Abdominal Massage for Constipation
Constipation can have some awful side effects. If you are not voiding at least once a day, you can your body can get "toxic" and make you feel terrible. Headaches, sluggish, bloated, gassy, tired, cranky and just irritable all over. This is because bowel is staying in the body too long and not removing toxins and waste, which should happen at least once a day, but twice is even better. If the toxins are not removed, we can have all sorts of side effects and impaction may occur. Women have this problem much more often than men do. We are more likely to get constipation when we travel, when we have over indulged at meals, or when we are stressed. Women also have issues with constipation because of scaring from abdominal surgeries or endometriosis which can put crimps in the intestines causing the bowel to get stuck and back up. Some women can have several of these "crimps". If you have pinching or cramping or have felt areas of the abdomin that get hard and full, this could be the problem.
How do we remedy the situation? We take harsh laxatives, products with harsh fiber which can cause painful cramping and gas or we end up becoming impacted. The worse thing about these over the counter products is that we can become dependent on these products which many clients are not prepared for. The safest and more effective way to deal with impacted constipation is abdominal massage! Who new??
Does Abdominal massage really work?
Abdominal massage is very effective to get relief from
constipation. Abdominal massage helps to stimulate the periphery of
small intestines. By using abdominal massage, we tone up the muscles of the
abdomen walls and physically remove the contents of both intestines.
How to execute abdominal massage for constipation effectively?
Firstly, the person suffering from constipation
should be made to lie on their back with knees up slightly. The therapist
should stand on the right side of the client at first to start closest to the voiding point under the belly button. The therapist will use their fingertips to massage around the umbilical region from right to left. This is very
important. Abdominal massage for constipation should be given
from right to left. The massage therapist should alternatively knead the
walls and roll with both hands, applying firm pressure.
After this, the massage therapist should move on to
massaging the large intestine, which should begin on the right side. The therapist will massage in upward direction while going across transverse colon and then will
move down to left side to the sigmoid flexure and rectum. All massage is done on the belly area.
During this procedure simultaneous
pressure on the contents of the abdomen following the course of the larger
colon while doing crawling motion. Repeat of this kneading process of
circular massage with fingertips should continue for approximately 30 minutes to release impaction and move fecal matter towards the rectum. There also may be vibration or rocking used to loosen fecal matter. You should always let your therapist know how much pressure is comfortable. Every client is different.
Voiding should occur shortly after abdominal massage, but could happen sooner. Always let your therapist know if you need to use the facilities during the session, this can happen. Voiding can and usually will take up to 24 hours after the massage session.
Here are some reasons NOT to have abdominal massage for constipation:
- Abdominal massage should be avoided after meals. Stomach should be
empty before this massage. You should not take food 2-3 hours before
massage.
- Bladder should not be full while abdominal massage and therapist should advice patient to empty the bladder before massage.
- Abdominal Massage should also be avoided in any cases of bleeding in stomach, brain or lungs.
- Abdominal massage should not be done during menstruation and pregnancy.
- Abdominal massage should not be done whenever there is inflammation of uterus, bladder, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.
- Abdominal massage should also be avoided in cases of hernia.
- Abdominal massage should also be avoided on patients of ulcers of the stomach and intestines.
- Abdominal massage should also be avoided on patients of blood pressure.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask before considering this type of massage. Christie can answer any questions you may have and put you as ease. (703) 509-1085
