9 Best Acupressure Points to Treat Digestive Problems

Our modern eating habits and increasing dependence on packed and ready to eat meals has lead not only to increased risk of heart diseases, obesity and diabetes, it has also disrupted our digestive system causing problems like indigestion, gas, constipation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), heart burn, sour stomach, diarrhea, etc and most of us suffer from at least one of these problems although we don’t really speak up or do something to relieve it. The best way to treat all these issues is changing the eating pattern for good, but in the meantime acupressure and reflexology can be used effectively to relieve the painful side effects of an upset digestive system.

Common Causes of Digestive Problems:

The causes of stomach ailments are multiple and in most cases they work together. It is really difficult to determine the root cause and it is often treated according to the symptoms, but here are a few most common causes for digestive disorder:

• Poor Diet
• Stress
• Dehydration
• Nutritional Deficiency or Excess
• Bacterial Infection
• Chronic Medical Conditions
• Inflammation of the Digestive Tract

How Acupressure Treats Digestive Problems?

Acupressure originated in China more than 5,000 years and it is based on the theory that an ailment can be treated by balancing the unbalanced “qi” energy in various regions of the body. Most of the digestive disorders arise from inflammation of the digestive tract that leads to decreased digestion and absorption of nutrients. Acupressure helps in healing the inflamed digestive linings by restoring the balanced flow of energy throughout the body.

9 Effective Acupressure Regions for Treating Digestive Problems:

Stimulating these 9 specific points can help in relieving the pain caused by indigestion and treating problems like constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, gas and bloating.

Union Valley:

This point is located in the webbing between the index finger and the thumb. Stimulating this point improves over all intestinal function and helps relieve diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain.

Crooked Pond:

This point is located at the top of the elbow crease, at the edge of the joint. Stimulating this point helps in relieving diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain.

Outer Gate:

This point is located three fingers width above the wrist crease, on the outer side of the hand. Stimulating this point helps in relieving nausea and vomiting.

Inner Gate:

This point is located three fingers width above the wrist crease, in the middle of the arm on the palm side of the hand. Stimulating this point relieves stomach ache, indigestion, vomiting and anxiety.

Three Point Mile:

This point is located on the outer edge of the leg, three fingers width below the knee. Stimulating this point helps in relieving ulcer, enteritis, nausea, gas and bloating.

Grandfather-Grandson:

This point is located on the side of inner side of the foot, four finger width away from the big toe. Stimulating this point harmonizes energy flow in the stomach and relieves indigestion, stomach ache and nausea.

Three Yin Crossing:

This point is located three finger widths above the inner ankle bone. Stimulating this point helps in overall healing of diseases related to the lower abdomen. It relieves colitis, abdominal distention and flatulence.

Great Rushing:

This point is located in the webbing between the big and the second toes. Stimulating this point helps in improving gall-bladder health and relieving nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Middle Cavity:

This point is located half way between the breast bone and the belly button, at the mid-line of the body. Stimulating this point helps in relieving heartburn, indigestion and abdominal pain.

Stretching to Open all the Digestive Channels:

It is important to stretch the entire body before beginning the acupressure session in order to unblock the blocked meridians and help the “qi” flow throughout the body that will make the session more effective.

• Raise your arms above your head while breathing in and stretch backwards as much as you can without hurting yourself.
• Count till 3 and come back to the original position while exhaling slowly.
• Inhale and bend forward in the rag doll position while exhaling.
• Count till 3 and come back to the starting position while inhaling.
• Bring your arms above your head and lean your body to the right side while exhaling
• Come back to the starting position while inhaling
• Now lean your body to the left side while exhaling
• Come back to the starting position while inhaling
• Repeat this whole stretching workout 3 times to open all digestive channels.

All these pressure points helps in opening up the digestive channel and it will benefit any digestive condition in an effective way. So the next time you feel bloated and full, don’t just reach out for an antacid, try out these easy and simple reflexology procedures and get long term relief from digestive problems.

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