Introduction:
A stomach massage is also called an abdominal massage. It is a non-invasive and relaxing treatment with several healing effects that improve the quality of life. It helps certain stomach conditions like abdominal bloating, constipation, and digestive issues. A massage therapist usually does an abdominal massage, and essential oils are incorporated into the massage to enhance the benefits of the massage. If a person has underlying health conditions or is pregnant, it is important to talk to a doctor before getting an abdomen massage. This article will explain in detail about stomach massages and the various benefits it holds.
What Are the Benefits of Stomach Massage?
Massage therapy usually has a positive impact on the social, physical, and mental well-being of people. It improves the overall health and wellness of people. Some additional benefits of a stomach massage are given below.
- Improve Digestive Function - Abdominal massages showed significant improvement in people with symptoms associated with endotracheal tube issues. In these people, with stomach massages, constipation, and abdominal circumference had significantly decreased, and a reduction in the stomach liquids is also noted.
- Relieve Constipation - Massaging the stomach area will help the muscles of the stomach to relax. Stomach muscle relaxation can help relieve constipation and stimulate the digestion process. People who had stomach massages were noted to have more bowel movements, reduced time between each bowel movement, and decreased symptoms of constipation. To relieve constipation, the massage therapist focuses on two acupressure points during the massage they are; CV 6, present below the belly button area that is in a two-finger width, and CV12, present between the area of the rib cage and belly button, which lies in the center of the torso. The acupuncture points are not used if a person is pregnant.
- Reduce Menstrual Pain - Stomach massages effectively relieve menstrual cramping and pain. Six days before the menstruation cycle, women who had five minutes of massage daily were noted to have significantly less cramping than women who had not had a massage treatment. Using essential oils during the massage will enhance the olfactory sensations and reduce friction, easing the menstrual pain and associated bleeding. Essential oils are part of aromatherapy massage, including rose, cinnamon, lavender, and clove in a base of almond oil.
- Reduce Bloating - A 15-minute stomach massage done twice a day for about three days was noticed to lower the levels of abdominal bloating. It also significantly improved any underlying depression, anxiety, and the general well-being of a person. In people undergoing treatment for cancer, stomach massages were noted to treat the symptoms of access fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity.
- Improves Posture - The core muscle group consists of the abdominal muscles. If the core muscles are too tight or loose, it leads to bad posture and form, which can result in an injury. Stomach massages correct this by improving elasticity and loosening the abdominal muscles.
- Boosts the Immune System - Most of the body's immune system lies in the gut area. A healthy gut is essential for a person's overall health and immunity. A better immunity helps the body fight against various diseases and infections. By doing stomach massages, stimulation of the lymphatic system happens, which causes detoxification and boosts the body's natural defense system.
- Helps Reduce Emotional Stress and Physical Tension - When a person is anxious or stressed, they get "a knot in the gut" feeling. This feeling can get accompanied by muscle spasms and trapped gas. Stomach massages make a person relax; this relaxation will help the nervous system regulate and induce a sense of calmness in the body and mind. When pressure is applied to the stomach area during a massage, any physical tension or knots associated with the stress will be released. Therefore, stomach massages have physical and psychological benefits.
- Other Benefits - Stomach massages also encourage relaxation, help in weight loss, increase blood flow to the abdominal region, benefit organs present in the abdominal region, tone and strengthen the abdominal area muscles, and release physical and emotional tension and muscle spasms.
Is Stomach Massage Safe?
Generally, stomach massages are safe for most people when done safely and gently. However, there are certain scenarios where stomach massage should be avoided, like a recent abdominal surgery, underlying health issues, or pregnancy. It is also recommended not to eat any heavy or spicy food a few hours before the stomach massage.
How to Do a Self-Stomach Massage?
- First, find a comfortable place and lie on the back with the belly exposed. Support, like a pillow, should be placed under the knee area to properly align the lower back region.
- Place the hands on the lower belly and overlap them, hold the hands in the area and try focusing on breathing. Focus on full abdominal breathing than just chest breathing.
- Rub the hands together for about 30 seconds and warm the hands.
- Apply oil on the palm and massage the stomach clockwise for several minutes. A clockwise direction is recommended as it is the general direction where digestion happens in the smaller and large intestines. Massaging in an anti-clockwise manner can be uncomfortable and might feel unpleasant. Try using massage oils like almond oils with essential oils like lavender or rose oil for more healing benefits.
- After massaging the stomach, start massaging the center line of the stomach below the sternum and ending at the pubic bone area.
- Do the same on the left side of the abdomen and then the right side.
- Press the fingers firmly on the naval area and continue the massage by applying gentle pressure and circling outwards from the navel area in a clockwise direction.
- Extra time can be spent on specific trigger points which may need extra attention.
- Continue the massage for up to 20 minutes.
- After the massage, try focusing on breathing and slowly get up.
- If self-massage is not possible, help from a professional can also be sought for a stomach massage.
Conclusion:
Stomach massage is a low-risk option that can help with several health conditions and improve the overall quality of life. It is always better to consult a doctor if any underlying health condition is present before planning a massage treatment. The massage can be performed on our own or with the help of a massage therapist. If a specific health condition is targeted, self-massage must be done daily to gain better results.
