Poor appetite in children, also known as anorexia, is often caused by irregular eating habits, picky eating, overconsumption of cold or greasy foods, and damage to the spleen and stomach, resulting in disharmony in the digestive system. This is a common disorder in the digestive system and is also an early symptom of many diseases. Acupressure on relevant acupoints can improve spleen and stomach function and relieve poor appetite in children. Let's take a look at the acupressure techniques for poor appetite in children.
Acupressure Prescription for Poor Appetite in Children
Tonify the spleen meridian, rub the acupoint Pishu, rub the acupoint Weishu, pinch the spine, regulate the internal Eight Trigrams, and press the four horizontal lines.
For children with spleen deficiency, focus on tonifying the spleen, rubbing the acupoint Pishu, adding pressure to the three guan acupoints, rubbing the outer labor acupoint, and rubbing the guan yuan acupoint.
For children with stomach yin deficiency, focus on clearing the stomach meridian, rubbing the acupoint Weishu, adding pressure to the Banmen acupoint, rubbing the Zusanli acupoint, rubbing the inner labor acupoint, and clearing the Tianhe water acupoint.
If both qi and yin deficiencies are present, the acupressure techniques can be used interchangeably.
Principle of Acupressure for Poor Appetite in Children
The stomach meridian, spleen shu acupoint, stomach shu acupoint, and spine pinching have the function of tonifying the spleen and stomach and promoting digestion. Among them, the spleen shu acupoint and stomach shu acupoint have better effects in regulating spleen and stomach function.
Regulating the internal Eight Trigrams, pressing the four horizontal lines, and balancing the liver wood can help regulate qi circulation, balance yin and yang, and facilitate digestion.
In addition, abdominal rubbing and navel rubbing directly act on the spleen and stomach, enhancing the therapeutic effect.
For children with qi deficiency, it is necessary to strengthen the power of qi tonification, such as tonifying the spleen and rubbing the acupoint Pishu, and adding pressure to the three guan acupoints, rubbing the outer labor acupoint, and the guan yuan acupoint, which are warm and hot acupoints to warm and tonify yang and qi.
For children with stomach yin deficiency, focus on clearing the stomach meridian, rubbing the acupoint Weishu intensively and for a longer duration. Yin deficiency is often associated with heat, so rubbing the inner labor acupoint and clearing the Tianhe water acupoint can nourish yin and reduce heat. If both qi and yin deficiencies are present, both qi and yin tonification are needed, so both techniques can be used together.
Acupressure Techniques for Poor Appetite in Children
Tonify the spleen meridian: Bend the thumb and push straight from the child's fingertips to the base of the finger along the radial side of the thumb, pushing 100-500 times.
Rub the acupoint Pishu: Use the thumb pad to rub the acupoint Pishu in a clockwise direction 50-100 times, and then rub it counterclockwise 50-100 times.
Rub the acupoint Weishu: Use the thumb pad to rotate and rub the acupoint Weishu in a clockwise direction 50-100 times, to the extent that there is local tenderness and fullness.
Pinch the spine: Use the thumbs and index fingers of both hands to pinch and twist the skin on both sides of the spine alternately, pushing forward 3-5 times.
Regulate the internal Eight Trigrams: Hold the child's hand with one hand, and press the index and middle fingers of the other hand on the palm, from Qian gua to Dui gua, clockwise, rotating and rubbing 100-500 times.
Press the four horizontal lines: Have the child close their four fingers together, and use the thumb pad to push from the index finger creases to the little finger creases, pushing 100-300 times.
Press the three guan acupoints: Hold the child's wrist with one hand, and use the other hand's middle and index fingers to press from the wrist to the elbow, pushing 100-300 times.
Rub the outer labor acupoint: The outer labor acupoint is located on the back of the hand, between the second and third metacarpal bones, 0.5 inches behind the knuckles. Hold the child's hand with one hand, and press the thumb pad of the other hand on the outer labor acupoint, rotating and rubbing 100-300 times in a clockwise direction.
Rub the inner labor acupoint: The inner labor acupoint is located in the palm of the hand, between the second and third metacarpal bones, near the third metacarpal bone when making a fist. Hold the child's hand with one hand, and press the thumb pad of the other hand on the inner labor acupoint, rotating and rubbing 100-300 times in a clockwise direction.
Rub the guan yuan acupoint: Close the index and middle fingers together, and use the fingertip to rub the guan yuan acupoint in a clockwise direction 80-100 times, to the extent that there is local redness.
Rub the Banmen acupoint: Use the thumb pad to rub the child's palm at the base of the thumb, operating 100-300 times.
Clear the Tianhe water acupoint: Hold the child's hand with the palm facing upwards, and press the index and middle fingers of the other hand from the child's wrist to the elbow, pushing 100-500 times.
Rub the Zusanli acupoint: Use the thumb pad to press firmly on the Zusanli acupoint, press down once, and then rub it in a clockwise direction three times, operating 50-100 times.
Acupressure Duration for Poor Appetite in Children
Perform acupressure once daily or every other day. Ten sessions are considered one course of treatment. If the effect is not obvious after one course of treatment, another course can be added.
Clinical Manifestations of Poor Appetite in Children
Symptoms of poor appetite in children include anorexia, emaciation, yellow complexion, fatigue, laziness, taste preference or picky eating, craving for foreign objects, dry or loose stools, and in the long term, it can lead to slow or dull response in children, decreased memory, and declining academic performance.
