The massage for a fever focuses on clearing heat, while also incorporating other appropriate massage techniques based on the type of fever. Let's take a look at the illustrated guide for baby fever massage.
Common massage methods for baby fever
Opening the Heavenly Gate: The masseur alternates their thumbs to push from the midpoint between the eyebrows to the hairline at the front of the forehead, creating a straight line from bottom to top, known as "Opening the Heavenly Gate".
Pushing the Kan Palace: The masseur uses their thumbs to push from the center of the forehead towards the temples, known as "Pushing the Kan Palace".
Rubbing the Taiyang: The Taiyang is located between the eyebrows and the outer corner of the eye, about one inch back and slightly depressed. The masseur rubs or presses with the tip of their middle finger, known as "Rubbing the Taiyang".
Activating the Posterior High Bone: The posterior high bone is located at the posterior hairline, just below the mastoid process, forming an isosceles triangle with the Yifeng and Fengchi points.
Clearing the Lung Meridian: The lung meridian is on the palm side of the ring finger. During the massage, the masseur uses their thumb to push straight from the base to the tip of the child's ring finger, 100-300 times, known as "Clearing the Lung Meridian".
Clearing the Heavenly River: The heavenly river is located in the middle of the palm side of the forearm, on a straight line from the wrist to the elbow. During the massage, the index finger and middle finger are brought together and placed in the middle of the child's wrist, repeatedly pushing from the wrist to the elbow.
Pushing the San Guan: The San Guan is located on the radial side (thumb side) of the forearm, on a straight line from the wrist to the elbow. During the massage, the thumb and index finger are opened, with the index finger placed on the child's elbow transverse lines (thumb side) and the thumb placed on the wrist transverse lines (thumb side), pushing straight towards the elbow.
Pinching and rubbing the Er Shan Men: The masseur supports the child's hand with one hand, palm facing down, and pinches the Er Shan Men with the thumbnail of their thumb 3-5 times, then uses the tip of their thumb to rub in a clockwise direction 100-300 times.
Holding Feng Chi: Feng Chi is located below the occipital bone, on the outer side of the large tendon, when massaging, the masseur uses their thumb and index finger to exert force and rhythmically release and hold, known as "Holding Feng Chi".
Clearing the Stomach Meridian: The stomach meridian is located on the palm side of the thumb, near the tip of the palm. The masseur uses their thumb to push straight from the child's thumb to the palm side, known as "Clearing the Stomach Meridian".
Clearing the Large Intestine: The masseur uses their thumb to push straight from the outside edge of the child's index finger, from the base to the tip, known as "Clearing the Large Intestine".
Rubbing Ban Men: Ban Men is located under the thumb root, at the junction of the first intermetacarpal space. The masseur starts by rubbing and pressing clockwise, then counterclockwise.
Running the Internal Bagua: Using the thumb pad, run the internal bagua in a clockwise direction until the child feels a sour and swollen sensation.
Rubbing Tian Shu: The masseur separates their middle finger and index finger and presses on the child's abdomen about 2 inches to the left and right of the navel, known as Tian Shu. Rotate clockwise 50-100 times, then counterclockwise 50-100 times.
Strengthening the Spleen Meridian: The spleen meridian is on the outer edge of the thumb on the radial side. The masseur uses their thumb to push straight from the child's thumb's outer edge to the palm side, known as "Strengthening the Spleen Meridian".
Strengthening the Kidney Meridian: The kidney meridian is located on the palm side of the little finger. The masseur uses their thumb to push straight from the child's little finger's palm side to the base, 200-300 times, known as "Strengthening the Kidney Meridian".
Clearing the Heart Meridian: The heart meridian is on the palm side of the middle finger's distal segment. The masseur uses their thumb on the child's middle finger's distal segment's palm side, pushing straight from the palm side to the tip, 100-300 times, known as "Clearing the Heart Meridian".
Reducing the Six Fu: The six fu are located on the radial side of the forearm, on a straight line from the wrist to the elbow. During the massage, the thumb and index finger are opened, with the thumb placed on the child's elbow on the radial side and the index finger placed on the wrist on the ulnar side, repeatedly pushing straight towards the elbow, 100-300 times.
Rubbing Xiao Tian Xin: The fingertip of the middle finger is placed at the junction of the child's thenar eminence and hypothenar eminence, rubbing in a clockwise direction 100 times, then counterclockwise 100 times.
External Pathogenic Fever Massage Guide
Opening the Heavenly Gate, Pushing the Kan Palace, Rubbing the Taiyang, Activating the Posterior High Bone - each for 1 minute. Clearing the Lung Meridian, Clearing the Heavenly River - each for 3 minutes. If there are symptoms of wind-heat, add 2 minutes of pushing the spine. If there are symptoms of wind-cold, add 1 minute of pushing the San Guan, Pinching and rubbing the Er Shan Men, and Holding Feng Chi for 3-5 times.
Massage explanation: Opening the Heavenly Gate, Pushing the Kan Palace, Rubbing the Taiyang, and Activating the Posterior High Bone help to dispel external pathogenic factors. Clearing the Lung Meridian and Clearing the Heavenly River help to clear heat. Pushing the spine intensifies the heat-clearing effect. Pushing the San Guan, Pinching and rubbing the Er Shan Men, and Holding Feng Chi mainly assist in sweating and reducing fever.
Lung and Stomach Excess Heat Fever Massage Guide
Clearing the Lung Meridian, Clearing the Stomach Meridian, Clearing the Large Intestine, Rubbing Ban Men, and Running the Internal Bagua - each for 1 minute. Clearing the Heavenly River, Reducing the Six Fu - each for 2 minutes. Rubbing Tian Shu and clockwise rubbing the abdomen - each for 2 minutes.
Massage explanation: Clearing the Lung Meridian, Clearing the Stomach Meridian help to eliminate lung and stomach damp heat. Clearing the Large Intestine, Rubbing Ban Men, Running the Internal Bagua, and clockwise rubbing the abdomen help promote digestion and bowel movements to reduce internal heat. Clearing the Heavenly River and Reducing the Six Fu mainly focus on clearing heat and reducing fever.
Yin Deficiency Fever Massage Guide
Strengthening the Spleen Meridian, Strengthening the Lung Meridian, Strengthening the Kidney Meridian, Running the Internal Labor Palace - each for 1 minute. Rubbing Er Ren Shang Ma for 2 minutes. Clearing the Heavenly River for 2 minutes. Pushing Yong Quan for 1 minute. Massage and rubbing Zu San Li for 2 minutes.
Massage explanation: Strengthening the Spleen Meridian, Strengthening the Lung Meridian, and Strengthening the Kidney Meridian, as well as rubbing Er Ren Shang Ma and Zu San Li, help promote the functions of the spleen, lungs, and kidneys, and promote the functions of the internal organs. Clearing the Heavenly River and Reducing the Six Fu help clear internal heat. Pushing Yong Quan helps to descend internal heat by promoting urination and thus clearing yin deficiency heat.
Summer Heat Fever Massage Guide
Clearing the Lung Meridian, Clearing the Stomach Meridian, Clearing the Heart Meridian, Clearing the Heavenly River, Reducing the Six Fu, Strengthening the Spleen Meridian, Strengthening the Kidney Meridian, Rubbing Xiao Tian Xin - each for 1 minute.
Massage explanation: Clearing the Lung Meridian, Clearing the Heart Meridian, Clearing the Heavenly River, Reducing the Six Fu, and Rubbing Xiao Tian Xin help to clear summer heat and dissipate heat. Strengthening the Spleen Meridian and Strengthening the Kidney Meridian help tonify qi and nourish yin.
