So often, my clients who have digestive issues aren't already incorporating one of the "oldest tricks in the book" - which is the art of self massage for health ailments. Self massage is typically used into two main regions for two distinctive purposes: the face (through gua sha, usually), and the abdomen for digestive discomfort.
Many women experience digestive discomfort for a number of reasons: dysfunction from the birth control pill, complications from giving birth (c-sections especially), and even the innately more sluggish intestinal cells found in female bodies. I know, I know - just more unique struggles to face as a female. While you might feel disappointed by your increased odds of stomach troubles, I am here to support you.
How to Perform Abdominal Self-Massage
Find a quiet and relaxing spot where you can rest. Lie flat or elevate your legs if you are able to.
Start on the right side of your stomach by the pelvic bone. Using gentle pressure, rub in tiny clockwise circular motions, working your way up to your right rib cage. To aid in abdominal relief, you can use coconut oil with a few drops of peppermint oil to bring extra stomach relief. Continue the circular motions as you move across to your left side, then down the left side to your hip bone. Keep up the circular massage while moving inward, toward your belly button.
Continue this for three minutes, and stop if you experience discomfort.
Take one extra minute to move up from your right pelvic bone to your right rib cage, one minute over to your left rib cage, and one minute down to your left pelvic bone. Then, one minute to move upward to your belly button.
Continue massaging for 10 minutes. Keep moving in a clockwise motion. This should not be painful.
In addition to this, you can also try sitting in child's pose, a common yoga position that is helpful for bringing distraction to abdominal pain while also providing relief. Ginger tea, peppermint tea, and even a small amount of activated charcoal can be very helpful as well for stomach pain. If you are experiencing pain on a regular basis, I highly recommend checking this video out.
