Struggling with stomach issues? How can you nurture your stomach? Beyond dietary therapy, are there other approaches? Stop wasting money on expensive, unpleasant, and ineffective medications. Instead, try self-massage tailored to your symptoms to restore stomach health.
I. Pre-Sleep Massage Technique
Before bed or upon waking, empty your bladder, wash your hands, and lie on your back with knees bent. Relax your entire body. Place your left hand on your abdomen with the palm facing your navel, then stack your right hand on top of the left. First, massage your abdomen in a clockwise direction around the navel 50 times, then repeat in a counterclockwise direction 50 times.
Finally, stroke downward from the xiphoid process to the lower abdomen 10 times. Perform this routine at least once daily. Apply moderate pressure, maintain focused concentration, breathe naturally, and practice consistently to achieve noticeable health benefits.
II. Self-Massage Techniques Self-massage regulates gastrointestinal nerve function, alleviates subjective symptoms, and improves digestion. Methods include:
1. Abdominal Rubbing: Bend both knees. Overlap both palms and place them on the abdomen. Centered on the navel, rub the middle and lower abdomen in a clockwise direction for about 5 minutes until warmth is felt. Start with light pressure, gradually increasing intensity, then expand the area to rub the entire abdomen for about 2 minutes.
2. Sacral rubbing: Bend forward at the waist. Keep fingers together and palms flat against the lower back (waist area). Rub firmly toward the sacrum. Repeat continuously for about 1 minute until the skin feels slightly warm.
Perform these two self-massage techniques 1-2 times daily for 24 consecutive days. Then, based on your condition, continue treatment every other day until symptoms disappear.
III. South American Therapy: Inverted Relaxation for Stomach Health
Lie flat. Support your body sequentially from the soles of your feet → heels → back of calves → knees → back of thighs → waist → back → back of neck. Hold for 5 seconds before slowly lowering. Perform 2–3 cycles daily. Breathe naturally or use abdominal breathing.
Before bed or upon waking, empty your bladder and wash your hands. Lie supine with knees bent, fully relaxed. Place your left hand on your abdomen with palm facing the navel, then stack your right hand over it. First, massage the abdomen around the navel 50 times clockwise, then 50 times counterclockwise.
Finally, stroke downward 10 times from the xiphoid process to the lower abdomen. Perform this routine at least once daily. Apply moderate pressure during massage, maintain focused concentration, breathe naturally, and practice consistently to achieve noticeable health benefits.
Friendly Reminder: General Precautions for Massage Therapy
(1) Avoid immediate massage therapy when patients are excessively hungry, full, fatigued, or mentally tense.
(2) Address any patient concerns or fears through thorough explanation beforehand.
(3) Select the most suitable position based on individual circumstances before manual therapy. This ensures patient comfort, facilitates muscle relaxation, and allows the practitioner to work effectively.
(4) Use gentle techniques to prevent iatrogenic injury. Manipulative techniques involving joints, such as cervical lateral traction, often lead to medical accidents.
(5) During menstruation, women should avoid abdominal massage.
(4) Techniques should be performed as gently as possible to avoid iatrogenic injury. Particular caution is needed with joint manipulation techniques, such as lateral cervical traction, which frequently cause medical accidents.
(5) Acupoints on the lower back, buttocks, and abdomen should be used with caution during a woman's menstrual period.
(6) Before massage, check whether fingernails need trimming.
(7) Select appropriate massage media.