When babies experience discomfort such as coughing and vomiting, doctors often suggest parents to use the massage technique of rubbing the Shanzhong acupoint to help relieve the symptoms. So where exactly is the Shanzhong acupoint in children?
The Accurate Location of Shanzhong Acupoint in Children
The Shanzhong acupoint is located in the chest, on the midline of the body, at the level of the fourth intercostal space, and at the midpoint of a line connecting the two nipples.
Massage Technique for Shanzhong Acupoint in Children
Rub the Shanzhong acupoint with the fingertip of the middle finger; use both thumbs to push from the center of the acupoint outwards towards the nipples; use the index finger and middle finger to push down from the sternal notch to the xiphoid process.
Functions and Indications of Shanzhong Acupoint in Children
The Shanzhong acupoint in children can regulate qi (energy) and relieve pain, promote salivation, and increase body fluids. It is commonly used to treat symptoms such as chest tightness, vomiting, phlegm-induced wheezing, coughing, bronchial asthma, heartache, palpitations, and restlessness.
Clinical Application of Shanzhong Acupoint in Children
The Shanzhong acupoint is a meeting point of qi, located in the middle of the chest. Rubbing and massaging this acupoint can relieve chest tightness, regulate qi, and alleviate coughing and phlegm production caused by various factors. It is also effective in treating vomiting and hiccups, often used in combination with the movement of the Eight Trigrams and transverse pressing towards the diaphragm. For wheezing and coughing, it is often used in combination with stimulating the Lung Meridian and rubbing the Lung Shu acupoint. To treat phlegm retention and difficult expectoration, it is often used in combination with rubbing the Tian Tu acupoint and pressing the Feng Long acupoint.
Specialized Massage for Shanzhong Acupoint in Children
Use the fingertip of the thumb to push from the Shanzhong acupoint towards both sides until reaching the nipple, repeating this motion 30-50 times. Then, combine the fingertip of the index finger and middle finger, and rub and press in a clockwise direction 50-100 times, until the local skin becomes slightly red. By consistently performing this massage every day, it can help alleviate symptoms such as chest tightness, vomiting, phlegm-induced wheezing, and coughing.
