There is an ever growing body of research to support bowen therapy as an evidence based therapy:

 

BACK AND NECK PAIN:
 
Amy Norman presented a bowen therapy study in 1998 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Physical Education, Exercise and Sport Science.Bowen therapists rated the following results in their clients:  

• 85% effectiveness in back pain with an average of 4.3 sessions

• 88% effectiveness in neck pain with 4.5 sessions

• 83% effectiveness in stress, tension with 4 treatments

• 83% effectiveness in their "other" category after 5.8 treatments

After receiving their treatments, clients reported the following results:

• 85% effectiveness with back pain

• 80% effectiveness for stress and tension

• 80% effectiveness with fibromyalgia

• 95% effectiveness with TMJ

• 80% effectiveness with hip pain

• 75.6% for "other" conditions

 
MIGRAINES:
 
London-based bowen practitioner Nikke Ariff completed the 'Bowen Therapy Migraine Research Program' which studied the efficacy of treating migraine headaches. The 39 migraine volunteers consisted of 37 women and 2 men. Thirteen of them had been suffering from migraines for 1-15 years; seventeen of them had been having migraines for 16-30 years;  and nine had migraines for over 30 years. In all, 31 participants experienced a positive result, representing 79.5% of the total group. At the end of the program, 36 of the 39 they would recommend bowen therapy as a treatment to a friend or colleague. 
 
 
FIBROMYALGIA:
 
There is compelling research that bowen therapy may also be effective in relieving the painful symptoms of fibromyalgia:
 
American College of Rheumatology
 
In a study of twenty patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia conducted by Jo Anne Whitaker, M.D., at the American College of Rheumatology, almost all participants experienced various degrees of relief which lasted from a few days to several weeks. Most reported immediate relief following a bowen treatment.  For some, repeated bowen therapy maintained complete clinical remission. The results were statistically significant and correlated with improvement of clinical well-being.
 
Fibromyalgia Pilot Study
 
A pilot study on the effect of bowen treatments on fibromyalgia sufferers was carried out by Tim Willcocks (Bowen therapist and Trainer). Four participants (aged 39-52) who were diagnosed with fibromyalgia from 3 to 5 years, were given four bowen treatments over a five week period. All four participants experienced improvement, including better sleep, ease in walking, cessation of vertigo, eased neck pain, improved balance and less exhaustion. 
 
 
ASTHMA:
 
Nikke Ariff did research between 2003 and 2004 to test the efficacy of bowen in treating asthma. This research, carried out during a twelve-month period, included a majority of participants who had had asthma for over 5 years, and most over 15 years. The results were positive. Eighty-three percent of participants reported a reduction in the frequency of asthma attacks with 75% reporting less reliance on medication than before the beginning of treatments.
 
Of 24 volunteers who completed the program, 22 reported that secondary health concerns had also improved, including back, neck and shoulder pain; knee and joint problems; headaches and migraines; hay fever; irritable bowel syndrome and digestion; circulation; insomnia; anxiety, stress, depression and energy level improvement. 
 
CARPAL TUNNEL:
 
Six people took part in a bowen therapy study carried out by Glenys Sheedy. They had been suffering from pain and numbness in the fingers and wrist, shoulders and neck for up to 3 years. They received four  bowen treatments over a 4 week period. Bowen successfully eliminated all symptoms  for 3 of the 6 participants, and the remaining three were able to  return to regular activities.
 
FROZEN SHOULDER:
 
Published in England by Dr. Bernie Carter, at the Metropolitan University of Manchester (UK), this bowen therapy study showed effective results with frozen shoulder after 3 to 6 treatments, even with those who had long-standing conditions. The study involved 20 participants diagnosed with frozen shoulder and treated with bowen therapy.
 
70% of participants regained full mobility, equal to the unaffected side, by end of treatment. The other participants showed significant improvement in mobility and associated function. 80% of participants reports a pain level of 0-2, down from a level of 10. Some still reported mild ache but none reported any invasive or intense pain, which they had experienced before receiving bowen therapy.
 
At the conclusion of this study, participants reported a high level of satisfaction with the therapy, a commitment to use bowen in any future case of relapse or for another condition, and the intention to recommend the therapy to friends and family. 
 
 
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS:
 
Ashley Pritchard, at Swinburn University department of Psychophysiology, Melbourne, Australia, showed that Bowen Therapy  consistently reduced subjects' levels of anxiety, and enhanced individuals' positive feelings by reducing tension, anger, depression, fatigue, and confusion. Objective measures of decrease in heart rate variability and muscle tension correlated with subjective feelings of relaxation. 
 
 
FLEXIBILITY:
 
A study at Coventry University in the United Kingdom revealed that bowen therapy has an immediate and direct impact on Hamstring flexibility that lasts at least a week without further treatment. This properly conducted study, with approval from ethics and applying strict methodology using The Bowen Technique has now been completed and was accepted forpresentation at the First International Fascia Research Congress in Boston in October 2007.
 
 
RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME:
 
The bowen therapy study by Marg Biorac from Australia included six people suffering from Restless Leg Syndrome. One participant did not receive any treatment and served as the control; the other five received 4 Bowen treatments over a 4 week period. All five  persons noticed a reduction in the frequency, intensity and duration of symptoms. 

 
TMJ RESEARCH:
 
In Durango, CO, Dr. John Bauman, DDS completed a research project on the application of Bowen on TMJ abnormality. Assessment of masseter tension by Bio Feedback, measurement of bite and subjective symptoms were compared before and after treatment. Immediately after the first treatment, one third of patients felt dramatic relief in some of their symptoms. 20 out of the 22 patients showed significant improvement on their post Bio Feedback assessment.
 
IMPACT ON BLOOD CHEMISTRY AND DETOXIFICATION:
 
Dr. Whitaker, using darkfield, phase and fluorescent microscopic live cell analysis, has demonstrated that blood chemistry changes following bowen treatments. These changes corroborate reports by some patients of flu-like symptoms due to detoxification, which can occur following a session.
 
HEART AND NERVOUS SYSTEM:
 
By measuring changes in value and pattern in Heart Rate Variability before and after treatment, a study by Dr. Whitaker, MD, has shown that bowen therapy directly affects the autonomic nervous system. This quieting of the autonomic nervous system allows the parasympathetic system to attend more clearly to healing.