Common cold with fever is caused by external wind invading the body, and it may be accompanied by symptoms of wind cold or wind heat, such as vomiting and convulsions. For children with cold and fever, massage can be used to reduce fever. Let's take a look at the illustrated guide for massage therapy for cold and fever in children.
Diagnosis of cold and fever in children
The normal basal body temperature for children is 36.9°C-37.5°C. Generally, when the body temperature exceeds 1°C above the basal body temperature, it can be considered as fever. Among them, low fever refers to a passive body temperature of around 38°C, while high fever refers to a body temperature above 39°C, accompanied by red face, red lips, decreased urine output, or irritability.
Common massage techniques for cold and fever in children
Massage and rub the child's back and waist
Dip the palm of your hand in a little ginger juice and rub along the bladder meridian on both sides of the spine, using the base of the palm to massage and rub the child's back and waist until it becomes warm.
Fengmen and Feishu acupoints
Massage the Fengmen and Feishu acupoints on the child's back for 1-2 minutes each, with gentle and steady force, focusing on being gentle.
Fengmen: Located on the back, 1.5 inches away from the lower border of the 2nd thoracic vertebra prominence.
Feishu: Located on the back, 1.5 inches away from the lower border of the 3rd thoracic vertebra prominence.
Jianjing acupoint
If the child has a wind-cold or wind-heat cold, the Jianjing acupoint on both sides of the child's shoulder should be kneaded 10-20 times with both hands, with the force enough to produce a sore and swollen feeling.
Jianjing: Located on the shoulder, in the middle of the line connecting the Da Zhui acupoint and the shoulder peak.
Tiantu and Shanzhong acupoints
If the child has excessive phlegm and cough, massage the Tiantu acupoint for 1-2 minutes, and massage the Shanzhong acupoint 80-100 times, with gentle and steady force, focusing on being gentle.
Tiantu: Located on the neck, in the middle of the front midline, at the central depression of the suprasternal fossa.
Shanzhong: Located on the chest, in the middle of the front midline, at the level of the 4th intercostal space, at the midpoint between the nipples.
Massage the spine
If the child has high fever, the spine can be directly massaged with a force enough to produce a sore and swollen feeling, 10-20 times.
Massage techniques for cold and fever in children using hands
1. Qingtianhe Water: The massager holds the child's hand with one hand, and uses the index and middle fingers of the other hand's fingertips to push from the inner side of the child's forearm along the middle line to the transverse crease of the elbow, that is, from Daling to Hongchi, 50-100 times.
2. Pushing the Six Fu organs: The massager uses the thumb or index and middle fingers to push from the ulnar side of the child's forearm to the transverse crease of the wrist on the ulnar side, 50-100 times.
3. Clearing the Lung meridian: The massager holds the child's hand with one hand, palm facing up, and uses the thumb of the other hand to push from the interphalangeal crease of the child's ring finger to the palm of the fingertip, 50-100 times.
Massage techniques for cold and fever in children on the back
1. Pushing Tianzhu: Lower the child's neck slightly, the massager supports the child's head with the upper hand, and uses the thumb or index and middle fingers of the other hand to push from the occipital hairline down to the Dazhui acupoint, 50-100 times.
2. Pushing the spine: Expose the child's back, and the massager uses the thumb or index and middle fingers to push straight down the line from the seventh cervical vertebra spinous process to the coccyx, 5-10 times.
3. Rubbing the bladder meridian on the back: The massager uses the whole palm or the base of the palm to rub the child's spine and both sides of the bladder meridian.
Individualized adjustments for cold and fever in children
In cases of unconsciousness
1. Pinch Renzhong: The massager uses the thumb nail to pinch the Renzhong acupoint (at the junction of the upper 1/3 and lower 2/3 of the philtrum) of the child 3-5 times.
2. Pinch Shixuan: The massager uses the thumb nail to pinch each of the Shixuan points (the tips of all ten fingers) of the child 3-5 times, or until the child wakes up.
3. Pinch Duanzheng: The massager uses the thumb nail to pinch the Duanzheng acupoint (at the junction of the red and white flesh on both sides of the base of the middle finger nail) of the child 3-5 times.
In cases of chronic fever
1. Rub Zhongwan: The massager uses the middle fingertip of the right hand to rub the Zhongwan acupoint (4 inches above the navel) of the child in a clockwise direction, 50-100 times.
2. Separate the Yin and Yang of the abdomen: The massager uses the four fingers of both hands to push from the Zhongwan acupoint of the child towards the lower rib margin on both sides, 50-100 times.
3. Push Yongquan: The massager uses the thumb fingertip to push towards the Yongquan acupoint (the junction of the front 1/3 and back 2/3 of the sole) of the child's foot.
