Stomach pain can be said to be a common problem for most people nowadays. Irregular eating, eating cold food, and frequent drinking are important reasons for stomach pain. In order to solve the problem of stomach pain, besides paying more attention to daily life, it can also be relieved through acupressure massage.
Causes of Stomach Pain
1. Dietary Factors
The occurrence of stomach pain is closely related to dietary irregularities. If the diet is not regulated and overeating occurs, it can damage the spleen and stomach, leading to stagnation of food in the stomach and obstruction of gastric qi, resulting in stomach pain.
2. Mental Stress
When a person is under stress, anxiety, or anger, their negative emotions can spread from the cerebral cortex to the autonomic nervous system, directly affecting the gastrointestinal system and causing functional disorders.
3. Overuse of Medications
Due to busy work, some office workers take painkillers when they have stomach pain, which is a mistake and can aggravate the condition. Painkillers have a direct stimulating effect on the gastric mucosa and can promote gastric acid secretion, causing intense stimulation to the mucosa and ulcers, leading to exacerbation of gastritis.
4. Acute Gastritis
Acute gastritis usually has a sudden onset and is caused by bacterial or toxin-contaminated food. It usually occurs within a few hours and does not exceed 24 hours.
Dietary Relief for Stomach Pain
1. Hot Water
The common saying of "drink more hot water" actually has some truth to it. When experiencing stomach pain, whether it is due to a chronic stomach condition or stomach chill, drinking hot water can provide significant relief.
2. Hot Water Bottle
Sometimes stomach pain is caused by stomach chill. In such cases, using a hot water bottle to warm the stomach can provide relief. When feeling a warm sensation, the stomach pain will also be alleviated. If there is no hot water bottle, a hot towel or wrapping a towel around a hot water bottle can have the same effect.
3. Rice Soup
Even if experiencing stomach pain, one still needs to eat something, but it should not be spicy, greasy, or difficult to digest. Instead, choose light and easily digestible foods such as porridge or rice soup. Adding a little baking soda can also be helpful.
4. Vitamin C-rich Fruits
Vitamin C can regulate gastric acid secretion and protect the stomach. Eating a small amount of fruits rich in vitamin C or taking vitamin C tablets can be beneficial.
Massage Treatment for Stomach Pain
1. Rubbing the Back and Waist for Pain Relief: Use both palms to rub and press the bladder meridian from the back. Pay attention to the key acupoints along the inner line of the bladder meridian at the diaphragm and triple energizer points.
2. Shaking and Rubbing Acupoints: Use the base of the palm and wrist joint to perform shaking movements, stimulating acupoints such as liver, spleen, stomach, and triple energizer. Apply moderate pressure and maintain a uniform shaking frequency.
3. Grasping and Kneading the Spine: Use both hands to repeatedly grasp and knead along the governor vessel from top to bottom (from the Dazhui acupoint to the Mingmen acupoint), and perform 10 kneading motions from bottom to top.
4. Rubbing the Upper Abdomen to Disperse Cold: Use one palm to repeatedly rub the upper abdomen, with a fast frequency to create a warm sensation. Then switch to rubbing with both palms.
5. Pressing and Rubbing the Abdomen to Disperse Accumulations: Use both thumbs to alternate pressing along the Ren meridian and the stomach meridian on both sides of the abdomen. Use both palms to rub the upper abdomen from top to bottom, and use circular rubbing motions around the navel.
6. Grasping and Rubbing with Trembling Motions to Unblock Stagnation: Based on the wave-like rubbing of the abdomen with both palms, use multiple fingers to grasp and rub the abdominal muscles with trembling motions.
7. Pressing and Rubbing Yangming to Clear Heat: Use the thumb or the base of the little finger to press and rub the Yangming meridian on the forearm and lower leg, with a focus on the Hegu acupoint on the hand and the Zusanli acupoint on the foot.
