An abdominal massage is a beneficial remedy for various abdominal complaints. Here you can find out which tips and advice you should keep in mind when having a massage.
An abdominal massage is a proven method to counteract various gastrointestinal complaints, especially flatulence and constipation. With the right technique, you can relieve tension in the abdominal and intestinal muscles and promote intestinal activity.
What are the benefits of an abdominal massage?
However, an abdominal massage not only helps with gastrointestinal problems, but also against:
- Menstrual problems
- Circulatory disorders
- Back pain
- stress
In addition, an abdominal massage during pregnancy can relieve the abdominal muscles and help pregnant women to make initial contact with their unborn child. You can also perform an abdominal massage on babies or small children, as they are particularly often affected by gastrointestinal problems.
Attention: In case of diarrhea or skin diseases in the abdominal area, an abdominal massage is not suitable!
Abdominal massage for adults: How to do it
Allow yourself at least ten to fifteen minutes for a stomach massage. It is best to do it lying down. Make sure you have a soft surface (for example your bed or a yoga mat) and comfortable clothing. To make it easier for your hands to glide over your stomach, it is best to apply cream to your stomach and hands beforehand. You can use massage oil for this, for example. Also make sure that your hands are warm.
Then we can get started:
- Lie on your back and place your hand in the middle of your stomach.
- Now slowly stroke around your belly button in a clockwise direction. The entire palm of your hand should always touch your stomach.
- Apply light pressure during the massage. If you feel the blockages in your stomach with your hand, for example when you have flatulence, you can increase the pressure a little in those places.
- However, the pressure should never be so high that it causes pain. Instead, let your hand glide as gently and evenly as possible.
Tip: To further stimulate your intestines, you can stroke your stomach several times with the flat of your hand, both lengthwise and horizontally, before and after the circular massage.
Belly massage for babies: A guide
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / fujikama)
For babies and children, you should create the same basic conditions as for an adult massage. So make sure your baby is lying comfortably and flat on a soft surface. Apply some baby cream to the belly and make sure your hands are soft and warm. Then follow these steps:
- Especially with babies, you should initially just place your hands quietly on the stomach so that your child can get used to the contact.
- Now stroke the belly button clockwise with the palm of your hand.
- You should carefully hold babies around the hip area with your other hand.
- Repeat the flowing circular movement about ten times, sometimes applying more, sometimes less pressure. Make sure that the pressure is never too strong so that your child does not feel any additional pain.
- Now move your hand in small, circular movements around your belly button.
- Do about ten repetitions here too.
- Then just put your index, middle and ring fingers together and move them around the navel again in quick, tapping movements. Here too, apply a little more pressure in some places.
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