Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS is a debilitating condition that can cause constipation, diarrhea, bloating and abdominal pain. Imagine being in a car with your boss and having a diarrhea attack. Not only do you have to deal with the pain of the disorder itself, you have to deal with the humiliation of being in situations where you cannot control your bowels.
It is estimated that 20% of the population in the U.S. suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Western medicine has failed to come up with effective treatments. Many people are turning to alternative methods to alleviate their pain and discomfort. One known technique is called acupressure. Similar to acupuncture except it doesn’t involve needles , it uses finger pressure applied to points along the Chinese meridians of the body. There are 14 meridians or channels with 4 to 500 points along these lines. Energy flows through these channels and when they become obstructed, problems can occur. Pressure applied to these points can unblock the obstruction. Some of these points correspond to different organs. When acupressure is used, healing is activated in the body.
Using the measurement of a cun (which is the length between the 1st crease and the 2nd crease of a bent middle finger) you can find various acupoints on the body:
Stomach 25- go out 2 cuns, laterally from the belly button . Rub these areas for 1 to 3 minutes. This helps with IBS , diarrhea and constipation.
Spleen 15 – go 4 cuns out laterally from the belly button. This will reduce constipation.
Stomach 36- go 3 cuns down the tibia from crease in the knee, then 1 cun laterally to the outside. This will aid digestion and will help with IBS and diarrhea.
Stomach44- located in the v between the 2nd and 3rd toe; this aids in the downward movement of food, diarrhea and digestion.
Not only can acupressure help with digestion, it can also work on anxiety, labor, traumas, post traumatic stress and other problems. The advantages are that it’s noninvasive, it’s effective and it doesn’t cost any money to use.
IBS is a complex disorder that may require a combination of treatments. Addressing possible food allergies, bacterial overgrowth and parasite issues may be helpful. Use of Chinese herbs and meditation techniques can also be beneficial.
No one should have to suffer through the embarrassment of living with IBS. Knowing these powerful acupressure techniques to use for those Irritable Bowel Syndrome emergencies can make life a little more bearable.