In this autumn and winter season, when colds and fevers are prevalent, some massage parlors in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province have secretly started offering pediatric massage services, claiming to improve immunity, promote brain development, and even cure various ailments.
So, can pediatric massage be done casually? Does it really have such great "power"? I have conducted in-depth research on this.
No "pediatric massage" signs displayed
I recently visited 5 massage parlors in downtown Nanjing under the pretext of having a child who is prone to colds and fevers. From the exterior, none of the shops had signs advertising "pediatric massage". However, after inquiring inside the shops, the owners of 3 small shops all enthusiastically stated that they can provide pediatric massage.
In one massage parlor, I saw a boy who appeared to be four or five years old receiving a massage. His mother, Ms. Wang, who was waiting beside him, told me that they were treating his stomach. "My child has been complaining of stomach pain and has had a few episodes of diarrhea. My colleague said that massage has good effects, so I brought my child to try it." Ms. Wang admitted that she also believed that massage is not as strong as medication or injections, and even if it doesn't cure the problem, it can't make it worse.
"Going to the hospital for injections and IV drips has side effects, but our massage therapy has no side effects." The owner of a health store on Hongwu North Road told me. Regarding the level of massage therapists, a massage therapist at a health store on Pearl River Road told me, "There are relatively few massage therapists in Nanjing who can do pediatric massage because it requires higher technical skills. The strength and methods used for pediatric massage are different from those used for adults."
So, how effective can pediatric massage be? A massage therapist at a massage parlor on Fengfu Road recommended that I combine massage with cupping therapy for better results. "Children who frequently get sick have poor physical constitution and weak resistance, so doing traditional Chinese medicine massage and cupping therapy a few times is beneficial for improving their resistance."
During the consultation, I learned that the price for a pediatric massage in a regular massage parlor is around 50 yuan.
Massage therapists refuse to show qualification certificates
Although the benefits of pediatric massage are touted by street massage parlors, can any "massage therapist" provide massages for children? During my visits, each time I inquired about a shop, I requested to see the massage therapist's credentials on the grounds of being cautious with babies. As expected, although each massage therapist claimed to be a graduate of a reputable technical school and possessed a valid certificate, not a single one was willing to show me their credentials: either they didn't bring them to work or their company policy prohibited showing them.
However, during the interviews, an anonymous industry insider told me that there is currently a high demand for massage therapists in the entire massage market, and some unscrupulous shops employ massage therapists without any professional certification. "Generally, no one checks whether they have qualifications or not, but indeed, many massage therapists in Nanjing do not have professional certificates."
"Curing all diseases" is a scam
During the interview, when the massage therapist Mr. Wang saw my interest in pediatric massage, he decided to reveal the truth to me. He told me that there are very few people in Nanjing who can truly provide pediatric massage.
According to Mr. Wang, one should never believe the claims that pediatric massage can cure all diseases; that is a scam. Pediatric massage can only serve as an auxiliary treatment during the illness. Massage is more effective for some diseases but not for others. "The most effective use of pediatric massage is for common illnesses such as diarrhea and food retention; several sessions of massage can produce results."
"For serious conditions, one should still seek medical treatment at a hospital, and massage cannot replace medication control." Mr. Wang said, "If a child has poor physical constitution, massage can be used to enhance their constitution and subsequently improve their resistance."
Children's skin is especially delicate, so besides using appropriate pressure, a medium, such as onion juice, ginger juice, or talcum powder, should be used during massage to lubricate the skin. This way, when massaging the child, there is less friction on their skin.
Mr. Wang said that when going to a massage parlor for pediatric massage, one must pay attention to the medium used by the massage therapist. Some massage parlors may use inferior talcum powder. "When giving a massage at home, it is best for parents to use a lubricant to avoid directly rubbing the child's skin with their palms. When choosing a medium, it is even more important to pay attention to its quality."
Best results for children aged 6 months to pre-school
Is it really so miraculous that just a simple massage can help improve a child's physical constitution and even treat illnesses? Dr. Tian Qingle, Deputy Chief Physician of the Acupuncture Department at Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital, said that pediatric massage does indeed have health benefits and therapeutic effects, but it is not suitable for all illnesses, and the skill of the doctor is very important.
Which diseases in children can be treated with massage? Dr. Tian Qingle said that in general, pediatric massage can have good therapeutic and health effects for children with diarrhea, constipation, respiratory diseases such as cough and asthma. For example, if a child has poor appetite or low immunity, doctors can use spine manipulation to help improve the condition. If there are respiratory system problems, massaging the scapula area can be helpful. If it is a digestive system problem like constipation, then the doctor should mainly apply force to the navel area and acupuncture points such as Zusanli.
