According to French osteopath and dietician Pierre Pallardy Anxiety can be treated through the stomach. He believes that there is a strong connection between the brain and the stomach via the vagus nerve. This nerve is the only one to start in the brain stem and it is responsible for various organs in the body including the stomach. Pierre believes that when our brain can’t deal with all the emotions and stress, our stomach suffers and vice-versa.
I think that most of us can relate to this theory. For example, when we are nervous we get butterflies in our stomachs, or when we feel lonely we tend to eat more, also when we go through a separation we eat less. When our emotions affect our diet we can end up having all kinds of digestion problems like constipation, diarrhea or nausea. When we have anxiety, stress, depression our stomachs can be upset for a long period of time. Massaging the stomach can be a great aid in helping the digestive system there for helping with anxiety.
Massaging the Stomach through Breathing:
This is a good way to start treating your stomach because it encourages relaxation. A person who has anxiety or stress tends to take short quick breaths of air. In today rushed world we don’t even take the time to breath. Taking deep full breaths is a very important in aiding digestion. When we inhale deep, it allows our diaphragm to go lower and go massing our intestines in order to activate digestion.
To do this, find a quiet area where you won’t be bothered and lay flat on your back so that you are comfortable. Place your hands on your stomach in order to feel the movement of each breath. Close your eyes so that you are concentrating only on this. Start taking deep breaths making sure that you are breathing with your stomach. If you are doing it correctly you will feel your hands being elevated. You can do this for about ten minutes trying to make each breath deeper than the first. Try to be conscious of your digestive organs (stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, intestines) as they are activated. You will know that it is working when your stomach starts making all kinds of noise.
Massaging the Stomach with Your Hands:
It’s best to start this after the breathing technique because you are more relaxed and ready to receive the massage. You can follow these simple steps.
• Start by doing a light effleurage over your belly. Take your right hand and make a circle going in a clock wise direction to follow the flow of digestion.
• Next, put both hands on the lower part of your ribs so that you thumbs arrive in the solar plexus. They will arrive on the stomach. With you thumbs, do semi-rotations all along this area pushing down towards your feet. Start from top to bottom and repeat a few times.
• From the previous position, bring your hands out more along the sides of your body with your fingers still on your rib cage and your palms on the side of your ribs. With your hands you will do a rotating movement going towards the center of your body and down to your feet. Repeat 10 times.
• Next, place the tip of your fingers on the left side of your lower abdomen at the inside of the iliac bone. You will now work the last part of the colon. With your finger do half circle pushing towards your feet. Start at the lowest part of the iliac bone and work your way up. Repeat 3 times.
• Now do the same movement across your belly at the height of the naval, but this time the pressure is from right to left.
• The last part of the colon is work on the inside of the iliac bone on the right side. The technique is still the same but this time the pressure moves up and towards the center of the body.
The best time to practice
Wait at least 2 hours after any meal. I suggest making this part of your bed time routine. It is a good way to relax before falling asleep and could help with insomnia.Also this will activate you’re your digestive tract so it works over night and in the morning it will allow you to evacuate all that was dormant in your system. However, these techniques can be done during the day when you have a moment and feel the need.
This article is for information purposes only. People with serious digestive problems such as chrome’s should check with their doctor first. If you are pregnant only a light effleurage should be done. Avoid all hard pressure and check with your doctor first.
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