When it comes to gut health, your gut will tell you if something’s wrong! We can all experience impaired digestive health when we are under high amounts of stress and aren’t eating well. The brain and gut are deeply connected, so improving your gut health helps more than just your digestion!
Curious how to improve your own gut health?
We teamed up with our friend, Hana Miller, certified holistic health and life coach and licensed acupuncturist, to learn a bit more about gut health. The truth is, we all experience impaired gut health. Here are three things you can do each day.
1. Acupressure can be used to improve your gut health anytime you’re experiencing digestive discomfort.
- The first acupressure point is called pericardium 6, located on your wrist. Take two fingers and place them on the crease on the inside of your wrist.
- Slide your fingers down until you sink into a little hole, which will feel like a small divot. Stimulate this point with gentle pressure, and you can find relief from nausea, acid reflux, or any type of dizziness. This acupressure point is great for women experiencing morning sickness. Stimulate this point for a couple minutes, and allow the flow of energy to improve.
- The second point is called conception vessel 12, located between your belly button and where your ribs meet. Massage this point with gentle pressure, going clockwise nine times and counter clockwise nine times, repeating as often as necessary. This helps promote the smooth flow of energy and blood through your digestive tract. It creates a lot of movement and can help with nausea, belching, gas, bloating, etc.
- When you wake up each morning, and after every meal, massage your stomach clockwise. This gets everything moving and flowing based on how your colon is situated in your body.
2. Qi Gong has a similar effect to acupressure, but in this practice, you are coordinating your breath and your movement to create change. Stand with your feet hip-width distance apart, with a slight bend in your knees. Start by inhaling as you bring your hands forward, and exhaling to bring them out and around to your sides. Give your knees a slight lift as you inhale and a slight bend as you exhale. Try incorporating this into your morning routine.
3. Consume large quantities of turmeric and ginger. Both have powerful anti-inflammatory properties and help to soothe many of the nerve endings in your gut. They also promote what is known as “digestive fire.” You need copious amounts of digestive fire to break down food, extract nutrients, build blood, and support your immune system. Many of our shots here at Vive incorporate turmeric and ginger for this very reason! 
Try these three easy ways to promote digestive health and see the difference in your day-to-day life!
