Children can easily develop food stagnation due to their underdeveloped digestive system. The most effective method to treat food stagnation in children is through massage. Parents can help relieve the symptoms of food stagnation in their babies by massaging certain corresponding acupoints. Let's learn some massage techniques together!
Massage Techniques for Food Stagnation in Children
1. Rub the abdomen: Apply massage oil to the abdomen and gently rub it in a clockwise direction for 100 times, using gentle and light strokes.
2. Pinch the spine: Hold the skin on both sides of the spine with both hands and pinch it upwards from the bottom. Use gentle and light movements, about 30 times.
3. Massage the point Zu San Li: Zu San Li is a major acupoint on the stomach meridian and massaging it regularly can promote digestion. Massage it 100 times.
4. Rotate the inner palm: Rotate the thumb or middle finger clockwise around the Laogong acupoint in the palm. This can effectively alleviate symptoms such as poor appetite and bloating. Rotate it 100 times.
5. Clear the stomach meridian: Use the thumb to push straight towards the base of the index finger, pushing it 100 times. This has the effect of harmonizing the stomach and relieving upward flow of Qi.
6. Clear the lung meridian: Use the ring finger to push straight towards the base of the little finger, pushing it 200-300 times. It has a good effect in relieving cough.
Precautions for Massage for Food Stagnation in Children
1. Repeat each massage technique 100-300 times, once a day, for about 15 minutes each time.
2. Adjust the number of repetitions according to the child's age, physical condition, and severity of symptoms.
3. Before massaging, the operator can apply talcum powder or massage oil on their hands to avoid damaging the child's skin.
4. Use moderate force during the massage, avoid excessive force. Do not massage within half an hour after a meal.
How to Prevent Food Stagnation in Babies
1. Adjust the diet structure: Eat more easily digestible and absorbable foods, and avoid adding high-calorie and high-fat foods blindly. Let the baby eat more vegetables and fruits, eat less meat, and appropriately increase the intake of rice and noodles. A moderate amount of high-protein diet is sufficient to avoid burdening the digestive system.
2. Eat until 70% full: No matter what kind of food, even if it is nutritious, it should not be eaten too much. Overeating can lead to food stagnation and diarrhea, which can harm the baby's health.
3. Regular and moderate meals: Arrange three meals a day for the baby at fixed times and in fixed amounts. Avoid skipping meals or overeating. Just like the digestive system of adults, the baby's gastrointestinal system needs rest and work in a regular pattern to ensure normal digestion.
4. Don't eat too much at night: Babies have a high level of activity during the day and can digest food well. However, their gastric motility slows down at night, making it easier for food to stagnate. Therefore, avoid eating too much at night. If the baby drinks milk, it should be diluted with more water and less formula.
5. Wait for 1 hour after waking up before eating: In the morning or at noon, the baby should wait for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour after waking up before eating. This is because the internal organs, including the stomach and intestines, need some time to recover normal function after low operation. Eating too soon will not benefit digestion and absorption.
6. Breastfeeding mothers should pay attention to their diet: For breastfeeding mothers, it is also important to pay attention to their diet. They should avoid a high-fat and high-protein diet and opt for a light and balanced diet. If the mother overeats, it may cause "milk stagnation" in the baby.
If you find it difficult to locate the acupoints and achieve effective results through massage, you can try the following effective diet therapy methods:
1. Hawthorn apple water
Function: Clear the lungs and aid digestion, especially for food stagnation caused by excessive meat consumption.
Method: Wash the apple with salt, peel it and cut it into strips. Then add dried hawthorn or fresh hawthorn to the pot and cook for 15 minutes on high heat.
2. Chinese yam porridge
Function: Tonify the spleen and stomach, nourish yin and body fluids. Suitable for children with food stagnation, poor appetite, weight loss, and pale complexion.
Method: Take 100g of dried Chinese yam slices, 100g of rice or millet, and an appropriate amount of sugar. Wash the rice, grind it with the Chinese yam slices, and cook it with water to make porridge.
