Pediatric cough is a common clinical syndrome that can be caused by external pathogenic factors invading the lungs or other visceral lesions affecting the lungs. Correct tuina therapy can effectively relieve exterior symptoms, dispel cold, clear heat, and stop coughing. Below, I will teach you the tuina methods for treating pediatric cough.
Pediatric Cough Classification and Syndrome Differentiation
External Pathogenic Cough
When pathogenic factors invade the body, the lungs are usually the first to be affected. Pathogenic wind-cold or wind-heat remains on the muscle surface, damaging the lung's defense mechanisms. The lung qi becomes stagnant, unable to disperse properly, resulting in coughing.
Internal Injury Cough
For children with chronic illness or weak constitution, the lungs may be damaged and the yin may be depleted. The lung's descending function is impaired, leading to coughing. Improper diet can also lead to spleen deficiency and phlegm dampness, which can disturb the lung meridians and cause coughing.
Tuina Methods for Pediatric Cough Due to External Wind-Cold
Main Symptoms: Cough, headache, nasal congestion, runny nose, mild fever, severe chills, thin and white phlegm, thin white coating on the tongue, floating and tight pulse, pale red fingerprints.
Treatment Principle: Disperse exterior cold, promote lung function, and stop coughing.
Tuina Technique: Open Tianmen, push Kangan Gong, knead Taiyang, move ears to the high bone, push Sanguan, pinch and knead Ershanmen, press and knead Tiantu, push and knead Shanzhong, knead Lungen, push the lung meridian, divide and push the scapula, move the internal Eight Trigrams.
Explanation: Open Tianmen, push Kangan Gong, move ears to the high bone, push Sanguan, pinch and knead Ershanmen to disperse exterior cold; press and knead Tiantu, push and knead Shanzhong, move the internal Eight Trigrams to open the chest, regulate qi, transform phlegm, and stop coughing; knead Lungen, push the lung meridian, divide and push the scapula to promote lung function and transform phlegm to stop coughing.
Tuina Methods for Pediatric Cough Due to External Heat
Main Symptoms: Cough, headache, nasal congestion, thick and yellow phlegm, thirst, sore throat, mild chills, severe fever, rapid pulse, thin yellow coating on the tongue, bright red fingerprints.
Treatment Principle: Disperse exterior heat, promote lung function, and stop coughing.
Tuina Technique: Open Tianmen, push Kangan Gong, knead Taiyang, move ears to the high bone, grasp Fengchi, retreat six fu, clear Tianhe water, press and knead Tiantu, push and knead Shanzhong, knead Lungen, divide and push the scapula, push the lung meridian, move the internal Eight Trigrams.
Explanation: Open Tianmen, push Kangan Gong, knead Taiyang, move ears to the high bone, grasp Fengchi, retreat six fu, clear Tianhe water to disperse exterior heat; press and knead Tiantu, push and knead Shanzhong, move the internal Eight Trigrams to open the chest, regulate qi, transform phlegm, and stop coughing; knead Lungen, divide and push the scapula, push the lung meridian to promote lung function and transform phlegm to stop coughing.
Tuina Methods for Pediatric Cough Due to Lung Deficiency and Yin Injury
Main Symptoms: Dry cough with little or sticky phlegm, dry mouth and throat, itchy throat with hoarse voice, red tongue without coating, thin and rapid pulse.
Treatment Principle: Nourish lung yin, transform phlegm, and stop coughing.
Tuina Technique: Nourish lung meridian, nourish kidney meridian, move the internal Eight Trigrams, press and knead Tiantu, push and knead Shanzhong, knead rub breast side, knead rub breast root, press and knead Lungen, divide and push the scapula.
Explanation: Nourish lung meridian, nourish kidney meridian to nourish the lung and yin; press and knead Tiantu, push and knead Shanzhong, move the internal Eight Trigrams, knead rub breast side, knead rub breast root to open the chest, regulate qi, transform phlegm; press and knead Lungen, divide and push the scapula to promote lung function and stop coughing.
Tuina Methods for Pediatric Cough Due to Spleen Deficiency and Weak Digestion
Main Symptoms: Cough with abundant phlegm, poor appetite, fatigue, weak limbs, or loose stools, pale tongue with thin white coating, weak and powerless pulse.
Treatment Principle: Strengthen the spleen, nourish the lung, transform phlegm, and stop coughing.
Tuina Technique: Strengthen spleen meridian, strengthen lung meridian, knead Piyu, knead Lungen, rub Zhongwan, press and knead Zusanli, press and knead Tiantu, push and knead Shanzhong, knead rub breast side, knead rub breast root, move the internal Eight Trigrams.
Explanation: Strengthen spleen meridian, strengthen lung meridian to strengthen the spleen and nourish the lung; rub Zhongwan, press and knead Zusanli to strengthen the spleen and stomach, help digestion, and dispel phlegm; press and knead Tiantu, push and knead Shanzhong, move the internal Eight Trigrams to open the chest, regulate qi, transform phlegm, and stop coughing; knead Lungen, knead rub breast side, knead rub breast root to promote lung function and stop coughing.
Tuina Care Tips for Pediatric Cough
1. Tuina is mainly suitable for treating acute and chronic bronchitis with cough as the main symptom. For cough caused by pneumonia, pulmonary abscess, tuberculosis, and other diseases, other therapies should be primarily used for treatment.
2. Pay attention to keeping warm to prevent cold wind invasion and worsening of the condition.
