Balance Blog: All Things Health, Wellness, and Chinese Medicine
4 Acupressure Points to Improve Digestion
Here’s a little something we put together for you to help relieve bloating and indigestion this holiday season (and always)! Happy Thanksgiving.
This holiday season, beat the bloat and ease tummy troubles with a simple acupressure routine!
Applying pressure to acupuncture points stimulates the flow of energy (qi) throughout the body and communicates with the nervous system to improve basic life functions like sleep and digestion, bringing us back to homeostasis.
Points that bring balance back to the digestive system are found all over the body. Many of these points influence the stomach, intestine, and other abdominal organs to benefit digestive health. Acupressure along these channels can help relieve indigestion, bloating, acid reflux, constipation, and pain and discomfort.
Some favorite points to improve digestion are: LI-4, Ren 12, ST36, and Sp-6.
When locating points, feel for a tender spot or a place when your finger seems to dip slightly. Most acupuncture points are noticeable once you find them! Apply gentle pressure and massage each point for 30 seconds while breathing deeply into your belly.
Tip: Press the point on each side of the body to feel which one is more tender/sensitive. If you notice a difference, spend some extra time on the tender side. Continue your acupressure treatment until you feel the qi moving and the bloating or pain dissipate!
Bonus tip: Acupressure points to improve digestion pairs well with patchouli, lavender, fennel, coriander, ginger, peppermint, or grapefruit essential oils.
Easy-To-Pack Wellness Essentials for Holiday Travel
Packing wellness travel essentials can be a real lifesaver when you're on the road for the holidays. Bring along these easy-to-pack items to make your day better and your trip easier. And, get a few tips on pre- and post-holiday travel care!
Packing wellness travel essentials can be a real lifesaver when you're on the road for the holidays. And preparing your body for the stress and excitement of holiday travels with the right supplements and care beforehand is just as essential!
We put together a Holiday Travel Checklist that includes pre-holiday care tips and essential wellness items to have on hand during your travels.
Bring along these easy-to-pack items to make your day better and your trip easier:
What about post-holiday travel care?
Continue taking your multivitamins, probiotics, and immune system supplements for at least 2 weeks after traveling. If you feel like you overindulged on holiday food and fun, you can include a gentle daily detox herbal tea into your regimen, like green tea, milk thistle, nettles, or dandelion root. Lemon in room temperature water will also do the trick, as will green drinks with chlorella. Fennel, taken as a tea, supplement, or in food, offers a gentle digestive detox.
Safe travels + take care!