Child health concerns the whole family, especially during the autumn and winter seasons when children are more prone to diseases. From diarrhea and fever to pneumonia and coughing, the health of babies is the most concerning. As early as the Neijing, it was recorded that "treat the disease before it occurs". Pediatric health massage has a good effect on disease prevention.
Health Method 1: Strengthening the Spleen and Stomach.
The spleen and stomach are the foundation of postnatal life and the source of qi, blood, and nutrition. All the nutrients needed for the growth and development of children require the spleen and stomach for digestion. However, infants and young children have weaker organs, insufficient qi circulation, and often suffer from damage to the spleen and stomach from diet and external factors. Massage can strengthen the spleen and stomach, improve appetite, regulate blood and qi, enhance the physical fitness of children, and promote their growth and development.
Specific steps: The child sits down, the left hand is fixed, and the spleen meridian is tonified (rotate and push the tip of the thumb about 500 times), perform the "Eight Trigrams" technique (the parent uses the thumb as the center and draws a circle on the palm of the child's hand with the radius from the center to about 2/3 of the way to the base of the middle finger) about 300 times, pinch and rub the four transverse lines (located at the transverse lines on the flexor side of the palm joints of the index, middle, ring, and little fingers, with four acupoints on one hand) for 3-5 minutes, and pinch and rub the Zusanli acupoint on the foot (3 inches below the lower edge of the patella, one horizontal finger width outside of the anterior crest of the tibia) about 300 times.
The child lies on their back, and the parent places their palm or four fingers together on the child's abdomen, massaging the entire abdomen in a clockwise direction about 500 times.
The child lies face down, exposing the back. First, the parent lightly massages the sides of the spine from top to bottom with the index and middle fingers 2-3 times, then pinches the spine (using the pinching technique to lift the skin along both sides of the spine, pushing forward while pinching, from the sacrococcygeal region to the occipital region) 3-5 times, and finally uses both thumbs to press heavily on the Shu points of the spleen (1.5 inches beside the lower spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra) and the stomach (1.5 inches beside the lower spinous process of the 12th thoracic vertebra) for 3-5 times. Note: The 11th thoracic vertebra is located at the corresponding position of the navel on the back. Counting upward, the third prominence is the 11th thoracic vertebra.
Health Method 2: Strengthening the Lungs.
Colds, fever, coughing, and asthma are all closely related to the lungs of children. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the lungs are susceptible to external pathogens when affected by cold or heat. Massage can enhance lung function and prevent the occurrence of external diseases.
The child sits in a sitting position, and the parent takes the child's right hand to tonify the lung meridian (using the fingertip of the ring finger to push towards the root of the finger for about 500 times) and tonify the spleen meridian (same technique as above) 500 times each, and rub the Waigong acupoint (under the middle fingertip when making a fist) about 300 times.
The child lies down, and the parent massages the Feishu acupoint (located on the back, 1.5 inches beside the lower spinous process of the 3rd thoracic vertebra), Pishu acupoint (located on the back, 1.5 inches beside the lower spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra), and Ganshu acupoint (located on the back, 1.5 inches beside the lower spinous process of the 9th thoracic vertebra) 50 times each. Then, the parent lifts and pulls the Jianjing acupoint 3-5 times, and massages the Fengchi acupoint (the depression between the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the upper end of the trapezius muscle) and Fengfu acupoint (located on the back of the neck, 1 inch straight above the midpoint of the posterior hairline, in the depression between the trapezius muscles on both sides) until heat is generated.
Note: It is best for parents to complete these techniques under the guidance of a doctor. It is generally recommended to perform them on an empty stomach, once a day. Apply talcum powder to the hands during the massage. It is important to keep the indoor environment warm and put on clothes immediately after the massage.
