Stomach pain is a common symptom among many office workers. It can occur not only in those with gastrointestinal disorders but also when one is excessively hungry. What should you do when stomach pain strikes? Are there quick ways to relieve it?
Quick Ways to Relieve Stomach Pain
I. Find Food
1. Milk
Regular milk consumption has excellent stomach-nourishing effects, particularly effective in alleviating stomach pain caused by various reasons.Milk forms a protective layer in the stomach. Drinking a glass of milk first thing in the morning before eating is highly recommended.
While milk effectively eases stomach pain and nourishes the stomach, caution is needed for those with diarrhea, spleen deficiency, or dampness syndromes. Avoid excessive consumption, as it may worsen symptoms.
2. Jasmine Tea
Jasmine flowers possess a pungent-sweet flavor and warm nature, aiding digestion and absorption while alleviating stomach pain. They demonstrate remarkable efficacy against diarrhea and abdominal discomfort, earning jasmine tea the reputation of a "stomach-protecting tea." Additionally, jasmine flowers exert a calming effect on the mind, promoting emotional stability and a sense of well-being.
For gastric discomfort, steep jasmine flowers in warm milk to make jasmine milk tea, which offers beneficial supplementary relief.
3. Soda Crackers
During stomach pain episodes, consume baking powder or soda crackers. Their alkaline nature neutralizes stomach acid responsible for discomfort.This works on the same principle as antacids, making them effective for treating stomach ailments.
Yeast powder, soda water, and soda crackers have alkaline pH levels and are classified as mildly alkaline foods, which can indeed neutralize stomach acid. If a patient has been diagnosed with a stomach condition, consuming these items can provide temporary relief from acid reflux or stomach pain, but they cannot cure the underlying condition.
4. Jujube and Ginger Decoction
Jujubes are sweet and warm in nature, tonifying the middle energizer, boosting qi, nourishing blood, and calming the spirit. Ginger is pungent and warm, warming the middle energizer, resolving exterior pathogens, and dispelling cold. Combined, they maximize ginger's effects to promote qi and blood circulation, alleviating cold hands and feet. Additionally, ginger emphasizes warming tonification while jujubes emphasize nourishing tonification, making this decoction highly effective for treating stomach ailments caused by cold.
II. Locating Acupoints
1. Abdominal Massage
Cross your hands: for men, right hand on top, left hand below; for women, left hand on top, right hand below. Using the navel as the center, massage the abdomen in a Tai Chi pattern—36 clockwise circles followed by 36 counterclockwise circles. This method alleviates pain and bloating while boosting appetite.
2. Pressing Zhongwan
Press the Zhongwan acupoint (located on the upper abdomen, on the midline, four finger-widths above the navel) with your fingertips facing downward, or massage in a circular motion. Repeat multiple times.
3. Knead Neiguan
The Neiguan point is located at the center of the wrist, approximately three finger-widths (width of three fingers placed side by side) above the wrist crease, between the two tendons. Use your thumb to knead and rotate in a circular motion 36 times, alternating hands. Increase to 200 times during pain episodes.
4. Pressing Zusanli
Zusanli is located three cun below the lateral edge of the knee (equivalent to the width of four fingers placed side by side), between the tibia and fibula. Use the tips of both thumbs to press the point. Perform 36 times during normal periods; when pain occurs, massage approximately 200 times using slightly firmer pressure.