Turns Out We Have A Button To Relieve Trapped Gas. Here’s How To Find It – Health Digest

Fabulous foods with friends can be fun, but sometimes your digestive system objects when it must work overtime to process rich or unfamiliar food. Some ingredients are infamous for giving you gas. You sit in discomfort, trying to ignore the gurgling as you feel your abdomen uncomfortably expanding. Sometimes a Gas-X or TUMS brings temporary relief, but you don’t always have those handy.

Alternative remedies such as acupressure could help when you — and your digestive system — are in a bind. Acupressure and acupuncture are methods used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and they’re based on a system of meridians that run throughout the body. Each meridian is based on a major organ.

One acupressure point you can stimulate if you have trapped gas is Ren 12. It’s also known as CV 12, Conception Vessel 12, or Zhongwan in Chinese. Ren 12 is located just above your belly button. You can locate it by placing all four fingers of your right hand above your belly button, with your pinky finger at the edge of your belly button. Ren 12 will be on the upper edge of your index finger along the same vertical line as your belly button.

Once you’ve found the Ren 12, use two or three fingers to press into the point. You don’t want to press so hard that it’s painful, but just enough to stimulate any blockage in this meridian. Massage this acupressure point for a few minutes to see if you get relief. To help your digestive system relax, take slow, deep breaths while massaging this point.

Massaging Ren 12 can help move stagnant energy through your gastrointestinal tract to improve your digestion and reduce gas. You might also find relief for indigestion, nausea, or stomach pain by stimulating Ren 12.

If you don’t notice any relief, move your fingers to the area at the center of your ribcage. The flat bone there is your breastbone. Press into the soft area just below your breastbone and continue pressing as you move your fingers down toward your belly button. Stop when you notice any points that feel tense, and lightly massage those points.

Another acupressure point along the Conception Vessel is the CV 6 or the Sea of Energy. The Sea of Energy is about an inch and a half below your navel. This, too, can relieve digestive issues and boost stagnant energy. Gently massage this acupressure point in a circular motion for two or three minutes. If you are pregnant, you should check with your doctor to see if this acupressure point is safe for you.

You could also massage the Weishu, or the BL 21, acupressure point on the bladder meridian. This acupressure point is located about 6 inches above the lumbar curve of your spine. The two points of BL 21 are located about an inch and a half on either side of the vertebrae. This acupressure point might be hard to get to if you lack mobility in your shoulders. An acupressure mat with a pillow underneath can help you reach the Weishu. You can also place two therapy balls (like these myofascial release balls from Acupoint) at this acupressure point to ease the pain from gas and bloating. Even if you’re not suffering from gas pain, regularly massaging Weishu can help keep your digestive system in balance. You should avoid massaging this area if you have spine issues such as a herniated disc.