment, and I was totally pain free that whole time except there was a little niggle in my hip and my neck was a bit sore for two days before I saw Prue again. I was also sleeping really well. After that second treatment I felt fantastic. I had another treatment three weeks later, and think I might be able to start exercising again soon. I’m so pleased Bowen came into my life." Most people have a great result with Bowen, like this, but occasionally some have little or no relief, and unfortunately I can't tell who will and who won't benefit. But Bowen can't hurt because it is so gentle, and with quite a high success rate it makes sense to try it. Visit my website, www.bowentherapydubbo.com.au to find out more about Bowen Therapy, or call me on 0427143743 to make an appointment or discuss how Bowen may assist you. Cheers for now, Prue AMy little baby who had colic turned 21 this year, and even though it's so long ago I clearly remember how distressed he was from 8 weeks to 18 months old, and how distressed I was too. How I wish I had known about Bowen Therapy back then! There are few things more distressing than watching the tiny little apple of your eye scream and writhe around for hours suffering the excruciating pain of colic, and you're totally helpless to make it better for them. More than that, you dread the next time they take on more nourishing milk, whether by bottle or breast, because you know the cycle of pain is going to start all over again for them. This can go on for weeks, months, or in our case year, and can have implications later in life with teeth and digestive issues. Recently I tuned in to a webinar about some research that one of my colleagues from Bulgaria has done on the effect that Bowen has on babies with colic. The study involved 6 therapists and 170 babies aged from 2 weeks to 8 months old. After three Bowen sessions or less, 65% of the babies experienced complete resolution of symptoms, 24% had no symptoms but did have mild incidental signs of anxiety, 7% with temporary relief where symptoms resolved or were significantly improved for a few days before reappearing again, and only 6% having poor or no improvement in symptoms. The conclusion of the report written on the research project was that they highly recommend Bowen Therapy as a primary treatment for Baby colic. Lots of interesting statistics were offered, and some of the findings included that Bowen was effective whether the baby was on medication or not, and that the majority of those babies whose symptoms had not improved significantly were being bottle fed and had been born by Caesarian. I have had the honour of treating about 10 little ones with colic, and it is really breathtaking how quickly they can get relief from the pain with Bowen if it works for them, and they fall into a deep, relaxed, contented sleep. The Bowen treatment of a baby only takes about 10 minutes, and is very very gentle. Generally the mother is overwhelmed with the result and either needs to sit and talk while cuddling her baby for a long time, or wants a treatment herself to help her unwind and recover. So if you know of a baby with colic, please suggest Bowen Therapy to the mother, and hopefully together we will reduce the unnecessary pain and distress with colic and have many more happy little cherubs. If you would like to find out more about Bowen Therapy please visit my website, www.bowentherapydubbo.com.au, or give me a call on 0427143743 to make an appointment or discuss how Bowen may assist you. Cheers for now, Prue 13/5/2015 0 Comments Coping With ChaosI thank God every day for the skills I have that can help people in amazing ways and make an enormous difference in their lives, and the lives of others. The "journeys" of our business, called "A Bowen Clinic ... and other journeys", includes Arbonne, Bowen, Crystal Dreaming, Chakra Clearing, EFT and Reiki. Recently I found that a combination of these "journeys" empowered one of my clients to get through an incredibly chaotic time in her life with ease and grace. Ellen (not her real name) had left an abusive relationship in Sydney and come to live in Dubbo. She was in the process of getting her life back together when her 24 year old daughter returned from a stint in Melbourne an ice addict, fleeing from a drug gang because she was a witness to one of their fatally violent acts. With no rehabilitation services available, Ellen was supporting her daughter through the horrors of withdrawal from ice when she came to talk to me about helping her. Ellen was unable to work, as caring for her daughter was a full time job. She was totally strung out and sleep deprived, and very aware that she was depressed, not coping, and not making rational decisions. We put together a flexible 4 week stress management plan of weekly visits which included Bowen, Reiki and Crystal Dreaming sessions. Ellen had received some funding from Carers NSW, and the support of a psychologist and my stress management plan was approved and funded by them. Whilst it was still an incredibly difficult time, Ellen very soon became less distressed and felt like she had more control of her life. A month after we had finished the first plan, Ellen was back again seeking more support. During that month her ex-partner had been harassing her, her eldest daughter was still requiring constant supervision, her youngest daughter had left her father in Brisbane and moved in with them, and her middle daughter, with 1 child and another on the way, was leaving her partner and, with nowhere else to go, was moving in with them as well. Poor Ellen was totally overwhelmed again, though not as distressed as before because she knew that help was at hand. A further three sessions saw Ellen through the birth of her second granddaughter, settling her teenager in to school in Dubbo, and the continuing effects of ice withdrawal of her eldest. Ellen finished our sessions feeling confident that all was manageable and plain sailing with the 6 of them all living together in her little three bedroom house. I recently received Ellen's testimonial which illustrated the impact of the work I had done with her. It is very humbling to realise the significant difference these therapies can make to people in need, and the people they impact. Click here to read Ellen's testimonial. You don't need to be in such a chaotic situation to feel overwhelmed and out of control. If you would like some help managing stress please consider alternatives like the journeys my business offers, or other modalities by other alternative therapists. There are many effective therapies that can help out there if you look around and ask. Call me on 0427 143 743 if you would like to discuss how I may be able to help you or someone you are concerned about, or visit my website, www.bowentherapydubbo.com.au to find out more about the therapies that helped Ellen. Cheers for now, Prue 1/5/2015 3 Comments Back Pain and ArthritisMy new rooms are a delight to work in, and my new neighbours are fun and truly inspirational. Amazing results continue to be realised with people's bodies learning to heal themselves with the gentle help of Bowen. Thanks to all my friends for all the good wishes. Thanks too for the contributions that people have made to the Tom Bowen Foundation. Especially to Tom Roth who made the first donation in the first week of opening my new rooms. I will be sending the first contribution from Dubbo to the Foundation tomorrow. One of my first new clients in my new place was a lady who came to see me for lower back pain which had been quite severe for about eight weeks. Many years ago she had fallen down some stairs and fractured some vertebrae in her back, and prior to the pain becoming severe she had been experiencing ongoing discomfort which she expected would never go away. The back pain was totally resolved after a couple of treatments, and she came back for one more visit because she had noticed a significant improvement in the arthritis in her feet. She had been diagnosed with this arthritis about five years ago, and had been taking Panadol Osteo for it regularly. The doctor had given her the expectation that she would have this discomfort for the rest of her life. In our Bowen training we are taught that Bowen cannot really do much for arthritis, but it can improve quality of life by helping manage pain and improve sense of wellbeing. In the last Bowen treatment I focused on the lady's legs and feet rather than her back, and we were very surprised that the pain from her arthritis completely vanished there and then. I saw her two months later and she was still free of lower back pain and pain in her feet, and enjoying life immensely. Please click here to read her testimonial on my website. If you know of anyone who you think may benefit from Bowen please give them my number, 0427143743, so they can make an appointment. Cheers for now, Prue 22/4/2015 1 Comment Found! A Great Water Filter"You cook great water!" Some of my clients have recently been making this comment. I have finally found an affordable water filter that dispenses water as fresh as if it were from a mountain stream. Not only that, it's affordable, and looks very impressive. It takes ordinary tap water (bore water, dam water, water from old copper pipes or Dubbo water) and gravity feeds it through an assortment of filters to clean the water of most minerals, bacteria and all yucky stuff. The sparkling clean water then sits in a storage tank with mineral and silver rocks. The water picks up minute amounts of the minerals so that it becomes good for us, as well as minute amounts of silver which prohibits the growth of bacteria and promotes good health. The water becomes as fresh and tasty as if from a mountain stream. But that's not all! As the water comes out of the tap, it passes through magnets which makes the water easier to absorb into the cells of the body. A friend of mine introduced me to this type of water filter years ago. They lived on a property out west, and the bore water they had in the house was a reddish colour with quite an unpleasant taste. My friend had a number of this type of water filters, and filtered all their cooking and drinking water. The result was perfect tasting, sparkling clear water. I was a bit sceptical about the possible success when I introduced the filter at work a couple of years ago. At the time we worked out of an old house which had very old copper piping. The water was particularly sour and quite an orangey colour. To my delight the result was beautiful, clear, fresh water. Good quality water is very important for good health, and for supporting the body after a Bowen treatment. Drinking pure water is most effective as the body does not have to digest it, which is why drinking tea, coffee or cordial does not count. Bowen works best on well hydrated tissue, so drinking an adequate amount of good quality water before your treatment will increase the value your body gets from your Bowen treatment. The waves that the Bowen moves instigate in all the connective tissue in your body will continue for longer on well hydrated tissue, and so drinking enough good quality water for ten days after your Bowen treatment is important if you want to get the most out of your treatment. Of course, if you continue with the suggested amount of good quality water you will be healthier in many ways, including improved clarity of thought and the elimination of toxins. If you're on the lookout for a good water filter please email me or give me a call on 0427143743 and I'll let you know how you can purchase one. Cheers, Prue 7/4/2015 0 Comments Mora TherapyMora Therapy is a really interesting and exciting alternative therapy, and is available in Orange. I was told about it by a client from Warren who drops in to fix his back pain after he's been sitting on the tractor for too long. He has had a general soreness throughout his body for the last few years, and that also felt better after Bowen treatments, but after a few days the overall soreness would return. At his last visit he said that Mora Therapy had fixed all that, and gave me Jean Murphy's number in Orange. One of my clients at the time was experiencing severe sciatic pain in both legs. He would feel great for three days, but the pain would begin to return after three days and by the end of the week it would be as bad as ever. I took him down to see Jean, and he hasn't had any sciatic pain since! Apparently the pain was caused by a virus, not nerve impingement afterall. Mora Therapy weakened the virus and strengthened his body, allowing him to recover from the virus and all it's associated symptoms. I have had other clients with issues that are not fully resolving that have had success with Mora Therapy. Symptoms of viruses can vary, but may include back pain, sciatic pain, general aches and pains, lethargy, depression, anxiety, hormonal issues, and many more. Other things that I am aware that Mora Therapy may help with are heavy metals and allergies. If you would like Jean's phone number to find out more about Mora Therapy please give me a call on 0427143743 and I will be very happy to give it to you. Cheers for now, Prue 9/2/2015 0 Comments My Bowen clinic has moved! A Bowen Clinic … and other journeys has moved to Shop 5, 43 Macquarie Street, Dubbo These new rooms are located on street level in the Hamony Centre - the arcade between Red Earth Natural Healing Centre and Sprout Café, opposite Priceline Pharmacy. The signwriting has not yet been changed from Reiki Love and Light, but my brochures are available on the door. To avoid parking fines in Macquarie Street, may I suggest you access parking in the Woolworths carpark or on the riverbank Appointments will still be available every weekday and some weekends during business hours. Some appointments will be available after hours by mutual arrangement. The clinic will not be attended all the time, so please call me on 0427 143 743 to arrange an appointment. Please change the contact details in your phone to reflect the new address, and check that you have the correct phone number. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Tim Manning for the enthusiasm, encouragement and support that he has provided in the early stages of the clinic. I have been so blessed to be working with Tim and Zina for the last few years, and more recently with Wes and Michelle. I will miss you all, and thank you for your friendship and good wishes. Looking forward to seeing you all in the new premises. Blessings, Prue Duffy |
AuthorHi, I'm Prue Duffy, a Bowen Therapist and Equine Muscle Release Therapist in regional NSW, Australia, and the results most of my clients get is truly amazing.. I've been doing Bowen since 2007, and opened a practice in Dubbo in 2012. Since then my passion for continuous education has led me to learn from world leaders in the field of Bowen Therapy and myofascial techniques, and my desire to assist animals with a better understanding of what they are experiencing has led me down a fascinating path that can also be applied to people. Archives
September 2021
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