Pediatric asthma mainly refers to bronchial asthma, which is the most common chronic respiratory disease in childhood. Most children with asthma can be relieved after treatment. Asthma can be effectively relieved through massage. Let's take a look at how to massage asthma children.
Causes and mechanisms of pediatric asthma
Internal causes: insufficient lung Qi, decreased ability of the body to resist external pathogenic factors, making it easier for external pathogenic factors to invade the body and cause upward reverse of lung Qi; insufficient spleen Qi, abnormal digestive and absorptive function of the body, leading to abnormal absorption and dissemination of body fluids, making it easier for water and dampness to accumulate and form phlegm; insufficient kidney Qi, making it difficult for water and dampness to transform, and more likely to stagnate and accumulate, leading to long-term phlegm. Therefore, the insufficiency of the three organs - lung, spleen, and kidney - leads to abnormal absorption, dissemination, and retention of body fluids, resulting in the formation of phlegm in the body.
External causes: sudden changes in climate, invasion of wind-cold pathogenic factors into the body, or exposure to pollen, fur, dust, gas, paint, and other irritating airways, triggering latent phlegm, blocking the airway, and causing asthma.
Massage methods for asthma children
Parents can choose to massage the spleen meridian, lung meridian, and kidney meridian, and perform internal Bagua movements for 1 minute each, rub the middle of the chest, clockwise massage the abdomen for 2 minutes each, rub the point Sanyinjiao, rub the point Fenglong for 1 minute each, knead the ribs 10 times, and pinch the spine 4 times.
Massage explanation: Rubbing the spleen meridian, rubbing Banmen, performing internal Bagua movements, clockwise massage the abdomen, rubbing the ribs, rubbing the point Sanyinjiao, rubbing the point Fenglong can help invigorate the spleen and regulate Qi to transform phlegm. Rubbing the lung meridian, rubbing the kidney meridian, and pinching the spine can nourish the congenital deficiency and support the upright.
Massage techniques for asthma children
Rubbing the spleen meridian: Use the thumb spiral surface or the radial side to push and rotate the spiral surface of the child's thumb, which is rubbing the spleen meridian; or bend the thumb and push straight from the tip of the thumb to the root along the radial side.
Rubbing the lung meridian: Use the thumb spiral surface to rotate and push the spiral surface of the child's little finger distal phalanx, which is rubbing the lung meridian.
Rubbing the kidney meridian: Use the thumb spiral surface to rotate and push or push straight from the tip of the child's little finger distal phalanx along the spiral surface, which is rubbing the kidney meridian.
Performing internal Bagua movements: Hold the child's four fingers in one hand, with the palm facing up, and press the thumb on the child's middle finger root's annular area. Use the thumb spiral surface of the other hand to perform the movement, clockwise for clockwise Bagua movement and counterclockwise for counterclockwise Bagua movement.
Rubbing the middle of the chest: The middle of the chest is located on the sternum, at the midpoint between the two nipples. Use the middle finger spiral surface to rub, which is rubbing the middle of the chest.
Massaging the abdomen: Rub the abdomen with the palm or four fingers, which is massaging the abdomen.
Pinching the spine: Pinch the skin of the spine with the thumb and index finger, middle finger or thumb and flexed index finger, and push and twist the skin along the spine upwards, alternating between the two hands.
Precautions for asthma massage in children
During the acute attack of asthma in children, the massage may not have obvious effects. However, during the remission period of asthma, massage can help adjust the child's physique and the effect is relatively good. But this adjustment is a long-term process, and the effect cannot be seen in a short period of time. Therefore, parents need to persist and not give up halfway. Massage therapy can be performed once a day, with a treatment course of 5 days. It is especially effective to insist on massage during 1-3 summers in the hottest days.
Daily care for children with asthma
1. Asthma is often induced by colds or exposure to allergens, so parents should actively cooperate with doctors to identify various factors that trigger asthma attacks and strive to prevent colds and avoid contact with allergens.
2. Parents need to pay special attention to indoor cleanliness, preferably not to keep pets such as dogs and cats, avoid using carpets or easily dusty velvet products, and avoid using perfumes, incense, mosquito coils, and other items with special odors.
3. The room needs to be well ventilated to ensure indoor air circulation. Try to avoid using air conditioners for long periods of time. The air conditioner filter should be cleaned regularly. Clothes, bedding, and pillows at home, especially those of children, need to be washed, changed, and sun-dried frequently.
4. During the remission period of asthma, parents should encourage children to exercise and enhance their physical fitness.
5. Whether it is during the attack period or the remission period of asthma, attention should be paid to avoiding allergenic foods, such as seafood, milk, eggs, and nuts. The diet should be light and easily digestible. Encourage children to drink more water. Control the intake of high-fat foods and eat more fresh vegetables and fruits to supplement vitamins and minerals. Eat less or avoid eating foods that are cold, spicy, salty, sour, greasy, and sweet, as they can damage the spleen and stomach and produce phlegm and dampness.
