Bowen and Cancer

by

Corinne Greenamyer, MA, HHP, DIHom

published in the December 2007 issue of

Bowen Hands

The Journal of the Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia

Since 1993 the emphasis of my San Diego holistic practice (homeopathy, massage therapy, energy healing) has been complementary support of cancer patients undergoing medical treatment.  My goal has been to help cancer patients deal with short and long term side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. 

Although I have confidently developed effective protocols which have been helpful for all types of treatments, the past two years conventional medical practice has changed to the extent that I've frequently been unable to help my clients adequately.  Drug therapies are evolving rapidly.  Drugs that were used in isolation are now used in combination and thus create stronger and more holistic treatment resistant side effects.  I find it difficult to keep up with the potential side effects of many new drugs.  The most challenging hurdle for me in the past two years has been the use of clinical trials for almost all metastatic cancer treatment.  That means I can no longer give my clients any homeopathic remedies while they are part of a trial.  Although Healing Touch and massage therapy are helpful modalities which the medical profession allows me to use on these patients, they are not as effective without the homeopathic remedy protocols I've used in the past.

When I began learning Bowen in January of 2007 with Karin Twohig in Carmel, California, I began getting permission to use Bowen on these clients.  As long as I'm not giving any sort of holistic remedy, the doctors seem to approve any kind of manual bodywork.

BRM 1, 2, 3 plus Kidney Procedure are the gold standard for care during chemotherapy.  If I can schedule a client the day of chemo, they walk in gray, bent, nauseous, and fatigued.  Within an hour they depart planning dinner with color back in their cheeks.  It is nothing short of amazing.  Results are not quite as dramatic if the session is the day after chemo, but still helpful. 

BRM 1,2,3 plus Respiratory is what I've found to be the most helpful during radiation treatment.

Following treatment, I've used Thoracic Procedure frequently, as many cancers in the breast are treated with chemo protocols which compromise heart function and ribs and sternum are often weakened from radiation.  I've had these patients report lots of energetic and nerve activitiy in the thoracic area for days following treatment.  Time will tell if these patients are less susceptible to bone weakness and breakage. 

Unfortunately, long term side effects following treatment are often minimized by the medical profession.  Their focus is on saving a life -- 'winning a war against cancer'.  Holistic treatments such as Bowen can step in at this point and work to help these patients improve immune function and regain quality of life.

Note:  following submission of this article, I have also been successfully using Chest Procedure on women with breast pain which can develop years after radiation and/or surgeries.