Constipation in children is often functional and is commonly related to poor dietary habits, bowel habits, or psychological factors. Constipation can affect digestion and absorption, hinder the elimination of toxins from the body, and also impact the growth and development of children. It can even increase the risk of anal fissures and rectal prolapse. Therefore, early treatment is necessary. Let's take a look at the illustrated techniques of pediatric massage for relieving constipation.
Classification and Syndrome Differentiation of Pediatric Constipation
Excess Heat Type
This type is characterized by excessive yang in the body, consumption of spicy and hot foods, resulting in accumulation of heat in the intestines and stagnation of qi, or post-illness depletion of body fluids, leading to insufficient lubrication in the intestines and dry and difficult-to-pass stools.
Deficiency Type
This type is characterized by pale and dull complexion, fatigue, weak bowel movement despite the urge, pale tongue with thin white coating, thin or rough pulse, and light fingerprints.
Massage Techniques for Excess Heat Type Constipation in Children
Main Symptoms: Dry and hard stools, red face with body heat, irritability, thirst with bad breath, distension and fullness in the chest and hypochondrium, reduced appetite, abdominal distension and pain, frequent belching, short and dark urine, yellow and dry tongue coating, wiry and slippery pulse, purple fingerprints.
Treatment Principle: Regulate qi and promote bowel movement by clearing heat.
Massage Prescription: Clear the large intestine, regulate the six fu organs, knead the Yangchi acupoint on the arm, activate the internal eight trigrams, massage the abdomen, push down the seven lumbar vertebrae, knead the Tianshu acupoint, rub and massage along the meridians, knead the Zusanli acupoint on the foot.
Explanation of Massage Prescription for Excess Heat Type Constipation in Children
By clearing the large intestine and kneading the Tianshu acupoint, the massage aims to cleanse the intestines and dispel accumulated pathogenic heat; activating the internal eight trigrams, massaging the abdomen, and kneading the Zusanli acupoint aim to invigorate the spleen and stomach, resolve stagnation, and aid digestion; rubbing and massage along the meridians can regulate liver qi and promote smooth circulation; pushing down the seven lumbar vertebrae, kneading the Yangchi acupoint on the arm, and regulating the six fu organs can clear heat and promote bowel movement.
Modification: For severe cases with stubborn heat accumulation, add Qing Tianhe water for clearing heat.
Massage Techniques for Deficiency Type Constipation in Children
Main Symptoms: Pale and dull complexion, fatigue, weak bowel movement despite the urge, pale tongue with thin white coating, thin or rough pulse, and light fingerprints.
Treatment Principle: Tonify qi, nourish blood, moisten yin, and alleviate dryness.
Massage Prescription: Tonify the spleen meridian, tonify the kidney meridian, clear the large intestine, massage the San Guan acupoint, knead the Er Ma acupoint, knead the Yangchi acupoint on the arm, knead the Shenshu acupoint, pinch the spine, knead the Zusanli acupoint on the foot, push and knead the Yongquan acupoint.
Explanation of Massage Prescription for Deficiency Type Constipation in Children
By tonifying the spleen meridian, massaging the San Guan acupoint, pinching the spine, and kneading the Zusanli acupoint on the foot, the massage aims to invigorate the spleen, harmonize the middle burner, tonify and nourish qi and blood, and strengthen the body; clearing the large intestine, kneading the Yangchi acupoint on the arm, and regulating the six fu organs aim to regulate the intestines and promote bowel movement; tonifying the kidney meridian, massaging the Er Ma acupoint, and kneading the Yongquan acupoint aim to nourish yin and moisturize dryness.
