Abdominal Massage for Constipation
Many customers select the stomach as one of their preferred focus areas when booking a treatment. A tummy massage offers the perfect soothing end to any relaxation therapy but can also deliver important benefits to your digestive health. In fact abdominal massage for constipation could help clear your gut of unwanted debris and soothe your mind. Read on to find out how.
Under the umbrella of health benefits, abdominal massage offers a targeted approach to a variety of digestive issues. Particularly effective for alleviating constipation, this soothing technique focuses on your belly area to kickstart sluggish bowels and promote smoother intestinal function. Whether you're dealing with a bloated tummy or excess gas, the right abdominal massage can offer rapid relief and contribute to your overall wellbeing.
How A Belly Massage Can Ease Constipation
Stomach massage focuses on targeting the muscles in your intestine walls, which play a crucial role in bowel movements. Your intestines are made up of two main sections: the small and large intestine, extending from your stomach to your pelvis. Massaging the abdomen can ease the journey of waste through your gut by relaxing the intestinal muscles, reducing the risk of constipation.
Book A Belly Massage for Constipation
Massage for Vagus Nerve & Constipation Relief
The vagus nerve is one of the longest nerves in the body and plays a key role in regulating various bodily functions, including digestion, heart rate, and respiration. The vagus nerve originates from the brainstem and extends down to your abdomen, passing through various organs including the heart, lungs, and digestive tract.
When it comes to dealing with constipation, massaging the vagus nerve can be a game changer! The vagus nerve plays a significant role in your 'rest and digest' system, governing vital functions like digestion. By targeting this nerve through specialised massage techniques, you can stimulate peristalsis — the rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the intestine muscles — facilitating a smoother bowel movement.
Many people are unaware that a properly functioning vagus nerve is crucial for optimal digestive health. Massaging the vagus nerve can improve the connection between the gut and brain, alleviating not just constipation, but also related symptoms like bloating and discomfort.
If you are considering using massage for constipation relief, don't overlook the value of focusing on the vagus nerve. This approach not only aids digestion but also brings a myriad of other health benefits, from reducing stress to improving mental wellbeing and our therapists ensure it is included in their stomach massage treatments.
Stomach Massage for Excess Gas
Your small intestines are responsible for digesting nutrients into your bloodstream, aided by enzymes produced by your liver and pancreas. Abdominal massage can increase blood flow in the gut area, thereby enhancing the efficiency of enzyme delivery and reducing symptoms like excess gas.
Tummy Massage for Bloating
The processed food that reaches your large intestine consists mainly of fibre, waste, salt, and water. Circular clockwise motions in abdominal massage follow the direction of waste travel and aim to relax the intestinal muscles. This promotes better flow and absorption, which can significantly relieve symptoms of bloating.
Read About Massage for Bloating
Abdominal Massage and Weight Loss
Some specialist stomach massage techniques, such as anti-cellulite slimming massage, can assist in weight loss. By improving the digestive system's efficiency and accelerating the breakdown and absorption of nutrients, abdominal massage can contribute to weight loss as part of a holistic health approach.
Mental Health Benefits for Stomach Massage
While the primary focus may be on digestive health, it's worth noting that any soothing treatment can also positively affect your mental wellbeing. Stomach massages are inherently calming, offering a comforting aspect to massage therapy that can enhance your mood.
How is Stomach Massage Performed?
The techniques applied for stomach massage are quite simple. With a bit of practice you can even do it on yourself at home.
Abdominal massages are carried out over the area where your intestines are located, which is just below the rib cage and stomach organ. For this reason, the technique is also often called lower abdominal or colonic massage.
Your therapist will perform your stomach massage whilst you are lying face up, usually during the final stage of your massage. The pressure applied is light to medium as this creates a wonderfully warm, soothing, continuous stroke right in the core of your torso.
A typical procedure goes something like this:
➪ Initial Position: Place both hands flat, palms facing down, across the centre of your belly.
➪ Circular Motion: Move each hand in a slow, circular motion around your belly button, one hand following the other.
➪ Clockwise Direction: Always massage in a clockwise direction, mimicking the natural path food takes through your intestines.
➪ Expand the Radius: Gradually, your therapist will enlarge the circular strokes, extending the light pressure towards the edges of your stomach.
➪ Targeted Pressure: As the focus shifts to your large intestine, your therapist may switch from using the flats of their palms to using their fingertips for more targeted pressure.
➪ Duration: The entire procedure typically lasts around 5-10 minutes.
➪ Repetition: This massage sequence is usually repeated 2-3 times to maximise benefits.
We believe a stomach massage is one of the most pleasant ways to complete a relaxing full body massage session - it's not just cats that love a belly rub!
