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After eating or stress, the stomach sometimes swells like a balloon. Self-massage in certain key areas can help us correct this. Here are the right actions to take.
Food intolerance, stress, sensitive intestines, constipation… Several reasons can explain bloating. According to the French National Society of Gastroenterology, 20-40% of the general population suffers from this digestive discomfort. Although the phenomenon is widespread, it is also embarrassing and often painful. Julie Cordier, Osteopath in Office and Home Gynecology, walks us through the effective moves to make to ease and comfort our insides.
Follow the transit direction
The first reflex to adopt is as simple as it is effective. It consists of massaging the stomach with light pressure of the hand (or fingertips) and moving clockwise for 5-10 minutes. “During bloating, gas stagnates in the intestines and causes this swelling. That’s why, by making a circular movement, we will follow the direction of transit and thus help to evacuate those gases,” explains the osteopath.
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Ideally, Julie Cordier suggests using a neutral massage oil (almond, coconut) to gently accompany the gesture. This self-massage should also be done far from eating, that is, 2-3 hours after eating.
Make a vertical path
For those looking to switch up exercise, there is an alternative to restoring intestinal circulation. “Starting at the tip of the sternum, bring your fingertips down to the pubis, remembering to bypass the navel. Repeat this gesture several times in a row,” explains Julie Cordier.
Target the parties
Abdominal heaviness is sometimes accompanied by bad breath, which can affect the diaphragm (the muscle that separates the chest from the abdominal cavity) and exacerbate transit disorders, notes Julie Cordier.
When a situation arises, it is wise to unblock this area and calm it down. In practice, we begin to reveal the tip of the sternum. From here, follow the bottom of the ribcage with your fingertips, going well down the ribcage as if you were trying to draw a semicircle. Repeat the gesture for 5 to 10 minutes.
Stretch out
Along with these self-massages, the osteopath reminds us of the importance of good hydration for digestive distress, as well as the importance of stretching, especially through gentle yoga poses such as cobra. “You lie on your stomach and lift your chest slightly with your forearms,” he describes. This exercise, like all other stretches, helps to relax the muscles, but also the nervous system of the stomach, which when imbalanced is a factor in bloating.
Source: Le Figaro
