High Blood Pressure (hypertension)

Having high blood pressure puts you at risk for coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease and renal failure and it is preventable.

The risk of disease increases as the level of blood pressure increases. It affects about one in seven adults in Australia – 3.7million adults over the age of 25 have high blood pressure or are on medication for high blood pressure.

What is it?

Blood pressure is the force exerted by the blood on the walls of the arteries.  High blood pressure is defined as systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140mmHg or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90mmHg.

Blood pressure also tends to rise as we age due to the walls of the larger arteries losing their elasticity and becoming rigid. Usually the systolic blood pressure rises while diastolic blood pressure tends to fall.

Causes

The major causes of hypertension include:  smoking, high alcohol consumption, obesity, being inactive, poor diet, family history, certain medical conditions such as kidney disease and diabetes and some medications.  Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of heart attack and stroke threefold in individuals with hypertension.

Having your blood pressure taken regularly is important as most people with hypertension don’t show any symptoms. A rapid rise in blood pressure may cause headaches, difficulties with vision and blackouts.

How to prevent it

Having a healthy lifestyle and regular blood pressure tests is the best way to protect you from developing high blood pressure. Choosing an alternative therapy that suits you can also be of great assistance in preventing stress-related conditions such as high blood pressure.

Bowen Therapy eases Hypertension

Bowen Therapy has the ability to re-balance all body systems by activating the body’s own biofeedback system.  By stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, regular Bowen treatments have shown reduction in blood pressure, when combined with lifestyle changes.

Case Study

Recently a 70 year old gentleman visited my clinic with hypertension.  He was recommended by a work colleague to try Bowen Therapy. He had never tried an alternative therapy before, so was a little skeptical at first.

He had a heart problem at age 44 as a result of a blood clot.  He was now on medication but his blood pressure was still uncontrolled.  He was also taking cholesterol lowering medication.  As he was still working full-time in his own business, there was a high degree of stress in his life and not a lot of time or energy for regular exercise, although he had started walking.   Regular alcohol use was the norm, but this, he realized, was not helping the blood pressure.  He monitored his own blood pressure daily.

We began weekly Bowen Therapy treatments, plus Bush Flower Essence Therapy to assist with the emotional aspects of his symptoms.  During the first treatment there was a severe ‘unwinding’ in the body for an hour.   After asking him a few question, we discovered that this was releasing the stress held in cellular memory going back to a bike accident at age 16 and a traumatic car accident in his early twenties.  During the treatment, his chest was expanding which released the diaphragm and made breathing easier.  Therefore, only the first 2 Bowen moves were performed and he was sent home with his bottle of essences.

The following week the client arrived saying:  “I feel fantastic!”  His blood pressure was down to 124/73, he had more energy, was able to walk three times his normal distance,  was feeling more relaxed AND his earache had disappeared (this symptom was news to me)!!  His body did more releasing in the chest area during this treatment, sometimes causing discomfort as the ribcage expanded and the heart chakra opened.

We continued weekly treatment and by week 4, I suggested that my client go back to his doctor to have his blood pressure checked and review his medication, as his blood pressure continued to fall.  He was now walking 7km per day and felt better than he had in years.   However, during the week following the fourth treatment, he experienced dizzy spells and phoned to ask my advice.  He had not visited his doctor as I had requested, so I insisted he do so.  After checking his daily blood pressure record, the doctor reduced the client’s medication and his dizzy spells ceased.

Two months after the first visit, the client is now off his blood pressure medication (as advised by his doctor).  He continues to walk 7km per day, has found a renewed vigor and enjoyment of life and has reduced his alcohol intake.  Every 4 -6 weeks he has a Bowen treatment for maintenance and more regularly if his blood pressure goes up slightly due to stress.

My client says:  “Everyone should experience this therapy.  I don’t know how it works, it just does!”

Once the body releases stress and the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, it finds its balance point or homeostasis.  Sometimes it is instantaneous, other times it takes weeks or months to ‘unwind’ stress or trauma, and the damage it has caused in the past, before the body is ready to repair.

Whether you have blood pressure problems, hormonal problems or just don’t feel right, one thing is for certain, EVERY BODY LOVES BOWEN.

Call Maree for a no obligation chat about your health issues and how Bowen Therapy can help you.

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