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I dropped in on one of my guru Milton Albrecht's Sunday afternoon Bowen workshops. A question came up about ganglion cysts [which frequently occur around the ankle, wrists, and over the arch of the foot], "Did Bowen Therapy help ganglions"? Milton replied, "No, but you can pop-em with a soft, hard-back book, like a Bible". He went on to say, "Be aware, they're full of caffeine. The harder they are, the more caffeine they contain. I know this to be true because whenever I pop one, my client has trouble sleeping for a night or two".

I had a hard time believing this because I had surgically removed countless ganglions over many years, and the were most always the same consistency [except the outer synovial membrane]. They were full of a, "Jelly-like" synovial fluid]. Now that I think of it, synovial fluid is not "Jelly-like" ! It's syrupy. At that time, I had a large one on my ankle. It wasn't bothering me so I had been just watching it, and left it alone. It had been there unchanged for about 10 years. I used to drink 10 to 12 cups of coffee daily, so when he said that they were full of caffeine, I cut down to 1 to 2 cups a day. Guess what? You guessed it ! Three months later it was about 80% smaller, and within 6 months it was gone and never returned. Maybe some day, someone will figure this out ?

THE SUGAR CONNECTION

After breast milk, one of the first substances we come into contact with is SUGAR!  If there's a moderate amount of stress and turmoil during infancy, there's a possibility that sugar may turn out to be a stressing substance for that individual throughout the years. I've released the craving for sugar in a number of my adult patients. I'm looking forward to one day in the future doing a study on children for the release of the sugar connection. My theory is, that this misconnection process to sugar may be responsible to ADD and ADHD.  I surmise that we all might be afflicted by the sugar connection to some degree. It may be possible, that the more the stress was at 1st contact, the greater the subsequence reactions

I surmise that the process works like this. Let’s assume that you've never been in contact with rosemary. During a time of stress and duress you eat your first dose of rosemary. From now on your mind associates rosemary with stress. And, even though you now are stress free, whenever you come in contact with rosemary the body goes into a stress pattern. Depending on which meridian was initially affected symptoms will be the same each time of exposure to rosemary. I may be sensitive to rosemary and experience headaches from it. You may be sensitive to rosemary and you experience diarrhea when you come in contact with it. This is a different type of allergy than the poison oak type, whereby the substance causes the formation of antibodies which attack the allergen and thus causing an inflammatory reaction.

I've incorporated this concept into the Bowen Therapy session on a number of occasions, myself included. Believe it or not, I also eliminated my cravings for crackers with cheese a couple of years ago. My theory is that we crave what we are allergic or sensitive to. Therefore, I held these items written on a piece of paper [after all, if the ice crystal experiments by Emoto responded to the vibratory rate of the written word, so should this], while having a session. I've only eaten, not craved, chips on 2 to 3 occasions and zero crackers and cheese for over years following the clearing. I used to need these on a daily basis.

For patients, I have performed this for all kinds of actual food allergies as well as emotional holdings, and it almost always works. How it really works is beside me, but I remember that my patients really only care if it works, not how. For those of us who must have an explanation- I propose one.  I stumbled on to a book titled, “The Molecules of Emotion”, by Candace Pert, Ph.D. She points out that endorphins [our very own narcotic/tranquilizer substance], are in part, contained in the nodal points along the spine. These are the precise locations for many of the Bowen moves. My patients tell me quite often that during the Bowen session and the day following their treatment, they felt a kind of “Runner’s High”, and for the remainder of the week a sense of well-being. Dr. Pert further discovered that the endorphins are one of the mechanisms by which the immune, central, and endocrine systems network with each other. In other words, the mind-body connection, maybe. So, if you have a negative mind- body connection to a food, chemical, substance, or color that becomes a stressor and the meridian system will react to the stimulus of it. If you hold that same substance in your left hand in the presence of endorphin release that substance is now equated with a sense of well being and the old negative program is cancelled out. In some circles it is accepted that one craves what one is allergic to, i.e. sugar / alcohol.

1st Clue – toenail dust

A Naturopathic  practitioner named Gene, who's a Bowen classmate, told me of a technique to remove allergies.  If you know what you're allergic to, you  hold that substance  in your left hand and shine a red laser light on the allergy point at the apex of the right ear for 30 seconds. Continue holding the substance for 20 minutes then discard it and don't come in contact with it for 25 hours. I asked. “Why 25 hours”? My friend told me that there are 12 main meridians which have 2 hour cycles during the 24 hour day. You don't know which meridian is affected by the allergen, and if you come in contact with the substance while the affected meridian is processing it'll make you sick in some way or another.

My first experience with the technique went like this. Monday mornings I always sneezed and got a runny nose upon arriving at my office. I guessed that I was allergic to the toenail dust that's ever present in a podiatry office, even though we have vacuums attached to our nail drills. So, one Friday afternoon I caught some nail dust on a piece of adhesive tape. After patients I did the treatment and drove home holding the tape which took exactly 20 minutes. When I went to the office Monday and Tuesday I was unaware of anything different, then on Wednesday it occurred to me that I had done the allergy treatment the previous Friday and, that I'd had no runny nose or sneezing so far that week. As I write this, I no longer have any toenail dust symptoms.




2nd Clue – eggs

Another friend of mine who practices Naturopathy [natural healing with supplements, herbs, homeopathics, aroma therapy, essential oils, and other natural methods] told me of a technique she uses to remove allergic responses by the mind – body. Dr. Nambudripad is a chiropractor & acupuncturist. She accidentally discovered that by holding an allergen in the left hand and stimulating some acupoints along the bladder and governing vessel meridians, up the back and along the spine, the mind-body association can be broken. Her book is titled, “SAY GOODBYE TO ILLNESS”.

 My Naturopathic  friend Jean, tested me with her E.A.V. machine and determined that I was allergic to eggs, plus some other things. After she told me so, I recalled that whenever I ate eggs [which I really enjoyed], I felt very sluggish and spaced out the rest of the day. After she did the N.A.E.T. clearing on me, I've  had no further symptoms after eating eggs.

3RD Clue – Rosemary -- nosebleed

My third significant experience came from a self-treatment which turned out to be rather bazaar. I learned that I was allergic to sillymarin and rosemary, both of which were in my multiple vitamins. One afternoon I used the laser light on the ear point technique, held on to the vitamin tablet for 20 minutes, then discarded it. The following morning I made sure not to take the multiple vitamins which had not passed the 25 hour mark, so I took all of my other morning supplements. I was in a bit of a hurry so I didn’t fix anything for breakfast but got a piece of leftover fish from the fridge and was on my way. When I arrived at my office, all of a sudden I felt like I’d been hit by a truck. I got achy, my head pounded, and my nose bled. We had to cancel my morning appointments and I laid down for a rest. When I awaked at 11:00 AM I felt better, and as I got up I detected a strange taste in my mouth. ROSEMARY!  The fish had been breaded with seasoned bread crumbs and I ingested them as the stomach meridian was cycling [7:00 – 9:00 AM].

4th Clue –Stephanie –A patient who was diagnosed with M.S.

Another twisted, bazaar, and unusual case occurred with a patient of mine. She was diagnosed with Morton’s neuroma [enlarged nerve] between the 3rd and 4th metatarsals. This is a fairly common foot condition, and I feel quite proficient in its diagnosis and treatment. She had the usual numbness, tingling, and occasional burning in her 2nd, 3rd, & 4th toes in both feet. I performed my usual and customary non-surgical treatments and she seemed to improve. I the made her orthotics to keep pressure from the nerves and instructed her to return in 2 months if any problems still occurred and I'd discuss surgical treatment with her. About  2  years later, a friend of hers was seeing me for a problem, and she told me the rest of the story. Apparently my patient with the neuromas experienced progression of symptoms up the ankles and legs. Her family doctor referred her to a neurologist who diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis and prescribed drugs for this. She went to Stanford University for a 2nd opinion, and was again diagnosed with M.S. She tried other medications which didn't help. Then, a year or so later it began affecting her hands. At this point she went to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, and again she was diagnosed with M.S., and was given some other medications. About the time she lost the use of her thumbs, she went to my naturopath friend, Jean. After Jean completed her work-up she was surprised that the lady didn't show any of the usual findings that go along with neuropathies. She then asked our patient about what was happening in her life when all of this began. As it turns out she was building her dream home at the time of a real estate slump, and she was the not so proud owner of 2 speculation built houses which were not selling. All kinds of stress were abundant in her life at the time. She recalled the first sign of the tingling in her toes when she walked bare footed across the new Mexican paver’s tile in the hallway. Jean then tested her for allergy to the tile, and sure enough, she was. Within days following a clearing her symptoms began to reverse, and within a month she was totally symptom free. However, as soon as she went back to walking on the tile floor the tingling in the toes returned so, she ended up selling the house.

5th Clue –  shellfish kid

I discussed the allergy theory with a patient whom I was doing some Bowen sessions on. Her 12 year old son had multiple allergies and was seeing the local allergist for allergy shots. One of his main allergens was shellfish. If he ate any shellfish whatsoever, he suffered laryngospasms and hives. He also often craved shellfish. The allergist was afraid to give him allergy shots for shellfish for fear of a serious reaction.  I had mother bring him for a Bowen session during which I had him hold a shrimp in his left hand during the treatment. When mother came back the following week she told me that his allergy skin test for shellfish had reduced by 80%. Unfortunately, they moved to Texas shortly after, so I didn't get to follow up with them.

6th Clue –Anita –anger

Although this experience didn't involve a substance,  I include it, because it seems relevant to me. My naturopath friend Jean, referred me a patient that she was having trouble keeping cleared of the issues which were causing her pain. Jean suspected that there might be an emotional block that was keeping her from attaining lasting relief. The patient had an anger issue with her father. It came from an incident when she was 5 years old. Her father and his friend went duck hunting and locked her in the car at the hunting spot for about 4 hours. She recalls the fright and  feeling of abandonment which resulted in a long and deep anger toward her father. Although she'd forgiven him and was at peace on a conscious level, she knew that there was some inner resentment that lingered. During her  first Bowen session, my intent was for me to initiate a somato-emotional release if that was what she needed. Nothing happened. The next visit, I had her write her desire to be rid of the anger toward father on a piece of paper. She held it in her left hand while I performed a full Bowen session on her. She returned a week later and was over it. She had experienced 2 days of  extreme anger, especially with her 2 children. She was a single mom who doted over her kids, and hardly ever got upset with them. But, for the 2 days just about everything they did upset her. The last I heard, she was pain free, and her life was good.

7th Clue –  Chips –MRM

I was moderately addicted to potato chips. I always ate a small bag on my way home from work. I went to the pantry soon after arriving home and got more chips, and then some more. This went on most every day. I wrote potato chips on a small piece of paper and had a Bowen session with a practitioner that I traded with. The same day I drove home empty handed. When I got home I didn't feel even slightly inclined to go to the pantry and get some chips!! To this day, some 12 years hence, I don't crave potato chips.

8th Clue –Soda pop

One of my Bowen patients confessed to craving diet sodas. She drank upward to 12 a day. We wrote soda pop on a piece of paper and did her Bowen session as she held the paper in her left hand. When she returned the following week, she'd had not had but 3 diet sodas all week. The next week she had none!!

9th Clue –  Red wine – panic anxiety

Another of my patients mentioned that whenever she drank a glass of red wine she developed a panic attack right after. This didn't happen to her with white wine. However, she didn't like white wine. She only liked red. So, we wrote red wine on a post-it note. She held this in her left hand while I did an abbreviated Bowen session [procedures 1-2-3]. When she returned a month later for her Bowen “Tune-up”, she was no longer sensitive to red wine.  A friend of mine began experiencing headaches after drinking only a sip of red wine. I performed the same clearing for him, and he's been fine ever since.


10th Clue –Other successful clearings for sensitivities and cravings

Marijuana – Legal in California, with a doctor’s prescription,
Crackers and cheese
Pepsi
Cookies
Chocolates
Did not work for tobacco??
SUGAR-SUGAR-SUGAR
Wine & headaches

11th Clue – Clue – Marie – “Orange”

My naturopath friend, Jean had a client who she was treating. After it was all said and done, she found that the lady  was sensitive to the color orange. She worked for Cal Trans and they had to wear orange vests while at work on the freeways and roads in California. She had the option to wear purple instead, and as soon as she switched colors, her chronic headaches cleared.

Another interesting case occurred recently at the cancer clinic where I do therapy. Mandy had sugar cravings, and I cleared her of those. Then she told me that she was unable to tolerate fried eggs. She could eat eggs in any other form, but she vomited after eating fried eggs. I did the clearing, and she now can eat fried eggs with no problem.

 Following is an interesting case which corresponds with some of these findings:

16 YEARS POST ANKLE FRACTURE
Big John came to my office for his initial visit. He said, “I need one of those Bowen treatments you do. My friend Peter says they're a miracle. You fixed his back pain with one treatment and my back is killing me, so can you fix me too”. I replied, “first of all I'm a Foot Doctor and I don't treat back pain. Secondly, who's Peter?” He said, “I can’t remember his last name, but he brought me here, he’s waiting in the car out front.” He went on to say, "Now I remember, he came to you with a foot problem and when you treated him for that his back got better. I have a pain in my foot right here, as he pointed to a spot on the top of his arch, you could give me a treatment for that, right mate.” I then said, “all right, lay on the table with your feet on the pillow and your head in the face cradle, and I began a session.” When I returned to the room after the customary 3-minute rest between moves to the muscles, He said, “I remember Peter’s last name mate, it’s Hubbard.” After I completed the next series of moves, I went to the chart files and pulled Peter Hubbard’s chart. When I glanced at my chart notes I remembered the Patient and the incident. Peter had been in a car-motorcycle accident at age sixteen. His right ankle had been badly fractured. He'd had many surgical procedures, 2 years of physical therapy, a set of custom foot orthotics, and done home therapy exercises over the years. He was told at age nineteen that what he sees is what he’s got, and he was stuck with a permanent clubfoot deformity and posttraumatic arthritis in the ankle and sub-talar joints. On the day of Peter’s 1st visit he told me his story, and was concerned about his orthotics not fitting properly as he'd had them for many years. His leg muscle was in spasm, and he was walking differently due to these problems. I don't remember, nor did I note in the chart anything about back pain. But, it's very frequent that when one favors a foot deformity or pain they will experience back pain. I gave Peter a Bowen treatment for the muscle spasm and the other postural pains he was experiencing. I kept his orthotics for a week in order to refurbish them, and he came for a second appointment a week later. I gave him a second Bowen treatment, placed the orthotics in his shoe and reappointed him for one week for a follow up visit which he failed to keep. When I finished looking at his chart my curiosity got the best of me and I walked out of my office to the parking lot and saw him sitting in the passenger seat reading a book. I said, “Hi Peter. Thanks for bringing Big John for a treatment. What's been going on?” He looked up and replied, “Oh, Dr. Mosher! I’m sorry I never came back to thank you for taking care of me. I know that you’re very busy and I didn’t want to bother you and I'm lousy at writing letters.” I inquired as to what had transpired and he told me the following. He didn't return for the follow up visit because he didn't notice any difference in the symptoms and pain he was experiencing. However, 4 weeks after the treatments, while retiring to bed one night his ankle started to itch quite badly. Not in the skin, but, “way down deep”. It had kept him awake for a couple of hours, and then  subsided enough for him to dose off. During the night the itching would wake him up, but then he would go back to a light sleep. When he got up the next morning his foot and ankle were noticeably more limber, and slightly less painful. The same thing happened 4 weeks later, and 4 weeks after that. He said that, “About every 4 weeks for about 14 months his foot would itch at bedtime for one night only, and each time he noticed better range of motion and lessened pain upon arising the next morning. Presently, he had no further foot deformity, no leg muscle spasms, and no more back pain.” I've seen Peter off and on over the years for minor “Tune-ups” and he remains just fine with regards to his ankle. He recalled on one occasion that when he told me that afternoon at my office that he was all better, he really was only about 90% better. It took another year to a year and a half to get all the way well. So, that shows he went through a 3 to 4 year unwinding process. Also it's interesting that the majority of his recovery took 14 months, and that he was 14 years post injury. That’s 1 month for every year, and on a monthly cycle? I grilled him on 2 occasions, one in the parking lot, and another on the visit when he told me it took another year and a half to get the rest of the way back to normal; did he do any other modalities, change diet, take supplements, or herbs. And, he responded with a definite, "No".


4 YEARS POST BUNIONECTOMY
 Shortly after the experience with Peter, a lady came to my practice with a postoperative bunionectomy performed by another foot surgeon, which resulted in sesamoiditis, [inflammation of the small bone beneath the large toe joint]. She was 4 years following surgery that she wasn't sure she should've undergone. She said that, “the surgery never healed right, and I've had stiffness in my joint, aching, swelling in my 2nd toe, and now this pain under the joint.” She also complained of pain in her hip and lower back from favoring the painful foot problems. Examination revealed restricted joint motion, fibular sesamoid pain, and sub 2nd metatarsal capsulitis and swelling beneath the metatarsal head. Not wanting to do more than one thing at a time, otherwise I wouldn’t know which one was doing what, I gave her a Bowen session that 1st visit in order to relieve the back and hip pain. Guess what she told me when she came back the next week for follow-up? She noted off and on itching down in the joint all week long and most of the pain had resolved. The 2nd and 3rd weeks she did not experience any pruritis / itching, but the range of motion gradually improved, and the aching resolved, so she was discharged totally asymptomatic. I conclude that the surgical repair site was stuck on a negative polarity and was not switching to positive for some unknown reason. Positive polarity is responsible for scar remodeling.

POSTOPERATIVE BUNIONECTOMY
I had another interesting experience many years ago with a nurse who worked at the hospital, which I was on staff. She was one of the first Austin osteotomy bunionectomy procedures that I performed. As the months went by postoperatively she had persistent swelling, pain in the interspace and sub sesamoidal area, and joint stiffness.  X-rays showed normal healing and alignment of the bone. Physical therapy, home exercises, strappings, orthotics, immobilization, NSAIDS, and steroid injection all were wasted time. Radiographs were normal with regard to alignments and osteotomy union. I felt really badly for her, and I saw her at the hospital frequently on my rounds. Whenever I inquired how she was doing she always relied, "Oh, about the same". Then one day, she came to my office without an appointment. My receptionist told me she wanted to tell me something interesting. She'd  had a recent inner ear infection and went to the ENT guy, and he gave her a prescription for some kind of “cillin”. During the 1st 24 hours on antibiotics she had a profound tingling and itching in the 1st interspace and sesamoid area. Following which, the pain, swelling, and stiffness all resolved. Now her foot was perfect, and she was happy. I believe that she must have had a low-grade infection from surgery, and the positive cations were holding the infection in check however, the healing process needs negative anions and it just couldn’t happen until the “cillin” took care of the infection and the body’s defense mechanism could shut down. I have witnessed many similar events following ingrown toenail surgery. Patients come back 4 to 6 weeks following surgery with redness and swelling around the proximal nail fold [cuticle] area and non- healing and drainage along the nail margin where the edge of the nail was removed. I placed them on an antibiotic and have them back in 1 week. Almost every time their comment is about the same. “I took those antibiotics and a couple of days later my toe began to itch. Now look at it. It’s almost healed’. Sure enough, I would then note that the side of the nail margin was all closed over. Again, the D.C. must have been stuck on positive to keep the bacteria from multiplying and as soon as the bacteria were taken care of by the antibiotic, the currents shift to negative, perceived as itching, and then there is the subsequent healing. Therefore, when the integrity of the fascia is restored by the reflex arc causing the unwinding process, the liquid-crystal system is reestablished and healing can go on to completion.

* The last study that I could find on the anti carcinogenic effects of positive electrical currents applied to cancer tissue was in 1977. The first publication on chemotherapy came out, in 1977! There were a number of studies beginning in the late 1950's that electrified carcinomas and sarcomas in experimental animals. The positive currents consistently reduced or resolved the tumors, while the tumors with negative currents stayed the same or grew in size. My assumption is, that research funds were directed 100% toward development of chemicals, since they are more compatible with Western Establishment Medicine. A good read is, "THE CANCER CURE THAT WORKED!", by Barry Lynes. This about Royle Rife, who invented a unique microscope, and radiowave frequencies which resolved cancer !

PS: I vividly recall a hospital staff meeting circa 1977. During Good and Welfare at the end of the meeting the local oncologist stood up and said, " I've got great news! There are new drugs on the horizon we'll be able to use to help fight cancer, and they appear to be very promising".

Here's one more chapter that's missing from the doctor's repair manual.

Our body electric is much like our homes. 110 Volt & 220 Volt systems operate many of our household appliances, computers, heaters, water pumps, lights and stereos. Direct Current (D.C.) with positive and negative polarities powers the smoke detectors, doorbells, intercoms, and stereo speakers. These electrical currents travel via wiring systems which are turned on and off with switches and breakers and are modulated by transformers, capacitors and resisters, and reducers.

Our body operates in a similar fashion. The 1st dimension is the central nervous system. The 2nd dimension is the peripheral nervous system consisting of the Voluntary nervous system (sensory and motor nerves) and the Involuntary/Autonomic nervous system (sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves), and my belief is that there is a 3rd dimension which is, the Direct Current (D.C.) system. The D.C system is probably conducted via the meridian ductule system, nerve sheath [myelin sheath], intra-cellular and extra-cellular water, and the colloid gel matrix of the fascia. Some data has been gathered by Dr. Robert O. Becker and Bruce Lipton, PhD,  which supports this probability. The collagen within the fascia is made up from proteins which contains crystalline strands. These crystalline structures generate piezoelectricity. This is one of the systems that creates micro-currents. Another generator is the cell membrane system. The micro-currents are instrumental in modulating wound and tissue repair,  healing of fractures, bone and scar remodeling, and cellular regeneration by way of influencing cellular activities. Our body electric has been measured and has shown a positive polarity through the central nervous system and the central part of the physical body. The extremities and peripheral tissues consist of negative polarity; an unfertile egg also is positive in the middle and negative on the perimeter. So are a hydrogen atom and a water molecule.

The effects of positive and negative polarity on cellular and tissue activities have been studied extensively around the world during the past 50 years, or more.
POSITIVE / CATIONS = MOSTLY ANTIBIOLOGICAL / CATABOLIC
        *1. Anticarcinogenic – reverses cancer
        2. Attracts macrophages – cells that clean up debris / release endorphins
        3. Bacteriostatic – stops reproduction of organisms
        4. Bactericidal if combined with silver ions – kills organisms
        5. Causes bone resorption (Wolf’s Law of Bone)
        6. Denatures protein
        7. Prevents post ischemic lipid per oxidation
        8. Promotes epithelial growth and organization
        9. Reduces keloids and scars
        10. Reduces fibrosis
        11. Reduces tensile strength of wounds
        12. Repels mast cells – inflammation and allergy cells
        13. Retards biological growth
        14. Stimulates osteoclastic activity- cells that resorb bone
        15. Vasoconstrictive
NEGATIVE / ANIONS = MOSTLY BIOLOGICAL / ANABOLIC
        1. Attracts neutrophils – cells that fight infection.
        2. Decreases edema – swelling.
        3. Increases fibroblastic activity - cells that form collagen.
4. Increases fibroblastic proliferation and collagen formation.
5. Increases growth factor receptor sites on fibroblasts.
6. Increases repair and regeneration.
        7. Induces epidermal cell migration.
        8. Lyses necrotic tissue – dead tissue.
        9. Stimulates granulation tissue.
10. Stimulates osteocytes (bone marrow cells) to migrate to a fracture site in order to form crystalline hydroxy apatite for the formation of calcium for fracture repair or bone remodeling.
        11. Stimulates osteoblastic activity-cells that form bone matrix.
        12. Stimulates dendrite formation directionally.
        13. Vasodilatation.
Dr. Robert O. Becker, M.D. found that when one cuts a finger, the negative polarity shifts to positive for about 5 days. Following that, the polarity shifts back to negative and increases in amperage until day 21, at which time the polarity gradually returns to its normal resting state. Wound repair takes place, generally as follows. At the time of the cut platelets clump, a band aid and compression is applied, and the cations constrict the capillaries all of which help to stop the bleeding. The cations also help to keep the wound from infection due to its bacteriostatic effects. A thrombin clot with aid of fibrinogen seals the wound and forms a scaffold for further healing by collagen. Cations stimulate macrophages which clean up the dead cells and debris at the wound site. All of this transpires during the first 5 days. Next, negative anion micro currents intensify during the next 14 to 16 days and attract the fibroblasts to come to the wound site, proliferate, open receptor sites for hormone peptide growth factors, and form pro-collagen and collagen (super-glue) as a result of the anions. Usually at about day 21 the wound has its maximum tensile strength so the anions lower back down to the normal basal resting state. That's why there is pruritis, [itching] at the wound or injury site from around day 14 to day 21. Then, for the next 6 months to 1 year the scar re-organizes. [See Chapter 3 for cases]. If you check the effects of the currents they pretty much correlate to the phases of wound repair. I speculate that if Dr. Becker had carried on his measurements at the wound site for months after, he probably  would have charted intense positive charges which are responsible for the resorption of scar tissue.



       



AMPERAGE [HYPOTHETICAL]

15        
14 maximum wound
13 NEGATIVE - strength
12
11 vasodilatation
 9 receptor sites for growth factors
10       fibroplasia
 8 collagen formation
 7
 6
 5
 4
 3 vasoconstriction
 2 bacteriostasis     remodel
 1- macrophagic                  phase
 0  cleanup
 1  endorphins
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6                                                                             POSITIVE +
 7  Pos +
 8                                                            
     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

            DAYS POST INJURY
       
Doctor Becker wanted to know what structures or circuits these currents flowed through and performed the following experiment. He removed a section of the sciatic nerve from the leg in a rat and then confirmed the de-nerving by nerve conduction studies to the distal fibula. He then fractured the distal fibula [outer ankle bone]. He noted that even though the nerve had not reconnected by the time the fractures had healed, the fracture healed in spite. Although the fracture healing time was delayed 2 to 4 weeks. He then studied 3 groups of rats, where the 1st group he sectioned the nerve and waited 5 days to fracture the bone, the 2nd group he waited 10 days, and the 3rd group he waited 15 days. All 3 groups healed in the usual 4 weeks time. He concluded that something happened the 1st five days. He then severed the nerve in another rat, waited 5 days, and then took the wound apart. He visualized a thin film of tissue bridging the gap between the cut nerve ends. When he looked at the tissue with a microscope he observed Schwann cells, which are the main cells of the nerve sheath myelin sheath]. Therefore, the nerve sheath probably conducts the D.C. flow or, possibly the meridian that runs along the nerve as we will discover later. Or, possibly the fascia is the conductor, as the fascia surrounds every cell in the body, and the nerve sheath is really a brand of connective fascial tissue.

Doctor Becker made an interesting observation. Over all of the years that he performed experiments on animals, fracturing bones and observing them heal; they never had a non-union of a fracture. He did not immobilize the limbs either. No casts, no pins, plates, or screws. He let them run around the cages and there were only mal-unions and delayed unions. He said, “Only people get non-unions”. About 1:1,000, even though they are immobilized internally, and or externally. He did not pursue this notion, but I have pondered it and my theory is that animals; have less stress, follow a natural diet, and do a lot of stretching. The stretching maintains fascial integrity and resultant piezoelectricity & thixatropy. How many times a day do you see the average person stretch? How many times a day do you stretch? Animals stretch every chance they get.

I will e-mail a copy of the diagram of wound repair upon request.

The meridians are; .5 to 1.5 micron (1/1,000 mm.) in diameter ducts which carry bioenergy (Qi, Ki. Pranna, Life force), which consists of electrical currents (probably direct current, D.C.) and chemicals. There are 14 main meridians 12 of which have peak cycles during 2 hour time spans during the course of the day. The meridians cycle as follows; Liver (1:00 A.M. to 3:00 A.M.), Lung (3:00 to 5:00), Large Intestine (5:00 to 7:00), Stomach (7:00 to 9:00), Spleen (9:00 to 11:00), Heart (11:00 to 1:00 P.M.), Small Intestine (1:00 to 3:00), Urinary Bladder (3:00 to 5:00), Kidney (5:00 to 7:00), Pericardium (7:00 to 9:00), Triple warmer (9:00 to 11:00), and Gallbladder (11:00 PM to 1:00 A.M.) The other 2 main meridians are the conception vessel in the front of the body and the governing vessel in the back. These meridians cycle continuously around the clock. There are numerous other collateral and distribution meridians throughout the body. The meridians are anatomically laid out like our freeway, hi-way, by-way, street, alleyway, cull de sac systems.  The meridians function like an irrigation canal system, a very slow flowing non-pressurized system. They have been measured to flow at a rate of approximately 12 inches in 4 to 8 minutes depending on which meridian is measured. This is very slow compared to the blood circulatory system, which circulates from ventricle to atrium in 14 seconds, in a normal person at rest. The meridians have been observed in chick embryos, with the aid of high-resolution microscopy and a gamma ray scanner following injection of a radioisotope, the entire system is laid out and is fully developed within 15 hours following conception. Dr. Gerber cites studies that suggest that the etheric energy field directs the formation of the meridian system, and the development of the body parts and organ arrangement is determined by the meridians. Otherwise, how would the heart know develop here and the liver over there? These channels appear before any vessels, nerves, organs, or limb buds. In another study performed in Korea, the researcher removed a portion of the liver meridian and followed up with fine needle biopsies of the liver tissues. He noted the beginning of degeneration of hepatocytes [liver cells], after 3 days. Therefore, the meridians are crucial for development and regeneration and repair. The meridians have been isolated by a French researcher who injected a radioisotope (technetium 99) into humans at the meridian points and at random points in the skin. He observed the ductile systems with a microscope connected to a gamma ray camera and notes that there is a superficial system in the skin and 4 deep systems (1.along the vessels and lymph channels, 2. along the nerves, 3. inside the blood vessels, and 4.through the spaces around the internal organs) all of which are interconnected with each other and the superficial system by way of collaterals. There is a photograph of this study in a 1982 edition of the National Inquirer, [one of the other medical journals].  Too bad it was not published in the Journal of the American Medical Association!  
The meridian points have been biopsied by several researchers and the following is a summary of their findings:
1. The points are adjacent to a corpuscle (diaphragm)
2. Beneath the corpuscle is a plexus of nerves and blood vessels
3. Biochemical analysis of tissue fluids reveal
10 times the amount of adrenalin than is in the blood.
Amino acids.
Cortisone.
DNA & RNA.
Hyaluronic acid.
16 different free nucleotides.
Estrogens, endorphins, kinins.

Additionally, Dr. Becker studied the meridians with respect to their electrical activity. There is a measurable direct current flowing throughout, at some points positive and others negative. The amperage dropped as the probe was moved along the meridian pathway and when the probe reached a meridian point the amperage increased. It is thought that the points are like transformers, which boost the flow of the currents, as electrical current loses velocity as it travels distance.

As the meridians and nerves pass through the fascial structures and while the fascial-periosteal structures conduct the liquid-crystal system, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that prolonged fascial / myofascial dysfunction may cause occlusions in the direct current bioelectrical system. Prolonged bioelectrical dysfunction will lead to cellular and biochemical dysfunction. Prolonged cellular and biochemical dysfunction may cause signs, symptoms, deformities, and disabilities. Additionally, fascial / myofascial dysfunction can lead to neuromuscular pain and skeletal misalignments. Therefore, removal of myofascial and fascial dysfunctions will improve the bioelectrical / biochemical functions which in turn will affect the cellular and biochemical functions, in addition to relieving neuromuscular pain, and deforming forces on the tissues. The reflex arcs from Bowen moves probably do all of this.

It makes you wonder how the Easterners knew all about the systems without any high- tech. They appeared to have mapped out the meridian and meridian point system about 4,000 years ago. However, when the frozen Eastern European hunter named “Itzy” sic, [discovered in a thawing glacier in Easter Europe], was carbon dated it was found that he was 5,500 years old. He had rheumatoid arthritis of the spine when they did the autopsy. Rheumatologists became very excited to learn that rheumatoid arthritis was not a modern age illness. They also found tattoos on his body placed over the meridian points which you would treat for pain in the areas where he had the arthritic processes. So, this was known about circa 1,500 years before Qi Boy convinced the emperor of the Yellow Dynasty that acupuncture should be added to the formulary. A case that will reveal the re-establishment of meridian flow and subsequent healing of a chronic problem follows:

One Monday morning, a few months following my 1st Bowen class, a patient presented with a lump the size of an almond beneath the arch on the right foot. She told me that there was no pain involved however, she was favoring it and this was causing pains in her hip and lower back. She was also concerned because we are all suspicious when a “lump” appears. I reassured her that the lump was a classical benign plantar fibroma. Only if it grew rapidly or became painful should she consider having it removed. I informed her about the therapy that I had recently discovered and she immediately took me up on my offer. When we were all finished, she arose from the table and said, “Oh my, I feel so good”. “Can I come back tomorrow for another treatment?” I told her that we should wait one week before another session and for her to make an appointment. When she returned the following week, the lump had reduced to the size of a pea and she said that she could not wait for another Bowen treatment. She scheduled another check on her foot and Bowen session one week later. I began the therapy prior to looking at her foot. During a point where the muscles are released on the inner thigh area she asked, “Is there any connection between that lump on my foot and my stomach?” I said, I do not think so. Why?” She replied, “On the 1st visit when you released those muscles in the inner part of my thigh and left the room for me to rest, I immediately felt like a gush of worms crawling around in my stomach. All day long, I had a queasy feeling in my stomach. In addition, when I got home from work that night my stomach and gallbladder pain completely disappeared. I have not had to take any of my stomach medications for the past 3 weeks. In addition, I flushed $200 worth of prescriptions down the toilet this morning. When I get to work, I am calling the gastroenterologist who has been taking care of me the past 2 years and canceling my appointment for the endoscope procedure at the surgery center next week. She had an endoscopy procedure done every 6 months!! I won’t need him any more”. I begged her not to mention my connection with any of this, as I do not want to be in any trouble with the medical community or lose any referrals due to my deviating from the main stream. She assured me that she would not and, she said, “Look at my foot”. As I looked for the lump, it was almost completely gone. Now, it was about the size of a grain of rice! I found an old foot reflexology book and opened to the foot chart. Sure enough, the lump was right in the middle of the stomach and liver zone. I told her about that and she laughed, left the office quite happily, and has never returned. 2 years later, I was studying Acupuncture and recalled the incident. When I looked at the meridian chart, I saw that 2 of the 4 meridians that pass through the inner thigh and groin are the stomach and liver meridians. I could chalk it all up to coincidence or spontaneous remission. Or, I could believe that there was some kind of obstruction in that muscle tissue of the adductor canal and inguinal ligament which was blocking the flow of energy. When the blockage was released due to the immediate unwinding as a result of the reflex arcs ,she then felt the “Gush of worms into her stomach”. Then, she healed herself. I tend to believe in the later. What is most perplexing is that the pathology reports following biopsy of these fibrous lesions in the plantar foot area always state, “Benign fibroplasia. Multiple fibroblasts and swirls of collagen”. I am not sure as to how this scar-like tissue could recede in 3 weeks. But, it did.

HISTOLOGY & PHYSIOLOGY OF FASCIA

 The fascia is made up of 3 significant structures. Collagen, elastin, and a ground substance consisting of a colloid gel matrix which contains hyaluronic acid and mucopolysaccharides. The collagen part provides the protective-supportive function. The colloid gel acts as a shock absorber. And, the elastin allows for stretch. There are 2 other properties of the fascia which are of vital importance, neither of which are discussed in medical physiology books at my last search. First, the collagen  has 3 protein strands, one of which is a crystalline band. Crystalline structures can generate piezoelectricity. “Piezo” means push in Greek. When the fascia is stretched direct currents [positive cations] are pushed out of the crystalline strand, and when the fascia is compressed [negative anions] are pushed out of the crystalline strands. Secondly, the colloid gel is thixatropic. This means that the gel can convert to a liquid when heated or stretched, and then returns to a gel when cooled. This means that we have within us a liquid, [conductor] - crystal, [generator] system, which can generate and conduct D.C.’s, [direct currents]. These will be discussed in the next chapter.

Orthodontia is based on this piezoelectric effect. When the bands are applied and stress is transmitted through the tooth down into the boney socket, piezoelectricity is generated from 2 structures. One, is the periosteum [connective tissue/fascia], which has a crystalline strand in the protein part of the collagen. The second, is the hydroxy apetite crystalline part of the bone [connective tissue]. Dr. Becker applied stress to dead bones and found that they were capable of generating direct currents. Thus, the production of  positive and negative electromagnetic charges  stimulate the cellular activities which are instrumental in the remodeling of the bone. See Chapter 3 for these effects.

FASCIAL UNWINDING

Which comes first, the chicken or the egg? In the myofascial system, which comes first? The myo, or the fascia?  During my surgical career, when dissecting the fascia, it was virtually impossible to separate the muscle tissue from the fascial tissue without sacrificing a little of one or the other. My grilling experiences have been the same. When I try to remove the gristle and fat from the  steak, I always; leave a little steak on the gristle. Or, leave a little gristle on the steak. It is possible to strip the periosteum from the bone, but not the fascia from the muscle. It matters not which is which, but that they both unwind as a result of the Reflex Arcs which are discussed in chapter 5. I witness this frequently on the Rhomboid Muscles after the "Boomerang Moves" in the upper back procedure. While doing the first moves, nodules can often be palpated. When the moves are repeated a few minutes later, the nodules are usually gone completely, or at least significantly reduced.

 I have also witnessed the unwinding to continue for many years after the patient's last session. I believe that two important things occur during and after the unwinding ; 1. the muscles elongate and develop improved function, 2. the fascia becomes anatomically aligned. Multiple other changes follow these first two; A.. there can be a release of lactic acid build up , B. the meridians that pass through the fascia can flow more freely, C. emotional memories can be released from the fascia, D. piezoelectric and thixatropic function is restored, and, E. entrapped energies [energy cysts] are freed.The following two case histories will demonstrate these phenomenon:

One of my more interesting experiences occurred with a patient and his responses, which took place the very first week I started doing Bowen . Another Podiatrist down the road who was not able to help him referred Bernard to me. Bernard had an arthritic large toe joint, which he did not want to have surgery on. He told me that he was favoring the toe and this was making his hip and back painful. He was hopeful that some type of shoe modification would suffice to relieve his problems. His joint was red, swollen, tender, and with movement grated like sand paper [crepitus]. I informed him that I could accommodate his shoe and for him to leave it over the weekend and I would get it done. Then I told him about the Bowen treatment, which might relieve the pains in his hip and back. He begged me to also perform the upper back and neck moves and promised he would not tell anyone [that was before I obtained a massage certificate- and my podiatry license only covered the leg muscles]. I felt comfortable with him, so I did a complete treatment from head to toe. When I had finished the procedures I had learned in class, I examined his Extensor Hallucis Longus Muscles. These are the leg muscles that rise the big toe [Hallux]. The one on the right side was like a rope. So, I figured that if they had taught a procedure on this in class, it would be slack to the table and make an anterior move, good side first. So, I did the left side 1st, and then did the right side muscle, and he immediately let out a moan. I asked if he was all right, and he said, “I am alright. It kind of hurt and tickled at the same time”. I left the room for a few minutes in order to let him rest and for the release to take place. When I returned, he was curled up in a fetal position and was quite pale and cold. My first thought was that he had fainted and was going into shock. I checked his pulse and was going to take his blood pressure when he said,” I’m okay. I’m a little cold. May I have a blanket”? I covered him up and left him alone to settle down for a few minutes. When I returned his color was a little better, but he was still chilled. I left him to lie on the table for a few more minutes. The next time I returned to check on him he was sitting on the edge of the table looking a little haggard, but much better.  I gave him his post-treatment instructions and told him to pick up his shoe on Monday. When I saw him in the waiting room Monday morning prior to appointment times I said, “Hi Bernard. I’ve got your shoe ready”. He said very emphatically, “I don’t care about the shoe. I want to know when I can get another treatment.” I said, “That’s right I gave you a Bowen last week. How did it work?” He said, “How did it work? It changed my life. The past 3 nights have been the only full night’s sleep I have had in years. My back does not hurt. The pain in my hip is all but gone and look at my toe”! He commenced to remove his shoe and sock and bend the toe up and down and said, “See. Look at this.” I could not help but walk out into the waiting room and look at his toe up close. The swelling, redness and crepitus were completely resolved. There remained a little stiffness but the toe flexed at least 50% more than it did on Friday. I told him that he could make an appointment for Friday. When he returned the following Friday, I asked how he was doing and he said, “I am doing fantastic. I don’t have any more stress, I am more focused, and I feel like I’ve been liberated from something that had a hold of me”. He went on to tell me that the day before he had given notice at the job he had loathed, and was moving to Costa Rica within the next month to open a restaurant. This was something that he had wanted to do for quite some time but something was holding him back. He said,” Whatever you did that treatment last week released whatever it was that was holding me down”. At the time, I was not quite sure what had just transpired because they did not teach us at the Bowen workshop I took, anything about this emotional release stuff. After a couple of more experiences, and conversations with other therapists I finally got a clue about it all. When I checked his right EHL Muscle, the rope was gone.

Another somatoemotional release experience was with a young lady who was referred to me by a foot surgeon a few miles away. He knew that I did  Bowen Therapy, and his patient was suffering with chronic back pain. She had been examined and treated by competent doctors and nothing had relieved her pain, so she wanted to try a Bowen treatment, which she had heard about since she was a Massage Therapist. Her first session was uneventful. She felt only minimal relief of the pain. She returned 2 weeks later for another session. I began with the basic relaxation moves, then did the kidney and lower respiratory moves. Then, when I returned to the room following the 4-minute rest after releasing the abdominal muscles, she was quietly weeping. I asked if she was all right and if she needed a blanket. She said that she was little cold and a blanket would be nice. I said, ‘It looks like you are releasing something. Do you want to talk about it or keep it to yourself”? She said, I’ll tell you what it is. I had a caesarian section 2 years ago and it was against my will. My mother and the doctors pretty much forced me to have it and I’ve been angry ever since. I felt like I was invaded by aliens”. After the session she was completely pain free, relaxed and has been fine ever since. This illustrates how the abdominal area is the "Front of the Back". And, how the fascia is all interrelated.

We all need to keep in mind that all of the musculoskeletal structures, including the fascia and myofascia are all connected to one another. The position and motions taking place in the feet-affect the legs, hips, pelvis, back, shoulder, neck, and head. And, twists, tilts, angulations of the pelvis- affect the feet and ankles, as well as proximal structures. Therefore, when a practitioner stimulates a release in the front, that results in a change in the back. When a release takes place at the bottom, a change takes place at the top. Lastly, when there are releases to superficial structures, changes take place in the deeper parts. This also explains why the Coccyx locks and Kidney moves help digestive disorders in adults and colic in babies. I do these along with other abdominal and torso moves for patients undergoing chemotherapy. As long as I do them once a week, they have zero nausea symptoms. If we skip a week, they experience severe nausea, and can't wait for their next session.

1ST MISSING CHAPTER - FASCIAL SYSTEM
The Largest Organ in the Body

Fascia is a loose connective tissue compared with bone which is dense connective tissue. There's a little ditty that goes, “the foot bone’s connected to the leg bone-the leg bone’s connected to the thigh bone-the thigh bone’s connected to the hip bone –ya dee ya ya ya.” “the hip bone’s connected to the back bone-the back bone’s connected to the shoulder bone-the shoulder bone’s connected to the neck bone- the neck bone’s connected to the head bone ya dee ya ya ya.” Besides a chain of connections between the skeletal parts of the musculoskeletal system, there's an even larger network of connective tissue which is interconnected amongst it called the fascial system. This system covers all structures, organs, and cells from head to toe, front to back, side to side and inside to outside. Think about piling thousands of full-body thermal suits on top of one another and connecting them together. That’s about how the fascia system is. There's a superficial fascia from the base of the skull to the tips of the fingers and toes. Fat is attached to the outer layer, [panniculus adiposus] which is adjacent to  an inner elastic layer both of which makes up the  superficial fascia. There is fascial surrounding the muscle compartments, muscle fascicles, muscle fibers, and myofibrils collectively called the myofascia, [Paramysium, Epimysium, Endomysium]. It's been estimated that the average human body contains approximately 65,000 linear miles of striated muscle fibers. Each fiber contains hundreds to thousands of myofibrils and myofilaments. Take an average of 1,000 and multiply X 65,000 = 65 million miles of myofascia in our bodies. Fascia surrounds the brain, the brainstem, and spinal cord called the Dural fascia. As the spinal nerves pass through the vertebral foramen the Dural fascia is re-named the myelin sheath of nerve. The lungs are coated with pleural fascia, the heart with pericardial fascia, the abdominal organs peritoneal fascia, the uro-genital organs with perineal fascia, the bone with periosteal fascia. Then, there are transverse bands of fascia from front to back and side to side; 1. In the floor of the pelvis, 2. The respiratory diaphragm, 3. Under the collarbone- the thoracic inlet, 4. Under the chin with hyoid fascia, 5. At the base of the cranium with cranial base fascia, and 6. Joint capsules. In addition there is a thin veil of fascia adjacent to the cytoskeleton of every non-circulating cell in the body as well as para tendons, and retinaculums. That’s a whole lot of tissue all connected to one another. These connective tissues allow the body to maintain shape, protect the structures from outside forces, and some scholars feel it aids in cellular functions such as respiration, digestion, reproduction, and excretion. I believe that the fascia is also a component of the 3rd dimension of the nervous system which is described in the section on the direct currents.  

CORNS AND HAMMERTOES

Carol had an extremely painful corn on the inner side of her little toe along the toenail groove. Removal of it only relieved her pain for a week at best. She was ready to schedule surgery at about the same time she entered my bunion study group. As she had her Bowen treatments and foot taping once a week and a set of orthotics, we realized about 2 months later that her corn had disappeared. It has never returned. Liz has a hammertoe on her 4th toe left foot. It is one of those that are a little flexed at the 1st knuckle but, also twisted [adducto-varus]. Following treatment the toe un-twists and is totally straight for about 4-5 weeks. Then, all of a sudden it contracts again. I had hammertoes on my right 2nd and 3rd toes when I first had a Bowen treatment. To this day over 16 years later, my toes are still straight.

CHRONIC NEUROMUSCULAR PAIN

Jenny came to my office with a sprained ankle. She'd been to one of those “Doc in a Box” places, and was placed in a removable cast boot. Because it was lifting her up about 1 inch on the left side, her back and hip was painful. She wanted to know if there were any other options. I splinted her ankle with adhesive tape and gave her a Bowen session. I later found out that She'd had a standing appointment at her chiropractor’s office every Friday at 4:00 PM to treat her upper back and shoulder pain. She was in the janitorial business and apparently was straining these muscles over and over again. However, following just 2 Bowen sessions she no longer goes to the chiropractor. She was recently to my office for another problem and I asked her about her shoulder/back problem. She'd not had a pain in over 9 years! Even though she still does the same kind of work.

COLDS – FLU – SINUSES

Early in my career as a Bowen therapist a patient was undergoing a session and when I came back into the room following the basic relaxation procedure 3 (neck), she told me that when she got to the office she was experiencing a severe sore throat. Following the neck muscle release, the sore throat disappeared. When she returned for another session 2 weeks later she said,” do you remember that sore throat that I had last time which you cleared”? I replied,” yes, what happened”? She told me that when she got home from work that evening her son and husband both had the exact same sore throat and they'd been sick for the past 2 weeks. She didn't get whatever the virus was.
I figured that this was some sort of coincidence and went about my business. But, other patients told me about similar occurrences. Then, one day I felt the familiar scratchy throat and punky feeling one gets when the cold first comes on. So, I performed the neck moves on myself, and within minutes the symptoms cleared. I've been doing this ever since on myself whenever I feel a cold coming on. I also take a dropper full of Echinacea in a glass of water. It works almost every time. I would only guess that the moves to the neck muscles open up the lymphatic drainage system and this reduces the accumulation of viral bodies in the oral pharynx. Mr. Bowen was notorious for finding the relationship of the lymphatic's to the muscles that he moved.

One Friday afternoon after I'd completed the same neck moves on a patient she commented that her “sinus infection cleared up while I was out of the room”. I commented something or another, and she asked, “If my husband can get here before closing time, could you give him a treatment too? He has the same sinus infection that I had”.

Approximately 1 year following my early Bowen experiences it dawned on me that I no longer get those fever blisters on my lip [herpes simplex]. I would get them if the weather changed, allergies flared, got stressed, or if I thought I was catching a cold. I've now not had but 2 during the past 16 years.

Following Bowen therapy I've seen countless warts fall out, fungus nails and skin clear up. What seems odd is that I've performed treatments for patients in an attempt to help these infectious problems and nothing happens. When I’m least expecting it helps. I wish I could get a clue about this phenomenon.

SAVING LIVES - IS IT POSSIBLE?

My first experience with a patient who told me that the treatments I did had saved his life. It really took me quite by surprise. At first I thought he was kidding, until tears came to his eyes. Jeff was a Police Chaplin from a near by town. His main problem was a pain in his heel. He told me he was favoring it and this made his back and hip hurt [seems to be a common theme]. I treated both his foot and the muscles, which were involved with the back and hip with Bowen Therapy. During the third session we got into a discussion on the release of emotional holding patterns during bodywork therapies. Jeff then asked, “Is that why I’ve been so emotional the past few weeks”? I said, “Quite possibly”. He then dropped the bomb, “You know my friend, that you've saved my life”!! As tears rolled from his eyes he told me about how he had become suicidal for a number of reasons, with the final straw being about a friend of his who'd had a drug problem. He was trying to help his friend get through the drug addiction. One day, he found his friend dead in his living room from an apparent overdose, and this was about all Jeff could take. I'm not claiming to have had anything to do with Jeff’s desire to continue living. He just told me that's what happened.

I was beginning the third weekly session with Rod. When I asked how he was doing with the treatments he said, “I don’t think that they're helping”. “I may even be a little worse”. Rod was experiencing low back pain and his barber had  relief of low back pain with one of my Bowen sessions, so she had referred him to me for Bowen treatments. I asked Rod if he'd been examined and worked up by a physician who's qualified to evaluate back symptoms. He said, “No”. I then asked, “When was your last physical”? He said, “A couple of years ago. I'm overdue for one”. I encouraged him to make an appointment with his primary care physician to get evaluated because there are  many  pathologies, which can cause low back pain. I've seen patients who were diagnosed with kidney infections, pelvic disorders, cancer, and digestive problems as well as disk and vertebrae pathology. Rod’s wife came into the office to have a treatment just two weeks following our discussion and thanked me for saving Rod’s life! He went right away for a physical and his Doctor found a 12-centimeter aneurysm on his abdominal aorta, and it was about ready to rupture. By 2:00 PM following the diagnosis Rod had the aneurysm repaired, and within2 days post op his back pain was completely gone.

A former Bowen patient who mentioned that the treatments had saved her life referred one other patient. I am not sure what that statement meant.

Bowen didn't save Chuck’s life, but it certainly enhanced his nursing career. Chuck’s mother, who's a regular patient, asked me if I would see if I could help Chuck’s foot problems, she said, “Chuck is studying Nursing and he has feet just like mine, and I'm afraid he won't be able to stand and walk on concrete floors as required during the normal work shift”. When I first saw Chuck he had all of the foot problems his mother had informed me about. He also had the familiar hip and low back pain that many times follows after the unstable feet. I introduced him to my foot and Bowen combination and after the first week he noted marked improvement. After the second week he returned with improved skin color and a sparkle in his eyes which were not there before. He informed me that he had gotten his first “A” in a test after 2 years of nursing school. He told me how he'd “crammed for exams, and on the day of the test would kind of choke, and thus “B’s” were about the best he could do. Also he said, “While I was at my internship last night I was charting patient notes and all of a sudden I seemed to get everything together”. He went on to say,” I was afraid that I wasn't going to be a very good nurse because even though I could memorize the material, it didn't make a lot of sense to me. Now it's all come together”. I finished his treatments, made him orthotics, and told him to come back once in awhile for a tune-up.

 A few weeks later Mildred brought her mother for an appointment. Mother did not speak very fluent English so Mildred told me, “My mother isn't eating very well and she has no energy. I know that you're a Foot Doctor, but I'd like it if you could give my mother one of those treatments that you do- I go to school with Chuck”! She went on to tell me that about a month ago she'd noticed a change in Chuck’s demeanor. His entire persona had a new character, and she had to ask him what was going on. When he told her that he was having Bowen Therapy and that is all that was different in his life, Mildred concluded that this was responsible in the change in Chuck’s life.

 Following graduation, I heard via the grapevine that Chuck got 100% on his State Board of Nursing exam. He also has a very good job and has received promotions very quickly. Over the next 2 years Chuck’s mother came in every 2 to 3 months for treatment of her corns and calluses. I often asked how Chuck was doing, and she always said that he was, “doing real fine and he was planning to come by for a tune up”. One day, he was with his mother during her treatment and we got to talking. I asked,” How are your feet doing”? He replied, “Great. My feet have zero pain, and my toes are all straight”. I looked at his mom’s feet, which were all deformed with hammertoes and bunions. She'd had “corrective foot surgery” by an orthopedist 4 years before, and her toes were straight for a year or so and then began to re-deform. Something is wrong with this picture. She had surgery and her feet remain deformed. He had no surgery, and his feet are straight. Now, I can say without any reservation that you can obtain an 80% good result with foot surgery, or you can obtain an 80% or better good results with conservative treatment. This is my conclusion following many similar cases included in my bunion study.

I must confess that the first two or so years that I was performing the Bowen treatment for my patients and their referrals I was a little, [maybe a lot] Schizoid. On one hand, I was very enthused and excited to be able to do the therapy and be of so much benefit to my patients and their loved ones. However, the other side of me was very apprehensive about what my peers might think about me doing the seemingly far out stuff. In addition, some of my patients experienced complete resolution of signs, symptoms and disabilities, which were way outside of my “Podiatry Box”. This made me a little nervous about how the medical community would react to my helping their patient’s medical problems. So far, I've not encountered any direct negative comments or actions from either group so far.

When I got to the office on the first Monday morning after my Bowen class, the very first patient needed the treatment. She'd had a sciatic nerve problem in the past and she was certain that it had reoccurred because she had been performing floor exercises for long periods of time and now her left foot felt a tingling like the previous bout with sciatica. I informed her about the new therapy I'd just learned and offered it to her. It didn't take a nanosecond for her to say yes. I
escorted her into my operating room and placed her on the surgical gurney which I'd minutes before converted into a temporary massage table. I quickly checked my notes from the seminar and began the treatment. I only performed the moves below the waist in the legs and feet because that is what my Podiatry license allowed me to do. When I ended the session and she got up and stood on her feet she said,”'It sure feels better. Not all the way but at least 50%”.  The next day she called to report, “That by noon Monday all of the symptoms had disappeared, and the next time she got the sciatica back she would call me for treatment”. I said, “to be sure she had a foot problem”. And, thank you”.

During the next month or so, I performed a whole body treatment on a few patients, when they asked me to, and I felt comfortable doing so. I quickly learned that those patients did remarkably better than those I did from the waist down, within my scope of practice. “When in Rome do as the Romans do”. Therefore, I enrolled in a school of massage therapy and received a certificate so that I could give people a full treatment without fear of reprisals from the establishments.

I guess that made me some kind of “Holistic Podiatrist” Patients started asking me all kinds of questions about the “Woogy”. Most of which I didn't know anything about. Therefore, I started reading books and literature on Alternative Medicine, Acupuncture, Vitamins, and such. As I learned about these other types of therapies, I began meeting practitioners who performed them and some very nice friendships and relations have followed, and still exist. I now have a network of practitioners I work with, which I refer to as an H.M.A. [Health Maintenance Alliance]. We all provide H.M.A. [Health Maintenance Awareness], and most of us are H.M.A’S [Health Maintenance Advocates]. Some very remarkable results have been experienced by our patient / clients.

POST TRAUMA

Ethyl was referred to me by her chiropractor. She was hit by a car 9 years before we met, and suffered major trauma to he right leg and foot. Following multiple surgeries and rehab, she was stuck on morphine and other narcotics, until one day she decided to get off the drugs. Then her back and foot became more painful, so her chiropractor wanted me to make orthotics for her foot with hopes that her back would stay in longer following adjustment. She walked with a noticeable limp, she was unable to rise up on her toes and she had a mass of scarring in the lower leg. She spoke very rapidly with a slight stammer, and seemed quite hyper. On her initial visit I gave her an abbreviated Bowen session due to time constraints, and taped her arch for temporary support. She noted immediate improvement in her foot as well as her back pain. The following week she was a lot better and was looking forward to a full Bowen treatment, which I did. When she returned the following week, I saw her standing in the waiting room near the hall door, and I asked her, “How are you doing”? She smiled and motioned with her index finger to come here. As I crossed the threshold, she put out her arms and gave me one of those “warm fuzzy hugs” and said, “thank you. I'm a brand new person. I can get up on my toes, my foot doesn’t hurt, and my back is 80% better. I worked in my vegetable garden for hours without getting tired and sore. And, everyone at work noticed that I’m walking normally now”. Later on during her treatment she told me that on the day of her last treatment, when she got home afterward, she went into the bathroom and threw –up for ½ hour. Immediately afterward she felt much better. I believe that the excess narcotic residues are stored in the fascial and myofascial tissues, or in the receptor sites for endorphins in the cell's membranes. This therapy quite often will cause this type of reaction in present , and former heavy narcotics users and abusers. This doesn't seem to occur in the other methods of fascial / myofascial therapies that I've learned, practiced, studied, and discussed.

POST CANCER TREATMENT

 My secretary informed me that a patient was on the phone who needed an appointment for Bowen therapy. She was referred by her neurologist, whom I'd never heard of.  Since her only problem was neck pain, my secretary wanted to know if I could see her or not. I said absolutely not, especially since I didn't know the patient nor the referral source. At that point I didn't possess a massage certificate, so I really couldn't wander outside of my Podiatry scope of practice. The next day the lady called back and said, she'd spoken to her neurologist and he insisted that she have Bowen treatments. And, that I was the only person he wanted to touch her. I gave in, and had my receptionist make her an appointment.  When she came for her appointment we had her sign a waiver that she was fully aware that I was not working as a Podiatrist, but only as a Bowen therapist. As it turned out, she'd been going through radiation therapy for breast cancer. She'd  had a radical mastectomy with lymph node removal. This left her with a stiff and painful neck. She was scheduled for a C.T. scan in 4 weeks to monitor some palpable lymph nodes, so she could only have 3 weekly treatments. Following which, she would return about a month later for the 4th Bowen treatment after the scan and results were determined, because she may need additional surgery for the palpable nodes. After her 1st treatment her range of motion improved about 50%. Following the 2nd treatment her range of motion was about 80 %. After the 3rd session her neck moved pain free in all directions. When she returned 4 weeks later she was beaming from ear to ear. Her C.T. scan for the lymph nodes was completely normal. I can't make any conjecture on what transpired other than a spontaneous remission must have occurred. She thought otherwise
CIRCULATORY

One cold, blustery December morning a lady came in to get relief for a painful corn on the inner side of her little toe. Her toe was a purple color with a hard corn on the inner side adjacent to the toenail. She informed me that her toe wasn't always purple. It always got pink when the weather warmed up. She'd had a condition called Raynaud’s disease. Not really a disease, but a spasticity of the blood vessels, which is aggravated by cold temperatures. I trimmed the corn and informed her about a minor surgical procedure, which could relieve the corn permanently. However, we'd have to wait until the weather warmed for me to check the circulation in order to determine that she could heal the surgery. The corn removal relieved her pain for about a month. She returned in January for another treatment. At this visit she complained about pain in her hip and back due to favoring the pain in her toe. I immediately offered a Bowen session in addition to trimming and padding the corn. When she returned the following week her toe was a little less purple and almost pink. I gave her another Bowen treatment, re-padded the corn and advised to come back when necessary. On a cold, blustery day in February she returned with the painful corn and said,” I think that you can go ahead with the operation because the toe has remained pink since the last Bowen treatment”. I listened to the pulses with my Doppler ultrasound and sure enough her circulation was totally normal. Her toe was nice and pink, and after I blanched the tip of her toe with finger pressure, it pinked up in 1 second. The following week I operated on the toe and it healed very quickly.

Another patient complained about her cold feet, especially in bed. She had to sleep with socks on most of the time, and if she didn’t her husband complained about her cold feet waking him up all night long. Following 3 treatments her feet warmed up, as well as her hands, and have remained so ever since.