Table of contents:
- What are the benefits of stomach massage for health?
- 1. Relieves constipation
- 2. Smooth digestion system
- 3. Reduces flatulence
- 4. Relieves PMS symptoms
- Do not just massage the stomach yourself, this is the danger
Abdominal massage is a type of massage therapy that is often used to pamper the body after a day of activities. Especially for those of you who often complain of stomach pain or digestive problems, this type of massage can help relieve it. Come on, find out the other benefits of abdominal massage through the following reviews.
What are the benefits of stomach massage for health?
According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), massage therapy has a positive impact on physical, mental and social health in humans. For this reason, many people turn to massage therapy to restore their overall health and well-being.
Specifically, the various benefits that you can get from abdominal massage are:
1. Relieves constipation
Tight abdominal muscles are prone to make you experience constipation, aka constipation. In addition to increasing eating high-fiber foods, this health problem can also be overcome by abdominal massage.
A small study published in the journal Gastroenterology Nursing in 2016 involved two groups of participants who both developed constipation after surgery. The difference is, one group was given abdominal massage, while the other group did not get abdominal massage.
Researchers found that people who received massage on the abdomen felt less constipation symptoms. They also admitted that they did not need to spend a lot of time defecating after massaging their stomachs. Indirectly, the benefits of abdominal massage can help smooth your bowel movements.
2. Smooth digestion system
Recent research published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice reveals that the benefits of abdominal massage can improve the digestive system in patients undergoing endotracheal tube surgery.
The endotracheal tube is a breathing tube that is inserted into the patient's trachea to open the airway so that air can reach the patient's lungs.
These results were found after the patient routinely received abdominal massage for 15 minutes twice a day for three days. Not only improved digestion, they also experienced a drastic decrease in the amount of abdominal fluid, abdominal circumference, and duration of bowel movements.
However, further research is still needed to prove it.
3. Reduces flatulence
For those of you who often experience flatulence, try to overcome it with a stomach massage. A 2015 study found that gentle pressure accompanied by a circular motion in the stomach is effective at removing gas and excess fluid from the stomach.
This also applies to patients who often experience flatulence as a side effect of cancer treatment.
You can get this benefit if you do a belly massage for 15 minutes twice a day for three days. Not only does it help remove gas from the stomach, the soothing effect of abdominal massage can also reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
4. Relieves PMS symptoms
Some women routinely do belly massage because they believe this therapy can relieve stomach cramps and other symptoms of STDs. In fact, abdominal massage can indeed cure stomach cramps before menstruation, you know.
Women who routinely do a 5-minute abdominal massage for 6 consecutive days before menstruation are less likely to experience stomach cramps than women who don't. However, more research is needed to prove this.
For maximum effect, use lavender oil or other essential oils to help relieve PMS symptoms faster. Come on, find out the various benefits of essential oils in the article 7 Benefits of Essential Oils for Health, It's a shame to Miss this.
Do not just massage the stomach yourself, this is the danger
Although the benefits of this belly massage are amazing, there are a number of things that you should pay attention to. This stomach massage is actually safe as long as it is done by a certified and experienced therapist.
This means that experts do not recommend that you massage your stomach on your own without understanding its specific techniques. If performed by a traditional masseuse or done carelessly at home, it can actually be fatal.
Pressure abdominal massage that is too hard can risk bruising or injury to the muscles in the abdomen. This condition is called rhabdomyolysis, which is when the muscles release too much protein into the bloodstream. As a result, inflammation develops which causes pain, swelling, and weakness in the affected muscles.
In order for you to get the optimal benefits of belly massage, make sure you get a belly massage from an experienced and certified professional therapist. For those of you who have recently had stomach surgery or have certain diseases, you should first consult a doctor before doing a stomach massage.