3 effective acupuncture points to reduce abdominal fat and relieve bloating

Whenever you see delicious food, you can't help but eat a lot. But you don't expect to suffer from abdominal pain and bloating after eating. Over time, it will lead to fat accumulation, making you one step closer to having a small belly. Many people take stomach powder as soon as they feel bloating. Although it can relieve temporary discomfort, it may put a burden on the stomach over time. To cure stomach bulge and eliminate bloating, you might as well learn from Chinese medicine practitioners to press the three acupoints around the belly button, which can effectively help flatten your lower abdomen!

Eating too much, eating too full, or eating too cold food can easily cause bulging stomach and bloating, which may lead to a small belly over time.

Chinese medicine practitioner Zhang Wenxin pointed out that stomach bulging and bloating are common problems for modern people. If you are not restrained when having dinner with friends or eating midnight snacks, both of them will appear, and after a long time, a small belly will also appear. When bloating occurs, many people will choose stomach powder. Although the sodium bicarbonate contained in it can neutralize stomach acid and relieve stomach bulge, it will also cause stomach acid rebound and produce stronger stimulation to the stomach wall.

If you want to improve the discomfort caused by bloating, or even promote metabolism in the lower abdomen and lose weight, you can try to find the three acupoints around the navel, namely Zhongwan, Tianshu and Guanyuan, and press and massage with your fingertips to relieve the symptoms. Adding massage every night after taking a bath can also help flatten your lower abdomen.

Eliminate stomach bulge: Zhongwan acupoint

[Location]: Just above the stomach, 4 inches above the navel (measure twice using the width of three fingers folded upwards).

[Effects]: It belongs to the Ren meridian and is the gathering point of the stomach. It can strengthen the spleen and stomach, eliminate bloating, reduce stomach bulge, and make the upper abdomen thinner.

The point pointed by Chinese medicine practitioner Zhang Wenxin’s left finger is the Zhongwan acupoint. (Photography by Huang Zilun)

Relieve flatulence: Tianshu point

[Location]: 2 inches (three finger widths) away from the left and right sides of the navel.

[Effects]: It belongs to the stomach meridian and is also a gathering point for the large intestine. It can promote gastrointestinal motility, eliminate intestinal bloating, improve stool retention, and slim the lower abdomen.

Chinese medicine practitioner Zhang Wenxin found the Tianshu acupoint on the middle fingers of both hands. (Photography by Huang Zilun)

Relieve flatulence: Guanyuan acupoint

[Location]: 3 inches (four fingers’ width) directly below the navel.

[Effects]: It belongs to the Ren meridian and is the gathering point of the small intestine. It is the place where the small intestine's visceral qi accumulates and can promote intestinal peristalsis.

The point pointed by Chinese medicine practitioner Zhang Wenxin's left finger is Guanyuan acupoint. (Photography by Huang Zilun)

Dr. Zhang Wenxin added that eating cold and raw food for a long time will reduce metabolism and make fat easily accumulate. The reason is that after eating raw and cold food, fat will easily accumulate in the stomach and intestines to help them keep out the cold, turning them into a Michelin baby with a bulging stomach and belly. It also reduces gastrointestinal motility and causes problems such as bloating and constipation. Therefore, you still need to avoid this diet in normal times.