
25/08/2025
New research strengthens link between Bowen moves and lymphatic drainage in the head and neck.
Steve Marra writes:
I've tried for years to describe the benefits of moves on the head, neck, sinuses, and jaw to clients. I know what I know, but there aren't a pile of studies on the lymph systems in the brain (for example) and how they discharge fluid through the base of the skull. Over the past 10 years or so, medical studies are catching up to positives we embrace from observation in Bowen Therapy.
If you've had Bowen Therapy on your head or neck and experienced the feeling of 'fluxxing', or sinus drainage, you have a good idea how gentle moves can produce big results.
As someone who struggles to get enough sleep, I perform lymph moves on myself as self care. I try to bolster my body's existing mechanisms for clearing out fluid from my sinuses and washing gunk away from my brain.
It's nice to see research that aligns with what we as Bowen Therapists observe in our work. If anyone wants to read a few references related to these studies, here you go:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09052-5
https://neurosciencenews.com/facial-stimulation-glymphatic-29213/
https://www.science.org/content/article/scientists-uncover-how-brain-washes-itself-during-sleep
Read more about Steve and schedule a Bowen Therapy session with him here: https://zenfromwithin.com/steve/