Unam Issues New Guidance on Empacho Remedies: Step-by-Step Relief for Indigestion
By James H. Sterling
Physical manipulation remains central to the cultural treatment of empacho. The traditional ritual often splits into two distinct practices: gentle abdominal massage and tirar el cuerito (pinching and snapping the skin along the lower spine).
Safe abdominal massage techniques follow the anatomical pathway of the ascending, transverse, and descending colon. Applying warm olive, sesame, or almond oil directly to the abdomen reduces friction. Using the pads of three fingers, caregivers apply light, rhythmic clockwise pressure around the navel, gradually widening the circular sweep outward toward the pelvic bones. This tactile routine stimulates peristalsis, mechanically displaces trapped methane and hydrogen pockets, and relaxes guarded abdominal wall muscles.
In contrast, tirar el cuerito carries substantial danger. Folk practitioners pinch folds of skin over the lumbar and sacral regions until an audible pop occurs, claiming this dislodges stagnant food from intestinal membranes. Modern pediatricians strongly advise against this maneuver. The popping sound originates from subcutaneous fibrous tissue snapping under pressure, not internal gastrointestinal membranes. In small children, this practice causes painful hematomas, soft-tissue tears, and extreme psychological stress.
James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.
