Bowenwork Celebrates Breast Health

What is essential for breast health?

Circulating fluids to and from the breast. Much of the removal of fluids from the breasts happens through the lymphatic channels. These are a system of ducts that go from the tissues, collect in bigger channels and eventually are dumped in the venous blood near the heart.

Tight bras, poor food choices, and lack of exercise can hamper lymphatic removal of fluids from the breast. That can result in breast tenderness and is a risk factor for breast disease including cancer.

Besides correcting these causes, we can manually support the lymphatic flow with some gentle easy movements. How?

Bowenwork

Bowen bodywork is brilliant for lymph movement and drainage. Voila! The perfect pairing. Breast Health and Bowen bodywork. It can be used:

• to keep lymphatic movement,
• to relieve lymphatic congestion, and also
• to treat lymphedema, a painful condition of fluid buildup after cancer surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation.

The effectiveness of Bowen bodywork is evident is this research study by Dr. Christine Hansen from the University of Arizona. The conclusion?

“Bowenwork was shown to be an effective management strategy that improved mental health, increased quality of life and daily functional status, in addition to reducing arm circumference and increasing range of motion in women breast cancer survivors with lymphedema. A future full-scale study is needed to further explore these findings.”

So, let’s backtrack and see what she did, why she did it, and exactly how it was effective.

Lymphedema

This painful swelling of the arm or shoulder after surgery, chemo, or radiation limits the quality of life. In addition, it can lead to

• infection
• skin changes
• alteration in sensation, and
• decreased range of motion, strength and function of the arm.

It can be unrelenting for the rest of the woman’s life.

It was impressive that all the women who enrolled in this study saw it through – that is not usual in medical studies. Lots who start a study drop out because they get discouraged with the results. This was certainly not the case here!

The mental health of the patients in the study was determined by a health survey of 36 questions known as the SF-36. In addition, there was a Brief Pain Inventory and other questionnaires. The Bowen therapists were trained in how to take measurements, and measured arm circumference and range of motion of the arm at the shoulder.

All “statistically significant” improvements after 4 Bowenwork treatments, 5 to 10 days apart! To repeat:

• improved mental health
• increased quality of life
• increased daily functional status
• reduced arm circumference and increased range of motion

Breast Massage the Bowen Way

To increase lymphatic movement in the breast as well as to relieve lymphatic congestion around the breasts, I recommend Bowenwork self-treatment. This simple set of moves can be done on yourself weekly to keep the lymphatic channels open, and it only takes a minute!

This should be performed on yourself once a week, either standing or sitting.  It increases lymph drainage under the breast tissue, encouraging the area to remain free of toxic build-up.

First notice the position of your nipple.  The moves will be performed at nipple line, but under the breast tissue instead of over it.  So we will be moving the breast tissue out of the way, but orienting our moves to where the nipple usually rests.

Use your left hand to press the top of your left breast downward.  Place the length of your right first finger along the top of your left hand, centered at about nipple line.  Take a deep breath, and let it out.  Now move both hands together toward the side of your body, keeping your hands “superglued” to your skin instead of sliding over it.  Attempt to pull your skin to the side without putting any pressure at all on the tissue underneath it.

Now perform the move back toward the midline of your body, with a slight bit more pressure.  Move as far as the skin will let you without sliding over it.  Release.

Now with your left hand, lift your left breast.  At about nipple line, place the pad of your right first finger.  Take a deep breath, and let it out.  Draw the skin this time toward your midline first, moving both hands together.  Then with a bit more pressure, perform the move toward the side of your body as far as the skin will allow.

Reverse the procedure on your right breast.

My Bowenwork treatments can also include this breast lymphatic move. It works wonders!

Please comment below what you are experiencing with the Bowen Breast Massage, or Bowenwork treatments. I appreciate it, and so will others!

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