Water Works

Hydration is an important and integral part of life, and as such is an important and integral part of the Bowen treatment plan. Being properly hydrated allows our bodies to perform optimally in an enormous number of functions, including brain function, digestion, liver and kidney function, elimination, toxin elimination, muscle firing patterns and metabolism.

We have all heard that our bodies are made up of 75% water.  We have also all heard that if you're trying to stay properly hydrated, you're decision to drink water when you feel thirsty is too late.  Considering these two points together we can deduce that our bodies are made up of 75% water if we are properly hydrated, and if we are not properly hydrated and not made up of 75% water then we are not functioning optimally.

Maintaining good health is becoming difficult in our age of environmental and emotional stress.  Ensuring we drink enough water is one of the easiest steps to take in maintaining or regaining good health. It is by no means the only step, but it is one of the easiest ways.

How much water should we be drinking? We have all heard that we should be drinking 8 glasses of water a day. But how big is a glass of water? Professional advice seems to range from about 100ml (which people of my grandmother's generation use as a guide out of convenience) to 250ml.  This varies from 800ml to 2L per day.

Mr Bowen's guide for proper hydration to prepare for and support an effective Bowen treatment was 25ml/kg of body weight. This seems to be a proportion that is becoming recommended throughout the alternative health industry, and the one that I find the most effective base guide, depending on the temperature and the amount of coffee, alcohol, cigarettes, medication, drugs and other toxins consumed.

Bowen works best on well hydrated tissue, and Mr Bowen recommended drinking 25ml/kg body weight, and more in heat and when consuming coffee, alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, medication and other toxins.  The following table gives you a quick base guide on how much you should be drinking.

            1.5 litres of water if you weigh 60kg
            2 litres of water if you weigh 80kg
            2.5 litres of water if you weigh 100kg
            3 litres of water if you weigh 120kg

An excuse used by many people as to why they do not drink an adequate amount of water is that it makes them pee a lot. When you begin to drink an adequate amount of water your body is able to start moving toxins out of storage for elimination in the urine. High toxicity of the urine triggers the body to eliminate the urine, so until your body gets rid of the toxins you will be needing to pee more often, not necessarily a high quantity. Know that this feeling will pass when the high load of toxins pass out of the body, and that this inconvenience won't last.

The benefits of proper hydration include improved concentration and alertness, increased energy, better digestion, reduced constipation, improved eyesight, clear skin, good coordination and a general feeling of improved well-being.

Bowen moves instigate waves in the connective tissues of the body. It is these waves that are responsible for the holistic and effective healing effects that Bowen Therapy has on the body. These waves in the connective are going to be stronger and more long lasting, and therefore more valuable to healing, if the tissue is well hydrated. The best thing you can do for yourself to get the most value from your Bowen treatment is to ensure you are well hydrated by the time you have a Bowen treatment, and for at least a week afterwards. Being dehydrated at and after your Bowen treatment does not mean that Bowen won't work for you, just that you won't get the most effective benefit from it.  It's your choice.

For more information on Bowen Therapy and how it works please go to www.bowentherapy.com.au, email Prue or call 0427143743. I'll be discussing more about the type of water we should be drinking in next week's blog.

Cheers for now,

Prue

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