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Yes - acupuncture sessions can be claimed with your private health fund (depending on your individual level of cover). Please contact your health fund to find out how much they cover. You can claim on the day of your appointment.

Bowen therapy is NOT covered by private health insurers (more information here).

Naturopathy and Western herbal medicine were historically recognised by private health insurance, up until 2019. The 2024 Natural Therapies Review Expert Advisory Panel have since recommended the re-inclusion of Naturopathy and Western herbal medicine as eligible for private health insurance benefits, but health funds have yet to re-instate recognition of providers. Feel free to contact your fund to find out when it will implement the NHMRC's recommendation. More information here.

A soft tissue technique developed by the Australian, Tom Bowen. You can expect to sit or lay on a treatment table for about 20 minutes, as cross-fibre type movements are made over specific points on your body, in specific sequences. Bowen therapy makes use of stretch, pressure and vibration to activate different receptors to bring about change and regulation.

Prep for Treatment

While Bowen does not require disrobing, relaxed clothing can make your treatment experience more comfortable. If you can, save the skinny jeans for another time 😊 

Make sure you’ve filled in your intake form before your first appointment.

And please - make sure you’re on top of your water. Bowen works with your soft tissue (muscles and fascia), which require hydration for healthy functioning (i.e. treatment response).

Post Treatment

After your Bowen treatment, we talk about the 3 W's: Walk, Water and Wait.

🚶Walk: this is a reminder to get up and move, every half hour or so, on the day of your treatment. For most this is easily done, but if you have a desk job, you might need to set an alarm as a reminder. Blood and lymph depend on muscle contraction (i.e. movement) to flow. If things have been a little stuck for a while, it helps to keep things flowing after your treatment to reduce the likelihood of unwanted after effects (e.g. headaches or muscle aches).

🫗Water: Hydration is key. Fascia (collagen) has more conductivity when you're hydrated (i.e. you will likely have a better treatment response when you are properly hydrated). It also goes a way in helping prevent potential after effects. Bowen therapy may increase blood and lymph flow to an area that has been lacking, perhaps for quite some time. While this is a good thing, new blood and lymph will bring in the goods (nutrients and oxygen), they may also load up on wastes that have accumulated. The solution to pollution? Dilution. Drink up.

⌚️Wait: give it time. For some people, it can take a few days after a treatment for things to settle. For this reason, we encourage you to avoid or delay any other physical treatments (including extremes of temperature) in the days following a Bowen treatment. If you are combining with another therapy, even on the same day (e.g. chiro) - save Bowen for last.

It's also highly unusual /unlikely to be feel all is addressed within one treatment. Wait and work with your practitioner to understand and follow your treatment plan.

This is a common question that comes up in clinic.

From the traditional perspective, acupuncture aims to regulate and modulate the flow of 'qi' (which may be translated as 'energy' or 'vital air,' which some have proposed to mean circulation), the function of which is required for good health.

In terms of our biology, a cascade of events happens after needle insertion. I usually summarise these as nervous system, immune system and hormonal system effects, but there are effects that have been observed on fascia (connective tissue) as well.

Impacts on these systems can have far reaching effects in the body and can account for some of the mechanisms of action of acupuncture.

It's fascinating to see the microscopic mechanics of what an acupuncture needle can do to connective tissue. Inserting and rotating the needle can create a 'whorl' in connective tissue.

Click to see how manipulating an acupuncture needle can affect connective tissue.

Stretching and deforming connective tissue like this has flow on effects.

When fascia is manipulated by an acupuncture needle it triggers chains of events in different cells:

🧨Keratinocytes: release endogenous opioids (your body's natural pain killers) and anti-inflammatory hormones (i.e. CRH, ACTH and glucocorticoids)*.

SIDE NOTE: THIS IS SUPER COOL! 🤓 turns out CRH is not just made by your Hypothalamus; ACTH is not just made in your Pituitary, and glucocorticoids are not just made by your Adrenal glands (did you see HPA axis there?). But - these substances are also made in keratinocytes - which exist all throughout your skin and can be activated by acupuncture 🤯 your skin has its own HPA axis (!)

🧨Mast cells: release chemical messengers (e.g. histamine, interleukin, platelet activating factor (PAF), serotonin, tryptase, herparin, substance P), which then affect nearby nerves, blood vessels and muscles.

🧨Macrophages: you might remember these as the Pac-man guys that chomp up the bad guys (part of your immune system). Acupuncture stimulates macrophages to release substances (inflammatory compounds and chemokines) that help cells talk to each other.

🧨Fibroblasts: are stretched (increased surface area = greater area of action), multiplied and re-positioned with acupuncture needle manipulation. Fibroblasts are involved in making and reconstructing the extracellular matrix (the network that surrounds and supports cells and tissues), regulating inflammation, and repairing tissue injury.

Amazing!

There's not one simple way that "acupuncture works." Acupuncture's effects are complex, much like our bodies.

There's a beautiful summary diagram that captures what we know of how acupuncture affects the body (so far): a reminder of how complex, integrated and incredible our bodies are.

Click here for a summary diagram of the neuro-immune microenvironment of acupoints.

 References:

1. Langevin, H.M. and Yandow, J.A. (2002), Relationship of acupuncture points and meridians to connective tissue planes. Anat. Rec., 269: 257-265. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.10185

2. Gong Y, Li N, Lv Z, et al. The neuro-immune microenvironment of acupoints—initiation of acupuncture effectiveness. J Leukoc Biol. 2020; 108: 189–198. https://doi.org/10.1002/JLB.3AB0420-361RR

Not sure whether to book in for Bowen or Acupuncture? Here's some info that might help you decide.

Acupuncture is for you if:

• you want to use your private health cover

• you're prepared for a potentially faster paced treatment plan set up (e.g. twice weekly sessions for the first few weeks)

Bowen Therapy is for you if:

• even the idea of a needle is a deal breaker - you prefer a slower pace of treatment plan set up (e.g. usually weekly for 3 weeks)

• you're ok with it not having or using private health cover

To my mind, acupuncture and Bowen therapy make use of the same body processes and systems and may help similar issues (e.g. pain, stress, period health).

In my experience, it's not unusual for patients to make use of both therapies over time. Some even like to alternate them when they reach the maintenance/wellness phase.

If you're still unsure, don't worry. If you would like more information on which modality may help your specific condition, please email admin@jasminenaturaltherapist.com or discuss with your practitioner at your initial consultation.