I was laughing when I read your post!! I do this tummy rub too! First I think I do it because it is there in front of me and so HUGE. Kind of like when someone is pregnant and you just want to rub their tummy. LOL! I do rub it when it hurts and did this before I had IBS when I was cramping (the monthly PMS). It helps with the pain a tad. My mom told me that when she brought me home from the hospital as a newborn that I didn't have a BM (I was constipated first thing into this world!) and my grandma would rub my tummy and it would help me go. She also made me onion tea (some herbal remedy or something) and it would help me if I was needing to pass gas. So even as a new born I was sick with this junk! The tummy rub does work! When I do it now, my tummy rumbles around and makes all kinds of noise.