Bedwetting Bowen

Treating Bedwetting with the Bowen Technique
Diploma of Specialised Bowen Therapy 22006VIC

Research Task on Traditional, Alternative
and Scientific Practices in Medicine
Completed in January 2012
Student:
Charlotte Meerman
17 Alice Street
Bundaberg QLD 4670
Ph: 07 4153 4522
meerman@optusnet.com.au
Contents
Page
Introduction .
Demographic Statistics ....
Aims and Objective of this Project ....
General Description of the Bowen Technique ...
Principles of the Bowen Technique ..
History and Evolution of the Bowen Technique
Anatomy of the Urinary System .
Neural Control of Micturition ..
How Bowen Therapy Addresses Bedwetting .
10
Kidney and Bladder Meridians ...
12
Bedwetting Statistics .......
13
Types of Enuresis ......
14
Causes of Nocturnal Enuresis
14
Traditional Treatment Methods for Bedwetting .....
26
General Guidelines for Managing Bedwetting ...
29
The Study Sample / Stakeholders ..
30
Ethical Considerations & Communication with Clients ..
31
The Bowen Treatments: Procedures Used / Responses Observed .....
33
Case Studies
34
Research Method / Strategies .
49
Quantitative Results ..
49
Qualitative Results .
56
Conclusion ...
59
Sharing Knowledge
60
Acknowledgements & Bibliography ...
61
Appendices
64
INTRODUCTION
Bedwetting (also referred to as nocturnal enuresis) is the involuntary passing of urine during sleep
after the age at which full bladder control usually occurs. It can be an embarrassing, frustrating and
distressing problem that affects millions of children. It is more common than most parents think.
Many children are dry at night by the time they reach the age of 5 but others take longer to become
dry. When children still wet the bed when they are 6 or older, parents usually start to become
concerned that their child may have some kind of physical or emotional problem. Some decide not to
stress about it and give it time; others will seek medical advice, take their child to counselling or use
alternative therapies.
Once children go to Primary School and become aware that other kids of their age are dry at night
they become embarrassed about it. Some children avoid going to sleepovers and school camps
because of the fear that other kids might discover their problem. Teenagers are usually even more
distressed by the bedwetting and many worry the problem will never go away. It often has a
significant impact on their self-esteem.
I decided to choose Bowen Therapy for Bedwetting as the subject for my Research Project because I
have always had a passion for working with children and have dealt with toilet training issues myself
as a mother of two daughters.
I approached bedwetting not only as a physical, but also as an emotional issue. I consulted the
parents and provided them with guidelines to manage the bedwetting with a positive and stress-free
approach and encouraged the children to feel more confident, positive and relaxed about the
bedwetting.
Bowen Therapy is a wonderful holistic technique to promote physical and emotional balance and
healing. Therefore it is an ideal way to help children overcome bedwetting.
Ten children participated in this research project (6 girls and 4 boys) ranging in age from 6 to 14 years
and the data collected from these case studies is presented in this project. They all loved their Bowen
treatments and some even said they wish they could come more often than just once a week.
This research task explores the different causes and methods of treatment of nocturnal enuresis. It
also outlines the anatomy of the urinary system and the nerves and muscles involved in micturition to
gain a better understanding of how Bowen Therapy addresses this condition.
I evaluated the effectiveness of Bowen Therapy on nocturnal enuresis in combination with dietary
modifications as recommended by Mr. Bowen. I have indicated which procedures were used in the
treatments and the qualitative and quantitative results are presented in graphs and tables.
The therapeutic value of omega-3 fatty acids is also mentioned (which have been proven to be
effective in treating nocturnal enuresis) and the benefits of Neuro-Developmental Reflex Integration
Exercises.
Although most people have heard of Bowen Therapy, not many are aware that it can also help to treat
bedwetting. The parents of the children who participated had just about tried everything else and
were very happy to try a different approach to help their child when they saw my advertisement in the
school newsletter.
I hope this project will provide the reader with an interesting perspective on the treatment of nocturnal
enuresis with the Bowen Technique as an alternative to medications and other products.
DEMOGRAPHIC STATISTICS
I live in Bundaberg (Queensland) and have a Bowen Therapy practice at home since 2008.
Bundaberg has a population of almost 100,000 people (according to the latest statistics available from
Bundaberg City Councils Website)1 and is still growing at a steady rate. I checked on the Bowen
Association of Australia website2 and at present there are 7 registered Bowen Therapists within a
15km radius of Bundaberg (including myself).
Bowen Therapy is becoming increasingly known and accepted in our community by the general public,
although I do occasionally come across people who have never heard of it or think it is massage
therapy. When I explain Bowen Therapy to them they are usually very interested and often end up
making an appointment.
Although some local General Practitioners are still sceptical about the therapy and/or are not familiar
with it, an increasing number are very supportive of Bowen Therapy because patients have told their
doctor how much they have benefited from the therapy. This has resulted in new clients being
referred to me by a number of GPs, as well as Paediatricians, Podiatrists, Physiotherapists,
Naturopaths, Nurses, Midwives, etc. A number of those health care professionals have also become
regular clients.
Many people in our area think that Bowen Therapy is just for treating sore backs, necks or shoulders
and are surprised to find out that it can be beneficial for a wide range of health issues. People are
rarely aware that Bowen Therapy can also treat bedwetting in children. When I advertised in a school
newsletter, all the parents who responded had never heard of Bowen Therapy for bedwetting and
were very keen to make an appointment for their child as most of them had tried just about everything
else without success.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT
Evaluate the effectiveness of Bowen Therapy in combination with dietary changes on nocturnal
enuresis, as well as the therapeutic value of omega-3 oils and Neuro-Developmental Reflex
Integration Exercises which have been proven to be effective in treating bedwetting.
Compare possible causes of bedwetting and how Bowen Therapy addresses this condition.
Compare the perceptions of the child pre and post treatment and what changes the childs parents
observe in the childs behaviour, bedwetting frequency, etc.
Approach the bedwetting not only as a physical but also as an emotional issue. Therefore I
consulted the parents and provided them with guidelines to manage the bedwetting with a positive
and stress-free approach and encouraged the child to feel more confident, positive and relaxed
about the bedwetting.
http://www.oesr.qld.gov.au/products/profiles/pop-housing-profiles-lga/pop-housing-profile-bundaberg.pdf
2
http://www.bowen.org.au/
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE BOWEN TECHNIQUE

The Bowen Technique is a gentle and unique form of holistic remedial bodywork, effective at relieving
or resolving painful muscular and skeletal disorders and a wide range of health problems, traumatic
injuries as well as chronic painful conditions or illnesses.
This dynamic system of muscle and connective tissue therapy was developed by the late Mr Tom
Bowen in Geelong, Australia. It is often referred to as the homeopathy of bodywork. It stimulates the
body to heal itself (often profoundly), by utilizing subtle inputs into the body (known as moves) at
specific locations on muscles, tendons ligaments or nerves.3
Most Bowen sessions last from 15 to 45 minutes. The first session is usually longer because it also
involves a consultation regarding the clients health history, reason for the visit and assessment of
joint mobility and body alignment so that the practitioner can select the appropriate procedures for the
presenting condition.
The clients usually lie on a massage table (but it can also be done with the client lying on a bed or if
that is not possible, seated in a chair or wheelchair). The procedures that require the client to lie face
down on the table are completed first before the client will be required to turn over for the procedures
which are done lying face up. Some procedures need to be done with the client sitting or standing.3
The session involves one or more procedures and each of those procedures consist of several sets
of moves. There are frequent pauses between these procedures which are essential to allow the
clients body time to respond and the tension level in the muscles has started to adjust. Most pauses
last 2 minutes but sometimes a longer rest is required before a client is ready for the next set of
moves.3
A subsequent treatment is best scheduled between 5 10 days but a break of 7 days is ideal.
Pregnant women with back pain may have more frequent treatments if required. Most conditions are
effectively treated in 3-5 sessions but ongoing sessions may be required for chronic conditions and
old injuries. Many people choose to have maintenance sessions (tune-ups) but the frequency varies
per individual, according to their needs. Some people have a treatment once a month, others every
quarter or 6 months.
If a client has Bowen Therapy for the first time, they often think not much has been done and wonder
whether it could do anything to help their condition. A few days later, they may notice that there is a
shift in his/her body, reduction of pain and/or improvement of joint movement. This is the ongoing
effect of the Bowen Therapy on their body. Some clients notice an instant improvement immediately
after the first treatment but each persons body has their unique capacity to heal and will need a
different amount of time to process and respond to the therapy.
Bowen Therapy addresses the body as a whole unit rather than just the presenting symptoms. The
physical, chemical, emotional and mental aspects of each person receiving Bowen Therapy can all
respond as needed.
Although there are a few circumstances in which a specific series of moves is contraindicated, there
are no contraindications for a Bowen Therapy session, as other parts of the body and the body as a
whole will still benefit. Bowen Therapy is so gentle, that it can be used to treat newborns through to
the very elderly and frail. Highly trained athletes and pregnant women benefit equally, each according
to need.3
Rentsch 1997 (Mod. 1 & 2), Page vii.
PRINCIPLES OF THE BOWEN TECHNIQUE

There is growing evidence that Bowen Therapy positively influences and stimulates the Autonomic
Nervous System (ANS), to initiate changes in the body. The Autonomic Nervous System is the
involuntary nervous system which regulates how the body responds to internal and external stimuli, to
maintain homeostasis (the body's status quo). It controls 80% of bodily functions and is very
susceptible to external stressors.4
It is divided into:5
The Sympathetic Nervous System(fight/flight/stress response)

The Parasympathetic Nervous System (relax/repair/rest response)
The Bowen Technique addresses the entire body by restoring balance via the ANS. Healing can
occur only after the ANS shifts from sympathetic to parasympathetic dominance (rest, relax and repair
mode).6
Many of the Bowen moves are made along the acupuncture meridians or on acupuncture points
which are known to calm the Sympathetic Nervous System, initiating a shift to parasympathetic
dominance which leads to relaxation, pain relief, repair as well as better digestion, sleep, and immune
function.7
The soft tissue moves that are unique to Bowen Therapy are performed over muscles, tendons,
ligaments and joints. A Bowen practitioner uses his/her thumbs or fingers to very gently pull or push
the available 'slack' of the skin and fascia from the crest of the underlying muscle belly, tendon or
ligament, towards the edge of the structure which stretches the superficial tissue. The practitioner
then applies gentle pressure to challenge the structure beneath the skin and fascia and holds this for
a few seconds. A rolling move is subsequently performed across the structure with the thumbs or
fingers, influencing the structure with gentle pressure whilst the superficial tissue is being re-stretched
in the opposite direction.8
Tendons and muscle fibres have specialised sensory receptors on nerve endings which detect subtle
changes in movement, position, stretch, tension and force within the body. These are called
proprioceptors. The body may accept an abnormal state of stretch or tension when it is compensating
for an injury, disorder or chronic pain. The Bowen moves reset the perceived state of tension to the
body's original blueprint by creating signals that travel from the proprioceptors to the spinal cord
(which is the body's main 'telephone line'). The sensory information travels through the spinal cord up
towards the brain. Once it reaches the brain, it is processed and analysed by various areas of the
brain. A response is then sent back down the spinal cord to Motor Nerve Fibres which conduct the
impulses to muscles, organs and glands. As a result, it creates a "dynamic rearrangement of the
Central and Peripheral Nervous System, leading to postural re-alignment, regulation of the Autonomic
Nervous System, fascial release and ultimately facilitates the body in accessing its intrinsic ability to
heal itself." 9
The Bowen moves remind and activate the body to return to its original blueprint; the cellular memory
of health and balance which we were all created with from the moment of conception by our 'Master
Mechanic'.
You can compare it to tuning a string instrument that needs adjustments to the tension on the strings
to tune the instrument. The body is our instrument and all parts need to be in tune with each other to
function in harmony and balance.
4

5
BCNT Mod. 10, Page 4.
6
7
Rentsch 1997 (Mod. 1 & 2), Page ix.
8
Rentsch 1997 (Mod. 1), Page 1.2 & 1.3.
9
BCNT Mod. 10 2009, Page 5-11; Wilks 2007, Pages 9-13.
The Spinal Arc Reflex (an involuntary nerve pathway) is also affected by Bowen moves, due to the
gentle stretching of the tendons and muscles, which activate the contraction/relaxation responses of
the agonist/antagonist muscles.10
Research has shown that it takes a muscle up to 90 seconds to relax once the stretch reflexes and
proprioceptors have been stimulated. Mr Tom Bowen was aware that the body needs time to respond
to the signals of the Bowen moves and insisted on a minimum rest of 2 minutes between the sets of
moves. To someone who has never had Bowen Therapy before, it may seem as if not much is being
done. However, the rests are essential and are just as important as the moves.11
Fascia (also referred to as the 'living matrix') is a connective tissue that surrounds muscles, groups of
muscles, organs, blood vessels, and nerves, binding those structures together. It is an interconnecting
network which extends into every part of the body. The impulses which are created by the Bowen
moves create a small electric charge (piezoelectric current) which promotes healing. This charge then
spreads through the fascia, which is a conductive living matrix, to other parts of the body.
Our bodies are 70% fluid, so any moves flow or vibrate through the body. This vibration spreads to
neighbouring muscles, tendons, ligaments, bone and organs, similar to a ripple effect when a stone is
thrown into water. Hydration is essential to the health and conductivity of fascia and drinking plenty of
alkaline mineral water is highly recommended. 12
The Bowen moves can help to release fascia which has become contracted or adhered from infection
or injury, which causes restriction in the adjacent tissue. "The gentle stretching effect of the Bowen
moves on the fascia can result in the freeing up of adhesions, improved postural alignment and
circulatory enhancement to the affected tissues"13
Some Bowtech procedures activate draining of the lymphatic system stimulating the immune system.
Detoxification is often initiated during a Bowen session, thereby improving the body's ability to
function at a cellular level.14
Because this technique is so effective, it has been widely embraced by a broad spectrum of people.
Health professionals are impressed by the effectiveness of the Bowen technique and the diversity of
problems addressed by it.15
10
BCNT Mod. 10 2009, Page 9.

12
BCNT Mod. 8 2011, Page 17-23.
13
14
Rentsch 1997 (Mod. 1 & 2), Page ix.
15
Rentsch 1997 (Mod. 1 & 2), Page viii.
11
HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF THE BOWEN TECHNIQUE

Thomas Ambrose Bowen was a man with a remarkable gift. He was
born in 1916 in Brunswick, Australia and was living in Geelong, Australia
when he became interested in massage and soft-tissue manipulation.
He had a general love of sports but also wanted to help people who
were suffering pain or were in discomfort. Tom developed his own
technique in the 1950s as he noticed that certain moves on the body had
profound effects.
He did not have previous formal training in any modality or discipline.
He often said it was a gift from God and had an amazing ability to
accurately assess the cause of a clients problem by just looking at their
complexion, eyes, posture, the way they walked, sat or moved their body.
He said: The body reflects and tells you everything.16
Thomas Ambrose Bowen
1919 - 1982
(picture with kind
permission of BTAA)
Even though he didnt advertise his work, word spread very quickly and
Tom Bowen was extremely busy in his Geelong clinic, treating about
13,000 patients each year. In 1975 the Victorian Government inquiry
into alternative health care professionals verified this.
Tom ran free clinics for children, people with disabilities, and community service workers. He
continuously refined and developed his technique throughout his life with the help of his friend and
secretary Rene Horwood.
Only six people worked with Tom and learnt the technique from
him. One of them was Oswald (Ossie) Rentsch who met Tom in
1974 at a national health conference. He and his wife Elaine
were invited by Tom Bowen to learn from him. Ossie studied the
technique in Toms clinic for the next two and a half years and
was authorised by Tom to document the work. Ossie spent many
months writing notes under Toms close supervision so this is an
original record of Toms work.
Ossie and Elaine began using Toms technique in their own
Ossie & Elaine Rentsch
clinic in Hamilton, Victoria in 1976.
(picture with kind permission of BTAA)
Before Mr Bowen passed away in 1982, Ossie and Elaine
promised him to teach the technique and make his name known around the world. They called it the
Bowen Technique and their first seminar was held in Perth, Western Australia in 1986. In 1987 they
founded the Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia and eventually named the technique Bowtech The Original Bowen Technique. By 1990 they were teaching full-time, introducing the technique in its
original form to many students around Australia and soon there was a world-wide interest in the
technique. Tom Bowens legacy still continues in his work, spreading to countries throughout the
world and the number of people who have learnt the technique is still growing. Today over 26,000
people have completed the basic Bowtech, Bowen Technique course, in thirty countries and in six
languages. Worldwide, there are now 90 instructors teaching Bowtech.17
The Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia has licensed the Border College of Natural Therapies to
deliver nationally recognised Bowen Practitioner Certifications - Certificate IV in Bowen Therapy and
Diploma of Specialised Bowen Therapy.18
The Bowen Association of Australia was formed in 1998 by a group of qualified Bowen practitioners
and instructors who had been taught by Ossie and Elaine Rentsch, and the Bowen Therapy Academy
of Australia. The Association was founded to give the practitioners formal recognition and a common
voice and focus throughout Australia.19 The requirement for full membership of the Bowen
Association of Australia is a Certificate IV or Diploma in Bowen Therapy, 1st class (Senior Level) First
Aid Certificate and Current Full Professional Indemnity Insurance. Members are also required to
attend continuing BAA endorsed education and refresher courses.
16
Rentsch 1997 (Mod. 1 & 2), Page viii; BCNT (Mod. 10), Page 21
17
http://www.bowen.org.au/history-of-bowen-technique/
18
http://www.bowtech.com/WebsiteProj/Pages/Learn/Overview.aspx
19
http://www.bowen.org.au/training-training/
ANATOMY OF THE URINARY SYSTEM

Before we explore the causes and treatment of nocturnal enuresis, we should first focus on the
anatomy of the urinary system and the nerves and muscles involved in micturition (urination) control.
The kidneys filter the blood maintaining the correct

balance of water, acid and electrolytes in the body
and eliminate waste in the form of urine.
Urine travels down through the ureters to the
bladder. Muscles in the ureter walls constantly
tighten and relax to force urine downward away
from the kidneys.
Small amounts of urine are emptied into the bladder
from the ureters about every 10 to 15 seconds.
www.clinicianleader.com
The lower urinary tract has two distinct phases:
The storage (guarding) phase - urine is stored in the bladder

Voiding phase urine is released through the urethra
The bladder is a hollow muscular organ

shaped like a balloon and its function is
the temporary storage of urine. It sits in
the pelvis and is held in place by
ligaments attached to other organs and
the pelvic bones. During micturition the
bladder detrusor muscle contracts to
expel urine.
The internal urethral sphincter, which is
located at the neck of the bladder, is a
circular muscle which closes tightly to
prevent urine from passing but relaxes
during micturition
The external urethral sphincter lies at the
opening to the external environment.
During micturition, urine passes through
the urethra and the external urethral
sphincter relaxes to enable passage of
urine. 20
20
www.life-tech.com/uro/urolib/urinary_anatomy.shtml
Pocket Anatomicas Body Atlas 2007, Pages 377-387.

8
NEURAL CONTROL OF MICTURITION

Micturition involves coordination of
the Central Nervous System (brain
and spinal cord), Somatic
(voluntary) Nervous System and
Autonomic (involuntary) Nervous
System to control the bladder and
sphincter muscles.
Sympathetic (fight/flight/stress) and
Parasympathetic (relax/repair/rest)
nerves innervate the detrusor
muscle of the bladder and internal
urethral sphincter muscle so these
are under involuntary control.
http://shakuntalapgmeenotes.blogspot.com/2011/08/innervation-ofurinary-bladder.html
During the storage phase, the Sympathetic nerves stimulate the detrusor muscle of the bladder to
stay relaxed and the internal urethral sphincter to contract to close the bladder neck.
The state of the micturition reflex is dependent

on both a conscious signal from the brain and
the firing rate of sensory fibres from the bladder
and urethra.
When the bladder is full, nerve signals from the
proprioceptors (stretch receptors) alert the
reflex centre in the sacral part of the spinal cord.
These signals prompt contraction of the bladder
and relaxation of the sphincter muscles.
However, the impulses from the proprioceptors
also send signals to the brain which results in a
conscious desire to urinate.
If urination is not convenient at that time (e.g.
when there is no toilet nearby), the brain sends
impulses down the spinal cord to inhibit the
http://highered.mcgrawmicturition
reflex. 21
hill.com/sites/0072507470/student_view0/chapter26/animation
__micturition_reflex.html
During micturition, Parasympathetic nerves stimulate the detrusor muscle of the bladder to contract in
order to expel the urine and the internal sphincter muscle to relax so that the urine can pass into the
urethra.
The external urethral sphincter is innervated by the somatic (voluntary) nerves and during micturition
it is consciously relaxed to allow urine to pass.
When the bladder is emptied, the Sympathetic nerves stimulate the detrusor muscle to relax and the
internal sphincter muscle to contract to re-initiate storage.22
21
Entire page interpreted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urination (picture sources as per captions)

22
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urination
HOW BOWEN THERAPY ADDRESSES BEDWETTING

I was baffled about the fact that the Sympathetic (fight/flight/stress) Nervous System actually makes
the bladder hold the urine and that the Parasympathetic (relax/repair/rest) Nervous System stimulates
micturition. One would expect this to be the other way around! This also raises the question: Why
do some people lose control of their bladder in situations of extreme fear?
The answer is that excessive stimulation of the Sympathetic Nervous System results in
overcompensation by the Parasympathetic Nervous System. Therefore, if a person experiences
extreme fear, it can lead to temporary loss of bladder and/or bowel control.23 If the Sympathetic
Nervous System dominates due to emotional shock or stress, it can cause an excessive activation of
the vagus nerve. Vagus nerve branches represent most of the cranial component of the
parasympathetic division of the Autonomic Nervous System. This results in Parasympathetic
overcompensation.
Research has shown that tests in children with nocturnal enuresis
demonstrated Parasympathetic Nervous System hyperactivity.24 This
could possibly be a factor of nocturnal enuresis in children who are
under a lot of emotional stress.
The Bowen Technique balances the Autonomic Nervous System and
restores it to homeostasis (the body's status quo). It calms the
Sympathetic Nervous System, so the Parasympathetic hyperactivity will
also subside because it will no longer need to compensate (and
therefore bladder agitation is reduced).
The Upper Respiratory/TMJ and Additional TMJ procedures which
stimulate the vagus nerve may be very useful in some children with
nocturnal enuresis (as well as any other incontinence problems) who
havent responded to the Bedwetting procedure.
The vagus nerve

http://illuminationstudios.com/
archives/150
The most common Bowen procedure we use for nocturnal enuresis is the Bedwetting Procedure.
After moves 1 and 2 of BRM 1, the first move is done over the centre of the coccyx, just like the
Coccyx Procedure but two extra holding points are used on the erector spinae on the top of the iliac
crests. The second move is done in a boomerang shape over the rectus abdominis fascia, midway
between the umbilicus and the midpoint of the inguinal crease.
John Wilks wrote: The coccyx is a crucial area for balancing the Autonomic Nervous System. Both
the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems have important ganglia and nerve pathways
that go close to the coccyx. The Sympathetic Nervous System consists of a chain of very fine nerves
which run down either side of the spine from controlling nuclei in the brain stem. These two chains
have an important junction at the top of the coccyx called the ganglion or impar (or imperial ganglion).
The Parasympathetic System also has nerve pathways which originate close to the coccyx and
control the bladder, lower balance to work properly and there is no doubt that the coccyx procedure
helps in this. The coccyx is the only place in the body where the three layers of membrane that
surround the brain and spinal cord (the dura, arachnoid and pia) come together. The first move of the
coccyx procedure moves right over this and sends an impulse all the way up the spinal cord to the
anterior attachment of the dura at the ethmoid25 (just between and above the eyes).
23
24
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagus_nerve
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9408596
25
Wilks 2007, Pages 118-119.
10
Tom Bowen used to say that the second move of

the Bedwetting Procedure which is done on the
rectus abdominis locked in the first move. This
move is done in the abdominal region which is
innervated by T10 T12.
The sympathetic nerves which innervate the
bladder and internal sphincter originate from
T10 L2.
It is interesting that these areas originate from
the same level in the spine. It also corresponds
with an internal kidney meridian trajectory as
illustrated in the next section about bladder and
kidney meridians.
http://www.jyi.org/features/ft.php?id=539
The Kidney procedure is important when treating

any kidney/bladder issues and I always use it in
the first session for children with nocturnal
enuresis. It stimulates the kidneys, and brings
energy into the bladder area and the nerves
which innervate these structures. Kidneys are
associated with fear so the Kidney procedure is
very useful when children have emotional issues.
The Respiratory and Gallbladder procedures are essential when treating children for nocturnal
enuresis who also suffer from a bowel problem as these issues can be related (as described in the
section about causes of bedwetting). These procedures are also effective for emotional issues and in
such cases the Shoulder procedure can also be considered. Other procedures to consider are Knee
and Ankle.
Specialised Bowen procedures such as Coccyx Oblique or Gracilis can also be effective in treating
bedwetting if the child hasnt responded to the Bedwetting Procedure after several treatments as they
stimulate nerves which innervate the bladder.
11
KIDNEY AND BLADDER MERIDIANS

The Bowen moves used in the Bedwetting procedure are made along the acupuncture meridians of
the bladder and kidney.
The two moves of BRM 1 on the erector spinae muscles may stimulate the bladder meridian.
The move on the coccyx corresponds with the bladder meridian and the abdominal move corresponds
with the kidney meridian.
Other procedures that may be used to treat nocturnal enuresis, such as Kidney, Respiratory, Gracilis
and Coccyx Oblique are also at points which are along the kidney and bladder meridians.
The kidney and bladder meridians also run from the feet and up the legs, therefore procedures such
as Hamstrings, Knee, Ankle, Hammer Toe, Bunion and Burning Heel may also be considered.
Bladder Meridian
http://horo.tochka.net/day/eastern/2011-06-14/
Kidney Meridian
http://lieske.com/channels/5e-kidney.htm
As outlined in the section about causes of nocturnal enuresis, it is a very complex problem which can
be caused by a combination of emotional issues, physical problems, chemical imbalances and
developmental delays. Every child will have a different combination of these issues but the holistic
approach of the Bowen Technique can be very effective in treating this condition.
Bedwetting needs to be approached with this in mind in order to determine which Bowen procedures
are indicated for the childs individual needs.
12
BEDWETTING STATISTICS
Bedwetting is more common in boys than girls (2 out

of 3 bedwetters are boys) but 6 participants in this
research project were girls and 4 were boys.
Paediatric Urologist Dr. D. Preston Smith wrote:
Many different children with different personalities
wet at night, even without any obvious emotional or
psychological problems.26
Gender Differences in
Bedwetting
33%
Bedwetting affects approximately:

20-30% of 5 year olds
0.5 - 1% of 18 year olds and older
Boys
27
67%
Girls
For example, a child of around 10 years old is likely to have at last 2 - 4 other children in her class (in
a class of 50 children) and a five year old may have 12 or more children in his or her class who also
wet the bed.
The participants in this project ranged in age from 6 to 14 years old.
Bedwetting Statistics by Age Breakdown
100
90
Percentage
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1
Age
10 11
12 13
14
15
16
17
18
26
27
Preston Smith 2006, Page 15.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocturnal_enuresis
13
TYPES OF ENURESIS
There are 3 different types of bedwetting:28
Primary enuresis: The child is wet every night.
Intermittent enuresis: The child has occasional dry nights.
Secondary enuresis: The child has been dry for months or even years and then starts to wet again.
Involuntary urination that happens during the day is known as diurnal enuresis.
As many as 20% of children who are wet at night also suffer from diurnal enuresis
Two of the 10 children who participated in the project had primary enuresis, 7 had intermittent
enuresis, 1 secondary enuresis and 3 also had diurnal enuresis:
Types of Enuresis in Project Participants
Initials & Age

FEMALE
MALE
TM
6
JM
9
TC
6
ML
7
EW
14
AW
8
MC
9
JB
11
BH
9
JW
9
Primary Enuresis
Intermittent Enuresis
Secondary Enuresis
Diurnal Enuresis
CAUSES OF NOCTURNAL ENURESIS

Nocturnal enuresis is a very complex problem which can be caused by emotional, physical and
developmental issues. There are many different theories on the cause of bedwetting, but most likely
there are several combined factors that cause a child to wet at night, and each child may have a
different combination of causes for their nocturnal enuresis.
The most common causes of bedwetting include: 29
Deep sleep and sleep disorders

Small bladder size
Anxiety, neuropsychological disorders and emotional stressors
Family history of bedwetting
Abnormal daytime bowel/bladder habits
Constipation
Birth defects and medical conditions
Diet
Insufficient production of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) to slow down urine production at night
Overproduction of Prostaglandin and Nitric Oxide (which increases urine production)
Omega-3 fatty acids deficiency
Delayed integration of primitive reflexes
28
29
Hall 1995, Page 45.

Preston Smith 2006, Page 19; Logan and Lesperance 2005, Pages 1188-1191; Wilks 2007, Page 169.
14

All children who participated in the research project (and other children I have treated for this
condition in the past) are very deep sleepers. They would rarely wake up to go to the toilet
themselves and when they had wet the bed they would often not notice until they woke up in the
morning. Some parents tried to wake their children and take them to the toilet just before they went to
bed themselves later at night but the children were all very hard to wake, let alone be alert enough to
even realise consciously that they were taken to the toilet.
We need to keep in mind that not all deep sleepers are bedwetters. Almost all kids are very active
during the day with lots of playing and learning so it is logical that at night their batteries need to
recharge and therefore deep sleep is necessary in children.
The brain of a child who wets the bed has possibly not yet learnt to wake up at night and become
aware of the need to get up and go to the toilet in response to the full bladders signals.
Studies have shown that sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea (not taking normal breaths or having
difficulty breathing while sleeping) are more common in children who wet the bed. Enlarged tonsils
are a known cause of sleep apnoea and some physicians have gone as far as recommending a
tonsillectomy (the removal of tonsils in the throat) in children with bedwetting and sleep apnoea. This
is not standard practice, and should be viewed as potentially aggressive treatment for bedwetting.30
Bladder capacity
Studies have shown that children with smaller bladders are more likely to wet at night.30 Bladders can
vary in size and some children who suffer from nocturnal enuresis have a small bladder capacity,
which is insufficient to hold the nightly output of urine.31
Children with small bladders need to empty their bladder more frequently during the day and at night.
This in combination with the child being a deep sleeper, the child usually doesnt wake up from the
signal when they need to empty their bladder.
Anxiety, neuropsychological disorders and emotional stressors

There is an obvious link between anxiety/emotional stressors and bedwetting but it is difficult to
determine how emotions, personalities and psychological stresses contribute to this. Parents often
find that even changes to normal routines can make the bedwetting worse.
Dr Preston Smith wrote: There have been studies that have shown emotional issues such as divorce,
new siblings and traumatic childhood events as being more common among children with bedwetting.
It has also been shown that children with attention deficit disorders (ADD) and those with hyperactive
disorders (ADHD) have increased tendencies to bed wet. About 25% of children with ADHD wet at
night, which is slightly higher than the general child population.32
Almost all children who participated in this project had some form of shyness, anxiety, emotional
stressor or other issues including the death of a parent, divorce, ADD, ADHD or Aspergers
syndrome. I have put this in a table on the next page. Of course in almost every childs life there is
some form of anxiety or stress, so it is important not to label every child who is a bedwetter to have an
emotional or psychological issue (or to label the parents as bad parents). Plenty of children are
bedwetters without any obvious emotional or psychological problems and live in a loving and stable
family. Other children who are experiencing a lot of emotional stressors in their life and/or traumatic
events do not wet the bed.
30

31
Hall 1995, Page 45.
32
15
Anxiety, Neuropsychological Disorders and Emotional Stressors in Project Participants:
Initials & Age

FEMALE
MALE
TM
6
JM
9
TC
6
ML
7
EW
14
AW
8
MC
9
JB
11
BH
9
JW
9
Social Anxiety / Shyness

ADD/ADHD
Asperger
Learning Difficulties
Anxiety / Fears / Phobias
Disobedience / Defiance
Panic Attacks
Divorce
Death of Parent
Other Traumatic Event
Primary or intermittent enuresis are commonly caused by physical, chemical or developmental issues
but can be exacerbated by emotional problems. Secondary enuresis is more commonly caused by a
traumatic experience but it can also be caused by a physical problem. There are many different
situations that can cause a child to experience an emotional upset and the childs personality may be
a factor in how they cope with e.g. divorce, problems at school, etc., but nocturnal enuresis can also
be a sign of emotional or physical abuse. It is difficult to know what kind of environment the child
grows up in at home, but occasionally there may be a child who is showing signs of abuse. As a
health professional one must always be careful how to handle cases when there are signs of child
abuse and legal advice is essential to know how to proceed.33
Family history
If one parent of a child was a bedwetter, their children have a 40% chance of bedwetting and if both
parents were bedwetters then the chances increase to 75% that their children will wet at night.34
As Dr. D. Preston Smith wrote: Physical traits, personalities and lifestyles are important factors to
consider when explaining why bedwetting is more common in certain families.35
Nine of the ten children who participated in this project had a family history of bedwetting. None of
the parents were sure whether the grandparents were also bedwetters so I wasnt able to add that to
the table below:
Family History of Bedwetting in Project Participants
Initials & Age

FEMALE
MALE
TM
6
JM
9
TC
6
ML
7
EW
14
AW
8
MC
9
JB
11
BH
9
JW
9
One Parent
Both Parents
Siblings
Aunts/Uncles
33
Wilks, 2007, Page 251.

35
34
16

In the opinion of Dr. D. Preston Smith (Paediatric Urologist), one of the most common causes for
nocturnal enuresis is abnormal daytime bladder/bowel habits. His theory is that bedwetting (in many
children) is a problem that develops during the day, but comes out at night. 36
According to studies it has been shown that children who wet during the day (diurnal enuresis) and
those with, urinary frequency, urinary urgency or constipation are more likely to also suffer from
nocturnal enuresis.37
I tell the parents of children who wet the bed to encourage good toilet habits in their child by
getting him/her to go to the toilet at least every 2 hours during the day and to relax and
take their time on the toilet to ensure their bladder and/or bowels empty properly.
If the bladder doesnt empty completely, the child is also at higher risk of developing a
bladder infection and if the bowels dont empty properly the child will become
constipated.
Some children hold on to their urine without even being aware. The bladder will stretch but they wont
realize the bladder is full until its extremely full or too late. Therefore, the brain will learn to ignore the
bladders signal when it is full, irrespective of whether its day or night-time.
During the day children can get caught up in a TV show, a game or other activity and put off going to
the toilet when they should. If parents often see their child wiggle, dance or squat and run to the
toilet, it means they tend to hold on too long and they should be made to go to the toilet more
frequently. Otherwise it will also affect how dry they will be at night.
The pelvic floor muscles, bladder and bowel sphincters become very tight holding on to the full
bladder and bowel. This can create a trigger happy bladder, and therefore even daytime accidents
can occur by the urgency problem and not making it to the toilet quite in time. When a child is
sleeping they are not able to consciously wiggle, squat or run to the toilet when the bladder is very
full. They can get away with holding during the day but not at night.37
Constipation
If the child suffers from constipation this needs to be treated as well as any other daytime bladder or
bowel habit problems mentioned before. Constipation is very often associated with bedwetting and in
chronic cases it causes overflow leakage which soils pants and bedding.
Children who tend to hold their stools become constipated do not always empty their bladder properly.
The bladder can become thick and trigger happy because it wants to override the childs habit of
holding. A thick and trigger happy bladder that is not allowed to completely empty at bedtime will
more likely empty while the child is asleep and unable to hold. Eventually the bladder wins.38
Some experts say that compacted bowel matter which compresses against the bladder can cause
pressure and irritation and the bladder to empty when the child is asleep.
A high-fibre diet and taking fibre supplements which are available from the Chemist are essential for
children with constipation as well as drinking plenty of fluids. If this does not help the constipation,
parents may need to speak to their Chemist or GP whether their child should take a mild laxative until
the constipation problem has been fixed. However, in my experience some of the medications which
are prescribed for this problem in children can have an adverse effect on bedwetting. Three of the
children who participated in this project were being treated for constipation by their Paediatrician but
the medication has caused them to have frequent diarrhoea and very sudden bowel motions which
has become quite distressing and embarrassing because they also have accidents at school and
need to take extra underwear with them. Their bedwetting had worsened since they started taking
these medications and my theory is that not only the emotional distress and embarrassment from this
can make the bedwetting worse, but also the attempts to hold on when they feel an urgent bowel
36

38
37
17
motion. This would have the same effect on the bladder as in children who suffer from constipation
(the bladder wants to override the childs attempt of holding).
Bowen Therapists are not to give advice on medications or a particular course of medical treatment
so it is outside the scope of my expertise. Therefore, I asked the parents of those children to consult
their Paediatrician to see what can be done about the effects of the medication.
As a Bowen Therapist I would address constipation and diarrhoea as well as other bowel and bladder
issues over a number of treatments with e.g. Kidney, Coccyx, Coccyx Oblique, Psoas, Gracilis,
Respiratory, Gallbladder and TMJ procedures.
Six of the ten children who participated in this project had daytime bladder and/or bowel problems
(especially the girls).
Incidence of Bladder & Bowel Problems in Project Participants
Initials & Age

FEMALE
MALE
TM
6
JM
9
Coeliac
Disease
Coeliac
Disease
TC
6
ML
7
EW
14
AW
8
MC
9
JB
11
BH
9
JW
9
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Faecal Incontinence
Other Bowel Problems
Urinary Urgency
Urinary Frequency
Frequent Urinary Tract
Infections
Difficulty Urinating
Birth defects and medical conditions

Less than 1% of children with night time wetting have a medical explanation for their problem, such as
urinary tract infections, diabetes, seizure disorder, abnormal nerves to the bladder, birth defects, etc.39
Some of the children who participated in this project had already seen a Paediatrician and no medical
reason was found for the nocturnal enuresis after having urine tests and ultrasound of bladder and
kidneys.
If four weeks of bedwetting treatments with Bowen Therapy do not result in a reduction of the
bedwetting frequency or any change in the bedwetting pattern, there may be an underlying medical or
emotional issue that may need to be investigated by an appropriate professional.40 A Bowen
Therapist should then refer the child to their GP who can refer them to see a Paediatrician or other
specialist. Referral to a counsellor may also be indicated in some cases.
39

40
Rentsch 1997, Page 6.6.
18
Diet
As recommended by Mr. Bowen, children who suffer from nocturnal enuresis are advised to avoid
dairy products, apples and apple juice. A balanced 80/20 diet is also recommended (80% alkaline
forming foods and 20% acid forming foods).41
I gave all the parents a list of alkaline/acid forming foods which I had printed on the back of the
Bowen Therapy for Bedwetting Advice & Information Handout.42
There are several versions of the Acidic and Alkaline Food charts to be found in
different books and on the Internet. Certain foods are sometimes attributed to the
Acidic side of the chart and sometimes to the Alkaline side, depending on which
book or website you look at, which can be confusing when comparing lists. But,
overall the lists are mostly the same.
Some parents found it hard to make their child stick to the diet 100% but I always tell them that as
long as they make sure a good percentage of the foods they eat come from the list of the Alkaline
forming foods it will already help a lot. Generally, alkaline forming foods include: most fruits,
vegetables, spices, herbs and seasonings, seeds and nuts. Acid forming foods include: meat, fish,
poultry, dairy products, grains, and legumes.
A foods acid or alkalineforming tendency in the body has nothing to do with the actual pH of the food
itself. For example, lemons are very acidic but the end result after digestion and assimilation is very
alkaline, so lemons are alkaline forming in the body. Likewise, meat will test alkaline before digestion
but leaves a very acidic residue in the body so, like nearly all animal products, is very acidforming.43
An acidic pH can occur from an acid forming diet, emotional stress, toxic overload, and/or immune
reactions or any process that deprives the cells of oxygen and other nutrients. The body will try to
compensate for acidic pH by using alkaline minerals. If the diet does not contain enough minerals to
compensate, a build up of acids in the cells will occur.44
It is best to avoid soft drinks (due to their high sugar content and some contain caffeine such as Cola
which can irritate the bladder), and other sugary and/or highly processed foods.
An acidic balance will: decrease the body's ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients, decrease
the energy production in the cells, decrease its ability to repair damaged cells, decrease its ability to
detoxify heavy metals, make tumour cells thrive, and make it more susceptible to fatigue and illness.44
Increasing fresh live raw food (particularly greens!) is very beneficial. With too many processed foods,
overcooked meals, lots of animal products and grains and plenty of additives like sugar, salt and
chemicals, the modern diet is way too acidic.43
It is also recommended that the child drinks filtered alkaline mineralized
water. Parents can add a sachet of alkaline mineral granules such as
Eko Water to a bottle every day (available from health food shops). An
even better alternative is using an alkaline water filtration system such
as Nikken or Zazen Water. I am a reseller for Zazen Water and always
highly recommend this type of filtration system which transforms drinking
water into alkaline mineral water full of electrolytes.45
41
Rentsch 1997, Page 6.7.

See Appendix D Bowen Therapy for Bedwetting Information Handout for Parents
43
http://www.govita.com.au/factsheets/Restoring%20acid%20alkaline%20balance.pdf
44
http://www.anti-aging-today.org/nutrition/alkaline-acid-foods.htm
45
http://www.zazenessentialwater.com.au/
42
19
ADH levels
Studies have shown that some children with nocturnal enuresis do not make enough antidiuretic
hormone (ADH) at night and may produce too much urine while they are asleep and become more
likely to wet the bed.46
Antidiuretic hormone is a chemical also known as arginine vasopressin, which regulates the balance
of water in the body and causes the kidneys to produce less urine. It is one of the nine hormones
secreted from the posterior pituitary gland that regulate homeostasis.
The pituitary gland is a protrusion off the bottom of the hypothalamus at the base of the brain. It is an
endocrine gland about the size of a pea but it has a powerful influence on the other body organs and
glands.47
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Gray1180.png
There are medications available such as Minirin (desmopressin acetate) which is a modified form of
the human ADH (arginine vasopressin) which may decrease nocturnal enuresis (more about this in
the section about medications). Three of the children who participated in this research project had
been prescribed this medication by their doctors but it did not reduce their nocturnal enuresis.
46
47

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pituitary_gland
20
Increased production of Prostaglandin and Nitric Oxide

Recent research has uncovered altered Prostaglandin and Nitric Oxide production in children with
nocturnal enuresis.48
Nitric Oxide (NO) is a naturally occurring gas in the body. Low transient levels of Nitric Oxide are
beneficial. However, a high concentration of Nitric Oxide decreases ADH production and as a result
nocturnal urine production is increased. Some children with nocturnal enuresis have more than 11
times greater than normal Nitric Oxide levels.48
These children have also shown to have Prostaglandin levels that are twice that of average levels.48
Prostaglandin is a hormone-like substance produced in various tissues that are derived from amino
acids and has a variety of physiological functions, such as metabolism and nerve transmission.49 It
also acts on mesangial cells in the glomerulus of the kidney to increase the flow rate of filtered fluid
through the kidney (increased urine production).50
Omega-3 fatty acids are known to reduce the production of Prostaglandin and renal Nitric Oxide and
therefore have the potential to influence nocturnal enuresis.48 More information about Omega-3 Fatty
Acids follows in the next section.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids Deficiency

Nations with the lowest prevalence of bed-wetting children consume more than double the amount of
fish/seafood as compared to the nations with the highest prevalence of bedwetting children.
Given the current excess of omega-6 rich oils in Western countries, all health professionals should at
least ensure adequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids in children with nocturnal enuresis.48
The area of the brain that controls micturition (urination) may not be fully developed in children who
suffer from bedwetting. Research clearly shows that omega-3 fatty acids play a critical role in the
development and function of the central nervous system and omega-3 has been proven to be
beneficial for the development of the area of the brain which controls micturition.48
As Omega-3 fatty acids are necessary for the development and function of the central nervous
system, it may also address a possible root cause of some cases of nocturnal enuresis, namely the
delayed development of inhibitory brain pathways48 (see the section about primitive reflexes).
As mentioned in the previous section, Omega-3 fatty acids are known to reduce the production of
Prostaglandin and Nitric Oxide and therefore have the potential to influence nocturnal enuresis.
I highly recommend that parents include foods in their childrens diet that are rich in Omega-3 such as
fish, flaxseed oil, walnuts, brazil nuts, olive oil, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, broccoli, cauliflower and
green beans. An Omega-3 supplement such as fish oil or krill oil is also highly recommended, but a
good quality brand is essential so it is best to ask for advice from a Naturopath.
48
49
Logan and Lesperance 2005, Pages 1188-1191.

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/prostaglandin
50
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostaglandin
21

I noticed in many of the children whom I treated for bedwetting that their lumbar paraspinals were very
reactive and would contract as if in a spasm when I did the first 2 moves of BRM 1, as well as moves
9-16 when I used BRM 2. Some had this reaction on both sides of the spine and others on only one
side.
I wondered if there is a reason for that and was very interested to read the theory by John Wilks in his
book The Bowen Technique The Inside Story: Tom Bowen may have been aware of the Spinal
Galant reflex (which is one of the primitive reflexes in newborn infants), when he developed the
Bedwetting Procedure. This reflex occurs when you stimulate the erector spinae muscles by stroking
down the back. The baby will flex the leg and urinate. 51
Sally Goddard also mentions in her book Reflexes, Learning
and Behavior that a retained or residual spinal Galant reflex is
found in many children who may have poor bladder control, and
who continue to wet the bed after the age of 5 years.
When the dorsal skin near and along the vertebral column is
stroked, the infant forms an arch with its body; the concavity of
the arch is directed toward the stimulated area, and by arching
in the opposite direction the infant evades stimulus (Galant
1917).52
Interestingly, if both sides of the spine are stroked
simultaneously from the pelvis to the neck, the Pulgar Marx
reflex is elicited. This response involves flexion of both legs,
lordosis of the spine, elevation of the pelvis, flexion of the arms,
lifting of the head, loud crying culminating in apnoea and
cyanosis, emptying of the bladder, and relaxation and bulging of
the rectum with bowel movement; after the reflex has fully
developed there is general hypertonia lasting for a few seconds
(Pulgar Marx 1955).52
Picture with kind permission of Fern Ridge Press.
Source: Reflexes, learning and behavior
The spinal Galant reflex emerges at 20 weeks in utero, is
by Sally Goddard Blythe
actively present at birth, and should be integrated by the time
the baby is 6 to 12 months of age. This reflex helps the baby
during the birthing process when the mothers contractions stimulate this reflex, causing
movements of the babys hips to enable the baby to work its way down the birth canal. It also
allows the foetus to hear and feel the sound vibrations in the womb. The spinal Galant reflex is
important in the development of hearing and auditory processing, as well as helping to achieve
balance when the child is creeping and crawling.53
Sally Goddard wrote: If the spinal Galant reflex remains beyond the neonate period, it can be elicited
at any time by light pressure in the lumbar region.54 This may very well explain the reaction I noticed
in the erector spinae when I did moves 1 & 2 of BRM 1 in many children who have nocturnal enuresis.
A retained or residual spinal Galant reflex is found in many children who may have poor bladder
control, and who continue to wet the bed after the age of 5 years. Beuret (1989) working with adults
in Chicago, found the spinal Galant reflex also to be present in a high percentage of patients suffering
from irritable bowel syndrome.54 Although it is usually associated with irritable bowel syndrome in
adulthood, my belief is that this could explain the connection between nocturnal enuresis and bowel
issues. As per the table in the section about bladder & bowel habits and constipation, 6 out of the 10
participants in this project had some type of bowel problem.
51
Wilks 2007, Page 169.

Goddard, 2002, Page 15.
53
http://www.visiontherapyathome.com/category_s/91.htm
54
Goddard 2002, Page 16.
52
22
Children with ADD/ADHD, auditory processing disorders, autism or Aspergers Syndrome often have
a retained Spinal Galant reflex as well as other retained primitive reflexes such as the Moro reflex and
asymmetrical tonic neck reflex.55 Two of the ten project participants have Aspergers Syndrome and
one has ADHD (as per the table about Anxiety, Neuropsychological Disorders and Emotional
Stressors).
The possible long term effects of a retained spinal Galant reflex include: 56
Bedwetting
Difficulty sitting still (often described as ants in the pants)
Fidgeting/hyperactivity
Poor listening skills
Poor speech development
Fatigue
Poor concentration
Poor coordination
Extreme ticklishness (especially around the back)
Poor short term memory
Hip rotation to one side when walking
Poor posture
Scoliosis
Bowel control issues
Attention difficulties
Some children who have a retained spinal Galant reflex do not like wearing belts, elastic waistbands
or labels inside the waistband as the friction activates the reflex. They may also dislike having their
backs rubbed or an arm around their waist. Some have a preference for sitting on a stool, or on a
reversed chair (with the chair back to the side or front), or refuse to sit back in their chair. 57
Unintegrated, active primitive reflexes may be caused by:58
Stress of the mother and/or baby during pregnancy.

Breech birth, premature birth, birth trauma, induced birth, caesarean birth, forceps delivery,
vacuum suction cap delivery (because the foetus did not get to use this reflex to manoeuvre
itself through the birth canal).
Lack of enough proper movement in infancy: being placed in baby walkers/rings, jumpers,
being left for long periods of time in car seats/baby capsules, and being placed in front of TV in
bouncers all restrict critical movements required for brain development.
Illness, trauma, injury or chronic stress.
Environmental toxins.
Complications with vaccinations.
Dietary imbalances or sensitivities.
In some cases, reflexes that are completely integrated can later become reactive because of
trauma, injury, toxins and stress.
Of the ten children who participated in this project, four had complications during gestation and/or
delivery. As per the table in the section about Anxiety, Neuropsychological Disorders and
Emotional Stressors, most of these children fall into the category of trauma, stress, etc.
It is difficult to say how much movement they were allowed during infancy to integrate the primitive
reflexes.
55
http://www.mindtransformations.com/index.cfm?GPID=278
http://www.moveplaythrive.com/Reflexes/spinal-galant-reflex.html
57
http://www.centeredge.com/brain-gym-article10.html
58
http://www.rhythmicmovement.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11&Itemid=18
56
23
Complications during Gestation and/or Delivery in Project Participants
Initials & Age

FEMALE
MALE
TM
6
JM
9
TC
6
ML
7
EW
14
AW
8
MC
9
JB
11
BH
9
JW
9
Stress/Complications during
gestation
Premature Delivery
Birth Trauma
Induced Labour
Caesarean Section
Forceps Delivery
Vacuum Suction Cap Delivery
From very early on in utero, the primitive reflex movements literally help develop the brain. The
movements lay down the patterns of neural networks and the development of pathways that allow the
connection of the various areas of the brain that are so important later on for learning, behaviour,
communication, relationships and emotional wellbeing.59
Primitive reflexes lay the foundations for all later functioning and are essential for the babys survival
in the first weeks of life. These reflexes are automatic, stereotyped movements, directed from the
brain stem and executed without cortical involvement. Conscious awareness is possible only when
the cerebral cortex becomes involved in the event. Primitive reflexes should be inhibited or controlled
by higher centres of the brain in order to allow more sophisticated neural structures to develop which
then allow the infant control of voluntary response.60 As described before in the chapter Neural
Control of Micturition, voluntary inhibition of the micturition reflex is controlled at higher levels of the
nervous system. This usually develops by the age of 3-5 years, but if primitive reflexes remain
uninhibited, the neural structures of the higher brain centers which inhibit micturition cannot fully
develop.
Primitive reflexes normally transition to postural
reflexes which are mediated from the level of the
midbrain. Their appearance is a sign of active
involvement of higher brain structures over
brainstem activity, and of increased maturity in the
central nervous system.61
The brainstem is the area of the brain that connects
the cerebral cortex with the spinal cord. It relays
information between the peripheral nerves and
spinal cord to the upper parts of the brain and
controls life supporting autonomic functions of the
Peripheral Nervous System.
http://www.humanjourney.us/detail/cortex.html
59
60
61
24
As John Wilks wrote: It could be that using our extra holding points and doing the coccyx procedure
helps to inhibit the spinal Galant reflex in children where it hasnt been replaced by more complex
control centres.62
If the Autonomic Nervous System is dominant over the Somatic Nervous System, we are not able to
easily access our prefrontal cortex where we can process and analyse information. Instead we stay in
survival and stress mode. As we get older our unintegrated reflexes trigger the fight/flight response
even when there is no logical' reason for the stress. So stressed behaviour becomes a common
pattern of responding.63
Bowen can be very effective in treating bedwetting as the moves activate proprioceptors at multiple
tissue levels and create a dynamic re-arrangement of the Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems,
regulating the Autonomic Nervous System and therefore facilitating the pathway to the prefrontal
cortex.
How fascinating to learn that Bowen Therapy can treat bedwetting this way!
There are specific exercises which have been developed by experts who use special remediation
techniques to integrate retained primitive reflexes. These exercises are most commonly known as
Neuro-Developmental Therapy but also as Rhythmic Movement Training, Primitive Reflex Therapy,
Brain Gym, Bobath Therapy, Neuro-Sensory Integration or Developmental Movement Exercises
(I checked on the internet to find out what the different names are for this type of therapy from
different institutes and associations). These exercises stimulate connection of neural pathways to the
brain that allow for development of more complex and refined reflexes, by repeating similar
movements that should naturally occur in the first year of life. The exercises are performed in a slow
and deliberate manner and the child does these exercises at home every day. According to experts,
it takes three weeks for new connections to be made in the brain, so the exercises will need to be
done every day without interruption for at least three weeks.64 To make the progress truly permanent,
the exercises will need to be done regularly for up to a year.
I have found three exercises which are used by Neuro-Developmental Therapists for integration of the
spinal Galant reflex. They are called the Wiggle Worm65, Lizard66, and Snow Angel.67 They are
very simple exercises and I felt I should pass these exercises on to the parents and children who
participated in this project as they could be of great benefit to these children. I have given them a
sheet with pictures that I have created myself and instructions how to do them correctly which I have
included in this project as an Appendix: Exercises for Spinal Galant Reflex Integration68
Referral to a Neuro-Developmental Therapist is highly recommended for children with nocturnal
enuresis, especially if there is no improvement after several Bowen treatments.
62
Wilks 2007, Page 169.

64
http://fernridgepress.com/bugaboo.html
65
http://ezinearticles.com/?Stop-Bed-Wetting-and-ADHD-Behavior---Do-the-Wiggle-Worm&id=3080194
66
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV1u167yMmU
67
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWB63IRddzQ
68
See Appendix G Exercises for Spinal Galant Reflex Integration
63
25
TRADITIONAL TREATMENT METHODS FOR BEDWETTING
The parents of all participants had tried a number of traditional bedwetting treatment methods but
mostly with only some or no results:
Previous Treatment Methods Used by Project Participants
Initials & Age

FEMALE
MALE
TM
6
JM
9
TC
6
ML
7
EW
14
AW
8
MC
9
JB
11
BH
9
JW
9
Fluid Restriction
Night Time Awakening
Rewards/Praise
Bedwetting Alarm
Counselling
Medication
Fluid Restriction at Night

It is best to limit drinks 1-2 hours before bed time but its important that a child
drinks enough water throughout the day. If they dont drink enough, the bladder
will only be used to holding smaller amounts of urine. Hydration is important for
good kidney function, bowel function, ridding the body of waste and maintaining
optimal health. The quality of the water is also essential. Filtered alkaline
mineralized water is ideal (see the section about diet).
Night Time Awakening

Some children stay dry more often when parents lift the child out of bed in the middle of the night
and take them to the toilet, but it will not do much to help the bedwetting problem. This only helps
them to stay dry because there is less volume of urine building up in the bladder throughout the
night. Often the child is barely awake when they are put on the toilet and it only reinforces the
message that they should pass urine when theyre half-asleep. The brain needs to learn to respond
to the signal the bladder gives when its full by waking up and going to the toilet themselves.
26
Rewards
Rewards for dry nights can help with some children but this should be done with caution. The child
may stress over not getting rewarded for wet nights and feel they are being punished for something
they have no control over. Extra hugs, kisses and praise are always great for dry nights and perhaps
a small reward but a wet child should still receive hugs, kisses and praise and not feel like theyve
done something wrong.
Parents must explain to their child that they are never mad or upset with them if they have wet the
bed.
Bedwetting Alarms
These are special alarms that have a sensor which are activated by moisture. They are available as
a pad which fits over the mattress or as a small sensor which is worn inside the childs underwear
when they go to bed. When the child passes urine, the alarm makes a loud noise. Often children
dont wake up from this because they are deep sleepers but the parents usually do. They need to
wake up the child to take them to the toilet to make sure the bladder is emptied so that they get used
to going to the toilet as soon as there is a need to pass urine.
http://www.asia.ru/en/ProductInfo/1267433.html
http://www.lifemartini.com/7-effective-solutionsto-end-bedwetting-in-children/
Counselling
As bedwetting can be caused by psychological issues, counselling can be extremely helpful. Issues
such as divorce, new siblings and traumatic childhood events can influence childrens ability to stay
dry at night and children with learning disabilities, developmental delay, attention deficit disorders
(ADD) and those with hyperactive disorders (ADHD) have increased tendencies to bed wet.
Professional counselling can help in identifying and discussing these issues and help the children and
parents deal with their concerns.69
69
Preston Smith 2006, Page 44
27
Medications
The current medications which are prescribed by doctors for bedwetting provide mixed results.
Unfortunately there is no magic pill to fix nocturnal enuresis. It is better to try alternative treatments
first because there can be side effects and there is no guarantee that it will work.
Three common medications are used which have a different mechanism of action:
Minirin (desmopressin acetate)
This is a modified form of the human ADH (arginine vasopressin) which is an antidiuretic hormone
that decreases urine production while the child is asleep. It has a low rate of significant side effects.
When a child makes less urine they are less likely to wet. Once the medication is stopped the chance
of relapse is high so it needs to be taken for several months. Most Paediatricians believe it cures
nocturnal enuresis in about 20% of children.70
Tofranil (imipramine)
This is an antidepressant which has several actions that may help nocturnal enuresis. The
antidepressant effect can be beneficial and it can alter the level of deep sleep. It also influences
bladder function by relaxing the bladder muscle and tightening of the sphincter muscles.
The success rate of this medication to treat nocturnal enuresis is around 20% and relapses often
occur after the medication is stopped. It has more side effects than Minirin, including sleeplessness,
weight loss and hair loss. Children with heart problems cannot take this medication and overdoses
can be fatal.71
Ditropan (oxybutynin)
Ditropan relaxes the bladder during sudden and frequent urges to urinate. It is often prescribed as an
effective treatment in people that have urinary urgency and urinary frequency. It can allow a child
more time to wake up when they have a full bladder so that they can make it to the toilet before they
wet the bed. It may also help to increase functional bladder capacity (bladder size) during sleep.
Its side effects include dry mouth, constipation, facial flushing and even hallucinations.72
Five of the project participants had been prescribed one of the above medications or even tried more
than one, but without success:
Medications for Nocturnal Enuresis in Project Participants
Initials & Age

FEMALE
MALE
TM
6
JM
9
TC
6
ML
7
EW
14
AW
8
MC
9
JB
11
BH
9
JW
9
Minirin (desmopressin acetate)

Tofranil (imipramine)
Ditropan (oxybutynin)
70

72
71
28
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR MANAGING BEDWETTING

Bedding, Pyjamas and Pull-Ups
Wearing pull-ups is fine if e.g. the child is going to a sleepover but avoidance of
wearing these at night whenever possible is recommended. The child is more likely
to wake up from wet clothes than a full pull-up which absorbs all the moisture. Of
course it will mean more laundry and care but absorbent mattress pads and
waterproof mattress covers will help to minimize the frustration and work in the
middle of the night.
Most parents have found excellent solutions to set up the childs bedding so that its easier to
change and wash sheets. There are cheap easy-care fitted sheets available that do not need any
ironing so its very affordable to have a number of them on standby.
Two-piece pyjama sets without buttons are easier to change. Several clean PJs
should be available so parents dont have to go looking for something in the middle
of the night. Less fuss with changing clothes and sheets means less stress for the
child and parents.
It is fine to let the child help with changing the sheets and clothes, if the child is old
enough and if they want to. Some children are even fine with doing it themselves
by a certain age but parents should be careful not to force their child to help as it can come across
as a form of punishment. But, many children actually want to help as they may feel less guilt by
being helpful and it gives them a sense of control that they have over correcting the problem.
Guidance for Parents

Treating bedwetting will require patience and commitment from the parents and the child. Discussing
the problem with others can be helpful and parents may be amazed how many others have been
through a similar situation. However, they must be very careful not to discuss this while their child is
around in order to avoid any embarrassment.
It is very important to have a matter-of-fact approach and never get angry at the child for wetting the
bed. Parents should always remember it is not the childs fault. It would be very rare for a child to
deliberately wet their bed. They should remind themselves that a child does not like a wet bed and
needs support and reassurance.
Bedwetting is something children do not know how to correct themselves so they should never be
made to feel embarrassed, ashamed or responsible for what they have done. Although it can be
hard, parents need to try to hide their frustrations and remind themselves that the problem will go
away with time. It will not last forever.
Top 10 myths about bedwetting:
1 - Kids intentionally wet at night
2 - There is a magic pill that corrects bedwetting
3 - Punishment helps a child stop wetting at night
4 - All bedwetters have a true medical problem
5 - Nothing helps you just have to outgrow it
6 - Only bad or lazy kids wet the bed
7 - It is always the parents fault
8 - One thing or problem alone causes bedwetting
9 - All children wet at night for the same reason
10 - Expensive programs can provide easy and instant cures
29
THE STUDY SAMPLE / STAKEHOLDERS
Gathering participants:
I placed an advertisement73 in our daughters Primary School Newsletter, offering free Bowen
Therapy treatments for bedwetting and explaining that it is for a Bowen Therapy research project.
The next couple of days I got quite a number of phone calls from parents enquiring about the therapy
and 10 children ended up participating in the project.
Obtaining relevant client history:
When parents booked an appointment for their child I sent them a questionnaire74 and asked them to
complete that and send it back to me before the first session. In some cases I contacted the parents
per telephone to clarify some of the answers they had written on the questionnaire, as it is a sensitive
issue and it was sometimes more appropriate to discuss these things without the child being present.
The questionnaire includes questions about the pregnancy and birth of the child because a difficult
pregnancy and/or delivery may be a factor in the cause of the bedwetting.
I have also added questions about any family history of bedwetting, toilet habits, sleep patterns,
developmental, psychological or behavioural issues, etc. as these can also be a factor in the
bedwetting problem.
At the first session I first sit down with the child and preferably both parents for a consultation to get to
know them and their specific circumstances (e.g. some children have divorced parents or there may
be other issues which could affect the bedwetting problem). I always ensure not to rush the
consultation so that the child gets to know me a bit better as well and feels more comfortable about
the treatment.
73
74
See Appendix A Advertisement in School Newsletter

See Appendix B Client Details & History Questionnaire
30
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS & COMMUNICATION WITH CLIENTS

Even though I asked for the name, address and other personal details on the questionnaire75,
I informed the clients in a privacy policy statement on this form that the childs and the parents
identity and personal information will remain strictly confidential and that I only use the childs initials,
age and gender in my research task. I also re-affirmed this at the first consultation.
On the bottom of the form I obtained the parents or guardians signed consent:
- To proceed with the treatment
- To agree to their childs participation in the research project
- To publish their data in the research project just using the childs initials, age and gender
Each child was approached with patience and integrity, taking into consideration the childs age,
gender, cultural background and/or other needs. I wanted it to be a positive experience for the child
and the parents.
Clear communication is very important with children, so before I start their first treatment, I always
explain how I will do the moves on their body by asking them to put the fingers of one hand on the top
of their opposite arm and feel how the skin can move over the muscles that are under the skin. I then
tell them how I move the skin over their muscles and roll across the muscles which gives the body
little messages that travel through the bodys telephone line to the brain so that the brain can listen to
them and send messages back to the body. The children are always fascinated with that and are
usually very excited to start with the treatment.
I personally feel that when children understand how some things work, it gives them a greater sense
of confidence and control. Another thing that really works with kids is to make information fun and
entertaining. Therefore, I have found some excellent illustrations in a book about Bedwetting by Dr.
Janet Hall.76 With the kind permission of the publisher, I have enlarged these pictures and printed
them on cardboard paper, to help the child understand what happens in their body with a full bladder
and how the bladder muscle is supposed to communicate with the brain when theyre awake or
asleep.77 I use these pictures to tell them the story of the brain being the boss of the body, which
controls the bodys movements, emotions and other functions and that the body and brain
communicate with each other, just like talking on a telephone line. The kids often have a giggle and
enjoy looking at the pictures! I then explain that Bowen Therapy helps to improve the connection
between the bladder and the brain, so that they can hear each other better, even when the child is
asleep.
As bedwetting is a very embarrassing and distressing problem, I first made sure that the children were
comfortable and willing to have the treatment and assured them the bedwetting is nothing to be
ashamed of or to feel guilty about. To put it into perspective, I also tell them that they are not alone
because every night millions of kids around the world of the same age wet their bed and that e.g. in a
7 year old childs class there would be at least 4 to 7 other kids who wet the bed as well. I also
mention that almost all kids will eventually grow out of it but that Bowen Therapy can help to make
this happen a bit sooner if their body responds well to the treatment. If the child feels more confident
and positive about it, the bedwetting problem should resolve faster.
75
See Appendix B Client Details & History Questionnaire

76
Hall 1995, Pages 13, 18, 19, 23, 25 and 33.
77
See Appendix F Pictures about how the bladder communicates with the brain
31
I do make sure not to promise a cure. At the first consultation I explain to the parents and children
that some kids respond well to the treatment and become 100% dry, others will notice a reduction in
the bedwetting frequency but still occasionally wet the bed (those kids will probably overcome the
problem sooner than if they didnt have the Bowen Therapy) and that a few kids do not notice any
changes in the bedwetting and that referral for further investigation by a Paediatrician and/or
Counsellor would be recommended in those cases.
At the first consultation parents receive a printed Bowen Therapy for Bedwetting Advice & Information
Handout78 that I have written to provide them with bedwetting management guidelines and advice on
what to do between the Bowen treatments. It also contains advice re. diet, i.e. especially no apples or
dairy products, to try to adhere to a 80/20 balance in their food (with a list of acid and alkaline forming
foods) and increasing omega-3 in their diet.
I also tell the parents that it will require patience, commitment and a positive approach to help the
child and not to get angry or show frustration when the child has an accident at night.
78
See Appendix D Bowen Therapy for Bedwetting Information for Parents Handout
32
THE BOWEN TREATMENTS: PROCEDURES USED / RESPONSES OBSERVED

When the children come for their first session, I always do all the BRMs, Kidney, Respiratory and
sometimes Gallbladder and/or Hamstrings to balance and relax their body and prepare them for the
Bedwetting treatments which then follow in the subsequent weeks.
The next four weekly sessions I only do BRM 1 (moves 1 & 2) and the Bedwetting procedure,
alternating between the left and right side every week. At the 6th appointment I evaluate the progress
of each child. If they are making good progress, I might repeat the Bedwetting procedure. Often I
use other procedures by that stage, such as the Gracilis, Respiratory, Gallbladder, Coccyx Oblique,
Shoulder, Hamstrings, Knee, Ankle, Upper Respiratory/TMJ (not all in one session but spread over
several sessions using the procedures as required for the needs of each individual).
If the child hasnt made any progress at all after 4-5 sessions, and/or if there is no change to the
frequency or pattern in their bedwetting, referral to a Doctor or Counsellor may be indicated.
In my experience with most children, it can take anywhere up to 4 - 6 months of treatments to treat
nocturnal enuresis with permanent results.
The first month or two I get children to see me once a week. The next month we space the
treatments every two weeks and if there is good progress, they come back once a month for review
and maintenance treatments.
Some of the participants started a bit later during the time I was working on this research task and are
still having regular treatments at present. Others have made sufficient progress to come back for
monthly sessions.
Every time I work with children, I am in awe of how their bodies respond to a minimum of work being
done. Their body language tells me when they are ready for the next set of moves or if their body has
had enough.
Children are always very good at noticing the sensations in their bodies which are created by the
Bowen moves, because they are so open to this experience without any prejudice. They often say
that they feel waves or butterflies going through their body. In the detailed reports of all the
participants, you can read about their responses during and after the treatments.
I always get the parents to assist with the holding points for the Bedwetting procedure, and some
were surprised when they felt a wave or pulse when I did the move on the childs coccyx.
One of the participants is a seven year old girl with ADD, constipation, diurnal and nocturnal enuresis,
eczema and many allergies had quite a profound reaction when I had done the Upper
Respiratory/TMJ. In that session I did BRM 1, 2 and 3, Kidney, Respiratory, Gallbladder, Knee,
Upper Respiratory and TMJ. Her knees were extremely tight and also the sternocleidomastoid and
TMJ. She was very ticklish around the knee area so I got her to hold on to my arm which helped a lot.
After the knee procedure she felt a lot of tingling around her bottom so we waited for that to subside.
When I did the TMJ, she said it started to feel like a hard pulling sensation on her chin. It continued
to feel like that for 15 minutes so I let her rest while we waited for the sensation to go away. When
she got up she was fine and was very calm. The Bowen has helped a lot of her symptoms and not
only the nocturnal enuresis as you can read in her case study report.
Interestingly, after the Coccyx Oblique, several children had a very sudden urge to move their bowels.
With some I could quite noticeably feel the muscles react under my finger as I did the move over the
gluteus maximus for this procedure.
As mentioned in the section about retained primitive reflexes, most of these children have very
reactive paraspinals; some on both sides and others on one side only, which may be an indicator of
unintegrated primitive reflexes.
On the next few pages you can read the case studies and I have added tables of all the procedures
that were used in each session per child.
33
CASE STUDIES
JM 9 years old and TM 6 years old (sisters)
10/11/11 - JM and TM are sisters. They are daughters of teachers and they both suffer from coeliac
disease (diagnosed in both about 1 years ago). Although coeliac disease often causes diarrhoea,
they actually get badly constipated and JM has this problem the most. Before she was diagnosed
with coeliac disease, JM was referred to a child psychologist for counselling to see if there was any
psychological reason for the constipation but when it became clear that there was a medical reason
for the problem, they finally discovered the cause.
JM was a happy and healthy baby but was born by forceps delivery at full term. When she was 16
months old she had a bad fall off playground equipment and landed flat on her back. Even though no
injury was found, her mother is still concerned that this may have caused some trauma to her nervous
system.
JM was dry at night from the age of 3 but started to wet the bed nearly every night 4 years later
since she became very constipated. She is a deep sleeper and doesnt wake up when she has
passed urine. The Paediatrician prescribed Osmolax for the girls and wants them to be on this for at
least another year but it has caused JM especially to get very runny, explosive bowel motions which
cause her to soil her underwear during the day because she often doesnt make it to the toilet on time
when she gets sudden bowel cramps. She finds this very embarrassing and needs to take extra
underwear to school for this reason. Since she started taking the laxative, she also started getting
some leakage of urine during the day. The Paediatrician still wants her to stay on the current dosage
but JMs mum would like to try and see how she would go on half the strength and will have another
talk to the Paediatrician. He also prescribed Ditropan to try and treat the bedwetting but that hasnt
made any difference so the parents want them to be taken off that medication.
JM also gets occasional tightness and discomfort in her upper back and on examination her thoracic
paraspinals were very tight and her lumbar paraspinals were very reactive when touched.
The parents have tried different methods to stop the bedwetting in both JM and TM such as fluid
restrictions, night time awakening, etc. but they havent been effective in the long term.
TM is a very lively little girl. She has a twin brother and after a relatively normal pregnancy they were
born at 37 weeks gestation by suction cap delivery. TM was a settled baby with no health problems
until she was older and started to get constipated due to the coeliac disease. Her twin-brother doesnt
have the disease and doesnt have any bedwetting problems either. TM wets the bed on average 4
times per week and never wakes up when it happens. During the day she occasionally has an
accident with wetting her undies but thats often due to holding on too long when shes busy playing
and leaving it too late to go to the toilet.
She sometimes gets anxious and worries about things. She also feels embarrassed about her
bedwetting problem but hopes the Bowen Therapy will help.
At this first session I did BRMs 1, 2 and 3, Kidney, Respiratory and Gallbladder procedures on both
girls. JM felt some chills and a bit tingly all over so we allowed extra rest time. She also felt a bit of
discomfort when I did moves 1-4 of BRM 2. When she was finished she felt a bit of discomfort down
her left leg but that settled soon afterwards. TM was very sleepy during and after the treatment. She
said she liked the Bowen Therapy and didnt feel any discomfort.
17/11/11 - At this second session, JM had 3 dry nights that week and TM had 4 consecutive dry
nights so the girls were very happy about that.
I did BRM 1 (moves 1 & 2) & the Bedwetting Procedure (from the left) on both of them for the first time
and they both said it felt a bit ticklish but they liked the therapy.
24/11/11 Today they were both excited to tell me they had even more dry nights that week: JM was
dry for 4 nights and TM 6 nights. I did BRM 1 (moves 1 & 2) & Bedwetting Procedure (from the right).
TM said that after I did the move on her tailbone and she was resting, she felt like a bone was moving
in her lower back but that it didnt hurt.
JM said she felt a tingle around the area where her mum had her fingers on the holding points when
I did the move on her coccyx.
34
08/12/11 - There was a 2-week break between this and the previous appointment. JM and TM had
both been very emotional, teary and moody during those two weeks and the bedwetting also got
worse: JM had 5 dry nights out of 14 and TM only 2 out of 14. Their mother isnt sure whether
anything happened that may have contributed to this but the coeliac disease was also worse and they
had a lot of explosive bowel motions. I decided to just continue as per plan for now, so I did BRM 1
(moves 1 & 2) and Bedwetting Procedure (from the left).
16/12/11 - Last week TM had 3 dry nights and JM 4. I did BRM 1 (moves 1& 2) and Bedwetting
Procedure (from the right). The bowel issues are still a problem at the moment.
21/12/11 - The girls were disappointed because TM only had 1 dry night and JM 2. There is still no
improvement in the bedwetting so I suggested to their mother that the girls be referred back to the
Paediatrician and to have their bowel issues & medications reviewed as well. Their mum wants to
see how they go over the Christmas Holiday and come back at least one more time before they go
back to the doctor.
I did the Coccyx Oblique procedure today and JM said she felt a lot of bubbles and tingling in her
tummy. TM said she felt sleepy.
06/01/12 During the past 2 weeks TM still didnt have much of an improvement because she had 3
dry nights each week. JM did make some progress; in the first week she had four dry nights and 5 in
the next week. Compared to being wet almost every night before having Bowen Therapy, this does
mean she has had an improvement in the number of dry nights. TM is only 6 so perhaps she still
needs some more time. I feel that the bowel problems and laxatives are interfering with their progress.
The girls have an appointment to see the specialist in a couple of weeks and I hope this issue can be
sorted out for them.
Today I did BRM 1,2 and 3, Kidney, Respiratory, Gallbladder, Gracilis, Knee and Ankle on both girls.
TM (6) & JM (9) - Female

Session:
BRM 1
(Moves 1 & 2) (Moves 1 & 2) (Moves 1 & 2) (Moves 1 & 2) (Moves 1 & 2)
BRM 2
BRM 3
Kidney
Respiratory
Gallbladder
Bedwetting
(L)
(R)
(L)
(R)
Gracilis
Coccyx Oblique
Upper Respiratory/TMJ
Shoulder
Hamstrings
Knee
Ankle
35
TC 6 year old girl

13/10/11 - TC is a bubbly, happy little girl who loves to dance, draw and play with animals but can
also be shy when she is in new situations or in larger group settings. She is dry during the day but
she still wets the bed 3-4 nights per week and she feels very embarrassed about that. She is the
oldest of 3 girls (her 2 sisters are 4 years old and 6 months) and her 4 year old sister has been dry at
night since she was 3 so TC feels upset that she herself isnt dry at night yet. Her mum said that her
pregnancy of TC was normal but when she was born her airways had to be suctioned because she
had been stressed and passed meconium in the womb. As a newborn she was a happy contented
baby but during the toddler years she often had problems with constipation which is no longer an
issue now. She suffers from asthma but doesnt need to use her puffer very often. She tends to be
shy at school and worries about a lot of things. Her mum describes her as a real worry wart. When
she is comfortable, she comes out of her shell and chats a lot which is what she also did at her first
appointment.
Her dad and uncles were also bedwetters until around the age of 10. TC is a deep sleeper and
doesnt notice when she is wet at night. Her parents have tried fluid restrictions, night time awakening,
rewards and praise but this has only made a small difference. The Paediatrician prescribed Minirin
which didnt make any difference. Since then they havent consulted the GP or Paediatrician anymore
about the bedwetting and are keen to try Bowen Therapy.
I did BRMs 1,2 and 3, Kidney and Respiratory in this first session. She was very relaxed on the table
and said she enjoyed having the Bowen Therapy. At times she felt pins and needles down her legs
and when I did the respiratory moves 1 & 2 she giggled because it felt like a wave went down her
back on each side.
20/10/11 - At the second appointment there was no change yet in the bedwetting frequency but she
felt well and was happy to have more Bowen Therapy done. I did BRM 1 (moves 1 & 2) & the
bedwetting procedure (from the left) and she said she felt tingling around her coccyx for a couple of
minutes. We allowed enough waiting time for that to settle before we did the tummy move and that
went very well.
28/10/11 - She had a good week and was very happy because she had 5 dry nights. She was looking
forward to having more Bowen Therapy today. I did BRM 1 (moves 1 & 2) & Bedwetting Procedure
(from the right). She said it felt like butterflies in her tummy.
04/11/11 - This fourth session there had been even more improvement. She had been dry for 6
nights and was very excited about that. I did BRM 1 (moves 1 & 2) & Bedwetting Procedure (from the
left).
11/11/11 - She was a bit disappointed because this last week she had 4 dry nights instead of the 6
she had the previous week. I reassured her and her parents not to worry because it can sometimes
happen that there are some better weeks than others, and that we had already made good progress
so far. I did BRM 1 (moves 1 & 2) & Bedwetting Procedure (from the right).
18/11/11 - At this sixth appointment she had 5 dry nights so was much happier about that. I did BRM
1 (moves 1 & 2) & Bedwetting Procedure (from the left).
24/11/11 - She was a bit disappointed because she only had 3 dry nights this week. I did BRM 1 & 2
(moves 1-4), Kidney, Respiratory and the Gracilis procedure on her seeing she is still not responding
as well as we had hoped. She found it a bit ticklish but I told her to hold on to my arm and after a few
giggles she relaxed and took the 2 breaths for the procedure. She felt a few tingling sensations after
that but that settled very quickly.
09/12/11 - The last week was a bit better because TC had 5 dry nights. I decided it was time to try
the Coccyx Oblique procedure on her. She felt some butterflies in her tummy soon after the
procedure and after she had rested she had a very sudden urge to move her bowels and had to run to
the toilet. After that her tummy settled quickly.
36
15/12/11 TC had 5 dry nights out of the 6 since she had her last treatment. Seeing she had quite a
strong reaction last time I decided to repeat the Coccyx Oblique on her. Although the urge wasnt as
strong as last time, she did need to move her bowels when she got up after her rest.
20/12/11 TC had another 5 dry nights. Her parents mentioned that she has been much less
anxious since the last few weeks and feel the Bowen Therapy is making a difference. Today I did
BRM 1, BRM 2 (moves 1-4), Kidney, Respiratory, Gallbladder and Gracilis.
03/01/12 It has been 2 weeks since her last session and the first week TC had 7 dry nights and the
second week 6 dry nights. TC was very happy that she is improving so much.
TC (6) - Female
Session:
BRM 1
(Moves 1 & 2) (Moves 1 & 2) (Moves 1 & 2) (Moves 1 & 2) (Moves 1 & 2)
BRM 2
10
11
(Moves 1 & 2) (Moves 1 & 2)
(Moves 1-4)
(Moves 1-4)
BRM 3
Kidney
Respiratory
Gallbladder
Bedwetting
(L)
(R)
(L)
(R)
(L)
Gracilis
Coccyx Oblique
Shoulder
Hamstrings
Knee
Ankle
ML 7 year old girl

20/10/11 - ML had a pretty difficult start in life. When she was born there were a lot of complications
during labour and she was born with the aid of vacuum extraction. ML was born stressed and spent a
few weeks in intensive care and specialised neonatal care. She has a younger sister (5 years old)
and brother (3 years old).
There were many problems at home when she was very little and when ML was 5 years old her
parents separated. Her mum was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and her erratic behaviour caused
her to be evicted from the house they lived in. The mother was no longer fit to look after her 3
children so they went to live with their aunty, who is now their legal guardian and she took ML to see
me for the Bedwetting problem.
ML has extensive eczema all over her arms, legs and trunk. She also has many allergies. The
eczema started when her mum and dad separated. It makes her extremely itchy and she scratches it
frequently to the point of bleeding. She also suffers from many allergies including feathers and foods
such as wheat, eggs, soy, nuts and citrus fruits.
37
She still wears a pull-up during the day due to daytime urinary and faecal incontinence. The GP said
thats because she gets constipated and ends up passing faeces from overflow leakage. But, she
often has a full bowel motion in her pull-up during the day. She also gets frequent bladder infections.
At night she usually wets the bed and it often gets worse when she is stressed. MLs mother was a
bedwetter until the age of 9 and her father as well until he was 8.
Her aunt said ML has many behavioural issues including frequent tantrums, concentration problems,
disobedience and defiance. She has always suffered from anxiety, compulsive behaviour, panic
attacks and is often scared at night. They have consulted the Paediatrician, child psychiatrist and
counsellors and they think she has ADD and/or an autism spectrum disorder.
The Paediatrician has also examined ML for the urinary and faecal incontinence and she has had an
ultrasound, x-rays and urinalysis tests which did not show any medical cause for the bladder and
bowel problems. The psychiatrist told the aunt that MLs behaviour and incontinence has a lot to do
with anxiety issues.
The aunty has tried many different strategies to stop the day and night-time incontinence, such as
fluid restriction, rewards and praise but without success. She was quite desperate to find a solution
to all of MLs issues and became quite frustrated about it at times, although she loves ML and the
other two 2 children as if theyre her own.
ML never had Bowen Therapy before and was quite excited to have her first treatment. She was a
little bit shy but listened very well to what I explained to her and her aunty about the Bowen Therapy
treatments for bedwetting. Once I started her treatment she was lying nice and still on the table for
most of the treatment. I did BRMs 1, 2 and 3, Kidney, Respiratory and Gallbladder and noticed she
was very tense all over. By the time I started to do BRM 3, she was getting quite restless, wriggly and
not as co-operative. I managed to finish the procedure and explained that the next treatment will be
much shorter than the first one. Her aunt commented that she was surprised how long ML managed
to lie still because that is normally very difficult for her.
28/10/11 - The second session ML was extremely restless when she arrived and didnt want to
communicate much. The aunty told me that ML had spent the weekend with her own mother and
every time shes been there, she comes back much worse. Her eczema looked very red and was
weepy and bleeding. She was scratching herself constantly making her skin bleed because it was
extremely itchy. I felt so deeply sad for the poor little girl! What kind of turmoil is going on in her little
body and mind...
I did BRM 1 (moves 1 & 2) & Bedwetting Procedure (from the left) and ML stayed beautifully still and
relaxed so we got through the treatment without any hassles. The aunt was absolutely amazed how
well the session went and that the girls behaviour changed so instantly. Once ML was finished, she
had a very different expression on her face and was much calmer! She even came up to me and
started chatting about her dog and how he does funny things, etc. It was like we had a completely
different child from one moment to the next.
08/11/11 - When ML came back for the third session, she had 7 dry nights! Her aunt told me that they
had been to Brisbane for allergy tests and for the first time she tested negative to all food and animal
allergy tests! The doctor was quite amazed that MLs allergies were no longer present after all the
years of severe allergies.
MLs eczema was still very itchy. The specialist in Brisbane had prescribed antibiotics and a bath
solution that she needs to soak in to help clear up the eczema. I did BRM 1 (moves 1 & 2) &
Bedwetting Procedure (from the right).
15/11/11 - On the day of the fourth appointment, ML had 3 dry nights during that week but she had
improved in other things, because she had been much happier, calmer and less anxious. The
eczema looked a bit better since she had started taking the antibiotics and soaked in the special
baths. I did BRM 1 (moves 1 & 2) & Bedwetting Procedure (from the left).
22/11/11 MLs eczema is looking even better than last week. She had 6 dry nights but still soils her
pull-up during the day. Today I did BRM 1, 2 and 3, Kidney, Respiratory, Gallbladder and Shoulder.
38
08/12/11 - I didnt see her for 2 weeks and since then, ML had 6 dry nights the first week and 5 the
next. Today I did the Coccyx Oblique procedure and it will be interesting to see how she is going to
respond.
15/12/11 ML has slept well all week and has had 6 dry nights. Her eczema looked slightly worse
today but her aunty was away and ML stayed with her mum for a week. Her aunty said it often tends
to get worse when shes been away. The Paediatrician has been informed of the Bowen treatments
and she was delighted to hear about the results we have had with ML and said I was very welcome to
the team. I did BRM 1 (moves 1&2) and repeated the coccyx oblique today. ML felt some tingling in
her legs after I did each side. We allowed enough resting time for the sensation to settle.
19/12/11 - ML has been dry every night since I saw her last. She has been happy and she looked
calm and relaxed when she got on the table. I decided to focus more on the other issues today
instead of the bedwetting, seeing she has been dry most days. I did BRM 1, 2 and 3, Kidney,
Respiratory, Gallbladder, Knee, Upper Respiratory and TMJ.
Her knees were extremely tight and also the sternocleidomastoid and TMJ. She was very ticklish
around the knee area so I got her to hold on to my arm which helped a lot. After the knee procedure
she felt a lot of tingling around her bottom so we waited for that to subside. When I did the TMJ, she
said it started to feel like a hard pulling sensation on her chin. It continued to feel like that for 15
minutes so I let her rest while we waited for the sensation to go away. When she got up she was fine.
There was a one month gap till the next appointment because they went away on holidays. Her aunt
rang me on the 10th January to say that ML has been dry every night since her last treatment! I saw
her a couple more times to also focus on her other issues and she is still dry at night.
ML (7) - Female
Session:
BRM 1
(Moves 1 & 2) (Moves 1 & 2) (Moves 1 & 2)
(Moves 1 & 2) (Moves 1 & 2)
BRM 2
BRM 3
Kidney
Respiratory
Gallbladder
Bedwetting
(L)
(R)
(L)
Gracilis
Coccyx Oblique
Shoulder
Hamstrings
Knee
Ankle
39
EW - 14 years old and AW- 8 years old (sisters)

17/10/11 - EW and AWs biological mother died 6 years ago. She was diagnosed with cancer 2 years
before that, just after AWs birth. She had chemotherapy and was very ill most of those 2 years
before she passed away and didnt get to look after AW much herself. By the time she died, EW was
8 and AW 2 years old.
EW had been completely dry at night since she was 5 years old. When their father met another
partner and remarried 2 years after his wife had passed away, EW started to wet the bed and this still
happens on average 2 nights a week. AW has always been a bedwetter, wetting at least 4 nights a
week. There is a family history of bedwetters because the girls father and uncle were also
bedwetters until they were 9 or 10. The girls have both been diagnosed with autism spectrum
disorder which the doctors think is most likely a form of Asperger Syndrome.
EW is a shy and introvert girl and is taking Lovan (antidepressant). She is slightly overweight and
suffers from chronic constipation, occasional diarrhoea and urinary tract infections. It is often difficult
for her to pass urine because it tends to cause a burning sensation. This has been investigated by the
Paediatrician and on an x-ray they found a large build-up of faecal matter which was possibly irritating
the bladder. Laxatives did help while she was taking them but as soon as she stopped with the
medication the constipation would start again. I asked about her diet and fluid intake and she doesnt
drink much water or eat fibre-rich food. I recommended that the parents read the information that I
gave them regarding diet and the importance of drinking plenty of alkaline mineralized water.
AW is quite happy and chatty but tends to be a bit shy at times. She has some learning difficulties at
school but she likes it there. She tends to get temper tantrums and often doesnt want to go to bed at
night. She also suffers from constipation and diarrhoea but not as bad as EW and she doesnt have
any problems with passing urine. She has also had x-rays with similar results as EW a build-up of
faecal matter. When AW was a baby, she was quite unsettled but she had a very unsettled start in
her life, seeing there was a lot of stress in the family and different people looking after her while her
mother was very ill.
I did BRMs 1, 2 and 3, Kidney, Respiratory and Gallbladder procedures on both girls. EW was a bit
nervous and tense at first but started to relax very soon. She said it felt a bit ticklish on the back of
her legs and shoulders but liked the therapy. AW also said it was a bit ticklish and she noticed some
butterflies in her tummy. They were both quite sleepy by the end of the treatment.
25/10/11 - At the second appointment, EW had been dry for 4 nights that week and AW 3. I did BRM
1 (moves 1 & 2) & Bedwetting Procedure (from the left) and they were both very relaxed during the
treatment.
31/10/11 - The third appointment EW had 4 dry nights again. Their stepmum told me that EW had
been feeling a lot more positive about the bedwetting and had told some kids at school that she was
having Bowen Therapy for it but sadly, some other kids who had overheard it started to tease her
about it! Since then poor EW had been very upset and has become very embarrassed about it. I had
a little chat with her and reassured her to stay positive and not let the negative words of other kids get
in the way of her recovery.
I did BRM 1 (moves 1 & 2) & Bedwetting Procedure (from the right). EW experienced some tingling in
her legs which settled after she had a rest on the table.
AW also had 4 dry nights by this third appointment and their stepmum was very happy because AWs
behaviour has changed a lot since shes been having the Bowen treatments. She was much calmer,
slept better and also had less temper tantrums. The bedwetting procedure made her a bit ticklish in
her tummy but she stayed relaxed throughout the treatment.
15/11/11 - The girls were away the previous week so it has been 14 days between the treatments
when they came for the fourth appointment. There was no change yet in the bedwetting frequency in
both girls. EW had 4 dry nights each of the 2 weeks and AW 3 dry nights each week. I repeated
BRM 1 (moves 1 & 2) & the Bedwetting Procedure (on the left today) on the girls.
40
22/11/11 - The fifth appointment they both had some improvement in the bedwetting. EW had 5 dry
nights and had slept very well all week. AW had 4 dry nights and their dad said she is still improving
in her behaviour and sleeping patterns as well. I did BRM 1 (moves 1 & 2) & Bedwetting Procedure
(from the right) on both girls.
29/11/11 - The girls had another very good week. When they came today they told me they both had
6 dry nights and they are feeling well and positive. Their stepmum said EW has been able to
concentrate better at school and has been less moody lately and AW is also doing very well. This
time I did BRM 1 & 2 (moves 1-4), Kidney, Respiratory and Gracilis on both girls.
09/12/11 There was a 1.5 week gap since the last session but the girls were very happy that they
both had lots of dry nights. AW had 5 dry nights in the first week and was dry for the last 3 nights
after that. EW has been dry every night since then. Today I did BRM 1 (moves 1-2) and Coccyx
Oblique on the girls.
They went on holidays after that but I spoke to the parents a couple of weeks later and the girls are
still doing very well. AW is dry most nights and AW had been dry every night.
AW (8) and EW (14) - Female

Session:
BRM 1
(Moves 1 & 2) (Moves 1 & 2) (Moves 1 & 2) (Moves 1 & 2)
BRM 2
7
(Moves 1 & 2)
(Moves 1 - 4)
BRM 3
Kidney
Respiratory
Gallbladder
Bedwetting
(L)
(R)
(L)
(R)
Gracilis
Coccyx Oblique
Shoulder
Hamstrings
Knee
Ankle
41
MC 9 year old boy

18/10/11 - MC is a well mannered, very fit and healthy boy. He trains in the mornings in swimming
squad at least 5 days a week and on the weekends he often participates in competitive swimming for
which he has won many medals. His parents are very focused on healthy eating and when I showed
them the list of the 80/20 diet, they said that its very much like the balance of the food they usually
eat. He sleeps well and goes to bed early at 7.30 p.m. (because he goes to training at 5.00 a.m.)
while he listens to relaxation music.
His parents say they arent stressed about MCs bedwetting and when he does wet the bed, he does
wake up from that and usually pulls the sheets off the bed himself, changes his pyjamas and goes
back to sleep without waking his parents. He never wakes up to go to the toilet during the night. On
average he wets the bed about 3-4 nights a week. His parents have tried fluid restriction and night
time awakening which did help him to stay dry throughout the night but as soon as they didnt do
those things, he ended up wetting the bed again. They also used a bedwetting alarm which wasnt
effective at all. They havent spoken to the doctor about the bedwetting as yet.
MCs mum said he was a perfectly happy baby and didnt have any major health issues as a toddler.
He was dry during the day since he was 2.5 years old. When he was younger he suffered from
recurrent ENT issues and had an adenoid-tonsillectomy in May this year. He also has occasional
asthma which usually flares up when he gets hay fever.
At the first treatment I did BRMs 1, 2 and 3, Kidney, Respiratory and Hamstrings. I noticed that his
upper back muscles are very well developed but a bit tight which is most likely from all the swimming
training. He said his legs felt a bit quivery after I had done BRM 1 but that settled after I let him rest
for a bit longer. He stayed nice and calm and was very relaxed throughout the treatment.
24/10/11 - At the second session he told me he had 3 dry nights in the past week. He was excited to
have more Bowen Therapy. I did BRM 1 (moves 1 and 2) & Bedwetting Procedure (from the left) and
he felt well during and after the session.
01/11/11 - On the day of the third session he had 5 dry nights that week. Procedures: BRM 1 (moves
1 and 2) & Bedwetting Procedure (from the right).
10/11/11 - By the fourth session he had 7 dry nights out of 8 so was very happy about that. His mum
said she also noticed that he had gone to the toilet himself a couple of nights and he had never done
that before.
I did BRM 1 (moves 1 and 2) & Bedwetting Procedure (from the left).
18/11/11 - On the fifth appointment, he had only had 4 dry nights but he had been sick with a flu and
sinusitis. He was also a bit nervous but excited about a swimming carnival that he was going to that
coming weekend. I did BRM 1 (moves 1 and 2) & Bedwetting Procedure (from the right).
25/11/11 This was the sixth appointment but he still only had 4 dry nights that week. He did do very
well at the swimming carnival and had won several awards. He had even broken a record.
Seeing the bedwetting frequency is still with ups and downs, I did BRM 1 & 2 (moves 1-4), Kidney,
Respiratory and Gracilis this time.
12/12/11 - MC is starting to show more improvement and he is very happy about it! He had 6 dry
nights in the past week. Procedures today: BRM 1 & 2 (moves 1-4), Kidney, Respiratory, Gracilis,
Knee and Ankle.
03/01/12 It has been three weeks since I last saw MC and when he came for his session today he
was very excited to tell me he had been dry for 20 nights out of 21 since his last visit! The first week
he had 6 dry nights and the next two weeks he was dry every night. I did BRM 1,2 and 3, Kidney,
Respiratory, Gallbladder, Gracilis and Hamstrings today.
He came back for a follow-up consultation and treatment a month later and is very proud and happy
to be 100% dry for this long, and has remained so ever since.
42
MC (9) - Male
Session:
BRM 1
(Moves 1 - 4)
(Moves 1 - 4)
BRM 2
BRM 3
Kidney
Respiratory
Gallbladder
Bedwetting
(L)
(R)
(L)
(R)
Gracilis
Coccyx Oblique
Shoulder
Hamstrings
Knee
Ankle
JB 11 year old boy

17/10/11 - The very polite and intelligent JB who is quite a serious boy has already achieved a lot at
his young age. He has won this years Optiminds Competition and is also a very talented dancer
(jazz, hip hop, etc.).
His parents are school teachers who are supportive of JB and want to try whatever they can to help
his bedwetting.
He is wet most nights and they have tried a variety of methods like fluid restrictions, medications,
night time awakening, bedwetting alarm, rewards, counselling, etc.
They found that night time awakening does help to keep him dry for the night but as soon they stop
taking him to the toilet late at night, he starts to wet the bed again. They hadnt woken him up at night
for a while but started to try this again since about 3 weeks before they came to see me. Because of
that he had stayed dry again throughout almost every night but I asked them let him sleep at night
because it is important to see how much the bedwetting will improve with the Bowen Therapy
treatments. I am not in favour of night time awakening anyway because the child is usually not
properly awake and more in a zombie-like state when they get taken to the toilet. That way, the brain
will continue the habit that its ok to pass urine without having to be awake. It is better for the brain to
learn to respond to the full bladder by waking up and the child going to the toilet him/herself.
JBs parents have taken him to another Bowen Therapist over a year ago who did 2 treatments but
she then moved away so he didnt have more Bowen since then. It did decrease the bedwetting
frequency after those Bowen treatments for a couple of weeks but then it went back to what it used to
be.
They consulted the doctor as well who prescribed Minirin and when that didnt work this was changed
to Tofranil but even when the dosage was increased it made no difference so they stopped the
medications.
43
JB does sometimes have 1 - 2 weeks that he is dry almost every night but then ends up having more
wet nights in other weeks. His mum said it seems to depend on how tired or stressed he is.
Sometimes he does wake up when he has wet the bed and gets the sheets off the bed himself. His
mum was also a bedwetter until she was 10 and his two sisters till around the age of 5 and 7.
When his mum was pregnant with JB she had frequent bleeding. She was induced to go into labour
11 days early but due to complications JB was born by caesarean section. He was born undersize.
He suffered from severe reflux in his first 3 years. He was very unsettled as a baby but as he grew
older he was a happy little boy. At the age of 6 he broke his nose but he doesnt have any current
health issues.
He does tend to experience anxiety when there is any change in routines or something new
happening and needs a bit of time to adjust to that. He is also quite obsessed with striving for
perfection and stresses when he feels he is not achieving that. He has been to counselling for those
issues and that has helped a bit.
I did BRMs 1, 2 and 3, Kidney and Respiratory. He said it felt a bit ticklish with some moves and was
quite tense. His paraspinals were very reactive but by the end of the session he was a lot more
relaxed and a bit sleepy.
27/10/11 - At the second appointment he had been dry for 6 nights so was very excited about that but
his parents also took him to the toilet every night so thats also helped him to stay dry. Again I asked
them not to take him to the toilet to see if he starts to wake up himself to go to the toilet and also to
get a better idea how often he wets the bed without being taken to the toilet.
I did the BRM 1 (moves 1 and 2) & Bedwetting Procedure (from the left).
03/11/11 - He was a bit disappointed that he had 4 dry nights during the next week. I reassured him
and told him not to worry about that or to feel like hes failing because there can be ups and downs,
depending on what else has been happening in those weeks and it was probably also because his
parents were no longer waking him up to go to the toilet at night and his brain needs to learn to
respond to the full bladder. We still need a few more weeks to see how he will respond to the
treatments. I did BRM 1 (moves 1 and 2) & Bedwetting Procedure (from the right).
11/11/11 - The fourth week he had been dry for 6 nights and feeling a lot more positive about it.
I did BRM 1 (moves 1 and 2) & Bedwetting Procedure (from the left). He was nice and relaxed.
17/11/11 - The day of the fifth appointment he was sad because he only had three dry nights during
the week. He was quite stressed as well because he was going on an Optiminds competition trip to
New Zealand for a week which he was a little bit nervous about and he has had a very busy week
with dance performances so was very tired. That may well have had a part to play. A positive
development was that he did get up himself a couple of nights to go to the toilet in that past week.
This has never happened before so thats a good sign that his brain is starting to respond to the full
bladders signals. I focused on that positive development when we talked about that week and told
him not to be discouraged by the one dry night. I did BRM 1 (moves 1 and 2) & Bedwetting procedure
(from the right).
25/11/11 - He had a much better week this time because he had 6 dry nights. Seeing this is the 6th
appointment, I decided to try and do an advanced procedure: BRM 1 and 2 (moves 1 - 4), kidney,
Respiratory and Gracilis.
12/12/11 - There was a 2-week break since the last session and in the first week JB had 5 dry nights
and the second week 3. Today I did the Coccyx Oblique on JB. He said his tummy felt a bit funny
while he was resting and wanted to go to the toilet when he got up.
03/01/12 It has been 3 weeks since JBs last treatment. He was away on holidays and forgot to
keep track of his dry nights that first week but the next two weeks he was dry for 5 nights each week.
I repeated the Coccyx Oblique procedure and this time he didnt have any reaction with his tummy.
44
He will come for more treatment in a few weeks. Even though JBs bedwetting frequency has had
many ups and downs, he does have an improvement compared to before he started having Bowen
Therapy. He used to be wet most nights (usually no more than 2 dry nights a week unless his parents
woke him to go to the toilet during the night), but now he has been dry for 5 nights a week for the last
couple for weeks. I hope he will continue to improve with ongoing treatments.
JB (11) - Male
Session:
BRM 1
BRM 2
(Moves 1 & 2)
(Moves 1 & 2)
(Moves 1 - 4)
BRM 3
Kidney
Respiratory
Gallbladder
Bedwetting
(L)
(R)
(L)
(R)
Gracilis
Coccyx Oblique
Shoulder
Hamstrings
Knee
Ankle
BH 9 year old boy

14/10/11 - BH is a quiet and shy boy who is worried about still wetting the bed every night. He has
never had a dry night yet and stresses about going to school camps or sleepovers because he is
afraid his friends will find out that he still wears a pull-up at night.
His parents havent taken him to see the doctor about it yet but want to see if there is something that
can be done about it and are interested in trying Bowen Therapy.
His dad wet the bed till he was about 10 or 11 years old but no other family history is known of any
other bedwetters.
BH is a healthy boy with no allergies, illnesses or other medical problems. He has never had urinary
tract infections, constipation or any other problems with passing urine. He was completely dry in the
daytime since he was 3. He is a deep sleeper and never notices when he has passed urine in his
sleep. The parents have tried fluid restriction, night time awakening, rewards and praise but none of
those methods have made much difference.
BH was happy to lie on the table for the treatment and stayed very still. He was very relaxed and said
he liked the Bowen Therapy. I did BRMs 1,2 and 3, kidney and Respiratory in the first session.
24/10/11 - When they came again, he still had wet nights all week. He had felt well since the first
treatment and was looking forward to more Bowen Therapy. I did BRM 1 (moves 1 and 2) &
Bedwetting procedure from the left side. He was relaxed and felt well.
45
01/11/11 By this third session there had still been no dry nights. Procedures today: BRM 1 (moves
1 and 2) & Bedwetting procedure (from the right).
08/11/11 - On the fourth appointment BH was very excited to tell me that he had one dry night for the
very first time ever! We repeated BRM 1 (moves 1 and 2) & Bedwetting procedure (from the left).
15/11/11 - The fifth appointment there was even more good news: He had 3 consecutive dry nights
and also went to the toilet himself one night which he had never done before. The parents were very
happy about the progress and BH had a big smile on his face. I did BRM 1 (moves 1 and 2) &
Bedwetting procedure (from the right) and wanted to see how the next week would go. If he is still not
be completely dry by then, I will do the Gracilis procedure.
21/11/11 - By the sixth appointment he had been dry for 5 nights (out of 6). His parents were amazed
that after all these years of BH wetting the bed every night, he had been dry almost all week. Seeing
he still had one wet night, I did BRM 1, 2 (moves 1-4), Kidneys, Respiratory and Gracilis to see if that
gave him even more improvement.
28/11/11 - The seventh appointment he came in with a huge smile. He was so excited to tell me that
he had remained dry for the entire week! With the previous week included that made it 12
consecutive dry nights.
I was so pleased to see how happy it made him and his parents. I just did BRM 1 (moves 1 and 2) &
the bedwetting procedure (from the right) that time and asked them to come back and see me in a
couple of weeks to see how he is going by then.
12/12/11 Its been 2 weeks since the last appointment. The first week BH had 7 dry nights and the
second week 6. He is still very happy that he is dry almost every night. I did the Coccyx Oblique
today. He felt fine during and after the procedure.
He went on holidays with his family after that. I spoke to his mother a week after the last session and
he had been dry again for the whole week since then. When I phoned his mother a couple of months
later, BH was still dry every night.
BH (9) Male
Session:
BRM 1
(Moves 1 & 2) (Moves 1 & 2)
BRM 2
BRM 3
Kidney
Respiratory
Gallbladder
Bedwetting
(L)
(R)
(L)
(R)
(L)
Gracilis
Coccyx Oblique
Shoulder
Hamstrings
Knee
Ankle
46
JW 9 year old boy

21/10/11 - JWs parents divorced when he was 4. For the first 3 years after the divorce JW and his
older brother (who is 12 years old and has autism) didnt see their mum very often but since the last
couple of years they stay with her every second week. Their dad remarried a couple of years ago and
the boys live with him and their stepmum.
JWs stepmum took him to see me for Bowen Therapy because he wets the bed 4-5 nights a week.
He is a healthy and happy boy who tends to be allergic to dust and pollen but there are no other
medical issues. He is a deep sleeper and doesnt notice until the morning that he is wet. His dad and
aunt were also bedwetters until around the age of 10 and his older brother until he was 8. JW tends
to get constipated so I explained the importance of drinking enough water and eating plenty of fibre to
stay regular which can also help the bedwetting problem.
Until the age of 4 he used to get frequent urinary tract infections but that has settled now. His dad
and stepmum have tried many different methods to try to stop the bedwetting, including fluid
restrictions, night time awakening, rewards and praise. They also consulted the GP and Paediatrician
but no medical cause was found for the bedwetting. The Paediatrician prescribed Minirin and Tofranil,
but the bedwetting frequency was only reduced for about a week or 2 and JW continued to wet the
bed just as often as before so the parents decided to stop the medication.
JW mentioned that his biological mum sometimes gets angry and punishes him when he wets the bed
in the weeks that he and his brother stay at her home. He feels sad and embarrassed about the
bedwetting and would love to feel more confident.
He was a little bit nervous before the first treatment because he didnt know what Bowen Therapy is,
but I explained all about Bowen to him in simple terms so he could understand it and what happens
during the treatment and then he was very excited about it. He was a bit fidgety at first which settled
down after the first couple of moves. I did BRM 1, 2 and 3, Kidney and Respiratory. He said it felt
kind of ticklish but nice and felt great when he got off the table.
In the week after that first treatment, his dad and stepmum were very surprised how much effect it
had on JW. His stepmum wrote about me on Facebook:
A big thank you to Charlotte Meerman at Bowen Worx - Bowen Therapy, you have changed my life
and my little man's. Although we've only had one session, I can see the improvements already. He
has been a wetter at night for a long time, never gets up to go to the toilet during the night. I was
shocked two nights in a row, when I woke up and he had left the light on in the toilet and the hallway
because he had been up. It's a MIRACLE, we have tried everything else that we're supposed to do.
Everyone, BOWEN WORX, I mean, it works.
27/10/11 - He had 4 dry nights during that first week and feeling really proud that he had been getting
up himself to go to the toilet during the last few nights. I did BRM 1 (moves 1 & 2) & the Bedwetting
Procedure (from the left) but he was extremely ticklish when I wanted to do the tummy move. I asked
him to hold on to my arm and to take a few slow deep breaths. That helped a lot and he relaxed so I
did the move on him successfully.
04/11/11 - At the third appointment he had 5 dry nights and then 2 wet nights at the end of that week.
It was the first time that he had been dry for that many consecutive nights and was very excited about
that. He had also been going to the toilet again by himself several nights. I did BRM 1 (moves 1 & 2)
& Bedwetting Procedure (from the right).
15/11/11 - He had been at his mothers place for the week and had 6 dry nights. He also went to the
toilet by himself a few nights. I did BRM 1 (moves 1 & 2) & Bedwetting Procedure (from the left). He
felt some tingling around his tailbone which settled after a couple of minutes.
47
He didnt come back after that because he had to go to Brisbane the next week and after that his
biological mother took him on holidays for a couple of weeks and his dad & stepmum then also went
on holidays with him. I spoke to his stepmum recently and she told me he is dry almost every night
now and still goes to the toilet at night by himself which is a huge improvement. It looks like JW is
well on his way to becoming 100% dry very soon.
JW (9) - Male
Session:
BRM 1
(Moves 1 & 2)
(Moves 1 & 2)
(Moves 1 & 2)
BRM 2
BRM 3
Kidney
Respiratory
Gallbladder
Bedwetting
(L)
(R)
(L)
Gracilis
Coccyx Oblique
Shoulder
Hamstrings
Knee
Ankle
48
RESEARCH METHOD / STRATEGIES

I used both qualitative and quantitative methods in collecting data for this research project.
For the quantitative component I kept a record of the number of dry nights the children had each week.
I designed a Dry Nights Diary Sheet79 which was given to each participant with a sheet of star stickers
I instructed them to put a star on the sheet on the mornings they wake up dry and to count the
number of stickers at the end of each week so that they can tell me how many dry nights they had
when they came to see me for their next treatment. The children all loved the shiny star stickers!
For the qualitative component I asked the parents to complete a questionnaire80 with their child at
every appointment, pre- and post treatment.
The front of the sheet has questions which were completed before the treatment, to find out how the
child was feeling about the bedwetting, how the week had been since the previous session (e.g.
whether there had been any changes in their child in sleep patterns, behaviour, health issues, etc)
and how the child was feeling just prior to having the Bowen Therapy.
After the treatment they completed the back of the form which has questions to find out how the child
felt during the treatment, whether they felt any sensations (e.g. warm/cold, tingling, discomfort, etc.)
and how the child was feeling after the treatment.
QUANTITATIVE RESULTS
On the following pages I have presented the quantitative results of this research project in graphs.
The first graph represents a summary of all project participants to compare the average number of dry
nights per week before and after they had Bowen Therapy treatments.
The other graphs represent the individual weekly progress of each project participant with their initials,
age and gender.
Nine of the ten participants had an improvement in the number of dry nights. Four are now 100% dry,
two are dry almost every night and two are dry on average five nights a week. One female participant
has had some improvement but her sister still has the same average wet nights per week as before.
These two sisters have not been able to have regular weekly treatments for most of the time and also
suffer from coeliac disease which I feel may be a factor in their results. They are still continuing to
have treatments at present but if there is no change I will refer them back to their doctor.
79
80
See Appendix E Dry Nights Diary Sheet

See Appendix C Pre and Post Treatment Questionnaire
49
50
AW (8) - Female
7
Dry Nights
0
Dry Nights
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
EW (14) - Female
7
Dry NIghts
0
Dry Nights
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
51
TC (6) - Female
7
Dry Nights
Dry Nights
Week
1
Week
2
Week
3
Week
4
Week
5
Week
6
Week
7
Week
8
Week
9
Week
10
Week
11
JM (9) - Female
7
Dry NIghts
0
Dry Nights
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
52
TM (6) - Female
7
Dry NIghts
0
Dry Nights
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
ML (7) - Female
7
Dry Nights
Dry Nights
Week
1
Week
2
Week
3
Week
4
Week
5
Week
6
Week
7
Week
8
Week
9
Week
10
53
BH (9) - Male
7
6
Dry Nights
5
4
3
2
1
0
Dry Nights
Week
1
Week
2
Week
3
Week
4
Week
5
Week
6
Week
7
Week
8
Week
9
Week
10
JB (11) - Male
7
Dry Nights
0
Dry Nights
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9

2
54
MC (9) - Male
7
Dry Nights
Dry Nights
Week
1
Week
2
Week
3
Week
4
Week
5
Week
6
Week
7
Week
8
Week
9
Week
10
JW (9) - Male
7
Dry NIghts
0
Dry Nights
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
55
QUALITATIVE RESULTS
For the first qualitative component I have summarised results in the table below of improvements and
changes other than the bedwetting frequency in the children who participated in this project since they
had Bowen Therapy.
Half of the children settled down to sleep much earlier than they used to. Others started to wake up
and go to the toilet themselves during the night, which they had never done before, which is a sign the
brain is starting to respond to the bladders cues when its full.
Anxiety and moodiness reduced in several children. Some parents also observed emotional releases,
improved concentration and calmer behaviour in their children.
One child who suffered from severe allergies had recent allergy tests done which all came back as
negative (which really surprised her doctor).
Qualitative Outcome in Project Participants of Bowen Therapy
Initials & Age

FEMALE
TM
6
MALE
JM
9
TC
6
ML
7
EW
14
AW
8
MC
9
JB
11
BH
9
JW
9
Improved Sleep
Waking Up & Going to Toilet
Themselves
Improved Concentration
Calmer Behaviour
Improved Behaviour
Less Moody
Reduced Anxiety
Reduction in Allergies
Emotional Releases
The second qualitative component was to compare the value that the participants and their parents
put on Bowen Therapy before and after they started having the Bowen treatments.
On the pre and post treatment questionnaire81 that I asked parents to complete at every session they
were asked to indicate the value they put on Bowen Therapy. All parents value Bowen Therapy more
since their child has had the treatments.
On the next two pages is an overview of the results, with initials, age and gender of each participant.
81
See Appendix C Pre and Post Treatment Questionnaire
56
How Project Participants Value Bowen Therapy Before and After Several Treatments:
TM (6) - Female
No Value
Well Wait and See
Some Value
A Lot of Value
Absolute
Confidence in the
Treatment
A Lot of Value
Absolute
Confidence in the
Treatment
A Lot of Value
Absolute
Confidence in the
Treatment
A Lot of Value
Absolute
Confidence in the
Treatment
A Lot of Value
Absolute
Confidence in the
Treatment
Before
After
JM (9) Female
No Value
Well Wait and See
Some Value
Before
After
TC (6) - Female
No Value
Well Wait and See
Some Value
Before
After
ML (7) - Female
No Value
Well Wait and See
Some Value
Before
After
EW (14) - Female
No Value
Well Wait and See
Some Value
Before
After
57
AW (8) - Female
No Value
Well Wait and See
Some Value
A Lot of Value
Absolute
Confidence in the
Treatment
A Lot of Value
Absolute
Confidence in the
Treatment
A Lot of Value
Absolute
Confidence in the
Treatment
A Lot of Value
Absolute
Confidence in the
Treatment
A Lot of Value
Absolute
Confidence in the
Treatment
Before
After
MC (9) - Male
No Value
Well Wait and See
Some Value
Before
After
JB (11) - Male
No Value
Well Wait and See
Some Value
Before
After
BH (6) - Male
No Value
Well Wait and See
Some Value
Before
After
JW (9) - Male
No Value
Well Wait and See
Some Value
Before
After
58
CONCLUSION
Nocturnal enuresis might sound like a simple problem but it is in fact a complex issue which is not
easily solved overnight with a magic pill. It requires commitment and a positive approach from the
parents and child and it takes time and patience to achieve the best results.
Nocturnal enuresis is rarely caused by one factor alone. Every child has their own combination of
physical, emotional, environmental, chemical or developmental issues that may cause them to wet at
night. Bedwetting needs to be approached with this in mind in order to determine which Bowen
procedures are indicated for the childs individual needs, according to the childs medical history, their
circumstances, emotional issues and the Bowen practitioners own observations of the child.
Even though the Bedwetting procedure is most commonly used to treat nocturnal enuresis, other
procedures may also be considered. That is why it is important to obtain a comprehensive history of
the childs gestation, birth, early childhood development, general health, sleep patterns, daytime
bowel and bladder habits, history of any traumatic events, behavioural and emotional issues, etc.
The practitioner needs to communicate clearly to the parents and children what changes need to be
made at home with e.g. daytime toilet habits, diet, quality of the water they drink, etc.
As I found that almost all participants had reactive lumbar paraspinals, it adds weight to the theory
that unintegrated primitive reflexes can be a factor in nocturnal enuresis.
Stress, anxiety neuropsychological disorders (ADD/ADHD, Asperger, etc.) and other emotional issues
are also consistent factors in the ten participants as well as daytime bowel and bladder habits.
Retained primitive reflexes and/or insufficient Omega-3 fatty acids are less familiar causes of
nocturnal enuresis but this can be an important factor which is often overlooked by health
professionals, as well as daytime bladder and bowel habits.
Nine out of the ten project participants had an increase in the number of dry nights and four out of the
ten children have now been dry every night. Almost all the other children are making good progress
and even though they are not 100% dry yet at this stage, I am confident that the Bowen treatments
will help them to overcome the bedwetting sooner than if they had not had the therapy. I will continue
to see most of these children for follow-up and maintenance treatments to ensure they achieve
optimal and permanent results.
The children have become more confident and positive since they started to become dry at night.
The excited big smiles on their faces when they tell me how many more dry nights they had every
week is extremely rewarding! I got to know the children and their parents very well since they started
coming to see me and they have referred many new clients to me.
59
SHARING KNOWLEDGE
The health care professionals I have links with (some of whom are personal friends) include
Paediatricians, Physiotherapists, General Practitioners, Nurses, Naturopaths, etc. They were all very
interested in the research I was doing in nocturnal enuresis and how Bowen Therapy helped the
children who participated in this project.
Most of these health care professionals are based here in Bundaberg but some others live as far as in
The Netherlands (I come from there and have a lot of contact with those friends). Bowen Therapy is
still relatively unknown in The Netherlands so it is a wonderful opportunity to be able to share
knowledge with health professionals from there and to see them become interested in the Bowen
Technique. One of those Dutch friends (who is a health care professional) was here on a holiday
recently and after she had a couple Bowen treatments she was so excited about it that she is now
making enquiries in The Netherlands to find out how she can learn the technique over there.
If we as health care professionals from different modalities share our knowledge and experience, we
will gain a much broader perspective on many health issues and we should combine our knowledge
and skills to improve health care.
As a Bowen Therapist it is important to have a good connection with other health care professionals in
our local community so that we know who we can refer clients to. Communication between health
practitioners is also important, e.g. by writing to the General Practitioner of a client to inform them that
their patient is being treated with Bowen Therapy for a particular health issue. I always ask for the
clients signed consent to write to their GP about their Bowen treatments. That way the GP is aware
that the client is having the therapy and it is also an excellent way to promote our Bowen practice.
Most doctors are not aware that Bowen Therapy can help to treat bedwetting but several clients have
told their GP and/or Paediatrician about the results their child has had with Bowen Therapy. One
Paediatrician was delighted when she was told about the improvements in one of her patients and
said: Tell your Bowen therapist: Welcome to the team!
I hope this will help to gain recognition of Bowen Therapy as an effective alternative treatment for
nocturnal enuresis which health practitioners can recommend to their patients.
60
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & BIBLIOGRAPHY

First of all, I would like to thank all the children and their parents who participated in this research
project and allowed me to use their data. I am also very grateful for all the encouragement, valuable
comments and support of my family, friends and my wonderful instructor Robyn Wood.
My special honour and gratitude go to the late Mr. Tom Bowen for the wonderful gift of his technique
which is still spreading around the world to benefit many to improve their health and relieve pain and
discomfort.
Books
Border College of Natural Therapies (in association with Bowtech BTAA), 2011, Diploma of Specialised Bowen
Therapy 22006VIC, Module 8, Version 11, Hamilton, Vic. (AU), Page 17-23.
Border College of Natural Therapies (in association with Bowtech BTAA), 2009, Diploma of Specialised Bowen
Therapy 22006VIC, Module 10, Version 4, Hamilton, Vic. (AU), Page 4 12, 21.
Goddard, S. 2002, Reflexes, Learning and Behavior, Second Edition 2005, Fern Ridge Press, Eugene, Oregon
(USA), Page 1, 15, 16, 27.
Hall, (Dr) J. 1995, How to Stop Bedwetting, 2009 Edition, The Five Mile Press Pty Ltd, Scoresby, Vic. (AU),
Page 13, 18-20, 23, 25, 33, 45.
Multiple contributors, 2007, Pocket Anatomicas Body Atlas, Global Book Publishing, Lane Cove, NSW (AU),
Page 377 - 387.
Preston Smith, (Dr.) D. (Paediatric Urologist), 2006, The Complete Bedwetting Book, PottyMD LLC, Knoxville,
Tennessee (USA), Page 15, 19 - 23, 25, 27, 39 - 41, 61.
Rentsch, O & E. 1997, Bowtech The Original Bowen Technique - Modules 5 & 6, Revised Edition 2005,
Bowtech Pty Ltd Hamilton, Vic. (AU), Page 6.6. and 6.7.
Rentsch, O. & E. 1997, Bowtech, The Original Bowen Technique Modules 1 & 2, Revised Edition 2007,
Bowtech Pty Ltd, Hamilton, Vic. (AU), Page vii, viii, ix, 1.2, 1.3.
Wilks, J. 2007, The Bowen Technique The Inside Story, First Edition, CYMA Ltd, Dorset (UK), Page 9 - 14,
118-119, 169, 251.
Journal Articles:
Alan C. Logan and Francois Lesperance, 2005, Primary nocturnal enuresis: omega-3 fatty acids may be of
therapeutic value, Medical Hypotheses, Volume 64, Issue 6, Elsevier, Amsterdam (NL), Pages 1188-1191.
61
Electronic Sources:
Anti-Aging Today, Acid and Alkaline Forming Foods - Clinical Nutrition for the Balanced Body
http://www.anti-aging-today.org/nutrition/alkaline-acid-foods.htm (28/12/11)
Picture source for bedwetting alarm
http://www.asia.ru/en/ProductInfo/1267433.html (08/01/12)
Bowen Association Australia, History of Bowen Technique
http://www.bowen.org.au/history-of-bowen-technique/ (28/12/11)
Bowen Association Australia, Training
http://www.bowen.org.au/training-training/ (28/12/11)
Bowtech The Original Bowen Technique, What is Bowtech?
http://www.bowtech.com/WebsiteProj/Pages/About/AboutBowtech.aspx (28/12/11)
Bowtech The Original Bowen Technique, Bowtech: Bowen Therapy Training
http://www.bowtech.com/WebsiteProj/Pages/Learn/Overview.aspx (28/12/11)
Bati, S. 2011, Vagus Nerve Damage
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/vagus-nerve-damage.html (09/01/12)
Brown, K, 2002, Balancing to Resolve Spinal Galant Reflex
http://www.centeredge.com/brain-gym-article10.html (15/10/11)
Picture source of urinary tract
http://www.clinicianleader.com (28/12/11)
Wikipedia article - Nocturnal Enuresis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocturnal_enuresis (27/12/11)
Wikipedia article - Pituitary Gland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pituitary_gland (27/12/11)
Wikipedia article - Prostaglandin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostaglandin (27/12/11)
Wikipedia article - Urination
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urination (05/01/12)
Wikipedia article Vagus Nerve
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagus_nerve (05/01/12)
Arcos, P, Stop Bedwetting and ADHD Behaviour Do the Wiggle Worm
http://ezinearticles.com/?Stop-Bed-Wetting-and-ADHD-Behavior---Do-the-Wiggle-Worm&id=3080194
(16/10/11)
Gold, S J, If Kids Just Came With Instruction Sheets
http://fernridgepress.com/bugaboo.html (16/10/11)
Go Vita Fact Sheet: Restoring Acid Alkaline Balance for Better Health
http://www.govita.com.au/factsheets/Restoring%20acid%20alkaline%20balance.pdf (28/12/11)
Picture source for micturition reflex
http://highered.mcgrawhill.com/sites/0072507470/student_view0/chapter26/animation__micturition_reflex.html
(27/12/11)
Picture source for brain stem
http://www.humanjourney.us/detail/cortex.html (28/12/11)
62
Picture source for bladder innervation

http://horo.tochka.net/day/eastern/2011-06-14/ (08/01/12)
Picture source for vagus nerve
http://illuminationstudios.com/archives/150 (14/01/12)
Picture source for nerve innervation
http://www.jyi.org/features/ft.php?id=539 (08/01/12)
Picture source for kidney innervation
http://lieske.com/channels/5e-kidney.htm (08/01/12)
Picture source for bedwetting alarm pad
http://www.lifemartini.com/7-effective-solutions-to-end-bedwetting-in-children/ (08/01/12)
Picture source for lower urinary tract
http://www.life-tech.com/uro/urolib/urinary_anatomy.shtml (02/01/12)
Online Medical Dictionary - Prostaglandin
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/prostaglandin (27/12/11)
Tan, L A, Reflex Integration: Switching on Innate Learning
http://www.mindtransformations.com/index.cfm?GPID=278 (15/10/11)
Story, S, Spinal Galant Reflex
http://www.moveplaythrive.com/Reflexes/spinal-galant-reflex.html (29/12/11)
Autonomic nervous system functions in children with nocturnal enuresis
Inn University Medical School Department of Pediatrics, Malatya, Turkey.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9408596 (06/01/12)
Rhythmic Movement Training International, The importance of Integrating Primitive Reflexes
http://www.rhythmicmovement.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11&Itemid=18 (17/10/11)
Picture source for bladder innervation
http://shakuntalapgmeenotes.blogspot.com/2011/08/innervation-of-urinary-bladder.html (27/12/11)
Office of Economic and Statistical Research, Population and Dwelling Profile,
http://www.oesr.qld.gov.au/products/profiles/pop-housing-profiles-lga/pop-housing-profile-bundaberg.pdf
Visual Dynamix, The Spinal Galant Reflex
http://www.visiontherapyathome.com/category_s/91.htm (17/10/11)
Picture Source for Pituitary Gland
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Gray1180.png (28/12/11)
Autism Rescue Blog, Video with instructions for Lizard Exercise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV1u167yMmU (16/10/11)
Autism Rescue Blog, Video with instructions for Snow Angel Exercise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWB63IRddzQ (16/10/11)
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http://www.zazenessentialwater.com.au (22/12/11)
63
APPENDICES
64
APPENDIX A ADVERTISEMENT IN SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
Free Bowen Therapy for Bedwetting

Do you have a child over the age of 5 who suffers from bedwetting? Bedwetting can be a very
distressing problem for children older than 5 as they feel embarrassed, anxious and different to
other kids. Sometimes it even persists into the teenage years.
Bowen Therapy may be able to help these children after several weekly treatments. I am currently
working on a research project on Bowen Therapy for Bedwetting and am offering free treatments for
participants in this project. All personal information and the childs identity will remain strictly
confidential.
Bowtech, the original Bowen Technique is unique in the field of bodywork. It is a gentle soft tissue
technique which calms and balances the nervous system and encourages the body to heal itself.
For more information: www.bowenworx.net
I am a qualified Bowen Therapist, registered with the Bowen Association Australia and the Bowen
Therapy Academy of Australia.
If you are interested, please call me on 4153 4522 or email bowenworx@optusnet.com.au
65
APPENDIX B - QUESTIONNAIRE
Please complete this questionnaire and return it 2-3 days before your
first appointment by post or by dropping it in to our mail box
Childs Full Name: ___________________________________________ Male/Female (please circle)
Parent/Guardians name(s) ______________________________________________________________
Childs Date of birth: ___ /___ /______
School Year: ___________________________________
Residential Address : ____________________________________________________________________

Postal Address: _________________________________________________________________________
Phone Number: ___________________________
Sports/Activities/Hobbies:
Mobile: ________________________________
______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Please include current, recent and past details (with dates where applicable):
Illnesses/medical conditions _____________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Surgery _________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Accidents/Injuries ______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Allergies ________________________________________________________________________________
Medications ____________________________________________________________________________
Any Current/Recent Therapies (e.g. Physiotherapy, Massage, Chiropractor, Acupuncture):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Has your child ever been completely dry (day and night) for at least 3 consecutive months?
Yes / No
If you answered Yes: How long ago did the bedwetting start after the dry period?
______________________________________________________________________________________
If you answered No: Has your child always had least a few wet nights per week or per month
without any longer dry periods in between?
Yes / No
How many nights per week or per month is the child wet at night?
________________________________________________________________________________________
66
How many hours does your child sleep before wetting the bed? (Please circle)
-1
2-3
4-5
6-7
8-9
Over 9
Dont Know
Is the child sometimes wet during the day Yes/No

If yes, how often? _______________________________________________________________________
Is your child a deep sleeper?
Yes / No / Dont know
Does your child wake up when he/she has wet the bed?
Yes/ No / Sometimes / Dont know
Does your child have any sleeping problems or having trouble getting to sleep?
Yes / No Details: _____________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Does your child ever sleep-walk or sleep-talk?

Yes / No
Are there/have there been other bedwetters in the family? (Circle all that apply)
Brothers/Sisters
Parents
Uncles/Aunts
Cousins
Is your child ever teased or bullied for being a bedwetter?

Yes / No / Dont know
Has your child ever missed out on any activities because of the bedwetting (such as
sleepovers, school camps, etc.)
Yes / No
Does your child have any of the following symptoms:
Difficulty urinating
Burning sensation when urinating
History of a urinary tract infection
Frequent trips to the bathroom
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Y/N
Y/N
Y/N
Y/N
Y/N
Y/N
Tick the box next to any of the following methods/treatments you have tried to stop the
bedwetting and indicate by circling Y or N whether they have they made any difference:
Method/Treatment:
Effective?
Fluid restrictions
Y/ N
Night time awakening
Y/ N
Rewards/Praise
Y/ N
Punishment
Y/ N
Bedwetting Alarm
Y/ N
Medication
Y/ N
Diet changes
Y/ N
Therapy/Counselling
Y/ N
Surgery
Y/ N
Other: __________________________ Y/ N
67
Has the cause of the bedwetting been investigated by the GP or Paediatrician (e.g. ultrasound
of bladder and kidneys, urinalysis/urine culture)? Yes / No
Details: _________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Please indicate (if any) which of these apply:
ADD/ADHD
Autism/Autism Spectrum Disorder (e.g. Aspergers Syndrome)
Anxiety/Fears/Phobias
Learning difficulties
Anger/Aggression
Frequent Disobedience/Defiance
Depression
Eating Disorder
Compulsive behaviour
Shyness/Social Anxiety
Panic Attacks
Other psychological, developmental or behavioural disorder/issues ___________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Recent traumatic event (e.g. death in the family, divorce, moving house or any other
Event/experience that may have had an impact on your child) _______________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Was your child born prematurely? Yes / No

If Yes, at how many weeks gestation __________________________________________
Were there any problems/complications during the pregnancy? Yes / No
If Yes, please give details _______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Were there any complications during the birth of your child or were there any interventions
such as induction of labour, caesarean section, forceps delivery/vacuum extraction?
Yes / No
________________________________________________________________________________________
Was your child unsettled and/or often crying and/or easily startled as a newborn? Yes / No
________________________________________________________________________________________
68
From your child's point of view, please check all the reasons he or she
wants to overcome bedwetting and circle the most important.
Build self-esteem
Feel more confident
Avoid humiliation
Share family experiences
Be equal with other children
Go to camp or sleep-overs
Other _____________________________________________________________________________
How did you hear about Bowen Therapy? ______________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________
Do you know what Bowen Therapy is or have you or your child had Bowen Therapy before?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
What value do you put on Bowen Treatment for Bedwetting?
No value whatsoever
Well wait and see
Some value
A lot of value
Absolute confidence in the treatment
Statement of Consent:
I understand that Bowen Therapy is a hands-on therapy and I give consent for the therapist to
touch my childs body as necessary during the Bowen Therapy Sessions in my presence.
I also consent to my childs participation in the research project Treating Bedwetting with the
Bowen Technique and to publish his/her data in the project report, only using the childs age,
gender and initials.
Name of Parent or Legal Guardian: __________________________________________

Signed: __________________________________
Date: ______________________
Privacy Statement:
The personal information and medical history you have provided will be kept strictly
confidential. It becomes part of the clients health record in this practice and is only used for
administrative purposes, to assess the clients therapeutic requirements and for the current
research project Treating Bedwetting with the Bowen Technique. Personal information and
medical history will not be passed on to any third party without a clients or legal guardians
consent. The identity of the client will only be indicated in the research project with the clients
initials, age and gender.
69
APPENDIX C PRE AND POST TREATMENT QUESTIONNAIRE
To be completed before todays treatment
Childs name: ___________________________________________________________

Date: _______________________________
How does your child feel today about the bedwetting (tick all that apply)
Sad
Angry
Embarrassed
Anxious
Not Sure
Relaxed
Positive
confident
Happy!
How did your child feel during the week since the previous treatment?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
How many dry nights did your child have since then?
__________________________________________________________________________________
Other than the bedwetting frequency, have there been any other changes since the previous
treatment in e.g. sleep patterns, behaviour, concentration at school, other health issues, etc. ?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
How does your child feel today before the treatment (e.g. relaxed, nervous, tired, well/unwell,
restless, fidgety, etc.)?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
70
To be completed after todays treatment
How did your child feel during the treatment?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
How did your child experience the treatment and did they feel any sensations (e.g. tingling,
warm/cold, discomfort) during the treatment?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
How is your child feeling now after the treatment compared to just before starting the treatment
today?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
What value do you put on the Bowen Treatment for Bedwetting today?
No value whatsoever
Well wait and see
Some value
A lot of value
Absolute confidence in the treatment
Parent/ Guardians Signature ___________________________________________________
71
APPENDIX D INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
Bowen Therapy for Bedwetting Information

Now that your child has had Bowen Therapy, the effect of the treatment will
continue for several days. Every person responds to the therapy in a different
way, as his or her individual body allows.
For some, a response will occur after the first couple of treatments. For many,
it will take at least a month or more of weekly sessions before there may be a
reduction in the bedwetting.
The benefits will be enhanced by following simple guidelines:
Whilst having the bedwetting treatments, it is strongly advised that the child does not have any other
physical therapy or other forms of manipulation such as massage, chiropractic therapy, physiotherapy,
acupuncture or kinesiology. These things may undo the balance achieved through having a Bowen
treatment.
After the treatment, avoid letting the child sit still for any longer than 30 minutes at a time for the rest of the
day. Some light activity such as walking, playing outdoors, etc. is a great way to stay active and
encourage circulation.
For the first week after treatment, your child should also:
Avoid excessive heat or cold to areas that have been treated - for example, no heat/cold packs, hot
showers or hot baths (just normal lukewarm temperature is fine).
Drink a bit more than usual the first 2 days after the Bowen treatment (but not before bedtime to avoid
too much urine production at night). Drinking water is important to help flush toxins from the body that
are released by the muscles and connective tissue during and after the Bowen Therapy session.
Continue taking any prescribed medications that your doctor or other medical professional has
prescribed for your child.
Reactions ranging from hot and cold flushes, emotional releases, headaches and body aches may be
experienced. Some clients experience some degree of muscle soreness in the days following their first 1-2
treatments. Many describe it as feeling like post-exercise muscle soreness. These reactions are a positive
sign that the body is responding to the Bowen Therapy. The body needs some time to process the effect
of the therapy and is also getting rid of toxins that may be stored in the tissues.
Detoxification Reaction
Bowen Therapy encourages proper functioning of all body systems, including those responsible for getting
rid of toxins. If the body has stored unnecessary chemicals, your child may experience one or more of
these detoxification symptoms after a Bowen Therapy session:
Aching muscles
Nausea
Headache
Changes in sensation of temperature
Changes in elimination
The body will function more effectively when the toxins have been released. During the detoxification, the
best way to minimize discomfort is stimulate the lymphatic system to increase the elimination of toxins.
You can do this by:
Increasing your childs water intake and using distilled water instead of just filtered water for a day only,
then resume drinking filtered water
Walking 30 minutes each day in fresh air
72
Bedwetting management guidelines

Children who wet the bed and their parents should always remember they are not alone. Millions of
children wet the bed every night and it occurs slightly more often in boys than girls. Many different children
with different personalities wet at night, even without any obvious emotional or psychological problems.
It affects approximately:
20 - 30% of 5-year-olds
8 - 15% of 7 year olds
0.5 -1% of adults
For example, a child of around 10 years old is likely to have at last 2 -4 other children and a five year old
may have 12 or more children in his or her class who also wet the bed.
There are many different theories on the cause of bedwetting, but most likely there are several factors that
cause a child to wet at night, and each child may have slightly different causes for their bedwetting.
The most common causes of bedwetting include:
The childs brain has not yet learned to wake up at night in response to a full bladder
The body may not yet be producing enough antidiuretic hormone (ADH) to slow down urine production
at night
Anxiety and emotional stressors
Family history of bedwetting
Small bladder size
Constipation
Diet
Birth defect and medical conditions
Omega-3 fatty acids deficiency
Less than 1% of children with night time wetting have a medical explanation for their problem, such as
urinary tract infections, diabetes, abnormal nerves to the bladder, birth defects, etc.
There are 3 different types of bedwetting:
Primary enuresis: The child is wet every night.
Intermittent enuresis: The child has occasional dry nights.
Secondary enuresis: The child has been dry for months or even years and then starts to wet again.
Top 10 myths about bedwetting:

1 - Kids intentionally wet at night
2 - There is a magic pill that corrects bedwetting
3 - Punishment helps a child stop wetting at night
4 - All bedwetters have a true medical problem
5 - Nothing helps you just have to outgrow it
6 - Only bad or lazy kids wet the bed
7 Its always the parents fault
8 - One thing or problem alone causes bedwetting
9 - All children wet at night for the same reason
10 - Expensive programs can provide easy and instant cures
73
Some more tips and advice

Bedding, pyjamas and pull-ups
Wearing pull-ups is fine if e.g. the child is going to a sleepover but avoidance of wearing
these at night whenever possible is recommended. The child is more likely to wake up
from wet clothes than a full pull-up which absorbs all the moisture. Of course it will
mean more laundry and care but absorbent mattress pads and waterproof
mattress covers will help to minimize the frustration and work in the middle of the
night.
Most parents have found excellent solutions to set up the childs bedding so that
its easier to change and wash sheets. There are very cheap easy-care fitted sheets
available (e.g. at Dimmeys) that do not need any ironing so its very affordable to have
a number of them on standby.
Two-piece pyjama sets without buttons are easier to change. Several clean PJs
should be available so you dont have to go looking for something in the middle of the
night. Less fuss with changing clothes and sheets means less stress for the child
and parents.
It is fine to let them help with changing the sheets and clothes, if the child is old
enough and if they want to. Some children are even fine with doing it themselves by
a certain age but parents should be careful not to force their child to help as it can
come across as a form of punishment. But, many children actually want to help as
they may feel less guilt by being helpful and it gives them a sense of control that they
have over correcting the problem.
Drinks
It is best to limit drinks 1-2 hours before bed time, but do not cut their water intake. Its
important that your child drinks enough water throughout the day. If they dont drink
enough, the bladder will only be used to holding smaller amounts of urine. Hydration is
important for good kidney function, bowel function, ridding the body of waste and
maintaining optimal health. The quality of the water is also essential. Filtered alkaline
mineralized water is ideal (see the section about diet).
Taking the child to the toilet during the night

Some children stay dry more often when parents lift the child out of bed in the middle of the night and
take them to the toilet, but it will not do much to help the bedwetting problem. This only helps them to
stay dry because there is less volume of urine building up in the bladder throughout the night. Often the
child is barely awake when they are put on the toilet and it only reinforces the message that they should
pass urine when theyre half-asleep. The brain needs to learn to respond to the signal the bladder gives
when its full by waking up and going to the toilet themselves.
74
Bedwetting can be a problem that develops during the day from abnormal bladder and bowel
habits, which then comes out at night
If the child suffers from constipation this needs to be treated as well as any other daytime bladder or bowel
habit problems. Constipation is often associated with bedwetting and in chronic cases it causes overflow
leakage which soils pants and bedding. Compacted bowel matter presses against the bladder causing
irritation and the bladder to empty. A high-fibre diet (and taking fibre supplements which are available from
the Chemist) is essential for children with constipation as well as drinking plenty of fluids. If this does not
help the constipation, you may need to speak to your Chemist or GP about taking a mild laxative until the
constipation problem has been fixed.
Encourage your child to go to the toilet at least every 2 hours during the day and when passing urine,
make them sit on the toilet for a minimum of 3 minutes to ensure the bladder has emptied completely and
when they have a bowel motion wait at least 10 minutes before theyre allowed to come off the toilet.
Some children hold on to their urine without even being aware. The bladder will stretch but they wont
realize the bladder is full until its extremely full or too late. Therefore, the bladder will also not signal to the
brain at night that its full until its too late. During the day children can get caught up in a TV show, a game
or other activity and put off going to the toilet when they should. If you often see your child wiggle, dance or
squat and run to the toilet, it means they tend to hold on too long and should go to the toilet more
frequently. Otherwise it will also affect how dry they will be at night.
The pelvic floor muscles, bladder and bowel sphincters become very tight holding on to the full bladder and
bowel. This can create a trigger happy bladder, and therefore even daytime accidents can occur by the
urgency problem and not making it to the toilet quite in time. When a child is sleeping they are not able to
consciously wiggle, squat or run to the toilet when the bladder is very full. They can get away with holding
during the day but not at night.
Rewards
Rewards for dry nights can help with some children but this should be done with caution. The child may
stress over not getting rewarded for wet nights and feel they are being punished for something they have
no control over. Extra hugs, kisses and praise are always great for dry nights and perhaps a small reward
but a wet child should still receive hugs, kisses and praise and not feel like theyve done something wrong.
Dry Nights Diary Sheet

The star chart that your child can put stickers on is not a reward system. It is simply a record to keep track
of the childs progress over the next few weeks/months. It is useful to also keep a record of which days the
child suffers from constipation diarrhoea or daytime accidents. If your child feels embarrassed by having
the chart, it is easy to hide it and just get it out in the morning to put a sticker on it if they had a dry night.
Coping tips
Treating bedwetting will require patience and commitment from you and your child. Discussing the problem
with others can be helpful and you may be amazed how many have been through a similar situation. Be
very careful not to discuss this while your child is around in order to avoid any embarrassment.
It is very important to have a matter-of-fact approach and never get angry at the child for wetting the bed.
Remember it is not their fault. It would be very rare for a child to deliberately wet their bed. Always remind
yourself that your child does not like a wet bed and needs your support. Bedwetting is something children
do not know how to correct themselves so they should never be made to feel embarrassed, ashamed or
responsible for what they have done. Although it can be hard, try to hide your frustrations and remind
yourself that the problem will go away with time. It will not last forever.
75
Diet
It is recommended that the child avoids dairy products, apples and apple juice until he or she is completely
dry at night for over a month.
It is best to avoid soft drinks (due to their high sugar content and some contain caffeine such as Cola
which can irritate the bladder), and other sugary and/or highly processed foods.
A balanced 80/20 diet is highly recommended, i.e. 80% alkaline forming foods and 20%
acid forming foods. On the last page you will find a list as a guide of these foods. There
are several versions of the Acidic and Alkaline Food charts to be found in different books
and on the Internet. Some foods are sometimes attributed to the Acidic side of the chart
and sometimes to the Alkaline side, depending on which book or website you look at and
this can be confusing when comparing lists. But, overall the lists are mostly the same. Remember, you
don't need to adhere strictly to the Alkaline side of the chart, just make sure a good percentage of the
foods you eat come from that side.
Generally, alkaline forming foods include: most fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs and seasonings, seeds
and nuts. Acid forming foods include: meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, grains, and legumes.
An acidic pH can occur from an acid forming diet, emotional stress, toxic overload, and/or immune
reactions or any process that deprives the cells of oxygen and other nutrients. The body will try to
compensate for acidic pH by using alkaline minerals. If the diet does not contain enough minerals to
compensate, a build up of acids in the cells will occur.
An acidic balance will: decrease the body's ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients, decrease the
energy production in the cells, decrease its ability to repair damaged cells, decrease its ability to detoxify
heavy metals, make tumour cells thrive, and make it more susceptible to fatigue and illness.
With too many processed foods, overcooked meals, lots of animal products and grains and plenty of
additives like sugar, salt and chemicals, the modern diet is way too acidic. Increasing fresh live raw food
(particularly greens!) and drinking alkaline mineralised water is very beneficial.
A foods acid or alkalineforming tendency in the body has nothing to do with the actual pH of the food itself.
For example, lemons are very acidic but the end result after digestion and assimilation is very alkaline, so
lemons are alkaline forming in the body. Likewise, meat will test alkaline before digestion but leaves a very
acidic residue in the body so, like nearly all animal products, is very
acidforming.
It is also recommended that the child drinks filtered alkaline mineralized
water. You can add a sachet of alkaline mineral granules such as Eko
Water to a bottle every day (available from health food shops). Another
good alternative is an alkaline water filtration system such as Zazen Water:
www.zazenessentialwater.com.au
The area of the brain that controls urine production at night may not be fully developed in children who
suffer from bedwetting. Research clearly shows that omega-3 fatty acids play a critical role in the
development and function of the central nervous system and omega-3 has been proven to be beneficial for
the development of the area of the brain which controls bedwetting so try to give your child foods that are
rich in Omega-3 such as fish, flaxseed oil, walnuts, brazil nuts, olive oil, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds,
broccoli, cauliflower and green beans. An Omega-3 supplement such as fish oil or krill oil is also highly
recommended, but make sure you get a good quality brand and ask a Naturopath for advice.
If you have any concerns or questions, you are always welcome to call me.
76
Alkaline Forming Foods Eat 80%
Acid Forming Foods Eat 20%
Vegetables
Alfalfa
Asparagus
Beetroot
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Capsicum
Carrot
Cauliflower
Celery
Chives
Cucumber
Eggplant
Endive
Herbs
Garlic
Ginger
Grasses (wheat, straw, barley,
etc.)
Green Beans
Kale
Leeks
Lettuce
Mushroom
Onion
Parsnip
Peas
Pumpkin
Red Cabbage
Radish
Salad Greens
Spinach
Sprouts (soy, alfalfa, mung
bean, wheat,etc.)
Squash
Sweet Potato
Turnip
Watercress
Zucchini
Others
Celtic Sea salt (unprocessed,
unrefined)
Apple Cider Vinegar
Hummus
Tahini
Spices
Stevia Sweetener
Others
Table Salt
White Vinegar
Pasta
White Bread
Wholemeal Bread
Biscuits & Crackers
Soy Sauce
Tamari Soy Sauce
Condiments (Tomato Sauce,
Mayonnaise etc.)
Tofu
Maple Syrup
Sugar
Artificial Sweeteners
Honey (but its preferable to
sugar and artificial sweeteners)
Cocoa
Fruits
Apple
Apricot
Avocado
Bananas
Blackberries
Cherries
Dates/Figs
Grapes
Grapefruit
Kiwifruit
Lemon
Lime
Mango
Melons
Nectarine
Orange
Passionfruit
Pawpaw
Peach
Fruits & Vegetables
Drinks
Fresh fruit juice
Fresh vegetable juice
Herbal Tea
Lemon water (water + fresh
lemon or lime)
Vegetable broth
Water (Alkaline Water Is Best)
Seeds, Nuts & Grains

Almonds
Any sprouted seed
Cumin Seeds
Flax Seeds
Pumpkin Seeds
Sesame Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
Pear
Pineapple
Rhubarb
Raisins
Raspberries
Strawberries
Tangerine
Tomato
Meats
Beef
Chicken
Lamb
Pork
Turkey
Crustaceans
Other Seafood (apart from
occasional oily fish such as
salmon)
Convenience Foods
Chocolate
Fast Food
Instant Meals
Microwave Meals
And all fruits & vegetables that Popcorn
Potato & corn chips
are not listed in the alkaline
Powdered Soups
column.
Lollies
Canned Foods
Beans & Legumes
Black Beans
Chick Peas
Dairy Products
Green Peas
Butter (always use butter
Kidney Beans
instead of margarine)
Lentils
Cheese
Lima Beans
Cream
Pinto Beans
Eggs
Red Beans
Ice Cream
Soy Beans
Milk
White Beans
Yoghurt
Corn, Lentils, Olives,

Blueberries, Canned or
Glazed Fruits, Cranberries,
Currants.
Drinks
Beer
Cocoa drinks
Coffee
Dairy Smoothies
Fruit Juice (if not freshly made)
Milk
Rice Milk
Soft Drinks
Soy Milk
Traditional Tea
Wine/Spirits
Seeds & Nuts & Grains

Barley
Bran
Buckwheat
Cashew Nuts
Cereals
Corn, Corn Flour
Flour (white and
wholemeal)
Kamut
Oats, Oatmeal
Pasta
Peanuts
Pistachio Nuts
Rice (all)
Rye
Spelt
Wheat
Fats & Oils

Flaxseed
Avocado
Olive
Coconut Oil
Fats & Oils

Corn Oil
Hydrogenated Oils
Margarine (worse than butter!)
Saturated Fats
Vegetable Oil , Sunflower Oil, Canola Oil
General Guidance:
Stick to salads, fresh vegetables and healthy nuts and oils.
General Guidance:
Try to consume plenty of raw foods and alkaline mineralized

water.
Steer clear of fatty meats, dairy, cheese, sweets, chocolates,

alcohol and tobacco. Packaged foods are often full of hidden
offenders and microwave meals are full of sugars and salts.
Overcooking also removes all of the nutrition from a meal!
77
APPENDIX E DRY NIGHTS DIARY SHEET
Dry Nights Diary Sheet

Put a sticker on every dry night and write the total dry nights for each week
Day
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Total Dry
Nights
Day
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Total Dry
Nights
78
APPENDIX F - PICTURES
These are the pictures which I have enlarged to A4 size to explain
to children how the bladder communicates with the brain
The brain is the
boss of your body
Sometimes the brain is too busy with other

things and doesnt listen to the bladder
Or when you are sleeping, the

brain might not hear the bladder
telling you to wake up
Pictures with kind permission of Five Mile Press Publishing.

Source: How to Stop Bedwetting Become the Boss of the Bladder by Dr. Janet Hall.
79
APPENDIX G
EXERCISES FOR SPINAL GALANT REFLEX INTEGRATION
(ADD/ADHD/Aspergers/Autism/Bedwetting/Auditory Processing Disorder)
These exercises have to be done slowly and repeated every day for at least 3 weeks
Wiggle Worm
Lie on your tummy, arms down your sides and face turned to the right. You are going to
pretend you are a wiggly worm. Do this by very slowly moving the right shoulder down (without
lifting your head) towards your hip so that your arm goes down towards your knee, and at the
same time moving the right hip sideway-up towards the shoulder so that your back curves
sideways (your right leg will be higher than your left when you do this correctly). Return your
hip and shoulder back to their original position. Now turn your face to the left and move the left
shoulder down and your left hip sideway-up towards your shoulder. Repeat 10 times.
You can also do this exercise standing up: Push the right leg up (keeping your knee straight)
so that you are standing on your toes and your right hip is pushed up. Bend your right shoulder down
towards your hip so that your back curves sideways. Then do the same with the opposite side. Repeat 10
times.
Lizard exercise
Now you are going to pretend to be a lizard! You can do this exercise with a pillow
placed lengthways under your body to make it more comfortable.
Lie on your tummy, with your face turned to the right. While you keep your left arm
straight down your side and your left leg straight down, bend the right knee up and
right elbow & shoulder down (leaving hand, elbow and knee flat on the floor). Now
switch sides: First turn your head to the left. Lower your right arm down straight
alongside your body and straighten your right leg. Bend your left knee up while you
bend your left elbow and shoulder down.
You can watch a demonstration of this exercise on YouTube by typing
Reflex Lizard Exercise 4 of 8 in the search bar.
Snow Angel
Lie on your back, legs straight down and arms down your side. Very slowly, move your arms and legs out
to the side at the same time (just like making a snow angel). Continue until your hands meet above your
head and legs are stretched sideways. Then (again very slowly) bring the arms and legs back down, all at
the same time. Repeat this 10 times.
You can watch a demonstration of this exercise on YouTube
by typing in the search bar:
Reflex Snow Angels Exercise 8 of 8
These three exercises can also be highly effective when
theyre done floating in a pool (if required, you can use a
small floating mat to lie on).
Swim strokes such as the back stroke, Australian crawl,
breast stroke, dog paddle, and side stroke are also
recommended.
80

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Treating Bedwetting with the Bowen Technique

Diploma of Specialised Bowen Therapy 22006VIC

Demographic Statistics ....

Aims and Objective of this Project ....

General Description of the Bowen Technique ...

Principles of the Bowen Technique ..

History and Evolution of the Bowen Technique

Anatomy of the Urinary System .

Neural Control of Micturition ..

How Bowen Therapy Addresses Bedwetting .

Kidney and Bladder Meridians ...

Bedwetting Statistics .......

Types of Enuresis ......

Causes of Nocturnal Enuresis

Traditional Treatment Methods for Bedwetting .....

General Guidelines for Managing Bedwetting ...

The Study Sample / Stakeholders ..

Ethical Considerations & Communication with Clients ..

The Bowen Treatments: Procedures Used / Responses Observed .....

Research Method / Strategies .

Acknowledgements & Bibliography ...

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE BOWEN TECHNIQUE

Rentsch 1997 (Mod. 1 & 2), Page vii.

PRINCIPLES OF THE BOWEN TECHNIQUE

The Sympathetic Nervous System(fight/flight/stress response)

Rentsch 1997 (Mod. 1 & 2), Page vii.

BCNT Mod. 10 2009, Page 9.

HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF THE BOWEN TECHNIQUE

ANATOMY OF THE URINARY SYSTEM

The kidneys filter the blood maintaining the correct

The lower urinary tract has two distinct phases:

The storage (guarding) phase - urine is stored in the bladder

The bladder is a hollow muscular organ

Pocket Anatomicas Body Atlas 2007, Pages 377-387.

NEURAL CONTROL OF MICTURITION

The state of the micturition reflex is dependent

Entire page interpreted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urination (picture sources as per captions)

HOW BOWEN THERAPY ADDRESSES BEDWETTING

The vagus nerve

Tom Bowen used to say that the second move of

The Kidney procedure is important when treating

KIDNEY AND BLADDER MERIDIANS

Bedwetting is more common in boys than girls (2 out

Bedwetting affects approximately:

Bedwetting Statistics by Age Breakdown

Preston Smith 2006, Page 15.

Initials & Age

CAUSES OF NOCTURNAL ENURESIS

Deep sleep and sleep disorders

Hall 1995, Page 45.

Deep sleep and sleep disorders

Anxiety, neuropsychological disorders and emotional stressors

Preston Smith 2006, Page 23.

Anxiety, Neuropsychological Disorders and Emotional Stressors in Project Participants:

Initials & Age

Social Anxiety / Shyness

Initials & Age

Wilks, 2007, Page 251.

Abnormal daytime bowel/bladder habits

Preston Smith 2006, Page 61.

Initials & Age

Birth defects and medical conditions

Preston Smith 2006, Page 15.