If you have some bother getting your bowel moving, this new tip might be the game-changer to help you flush out that build up and get some relief. While there may be a series of tablets, drinks and cleanses promising to clear you out, this one handy trick just takes a little finger action but can have lasting effects. According to a new study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, one of the most effective ways of getting things moving with zero side effects involves gently massaging the perineum. Not sure where exactly that is? It’s the little stretch of skin separating your vagina from your anus, and it happens to contain a pressure point that when massaged eases constipation. Need more proof? Researchers split a group of 100 constipated people into two groups – giving the first group standard constipation treatment including laxatives and recommendations for exercise, and the second group were taught how to effectively self-massage the perineum. Four weeks later, researchers found that the massage group experienced greatly improved bowel function compared to the first group, with respondents saying the massage technique helped break up or soften their stool. A further testament to the technique was the fact that 82 per cent of people said they intended to keep doing the massage after the study ended. So next time you’re feeling discomfort, and you have a few minutes of privacy, a little self-help could be the key to relieving that resistance.