During the holidays and celebrations, people often indulge in hearty meals with friends and family. However, overeating and excessive drinking can lead to gastrointestinal discomfort, even inflammation. How can we find some relief? Wu Hung-Chien from Yisheng Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic in Taiwan introduces a first-aid tip for stomach pain and a folk method of back rubbing that can quickly relieve stomach pain. Additionally, I will provide five exercises to soothe the intestines and stomach, alleviating discomfort caused by overeating.
According to statistics from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Administration, gastrointestinal diseases are consistently among the top five ailments in the emergency room during the Chinese New Year. Common symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, bloating, and diarrhea (which can occur as often as once to dozens of times). Acute gastrointestinal problems can dampen the festive mood.
5 Factors Leading to Acute Gastroenteritis
Mr. Wu explained that the common causes of gastrointestinal discomfort are as follows.1. Contaminated Food
During cooking, viruses and bacteria may not be killed entirely by heat, remaining in the food and causing gastrointestinal discomfort. The most common bacteria and viruses include:- Escherichia coli: primarily found in beef, insufficiently sterilized milk, or contaminated water
- Staphylococcus aureus and salmonella: found in meats, processed foods, and eggs
- Clostridium botulinum: found in dirty or poorly preserved canned meat and fermented soy products
- Norovirus: more common in winter, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and prolonged fever
- Rotavirus: common in children under 5 years old, often accompanied by watery diarrhea and fever
- Astrovirus: causes watery or mucus-like diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and fever
2. Overeating and Excessive Drinking
Overindulgence or eating too quickly can cause discomfort in the intestines and stomach.3. Consuming Cold Foods With a Cold Body Constitution
People with a predominantly cold body constitution should avoid consuming cold foods as much as possible in the morning and evening.Mr. Wu explained that the human body’s yang qi (energy) is lower in the morning upon waking, gradually increasing until noon, then gradually decreasing in the evening. When the body lacks yang qi, and the intestines and stomach are weak, consuming cold foods can cause gastrointestinal contraction and stagnation, leading to bloating and diarrhea.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) holds that yang qi drives the body’s metabolism and physiological functions. The more abundant the yang qi, the stronger the body.
4. Insufficient Digestive Fluids
The human body secretes digestive fluids according to its circadian rhythm. Many people eat from morning to night during festivals, disrupting the secretion timing of digestive fluids. When digestive fluids are insufficient and food is ingested, it can cause abdominal pain or indigestion, prompting the body to use diarrhea to help eliminate the burden.5. Poor Eating Posture
Eating without sitting up straight can also cause gastrointestinal pain. Since the nerves of the intestines and stomach come out from the seventh vertebra of the spine, bending the body while eating can compress nerves and blood vessels, obstructing the meridians and affecting digestive function. Therefore, raising the bowl to one’s mouth while eating is not only a matter of dining etiquette in Asian culture but is also a health concept.Relieving Gastrointestinal Inflammation
If you are suffering from gastrointestinal inflammation, Mr. Wu suggests seeking medical treatment as soon as possible, as there are many reasons for stomach pain, and it‘s best to have a doctor’s examination. However, if it’s just indigestion, stomach powders available in TCM shops contain ingredients that stimulate the secretion of digestive fluids, aiding digestion. Nevertheless, it is not recommended to take analgesic and antipyretic drugs or aspirin to relieve pain, as a large percentage of gastric ulcers are caused by aspirin intake.Additionally, yogurt is more immediately beneficial for digestion than simply taking probiotics. Mr. Wu explained that yogurt contains both probiotics and enzymes. Enzymes are required for the body to digest food, while probiotics need to wait for the strains of bacteria to colonize and grow in the intestines to improve the intestinal flora, so it takes time for them to have an impact.
He also cautioned that probiotics should not be used when the intestines are inflamed or wounded, as they are still bacteria. Bacteria entering the bloodstream through wounds can cause bacteremia, turning probiotics from beneficial bacteria improving intestinal flora into harmful agents. Therefore, probiotics should not be taken during acute inflammation.
Acupressure Points and Herbal Tea Can Help
Mr. Wu suggests that patients with acute gastrointestinal diseases use acupressure or tapping on specific acupuncture points to help relieve stomach pain. For example, Zusanli (ST-36) treats stomach ailments, Shangjuxu (ST-37) treats large intestine ailments, and Xiajuxu (ST-39) treats small intestine ailments. In addition, rubbing the back muscles (fascia) can alleviate acute stomach pain.
Mr. Wu explained that the meridians and nerves of the stomach and intestines are distributed around the seventh and eighth vertebrae of the spine. These correspond to two well-known acupuncture points for treating gastrointestinal issues: Stomach 21 (ST-21) and Spleen 21 (SP-21). Therefore, massaging the back muscles is akin to stimulating these two acupuncture points, relieving acute gastrointestinal pain.
Mr. Wu also provided a recipe for a Chinese herbal tea called Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi (Six-Gentlemen Plus), which helps invigorate the spleen and aids digestion. Its components include Costus, Amomum, Codonopsis, Poria, Atractylodes, and licorice root. After boiling with about 6.5 cups of water and simmering for about three to five minutes, let it cool before drinking.
When stewed with lean meat, Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi can help the growth and development of children’s bones and muscles. TCM believes that the spleen governs muscles, and Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi can enhance the absorption function of the spleen and stomach, while lean meat can supplement protein.
5 Exercises to Soothe the Intestines and Stomach
Gentle abdominal exercises can increase intestinal peristalsis through twisting motions. Here are five exercises to promote intestinal peristalsis.
1. Crunch
- Step 1: Lie flat on a yoga mat, knees bent, and feet flat on the floor. Tuck in your chin and place your hands on your ears, head, or in front of you without exerting force.
- Step 2: Contract your abdominal muscles and gradually lift your upper body until it reaches 45 degrees. Perform the movement slowly, feeling the force in your abdomen.
2. Supine Twist
- Step 1: Lie flat on a yoga mat with your arms open and your back as flat as possible.
- Step 2: Extend your left leg straight. Bend your right knee. Twist your body to the left, bringing your right knee toward the left side until it touches the floor. Hold for 10 seconds, then return to lying flat.
- Step 3: Extend your right leg straight. Bend your left knee. Twist your body to the right, bringing your left knee toward the right side of the floor until it touches the floor. Hold for 10 seconds, then return to lying flat.
3. Bent-Knee Twist
- Step 1: Lie flat on a yoga mat with your arms open, ensuring your back is as flat as possible.
- Step 2: Bend your knees. Twist your body to the left, bringing your knees toward the left side of the floor until they touch the floor. Then, twist your body to the right, bringing your knees toward the right side of the floor until they touch the floor.
4. Support the Ground
- Step 1: Lie face down on a yoga mat, with your hands supporting your body.
- Step 2: Push your body up as high as possible with your hands, feeling a stretch in your abdomen.
5. Head-to-Knee
- Step 1: Lie flat on a yoga mat, ensuring your back is as flat as possible.
- Step 2: Bend your knees, hug them with your hands, and lift your head off the ground. Hold this position for about 10 seconds, then relax.
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