Menopause marks a significant transition in a woman’s life, characterised by profound physical, emotional, and psychological changes. Traditionally approached with a mix of resignation and medical interventions, the conversation around menopause is evolving. Today, more women seek holistic, non-invasive ways to navigate this natural life stage, emphasising well-being and balance. Among these, Bowen Therapy emerges as a gentle yet effective approach, offering relief and support through the intricacies of menopause. This blog explores Bowen Therapy’s role in transforming menopause from a phase to endure into an experience to navigate with empowerment.

Understanding Menopause: The Symphony of Change

Menopause isn’t merely about the cessation of menstrual cycles; it’s a complex interplay of hormonal adjustments that reverberate throughout a woman’s body and mind. Perimenopause ushers in this transition, often bringing hot flashes, mood fluctuations, and sleep disturbances. Menopause itself is a milestone, marking the end of reproductive years. Post-menopause follows, where symptoms may persist or new ones emerge. Yet, each woman’s journey is as unique as her fingerprint, influenced by genetics, lifestyle, and overall health. Recognising this diversity is the first step toward personalised care and support.

The Holistic Harmony of Bowen Therapy

Bowen Therapy, with its roots in the belief in the body’s intrinsic healing abilities, offers a beacon of hope for menopausal women. This non-invasive technique involves gentle movements over muscles, tendons, and nerves, designed to stimulate the body’s autonomic nervous system and restore balance. Unlike conventional treatments that often focus on symptom suppression, Bowen Therapy seeks to address the underlying imbalances contributing to menopausal discomforts. It’s a testament to the power of gentle intervention harmonising the body’s rhythms.

Bowen Therapy in Action: Alleviating Menopausal Symptoms

For women wading through the hot flashes, the unexpected waves of emotions, and the nights of elusive sleep, Bowen Therapy provides a soothing balm. Each session is tailored to the individual’s experiences and symptoms, creating a personalised pathway to relief. Here’s how Bowen Therapy can address some of the hallmark symptoms of menopause:

Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

By promoting relaxation and reducing stress, Bowen movements can mitigate the severity and frequency of hot flashes and night sweats, offering a cooler, more comfortable existence.

Mood Swings and Emotional Well-being

The calming effect of Bowen Therapy extends beyond the physical, helping to stabilise mood swings and cultivate emotional resilience during this turbulent phase.

Sleep Disturbances

Through its relaxation-inducing techniques, Bowen Therapy can enhance sleep quality, making restful nights more accessible and restoring vitality.

The Individualised Approach of Bowen Therapy

Bowen Therapy’s beauty lies in its adaptability. Recognising that no two women experience menopause alike, practitioners craft bespoke treatment plans. The initial consultation delves into the individual’s menopausal landscape, mapping out symptoms, lifestyle factors, and personal health history. This holistic overview informs a tailored treatment strategy, ensuring that each session resonates with the woman’s specific needs, fostering a journey of healing and discovery.

Specialised Hormonal Care with Bowen Therapy

While Bowen Therapy in its traditional form offers a holistic approach to managing menopause symptoms, it’s important to note that some practitioners, myself included, have undergone additional training to specialise in hormonal care through Bowen Therapy. This specialised practice, known as Hormone Release with Bowen Therapy, delves deeper into the hormonal aspects of women’s health, offering targeted relief for menopausal symptoms. At my practice, Bowen Life in Brisbane, I blend this advanced expertise with a compassionate, personalised approach to support women through their menopausal journey. If you’re curious about how this specialised Bowen Therapy can aid your transition or if you’re seeking a skilled practitioner who understands the nuanced needs of menopausal care, I invite you to visit my website at www.bowen-life.com.au or connect with me through my Facebook page. Schedule a session during National Medicine Week to embark on a path to holistic well-being and mention this blog to receive a 10% discount on your first appointment. Let’s navigate the waves of menopause together, embracing this natural phase of life with grace, understanding, and effective, gentle support.

Listening to women speak of the pain and suffering they endure each month, or continually throughout their lives, sometimes with such intense pain for decades, is heartbreaking.

Misunderstood, misdiagnosed, ignored, and often mistreated, these women demonstrate enormous courage and stamina in a world that dilutes or simply fails to ask the right questions or listen to the answers surrounding the significance of women’s reproductive and gynecological issues.

It continues to amaze me that in these “modern” times conversations about hormones, periods, bleeding, vaginal dryness, endometriosis, hot flushes, brain fog, cramping, and even masturbation are all still taboo in many social circles.

So women remain embarrassed or shamed in the workplace, they are prescribed anti-depressants for their hormonal anxiety or muddled mind, put on the contraceptive pill to reduce painful periods or skin complaints as fixes to the complex biology of a woman’s hormonal body.

**Please note that I do acknowledge that there are cases when medical intervention is vital and the only solution. That medical professional guidance and acknowledgement of all decisions regarding your health and wellness journey should and/or must sought out prior to any treatment. With the human body there is never a one size fits all approach.

As a woman of a certain age, I can happily say that I have transitioned through all the stages women are so “fortunate” to journey through. But that is not to say my hormones no longer cause me any of those annoying symptoms every now and then.

But while I can say that I understand and empathise with all women of all ages, I can’t say I have experienced the severe and physical life altering pain some women suffer, nor how much mental and emotional anguish they endure when yearning a child.

But what I can do is listen and offer my knowledge and experience as a Bowen therapist and a Hormone Release – the Bowen Way® therapist to help women – whether they are just starting out on this crazy hormonal roller coaster ride, looking to start a family or are about to enter their last hurrah – and journey into perimenopause and menopause itself.

When hoping to start a family, it would seem common sense to strive for a body and mind that is in balance and calm. But life can throw common sense out the window with women working full time stressful jobs or working part time and running a home and life with a toddler or two at home already; some are dealing with other life stressors so just finding the time to relax and unwind seems impossible. As fertility issues appear to be focused on the brain-pituitary-ovarian axis, stress, negative emotions, and unbalanced FSH can disrupt the hormonal communication between the brain, pituitary, and ovaries. So being stressed or overwhelmed only decreases the ovarian blood flow and egg production and so the pregnancy test says negative.

This is where Bowen therapy excels. Bowen therapy resets the nervous system which in turn balances out hormones, decreases stress levels and increases blood flow throughout the body. Likewise, Bowen therapy is ideal throughout the pregnancy cycle to keep everything in check as the baby develops.

Perimenopause is a whole new ball game and can come right out of nowhere – right when you are least expecting it. It can start as early as your early 40’s when life is just getting busy with kids in the home either busy curious little ones, or moody, pubescent teenagers.  It’s hard to juggle all the hormones in the house! Peri-menopause symptoms include:.

• Irregular periods
• Hot flashes and sleep problems.
• Mood changes.
• Vaginal and bladder problems.
• Decreasing fertility.
• Changes in sexual function.
• Loss of bone.
• Changing cholesterol levels.

Menopause is not diagnosed until you’ve gone 12 months without any period at all. Once you’ve passed through menopause, you’re in postmenopause. On average, most menopause symptoms last around 4 years from your last period. However, around 1 in every 10 women experience them for up to 12 years.

Bowen therapy has been used to help with a wide range of Women’s Health issues ranging from fertility to menopause, period pain, and endometriosis. However, the Hormone Release – the Bowen Way® work has honed specifically in this area with amazing results – in a natural, gentle and non-intrusive way.

Bowen therapy and the Hormone Release work for menopause treats the body as a whole and has been shown to help with various symptoms including hot flushes, tiredness, anxiety, sleeplessness and many other hormonal issues. Everyone is different and the number of sessions required will often vary. However, when working towards endometriosis or fertility goals there is a protocol following a woman’s cycle that should be adhered to over a set time.

Working with women in a safe space is wonderfully satisfying. Women, when they trust, will share and confide and be open towards new or alternate solutions.  And it is my privilege every day to be able to be there on their journey towards health and wellness in body, mind and spirit.

This was a wonderful email I received from a very happy client which absolutely made my day.

“I have been suffering from intense pain for almost a year due to autoimmune, hormone imbalances and IBD issues.

From the first treatment I noticed significant improvements.

Each treatment brings about more healing and huge impacts to my pain reduction and hormone balance.

I am amazed and in awe of Caroline’s skills and highly recommend her Bowen Therapy treatments to anyone suffering from any issue. Her caring and holistic manner is very comforting, she explains her treatments well and often messages me to check in on how my healing is progressing. Her treatment rooms are very relaxing with calming décor and music. I will be incorporating her treatments as a permanent part of my ongoing health management.”