PLATTSBURGH -- Sometimes those aches and pains we all experience can become quite annoying.

But for some people they can be downright debilitating.

Whether it's carpal tunnel syndrome, a herniated disc or a bout of sciatica, anyone who lives with chronic, unrelenting pain wants to find relief.

One answer may be Bowen therapy, a natural relaxation treatment that initiate's the body's own healing process to promote overall health and well-being.

"Stress is a fact of life today," said William Bassett, who specializes in natural healing processes. "The body's nervous system gets stressed at different levels. The Bowen therapy offers a way to reduce that stress."

LIGHT PRESSURE

It's like taking a vacation to reduce work-related stress, Bassett said.

"There's a reason why you no longer feel stressful when you're lying on the beach. Bowen therapy does the same thing to allow your body to rest and heal itself."

The process involves a hands-on technique in which the trained specialist applies light pressure over muscles and soft tissue to promote the healing process.

The client typically lies still, but the procedure can also be performed in just about any setting, including athletic fields and at the site of an auto accident.

"Pain is the signal from the nervous system that something is wrong," Bassett said. "When the thing that is wrong gets fixed, the nervous system stops sending those signals."

Results from the healing technique can be felt within a few short sessions, he added, noting that a lot of treatment options depend on discussions he has with each client.

"There are limitations," he added. "If we haven't seen results in four or five visits, I will send a client elsewhere."

ALL ALIGNED

Bassett said he understands that alternative medicine and traditional medicine can both play important roles in the overall well-being of a person, but said Bowen therapy gives the client another option that has proven successful over and over again.