Back pain & constipation

A-list beauties are buzzing about the revitalizing benefits of getting the abdomen massaged. But can a belly rub really erase inches and eliminate back pain? FIRST wellness columnist Jorge Cruise weighs in

When you think about getting a massage, you probably picture soft lighting, relaxing music and aromatherapy…not someone prodding at your belly to shift your organs around. But that’s what you get with visceral manipulation, an abdominal massage technique that stars like Cameron Diaz, Katy Perry and Daphne Oz reportedly love for its rejuvenating and slimming effects.

Though it sounds a bit uncomfortable, fans of visceral massage report that the practice is relaxing and doesn’t hurt at all. During a typical session, a practitioner gently presses on the abdomen, feeling the muscles and soft tissue surrounding the organs to locate any areas of restricted or altered movement. Experts explain that because all the body’s muscles are interconnected, any restrictions can impact other muscles throughout the body, causing pain and discomfort. By lightly stretching and loosening any affected tissue, the practitioner can ease the restrictions, helping increase blood flow to the organs and surrounding tissues to relieve aches and pains.

Abdominal massage has been practiced in various forms around the world for centuries—from Ayurvedic healing traditions in

India to ancient Mayan practices in Central America—to help eliminate pain and promote overall health and wellness. Now modern studies prove that it works: Australian researchers report that a once-a-week visceral

Celebrity osteopath Vicky Vlachonis recommends visceral massage to her clients—including Cameron Diaz—before red carpet events to flatten the belly, enhance digestion and improve mood

massage reduces chronic back pain while other studies show that regular abdominal manipulation can ease the symptoms of menopause and relieve chronic headaches. And since visceral massage also improves the transport of nourishing nutrients to immune cells in the gut, the practice can help reduce the frequency and severity of colds and flu. What’s more, a study conducted at the University of California at Riverside found that a single one-hour visceral massage is calming enough to lower blood pressure by 10 percent.

There’s another reason the therapy is so hot in Hollywood: Proponents say it can help flatten the belly. They explain that by working out any kinks or tightness in the tissue surrounding the intestines, abdominal massage helps get the bowels moving to eliminate belly-bloating constipation and speed the removal of fat-packing toxins from the digestive tract. The evidence: In a British study, subjects who received an abdominal massage daily for four weeks experienced a 55 percent reduction in constipation and a 29 percent overall improvement in gut function. Experts who recommend the treatment also maintain that visceral massage helps optimize the function of the upper digestive tract, allowing the body to more efficiently break down food so it can be quickly burned for energy instead of stored as fat.

Despite the potential benefits, though, doctors caution that abdominal massage may not be advisable for everyone—especially women who suffer from hernias or ulcers as the therapy can increase localized blood flow and aggravate these conditions. That’s why it’s important to work with a well-trained, highly experienced osteopath, physiotherapist, naturopath or other bodywork expert who can assess your personal risk factors and provide a safe, therapeutic abdominal massage.

For a list of practitioners in your area, visit DoctorsThatDo.org or ArvigoTherapy.com.