Bloating is a very common condition, so most people don't pay much attention to it. But do you know that bloating can be very harmful and can even lead to various diseases? Therefore, getting rid of bloating is very important. Traditional Chinese medicine teaches you how to massage the Gong Sun acupoint to quickly relieve bloating.
What causes bloating?
1. Poor eating habits
Unregulated eating, overeating or fasting for long periods of time can easily damage the stomach. Eating too much greasy food can deplete the enzymes responsible for fat and protein digestion, leading to poor digestion. A diet high in protein or fat can alter the gut microbiota and affect the survival of beneficial bacteria.
Eating too quickly without sufficient chewing prevents proper mixing of digestive juices and food, causing harm to the intestines. Eating too many gas-producing foods such as legumes and sweet potatoes, which are not easily absorbed by the small intestine and are broken down in the large intestine by bacteria, can lead to stomach bloating.
Insufficient water intake or inadequate intake of fiber-rich foods can easily cause constipation and increase the risk of secondary colon cancer. Many people eat while talking, quickly finishing their meals and immediately sitting down, which can trap gas in the stomach and cause bloating.
2. Irregular lifestyle
An irregular lifestyle, staying up late, and irregular meal times can disrupt the normal functioning of the intestines, leading to excessive burden on the gastrointestinal tract.
3. Various disease factors
Some gastrointestinal diseases such as peptic ulcers, gastritis, intestinal obstruction, intestinal intussusception, gastrointestinal tumors, etc., can accumulate gas in the intestines and cause bloating. In addition, people with rhinitis or nasal allergies tend to breathe through their mouths, easily sucking air into the digestive tract and causing stomach bloating.
Location of the Gong Sun acupoint
How to massage the Gong Sun acupoint to relieve bloating?
The main symptoms of "food stagnation" include abdominal pain, diarrhea with foul-smelling stools, relief of abdominal pain after bowel movements, accompanied by abdominal distension and fullness, belching with rotten sour smell, loss of appetite, and thick greasy tongue coating.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, when the stomach is not functioning well, it affects sleep. For example, eating too much for dinner can cause food stagnation and poor digestion, resulting in disharmony of stomach qi. This can disrupt the flow of qi in the upper and middle burners, disturbing the mind and affecting sleep. Massaging the Gong Sun acupoint at this time can effectively relieve symptoms of bloating. When the stomach qi is harmonized, the mind will be at peace, and the problem of insomnia will naturally be resolved.
The specific technique is to use the thumb to knead the acupoint with moderate pressure for 10 minutes each time, and massage both feet. If combined with massaging the Nei Guan acupoint (located on the inner side of the arm, two finger-widths away from the wrist crease towards the forearm) along the Hand Jue Yin Pericardium Meridian, it can have a better effect of regulating stomach qi and relieving chest tightness.
Research shows that massaging the Gong Sun acupoint can also inhibit gastric acid secretion. People with excessive stomach acid can massage this acupoint between meals for 15 to 20 minutes each time.
How to find the location of the Gong Sun acupoint?
1. Standard positioning
On the inner side of the foot, below the base of the first metatarsal bone.
2. Locating the acupoint
Sit or lie down with the foot in a relaxed position. The acupoint is located on the inner side of the big toe, approximately one inch from the base of the first metatarsal bone, or by pressing along the Tai Bai meridian until a depression is felt.
Location of the Gong Sun acupoint
3. Anatomy of the acupoint
Located in the extensor hallucis longus muscle, it is supplied by the dorsal venous network of the foot, the medial plantar artery, and the medial tarsal artery. It is also innervated by the saphenous nerve and its branches.
What are the effects and functions of the Gong Sun acupoint?
1. Effects of the Gong Sun acupoint
The Gong Sun acupoint has the effect of strengthening the spleen and stomach, and regulating the meridians. Massaging the Gong Sun acupoint can relieve symptoms of dysmenorrhea and assist in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases such as stomach pain, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and dysentery.
2. Functions of the Gong Sun acupoint
The Gong Sun acupoint has the functions of tonifying the spleen and stomach, and regulating the Chong and Ren meridians.
The Gong Sun acupoint is located on the Spleen Meridian of Foot Tai Yin, which connects with the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yang Ming. Its main function is to regulate the spleen and stomach. It is one of the main acupoints for treating digestive system disorders such as poor digestion, abdominal distension, diarrhea, and edema caused by weak spleen and stomach.
The Gong Sun acupoint is one of the meeting points of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels, connecting to the Conception Vessel. It is located in the chest and abdomen. The Conception Vessel originates in the uterus and spreads to the chest, and the Foot Tai Yin Spleen Meridian also ascends to the heart. Therefore, it can treat diseases of the spleen, stomach, and chest region.
The Gong Sun acupoint is one of the meeting points of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels, connecting to the Conception Vessel. It has the function of regulating qi, relieving chest tightness, and eliminating phlegm and restlessness.
