Foot ailments are amongst the common in America and can make everyday life truly miserable.  If going to the next room or up a flight of stairs is a cumbersome task, then it stands to reason that doing most everyday chores or going to work becomes with extremely difficult or painful.   Causes and conditions vary greatly, but one particular foot malady, Plantar Fasciitis, plagues upwards of 2-million Americans each year and is a major drain on family and economic life of the country.  Victoria Bowmann, Ph.D., author of You Gotta Have GUTS: The Natural Way to Enhance G.I. Health, who is a holistic practitioner and has seen Plantar Fasciitis cripple the existence of seemingly health individuals.

But there is hope outside mainstream treatments.  Bowmann, who has been treating a wide-range of digestive ailments naturally for over 30 years, has found a particular strategy that seems to alleviate the severe pain involved in Plantar Fasciitis.

If you've woken up one morning, hopped out of bed, and suddenly experienced incredible foot pain, it might be Plantar fasciitis. Pain is both physically and emotionally draining, with plantar fasciitis being a particularly difficult condition. One might say, when one's feet hurt, one hurts all over. Just the simple task of moving a short distance is agonizing, particularly on rising in the morning. The typical medical treatments include night splints, orthotics, anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid injections and surgery in some cases.

Bowmann has found that by combining a number of natural and holistic techniques, this condition can be resolved. First, I address the entire body with the Bowmann's Bowen technique, paying particular attention to the low back procedure.

Next one must consider the myotatic reflex of muscles. This compensation mechanism activates at three seconds to protect the muscle from damage. In fact, if one elongates a muscle too far and too quickly, it will automatically recoil as a protective reflex against damage such as a tissue tear.

A healthy muscle can elongate up to 1.6 times its normal length; however, they generally don't react well to that degree of stretch. During a physical warm up, many believe that holding a stretch from ten seconds to three minutes is not only beneficial but necessary. When beginning a warm up, one must always consider the myotatic reflex. In order to progress in muscle flexibility, one does not allow time to engage the myotatic reflex. In other words, the first few well designed stretches to address the affected muscles are best done for only two seconds.

As the circulation of the muscle and muscle group increases, then the length of time of the stretch can increase. A damaged muscle must not be stretched for longer than 3 seconds without additional injury. Stretching exercises must be done twice daily. The patient is an integral part of the healing process since they must continue the stretching exercises. While they only take a few minutes, these few minutes are vital to overall success.

Case History #1 is a 43 year old female. She is a chiropractic physician and a long distance runner. Plantar Fasciitis kept her from running. One week after the first treatment, she had experienced 50% reduction in pain. After two more treatments, she is back to running, although only half the distance she is accustomed to running. Two months later, all is well.

Case History #2 is a 44 year old female. One week after her first treatment, she was 10% better. She was 30% better after the second treatment and 75% better after the third. As a side benefit, her knees are also 50% better. She has been able to increase work out routines without pain. She loves the stretches and sees the benefits as well as her responsibility in the healing process.

The holistic model of health includes the commitment and compliance of the patient. A sedimentary lifestyle or an active lifestyle where damage has been incurred can both contribute to Plantar Fasciitis. However, a well-selected modality administered weekly for 3 to 6 treatments can bring about healing to the affected area. As the patient continues their part of the program, success is achieved.

Dr. Victoria Bowmann's Background, Personal Health Story, Motivation and Mission

Victoria Bowmann, Ph.D. on NBC News

About Victoria Bowmann, Ph.D.

Victoria Bowmann is a health care professional, author and speaker with more than 30 years of expertise in cleansing, detoxification, digestive and gastro-intestinal (GI) health.  Growing up with allergies and a predisposition to arthritis and other genetic ailments, Bowmann began in earnest at a young age to research alternative treatments to invasive conventional approaches.

Bowmann honed in on the importance of cleansing and detoxification as a major factor in optimizing health. She created a widely used manual on reflorastation, a technique used to reintroduce healthy bacteria into the bowel following a colon hydrotherapy.

Over the past three decades, Bowmann has successfully utilized her method of reflorastation and propriety blend of probiotics to treat and deliver the optimal results to her patients. Her technique is now used by natural therapists worldwide.

In fact, as a pioneer in probiotic research, Bowmann has traveled internationally to educate other colon therapists and physicians and has personally trained technicians at the Paracelsus Clinic in Lustmuhle, Switzerland.

She has been interviewed on television and radio and has delivered numerous presentations across the nation and abroad. She is also a regular contributor to several national publications, such as:

?           Explore! for the professional

?           Public Health Alert

?           Naturopathic Doctor?s News and Review

In her book released this June (2009), You Gotta Have GUTS: The Natural Way to Enhance GI Health, Bowmann shares her extensive knowledge in layman?s terms and touts the relationship between GI health and overall well-being.  For three decades she has operated a private holistic therapy practice in Phoenix, Ariz., where she creates treatment plans designed to detoxify the body and restore a greater degree of vitality to the individual.

A self proclaimed ?bodywork devotee,? Bowmann is extensively educated on integrated healing and natural medicine. After first studying business at Arizona State University, she went on to become a licensed massage and colon therapist in the state of Arizona.  She earned her Ph.D. in Homeopathy and Natural Medicine from Westbrook University as well as a Doctorate in Homeopathic Medicine from the British Institute of Homeopathy.

Bowmann?s interests include travel, mysticism, horseback riding, reading, and warm water sports. She is a vibrant individual who lives by a simple motto: ?Happiness is a choice.?

For more information about Victoria Bowmann, visit her website at www.myrealhealth.com