Abdominal pain mainly refers to the pain below the stomach, around the navel, and in the lower abdomen, which is the main symptom of functional abdominal pain without surgical indications.
Abdominal pain is a common syndrome in children and can be seen in various diseases. Due to the changing condition of children, their ability to express pain is poor, and some cases may progress to acute abdomen. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully differentiate and diagnose. Children with acute abdomen should receive immediate surgical treatment.
Etiology and Pathogenesis
1. Invasion of Cold Pathogens
Improper care, exposure of the abdomen to cold, consumption of windy foods, excessive consumption of raw and cold foods → Cold pathogens obstruct the intestines, inhibiting yang energy (cold mainly contracts and condenses, causing cold stagnation) → Qi stagnation and obstruction, meridians are not clear (if not clear, it causes pain) → abdominal pain.
2. Accumulation of Milk and Food
Irregular feeding of milk (overeating, indulgence in fatty and sweet foods), unclean diet → damage the spleen and stomach, disharmony of ascending and descending, obstruction of qi, stagnation without clearance → food accumulation and pain.
3. Deficiency and Cold of the Spleen and Stomach
Inherent yang deficiency, long-term illness and physical weakness, weakness of the spleen and stomach, lack of vitality in the spleen yang → deficiency and cold in the middle burner, dysfunction of water and grain transportation → stagnation of cold and dampness, obstruction of qi, or insufficient qi and blood, lack of nourishment in the organs → abdominal pain.
4. Accumulation of Worms and Stagnation of Qi
Worms moving in the stomach and intestines → obstruction of qi → qi stagnation and abdominal pain.
5. Accumulation of Heat in the Spleen and Stomach
Invasion of external summer heat, internal pathogens (cold pathogens, food accumulation, etc.) persist and transform into heat, indulgence in spicy and heavy flavors → obstruction of damp heat in the middle burner, disharmony of qi, failure of transmission → obstruction of visceral qi → abdominal pain.
6. Stagnation of Qi and Blood Stasis
Falls, injuries, abdominal surgery, fear and fright → damage to the meridians and collaterals in the abdomen, disorder of qi and blood → imbalance of qi and blood in the meridians → stagnation of qi and blood in the intestines and stomach → abdominal pain.
Chinese Massage Treatment
1. Treatment Principles: Harmonize the organs, promote smooth flow of qi and blood, relieve pain.
2. Techniques: Massage the spleen meridian, pinch and rub the Wind Nest, manipulate the Eight-Directional Rotation, rub the abdomen, manipulate the Abdominal Corners, differentiate the yin and yang of the abdomen.
3. Methodology: Massage the spleen meridian, rub the abdomen, differentiate the yin and yang of the abdomen - regulate the spleen and stomach, harmonize and relieve pain. Manipulate the Eight-Directional Rotation - regulate qi and harmonize the middle burner, and enhance the effects of other techniques. Manipulate the Abdominal Corners, pinch and rub the Wind Nest - relieve pain.
4. Modified Treatment
(a) Cold and solid pain: Add rubbing the Outer Labor Palace, massage the Three Gates, use tonifying method to warm the middle burner, assist yang and relieve pain.
(b) Pain due to food stagnation: Add pinching and rubbing the Stomach Gates, clearing the Large Intestine, rubbing the Middle Epigastric, rubbing the Heavenly Pivot to promote digestion and relieve stagnation, regulate qi and assist transportation, and relieve pain.
(c) Pain due to deficiency and cold: Add tonifying the Kidney meridian, massage the Three Gates, rub the Outer Labor Palace, rub the navel, and massage the Three Miles on the foot to warm and tonify the spleen and kidneys, assist yang, dispel cold, nourish qi, and relieve pain.
(d) Pain due to worm accumulation: Add rubbing the Outer Labor Palace, massage the Three Gates, rub the navel to warm the middle burner and calm the worms, relieve pain, as worms are easily disturbed and restless in the presence of cold and become calm in warmth.
(e) Heat-induced pain: Add clearing the Large Intestine, retreating the Six Fu, pushing down the Seven Joints, use regulating method to clear and relieve heat accumulation in the stomach and intestines, regulate the ascending and descending of qi in the middle burner.
(f) Stagnation of qi and blood stasis: Add smoothing the Liver meridian, clearing the Heart meridian, pressing and kneading with string-like movements, massage the spleen meridian using regulating method to promote qi flow and activate blood circulation, open the collaterals, and relieve stagnation, in order to relieve pain.
