Bloating can happen for any reason. The most common ones are when you have eaten too much or a significant gas buildup in your stomach. In women, periods can cause bloated sensations too. here are a few most common causes of digestive disorder:
- Poor Diet
- Stress
- Dehydration
- Nutritional Deficiency or Excess
- Bacterial Infection
- Chronic Medical Conditions
- Inflammation of the Digestive Tract
There are three easy acupressure points that promise you relief amazingly quickly. There are also eight other points that help in relieve stomach issues. The way that acupressure works are that it balances your ‘Qi’ — the energy that flows through your body and maintains balance.
If that energy is off-balance, your body can face a lot of problems. It was, and is, a thriving practice in China.
Before starting any practice, you need to do some stretching exercises. It is important to stretch the entire body before beginning the acupressure session in order to unblock the blocked meridians and help the “qi” flow throughout the body that will make the session more effective.
- Raise your arms above your head while breathing in and stretch backward as much as you can without hurting yourself.
- Count till three and come back to the original position while exhaling slowly.
- Inhale and bend forward in the ragdoll position while exhaling.
- Count till three and come back to the starting position while inhaling.
- Bring your arms above your head and lean your body to the right side while exhaling
- Come back to the starting position while inhaling
- Now lean your body to the left side while exhaling
- Come back to the starting position while inhaling
- Repeat this whole stretching workout three times to open all digestive channels.
3 Pressure Points to Debloat Are
1. Ren12
This is one of the most acupressure points to ease your stomach. It harmonizes the qi by regulating it and re-establishes the harmony between your stomach and your intestines. This acupressure point reduces bloating (1), and distension alleviates stomach cramps and resolves stagnation. This is an ideal point for calming your digestive tract.
For this, identify the point where your breast bone ends. The piece on your upper stomach that’s right where the rib cage ends is where you should start identifying. With one finger on the belly button and another at the point, we discussed, trail them towards each other.
This trail should be on the ab line. The point where both fingers meet — midway between both points — is where the Ren 12 point is in your body. What you need to do is to press gently using both your fingers on that point. Please don’t press it so hard that you start feeling nauseous or some pain.
Keep light pressure there and breathe carefully. Keep the pressure on and keep breathing for about 60 seconds.
[Also Read: Acupressure for Weight Loss ]
2. Stomach 25
This point is also called the Celestial Pivot. It helps in regulating the stomach, intestinal, and spleen activities. Stomach 25 basically has two points, one on each side of the belly button.
For this, place your fingers two inches away from the belly button. Both points are on the same plane as your belly button. So, it should make it easier for you to identify. Massage those two points gently as you maintain a steady breathing rhythm. Continue doing this for 60 seconds.
We need to keep a motion going, so we’ll go in a circular motion. We start off with ren 12, go clockwise to stomach 25 on your left side, and then down to ren 6. After that, we come back to the stomach 25 on the right side of your stomach 25.
[Also Read: Acupressure for Constipation ]
3. Ren 6
Right below the belly button, the Sea of Qi acupressure point helps with digestion and specifically regulates kidney health. For this, two inches below your belly button, apply light pressure with your fingers. That spot can be really tender to touch.
Keep the light pressure, maintain a steady breathing rhythm, and do that for a minute. Ren 6 is a great qi-boosting point. Whenever you’re feeling sluggish after any meal or because of any digestive issues, you can focus on this point to feel better.
For better results, you can apply pressure on both Ren 6 and 12 simultaneously. It targets different qi points and can be amazingly useful for when you are feeling bloated. Toward the end, rub your stomach in a clockwise motion to further stimulate the stomach, letting the energy you just released move around and, hopefully, out.
All these pressure points help in opening up the digestive channel, and it will benefit any digestive condition in an effective way. So the next time you feel bloated and full, don’t just reach out for an antacid, try out these easy and simple reflexology procedures, and get long term relief from digestive problems.
The Other Pressure Points Are
1. Union Valley: This point is located in the webbing between the index finger and the thumb
2. Crooked Pond: This point is located at the top of the elbow crease, at the edge of the joint.
3. Outer Gate: This point is located three fingers width above the wrist crease, on the outer side of the hand.
4. Inner Gate: This point is located three fingers width above the wrist crease, in the middle of the arm on the palm side of the hand.
5. Three-Point Mile: This point is located on the outer edge of the leg, three fingers width below the knee.
6. Grandfather-Grandson: This point is located on the inner side of the foot, four finger-width away from the big toe.
7. Three Yin Crossing: This point is located three finger-widths above the inner ankle bone
8. Great Rushing: This point is located in the webbing between the big and the second toes.
