Deirdre O’Brien Bowen Therapist, Castleconnell, Co Limerick

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Written by David Raleigh

Wednesday, 15 October 2008

A FEW miles outside of Limerick City and its bustling traffic and noise there’s a haven where one can go to resurrect the body soul and mind.
Deidre O’Brien is a qualified Bowen Practitioner providing a safe and gentle “hands on” soft tissue release therapy, by using gentle, rolling movement over particular points of the body.

The technique was pioneered in Australia by a Thomas Bowen in the 1950s and has gradually become a more popular therapy for people with aches and pains right up to the treatment of more serious inflictions like Osteoporosis and Sciatica.
“This is for the realignment of backs mainly. It targets anything to do with the spine. The therapy involves working on the entire back. It is non-invasive, with only light touching, with a number of short breaks in between,” Deidre explained before I accepted an invitation to have the therapy myself.
According to Deidre, the breaks in between the therapy are just as important as the therapy itself.
“It’s an alternative to physiotherapy. Most people might think, ‘Oh God physio-means pain’, well you have to try this yourself to see it so relaxing.”
So I did, and as Deidre promised, the therapy, which lasted about half an hour, was one of the most relaxing events I’ve experienced.
Apart from the relaxing sense one gets out of this therapy, the process, according to Deidre, also helps deal with serious ailments, which she herself is treating with her own therapy.
“I was on holiday in Greece when I got a bulging disc in my neck. I was crippled and it ruined the holiday. I was swallowing tablets and told it would take a long course of cortisone injections. I was like a zombie and I would have taken amputation, it was so bad,” Deidre explained.
Without much hope from the medical world, Deidre found a Bowen Therapist in Tipperary, which proved to be the treatment she had been searching for.
“I was in a neck brace for six weeks when I found out about the therapy. After three sessions, I was off the tablets I had been given to take. The therapist immediately took off my neck brace because she explained my body would repair itself quicker,” Deidre said.
After 10 sessions Deidre found that the disc bulge that was inflicting so much pain had ceased to bother her-which she continues to maintain by using the Bowen Technique.
Deidre added that in her role as a qualified Bowen Therapist she does “not diagnose” a person’s problem and does not prescribe medication and promises anyone who fears physio-related therapy, “you will not be hurt”.
“This is suited to everyone, from infants to the elderly and everyone in between. I’m currently treating an elderly woman with Osteoporosis. She used to have a cane, which she doesn’t use much anymore.’
The therapy is also suited to sports men and sports woman who would experience lots of injury and Deidre has treated athletes from rugby to dancers.
“I also advise people to drink up to eight glasses of water per day. It’s important to have a good intake of water. The discs in your back need water to keep their fluidity. Bowen’s Therapy distresses the body but movement and energy are generated, which makes the difference,” Deidre said.
Pregnant women are also said to benefit from the therapy, which is subtle with no pain.
There are a number of ailments which Bowen’s Therapy helps treat including: Back pain; Sciatica; Neck pain and Whiplash; Shoulder pain and restriction-including Frozen Shoulder; Hip and pelvic problems; Knee and/or ankle problems; RSI, Carpal Tunnel and tennis elbow; Asthma or respiratory problems; Irritable Bowel Syndrome and digestive problems; Fibrolmyalgia; Stress, anxiety; Low energy; Pre and post operative pain.
To book an appointment with Deidre O’Brien contact 061-377189/086-1624373 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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