Monday, July 13, 2009

Massage for Indigestion, Abdominal Cramping

Although abdominal cramps, bloating, gas, and discomfort are often a sign that you have eaten something you shouldn't have, there are some simple techniques you can use to help alleviate stomach and abdominal distress.

When you experience these sensations, try lying down on a bed or couch, relax, and take some deep breaths. Next, take your hands and gently massage your abdominal areas in a circular motion, paying close attention to the area where the discomfort originates. It may seem as though pressure will make the pain worse, but keep going anyway.

Press firmly, but not hard enough to make it painful in any place where you have pain or bloating. You can also follow your transverse colon around multiple times with your fingertips - your colon runs perpendicular to your breast bone just underneath your rib cage on either side. Use a rhythmic, pressing action with the pads of your fingers from right to left and move downward to the descending colon with your movement toward your hips. Continue around in a clockwise motion to the other side of your abdominal area and come up again toward the right side of your rib cage and your ascending colon and repeat.

You should feel relief fairly quick, but continue massage until you obtain the relief you need. Other good ways to obtain relief from abdominal discomfort include taking probiotics, fiber, or charcoal. Check with your local health food store or knowledgeable health care practitioner for these items. A natural fiber supplement is essential to your digestive health - avoid the cheaper brands with fillers and ingredients that are unknown.

Ways to avoid abdominal distress include eating a healthy diet, getting enough exercise, and minimizing stress. Avoid conventionally and industrially-produced foods such as meat, dairy products, and produce. Eat fermented foods such as real yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and miso or natto.

4 comments:

T-Bone said...

"Ways to avoid abdominal distress include eating a healthy diet, getting enough exercise, and minimizing stress."

Great advice! Yet, sadly for many due to the stress of life and being on the run this is just not practical... It should be a goal but in real life it is hard to find that balance. I take enzyme dietary supplement to help... They are not a cure, but they help when I'm on the go.

Still, I will try your techniques to help.

Thanks for the advices and blogging!

Art

Raine Saunders said...

You can find time for anything that is important enough to you. My father always reminds me that, if I want to exercise, all the excuses in the world aren't going to really get it done for me. Setting aside time to do the things that are important has to be a priority, otherwise, it doesn't get done. So if something is important to you, you'll do it. What's more important than health? Really, if you don't have your health, you don't have much.

I take enzymes too, but I don't think they substitute for a healthy diet.

Unknown said...

I am a physical therapist, despite that, I learned something on this blog which I never saw massage therapy course. I liked learning new massage techniques, thanks for the information!
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Patriot of USA said...

thanks for your article. It is a simple and effective method of self-massage to help move the gas down.

It worked very well for me. I should have done it hours ago. I had known about this, but in my discomfort, forgotten about it.

I started walking two days ago, and having a mostly 'green drink' diet. The only think I plan to do is cut out the Blackberry and seedy types of ingredients.

Bill