were reduced, after treatments. A variation of
Bowen’s therapy, known as the Neurostructural
Integration Technique (NST), emerged in 1995. It
was developed by Michael Nixon-Livy, who
wanted to systematize the Bowen Method in order
to train health professionals.
Bower, Peter A medical doctor practicing in
Charlottesville, Virginia, where he and his associ-
ates combine Osteopathic Manual Therapy, Pilates-
based rehabilitation, and health counseling in the
medical management of neurological and muscu-
loskeletal problems. Trained in family and emer-
gency medicine, Bower has been a faculty member
at the University of California (Davis) Medical
School, the University of San Francisco School of
Medicine, and the University of Virginia School of
Medicine. His focus is on the diagnosis and treat-
ment of repetitive strain and sports injuries,
myofascial pain syndromes, and nerve-entrapment
syndromes.
See also OSTEOPATHY; PILATES.
breathing techniques Variations of breathing,
including deep-breathing exercises, used to induce
relaxation, as a component of treatment for a wide
spectrum of disorders.
See also BREATHWORK; BUTEYKO TECHNIQUE; YOGA.
breathwork A wide variety of energy techniques
used to activate the higher chakras.
See also CHAKRAS; YOGA.
Breema bodywork training See BODYWORK.
Breiling, Brian Joseph Author of Light Years
Ahead (Berkeley, Calif.: Celestial Arts, 1996), a
book focused on the futuristic therapy using light
and energy healing methods.
Brennan, Barbara Ann Healer, teacher, and
author of Hands of Light: A Guide to Healing through
the Human Energy Field, and Light Emerging: The Jour-
ney of Personal Healing(both published by Bantam
Books, New York, 1987 and 1993). Brennan runs a
school of healing in New York.broth, cleansing Clear broths and hot tonics
used during a cleansing fast. Broths of onion,
miso, garlic, scallion, apple, carrot, potato, and
other ingredients, are geared toward balancing
body pH and are alkalizing agents. Hot tonics are
not broths or teas, but hot drinks made from veg-
etables, fruits, and spices that have energizing
properties. Tonics are meant to revitalize, clear
nasal and sinus passages, provide nutrition, create
body heat to ward off aches and chills, and fight a
hangover. A cold and flu tonic, for example, may
be made by combining garlic, cumin powder,
black pepper, hot mustard powder, water,
turmeric, sesame salt, fresh cilantro, and cooked
split peas.Buegel, Dale, Lewis, Blair, and Chernin, Dennis
Authors of Homeopathic Remedies for Health Profes-
sionals and Laypeople (Honesdale, Pa.: Himalayan
Publishers, 1991). Buegel and Chernin are medical
doctors.Buhner, Stephen Harrod Author of Sacred Plant
Medicine (Boulder, Colo.: Roberts Rinehart, 1996),
which discusses Native American healing traditions.
See also NATIVE AMERICAN HEALING PRACTICES.Buteyko technique A system of breathing exercises
developed by the organization Instep International
(http://www.nqnet.com/buteyko/bristrial1.html)
that is reported to be beneficial to individuals with
asthma. It is named after a Russian physician who
developed the nonhyperventilation breathing/relax-
ation technique in the 1940s. A study funded by the
Australian Association of Asthma Foundations was
done on the technique at the Mater Hospital in Bris-
bane, Australia, with positive results, including that
the asthma patients’ symptoms and need for steroids
were significantly reduced.
See also YOGA.22 Bower, Peter