There was once such a true story. Uncle Wang, a retired teacher, often can't sleep at night because of a feeling of bloating. He tried a variety of methods, including Western medicine and daily life adjustments, but with little success. This condition not only affected the quality of his sleep, but also cast a shadow on his daily life. It wasn't until he came into contact with the wisdom of Chinese medicine that his bloating problem was significantly improved through two simple, no-cost methods
Bloating, a seemingly simple but far-reaching health problem, often inadvertently intrudes into our daily lives. This is not only a manifestation of physical discomfort, but also a health alert from the body. To effectively relieve stomach bloating, it's important to first understand its common causes.
Poor diet: one of the main triggers
Eating too fast: Eating fast causes a lot of air to be swallowed along with the food, increasing stomach gas.
High-fat foods: Greasy foods are difficult to digest and prolong the stay time of food in the stomach, causing stomach bloating.
Spicy food:Irritating foods can cause irritation of the gastric mucosa and increase stomach discomfort.
Drink carbonated drinks: Carbonated bubbles can increase gas in the stomach.
Habits:Influencing factors that cannot be ignored.
Smoking and drinking: Tobacco and alcohol can stimulate gastric acid secretion and increase the burden on the stomach.
Irregular eating times:Irregular eating disrupts the normal digestive rhythm of the stomach.
Excessive pressure:Long-term mental stress can affect blood circulation and digestive function in the stomach.
Gastrointestinal disorders: cause for concern
Decreased gastric motility: Delayed emptying of the stomach, causing food to stay in the stomach for too long.
Insufficient secretion of digestive enzymes:Affects the digestion of food, increases the residue in the stomach, and causes stomach bloating.
In TCM theory, stomach distension is not just a simple physiological phenomenon, but a manifestation of the body's "qi and machinery" imbalance. According to TCM, stomach distension is usually related to spleen and stomach dysfunction, qi stagnation, or phlegm dampness。In TCM theory, the spleen is regarded as the "acquired foundation", which is mainly responsible for digestion and absorption, and converts food into qi and blood. When the spleen and stomach are dysfunctional, food cannot be digested and absorbed normally, internal qi stagnation will be formed, which will lead to stomach distension and discomfort.
In addition, mood swings are also considered to be one of the important factors that cause stomach bloating. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the "seven emotions and internal injuries", that is, excessive mood swings (such as worry, anger, sadness, etc.) can directly affect the function of the spleen and stomach, resulting in poor qi and qi stagnation. Long-term emotional depression or excessive mood swings will affect the normal movement of the spleen and stomach, which in turn will cause stomach distension and indigestion.
Self-Regulation: Diet and Lifestyle Adjustments
In terms of diet, it is recommended to choose foods that are easy to digest, such as lean meats, fish, fresh vegetables and fruits, and avoid greasy, cold and indigestible foods.
Moderate exercise, such as walking and tai chi, can help improve spleen and stomach function and promote food digestion.
Pay attention to emotional management, avoid excessive mood swings, and soothe emotions through meditation, yoga and other means.
Acupressure: Theory of meridians in traditional Chinese medicine
Middle navel point (CV12):Located 4 inches above the navel, it is an important acupuncture point for regulating the spleen and stomach. Gently massaging this acupoint can relieve the upward reversal of stomach qi and reduce stomach distention.
Zusanli (ST36): Located below the knee, one transverse finger (about 3 cm) from the anterior edge of the tibia. Massaging Zusanli can enhance the function of the spleen and stomach and improve digestion.
Neiguan Acupoint (PC6):Located on the inside of the forearm, 2 inches above the horizontal stripe of the wrist. Massage Neiguan acupoint to adjust qi and relieve stomach bloating and mood swings.