A woman in her early twenties came for Bowen Therapy to see whether it might help with increasingly painful periods. Painful periods are sometimes referred to as dysmenorrhoea, although the severity and experience can vary considerably from person to person.
She was generally fit and active, running around three times a week and drinking approximately two to three litres of water each day. She did not smoke or drink alcohol, tea or coffee and was not taking any medication.
Her periods had previously been relatively comfortable. However, during the three to four months before starting Bowen, the first day of her period had become increasingly difficult.
Before Bowen
Her period would typically begin with a sudden cold sweat followed by significant abdominal pain, which she rated at around 5–6 out of 10. The pain would usually continue for approximately three to four hours.
More recently, the pain had also been accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and she was now being sick with each period.
Although these symptoms most commonly occurred on the first day, occasionally they would also occur on the second or third day.
The experience left her feeling exhausted. Her legs would feel as though they had very little energy and, while the symptoms were at their worst, she found it difficult to function normally or move around. Afterwards, she would continue to feel exhausted.
We agreed to try a short series of Bowen sessions and monitor what happened over the course of her next menstrual cycle.
First Bowen Session
Interestingly, her first Bowen session took place on the morning of the first day of her period.
The session included the Basic Relaxation Moves together with coccyx and pelvic procedures.
When she returned for her second appointment, she reported that this period had already been noticeably different.
She had experienced less pain and less nausea and, importantly, had not vomited.
Rather than the stronger pain she had experienced during previous periods, she described the discomfort as feeling more like a “knot” in her stomach and rated the pain at approximately 3 out of 10.
There was also a difference in her energy levels. She still felt a little tired and sleepy, but she did not experience the same exhaustion or loss of energy that had previously made it difficult for her to function.
Continuing the Bowen Sessions
At the second session, we repeated the Basic Relaxation Moves along with the coccyx and pelvic procedures.
A third session took place the following week. At this stage, she was feeling well and there were no particular symptoms to assess; we were essentially waiting to see what would happen when her next period arrived.
The same Bowen procedures were repeated.
A fourth and final session was then carried out approximately one week before her next period, again using the same sequence.
In total, she received four Bowen sessions: one on the first day of her period, two at approximately weekly intervals afterwards, and a final session during the week before her next period.
What Happened During Her Next Period?
Following her next period, I asked her to compare her symptoms with the markers we had recorded before starting Bowen.
The difference she reported was considerable.
Pain
Previously, she had experienced pain of around 5–6/10 lasting three to four hours.
This time, she described having “little to no pain.”
If discomfort did occur, she said that it lasted only for a few seconds and did not interrupt whatever she was doing at the time.
Nausea and Vomiting
Before Bowen, she had been vomiting during each period.
During this period, she was not sick.
She did experience some mild nausea when her period first began, but described it as manageable. It did not stop her from carrying on with what she was doing and disappeared completely after a few hours.
Tiredness
Previously, the combination of pain and other symptoms had left her exhausted and struggling to function.
This time, she reported feeling only mildly tired.
She did not feel that she needed to sit down or rest and was able to continue with her normal activities.
Weakness in Her Legs
Before starting the sessions, her legs could feel as though they had no energy in them when her period was at its worst.
During her next period, she noticed only slight weakness in her legs. It did not prevent her from moving around normally and did not interfere with activities such as exercise.
Summary
At the beginning of this short series of Bowen sessions, the client’s periods had changed considerably from what was normal for her. She was experiencing several hours of 5–6/10 pain, vomiting, severe tiredness and weakness in her legs that could make normal activities difficult.
After four Bowen sessions, she reported a very different experience during her next menstrual cycle.
There was little to no pain, she did not vomit, the remaining nausea was mild and short-lived, and her tiredness and leg weakness were sufficiently reduced that she could continue with her normal daily activities and exercise.
For this client, the change in her own markers between the beginning of the Bowen sessions and her following period was clear and encouraging.
This Bowen Therapy case study is from my Plymouth practice, where I offer Bowen sessions for adults experiencing a range of musculoskeletal and other physical concerns.