Tummy Massage

A nightly tummy massage can be helpful in dealing with bloating and aiding digestion. Do the following moves lying on your bed, for three to five minutes before going to sleep. Always work clockwise, in the direction of the large intestine and colon; use a cream or balm if you wish.

• Gently place your hands on your stomach and stroke in a circular motion five times, applying a little more pressure on every circuit.
• Trace your hands in a circle again, making light kneading movements with your knuckles. Repeat five times.
• Gently stroke the stomach but use the fingers to apply light to medium pressure (as if you are making waves on the stomach). repeat five times.
• Finish by kneading the sides of the abdomen and gently applying an upward pressure on the stomach, from the base to the rib cage, with flat hands. Repeat three times.

Katherine Mackenzie Paterson in Good Housekeeping, May 2010