Living in a time when packed and ready to eat meals are so easily accessible, we often skip our share of healthy foods and give in to the temptation of grabbing a bit of delicious but fairly unhealthy things. This increased dependency can cause a number of long-term health issues. With our eating habits in today’s times, obesity, diabetes and heart problems are rampant. Such habits also disrupt our digestive system causing problems like indigestion, gas, constipation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), heartburn, sour stomach, diarrhea, etc.
Now, many solutions are available for relieving you from GERD and other gastrointestinal problems, there are also alternative methods suggested that take a drug free approach to treatment. One such alternative is acupressure reflexology.
You must have heard of acupressure. It is a method based on the concept of life energy flowing in the body. In traditional Chinese medicine, acupressure is called as a healing practice, which believes in the importance of good digestion and its relations with living a longer life. According to them, the opposing forces of our bodies, i.e. yin and yang need to be in balance in various regions of the body. This constant balancing act is expressed as qi (commonly spelled chi) which means “energy”. There are certain points in our body which require stimulation of the accumulated qi. To stimulate those pressure points is known as acupressure.
Acupressure helps in healing the inflamed digestive tract by reinstating the balanced flow of energy throughout the body, thus relieving the pain caused by indigestion.
Causes for Poor Digestion
Few common reasons for poor digestion or digestive disorders could be:
- Nutritional Deficiency or Excess
- Poor diet consisting of fatty, fried and sugary foods and less of fibre rich foods
- Stress and anxiety
- Bacterial Infection
- Food sensitivities
- Chronic Medical Conditions
To tackle and better manage digestive problems and improve digestion, below mentioned are few of the pressure points which can help with constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, gas and bloating.
Major acupressure points to improve digestion
Stomach 36
The stomach 36 is also known as Zu San Li which means ‘leg three miles’. This pressure point in the body strengthens your energy which thus enables an exhausted person to walk another three miles.
How to locate: this pressure point is situated on your leg. To locate bend your legs and place four fingers (index to pinky finger) just below the kneecap. At the base of the little finger rests the pressure point. Feel around for tender spot and massage it gently since this acupoint can boost the immune system and help strengthen digestion and related issues.
Stomach 25
Stomach 25 is also known as Tian Shu which means ‘heaven’s pivot’. All the energy from the large intestine gathers and congregates at this point.
How to locate: Place three fingers beside and parallel to the belly button. The point is at the edge of the last finger, three fingers away from the center of the bellybutton. You can use any essential oil to stimulate the area with light pressure, in small circles, moving from right to left.
Stomach 25 when stimulated helps in constipation, diarrhoea alongside menstrual irregularities.
Ren 12
Ren is a channel where the energy of the stomach gathers and collects. In Chinese medicine, the stomach is called the “sea of water and grain”. Ren 12 is also known as ‘Zhong Wan’ or the ‘middle cavity’.
How to locate: It is located on your stomach. If you draw a line from the point where your ribs come together to your belly button; the centre of this line is the Ren 12. In the chakra system, this relates to the solar plexus.
Stimulating this point helps in indigestion and for having a good appetite. This acupoint relieves stomach upset that is related to emotions. It can also alleviate fullness from overeating, gas, bloating, and acid regurgitation.
