Abdominal massage is a gentle non-invasive treatment that is relaxing and healing for many people. A massage therapist may incorporate an abdominal massage into a treatment, however, even at home, individuals can benefit from the healing powers of an abdominal massage by taking five or ten minutes to massage their own bellies. This may help alleviate a variety of health issues.
Relieves Physical and Emotional Tension
Abdominal massage, like other types of massage, is excellent for mental well-being. It helps calm and relax the body, helping to lower stress levels. It will also assist in alleviating digestive issues related to stress. This helps your body and mind relax. When you are relaxed, your body, in turn, is able to function more optimally.
Improves Digestion and Relieves Constipation
Even a brief massage of the abdomen can help relax the stomach muscles. This, in turn, can help stimulate digestion and relieve constipation. Studies have shown that using massage to stimulate the gastrointestinal system can have long-term effects that will help maintain the health of the entire body. Massage also helps relieve various symptoms of digestion and constipation, including bloating and indigestion.
Alleviates Menstrual Pain
In general, massage alleviates pain in the surrounding area by stimulating the muscles and tissues that may be tender due to menstruation. For women who suffer from painful periods, abdominal massages can work wonders. Abdominal massage aids in lowering levels of pain and cramping by bringing warmth to the area while relaxing the muscles to provide even greater relief.
Realigns Various Parts of the Body – Especially in Women
A woman’s abdomen and pelvic area are often in constant flux, from menstruation to ovulation to childbirth. Many women also suffer from PCOS and or have uterine cysts and other ailments. Abdominal massage helps realign the pelvic area and relax the surrounding muscles to help this sensitive area of the body function optimally.
Aids in Weight Loss
While proper diet and exercise will help individuals lose weight safely, abdominal massage can assist the process by promoting better digestion. This gets rid of backed-up waste, and helps your digestive system – and by extension, your metabolism – speed up. A healthier digestive tract will not only make it easier for you to lose unnecessary weight when working correctly, but it will also aid in keeping the weight off.
Increases Circulation and Stimulates Internal Organs
Massages of all types, including abdominal massage, aid in stimulating an individual’s nerves, muscles, and tissues to help kick-start a natural detoxification process and increase oxygen levels. When focused on the abdominal area, massage can bring more blood supply to the abdominal cavity, increasing blood flow to the digestive organs which, in turn, supports a more efficient and healthy digestive system.
Is Abdominal Massage Right for Me?
While there are many benefits of abdominal massage, there are certain individuals who should be mindful of massaging this specific area. For example, individuals with the following ailments should not have an abdominal massage during flare-ups:
- Gastrointestinal tract disorders
- Crohn’s disease
- Celiac disease
- Ulcerative colitis
If you are curious about abdominal massage and want to find out more about techniques and how they may benefit you, contact us today.
