Spring is a season of fluctuating temperatures, especially in the morning and evening. It is also a high season for coughing, especially for children who have lower resistance and are more prone to coughing. Many parents prefer not to rely on medication to relieve their children's coughs. So what are the methods to treat baby cough? It is said that massage therapy is effective in treating cough in children. Let's learn more about it with the editor below.
Massage therapy for cough in children
Massage therapy can be used to treat cough in children:
Step 1: The child should lie on their back, and the parent should stand on the right side. Spread out the right hand with all five fingers, using the fingertips as the focus point. Gently and smoothly push left and right along the ribs for 3 to 5 minutes.
Step 2: Use the middle finger to massage the child's "Tian Tu" acupoint for 10 to 30 seconds. Then, hold the child's hand with the left hand and use the thumb of the right hand to rub and push the outer side of the child's arms. The local skin should appear reddish. You can apply some powder or oil to prevent abrasion.
Step 3: The child should lie prone, with the left hand supporting the child's chest, and the palm of the right hand massaging and pushing the child's back for a few minutes. After the skin becomes reddish, focus on massaging the "Tian Zong" acupoints on both sides. Use the base of the palm to massage and push the area between the child's scapulas and spine for about 3 to 5 minutes.
Proper massage can relieve cough
1. Back Patting
Infants and young children do not know how to spit out phlegm, so they can only swallow it. Therefore, when the baby starts coughing, you can hold the baby and lightly pat their back with an open palm, paying attention to evenly patting all areas. If a certain area causes the baby to cough when patted, that area should be focused on to help expel the phlegm and relieve cough. Back patting is best done when the baby has just woken up or before going to bed.
2. Foot Massage
Massaging the soles of the feet is an effective method for treating cough. The specific method is to rub each foot 30 times, then start massaging by pressing 20 to 40 times on average. Each toe of both feet should be pressed. When the baby has a cough or tonsillitis, the area on the sole of the foot on both sides of the base of the big toe will be very painful, so massaging this area is most effective. After the massage, give the baby plenty of warm water or diluted saltwater. You can also combine it with dietary therapy for better results.
Two home remedies for preventing "colds"
The director of the Pediatric Research Institute suggests that parents can use boiled water to rinse onions and ginger, and let the child inhale the steam to effectively prevent colds. Pediatricians recommend the following home remedies for preventing colds:
(1) Nasal Sniffing Method
Suitable for symptoms: Common cold
Ingredients: 60g scallion white, 9g ginger
Method: Crush the ingredients and pour them into a cup of boiling water. Inhale the steam while it is hot. Repeat several times a day.
Treatment: Early stage of a child's cold
(2) Navel Compress Method
Suitable for symptoms: Cough accompanying cold
Ingredients: 6g almonds, 6g peach kernels, 6g white chrysanthemum, 6g Chinese thorowax root, 3g arctium fruit, 3g borneol, 3g mint, honey as needed
Method: Grind all the ingredients into fine powder, mix with honey to make a paste, and apply the paste to the navel. Change the paste once a day. The symptoms will be relieved in about 5 days.
How to help children avoid colds and coughs in spring
1. Ensure that children get sufficient rest
2. Encourage drinking plenty of water
Drinking plenty of water not only flushes viruses and bacteria from the throat, but also helps to regulate body temperature during fever and replenishes the water lost through sweating.
3. Keep warm
Adjust clothing according to the situation. After the child sweats, wipe off the sweat with warm water and change into clean clothes in a timely manner.
4. Maintain a balanced diet
Children with colds often have poor appetite. Parents should provide liquid or semi-liquid foods such as milk, yogurt, and porridge, and also encourage them to eat fresh fruits. This ensures an adequate intake of vitamin C, which has antiviral properties.
