Nana Taught Me This 7,000-Year-Old Technique for Easing My Bowels in Just 5 Minutes—Here’s How It Works
Let’s face it: digestive discomfort can strike at the worst possible times. Whether you’re dealing with constipation or general sluggishness, finding quick relief without resorting to harsh chemicals or medications can feel like a challenge. Lucky for me, my Nana passed down an ancient technique that has been in our family for generations—some say for as long as 7,000 years! It’s simple, natural, and only takes five minutes to ease your bowels and restore your comfort.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to this remarkable technique:

The Secret: A Holistic Approach Combining Nutrition, Massage, and Hydration
The core of Nana’s technique lies in a three-step process: stimulating digestion with natural foods, using gentle abdominal massage to encourage movement, and staying hydrated with a special drink. This process engages the body’s natural rhythm and helps relieve bowel discomfort effectively.

Step 1: Prepare the Special Drink
This drink is the heart of Nana’s remedy. It’s a mix of warming and digestive-enhancing ingredients that soothe the gut and stimulate peristalsis (the muscle contractions in your intestines). Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients:

1 cup warm water
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon honey (optional for sweetness)
1 pinch of ground ginger
1 pinch of ground turmeric
Method:

Heat a cup of water until it’s warm (not boiling).
Add the fresh lemon juice, honey (if using), ginger, and turmeric.
Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are dissolved.
Sip this slowly while performing the next step.

Step 2: The Abdominal Massage Technique
While sipping your drink, Nana taught me a specific abdominal massage to encourage bowel movement. This technique is rooted in ancient practices, like Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine, and works wonders when combined with hydration.

How to Perform the Massage:

Lie down on a flat surface, like your bed or the floor, with your knees bent and feet flat.
Use your fingertips to apply gentle but firm pressure to your abdomen.
Start at the lower right corner of your abdomen (near your hip bone).
Move your fingers in a circular motion, gradually tracing an upward path toward your ribs.
Continue across your abdomen, moving to the left side, and then downward along the left side to complete the circle.
Repeat these motions for 3–5 minutes while maintaining steady breathing.
This clockwise massage follows the natural flow of your intestines and helps “wake up” the digestive system.

Step 3: The 5-Minute Activation Pose
To further aid digestion, Nana swears by a specific yoga pose that helps gravity do its part in easing bowel movements: Malasana, or the deep squat.

How to Perform the Pose:

Stand with your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart.
Slowly lower your body into a deep squat, keeping your heels on the ground (or as close as possible).
Press your palms together in a prayer position and use your elbows to gently push your knees apart.
Hold this position for about 1–2 minutes, breathing deeply and relaxing your abdominal muscles.
If squatting is uncomfortable, you can sit on a small stool with your knees slightly raised.
Why This Technique Works
This method works by addressing multiple factors that influence digestion:

Warm water and lemon stimulate bile production, helping to kickstart digestion.
Ginger and turmeric are anti-inflammatory agents that soothe the gut lining.
Abdominal massage physically encourages movement in the intestines.
Malasana pose aligns your digestive tract, making it easier for your body to do its job.
Final Thoughts
In just five minutes, Nana’s technique combines ancient wisdom with simple practices to provide natural relief for digestive discomfort. Whether you’ve overindulged or just need a little help getting things moving, this holistic approach is a lifesaver. Best of all, it’s entirely safe, gentle, and chemical-free.

The next time you’re feeling stuck, give this method a try—you might just find yourself feeling lighter, healthier, and thanking your Nana, too!