Parents can learn the correct massage techniques and regularly give their children massages. This not only helps prevent and treat diseases, but also enhances digestion and appetite, regulates qi and blood, and improves the overall physical fitness and resistance of the child. Let's take a look at the correct pediatric massage techniques for enhancing digestion and appetite.
Tonifying the Spleen Meridian
The spleen meridian is located on the radial side or the distal interphalangeal crease of the thumb. During the massage, use the radial side of the thumb to apply pressure and rotate it 500 times on the distal interphalangeal crease of the child's thumb.
Effects: Tonifies the spleen and nourishes the stomach, regulates the intestines, and treats symptoms such as poor appetite, indigestion, malnutrition, diarrhea, cough, and emaciation.
Rubbing and Pressing the Outer Labor Palace
The outer labor palace is located between the 2nd and 3rd metacarpal bones on the back of the hand, 0.5 cun behind the metacarpophalangeal joint. During the massage, use the fingertip of the thumb to press and rub the outer labor palace in a clockwise direction for 100-300 times.
Effects: Tonifies the spleen and nourishes the stomach, warms and disperses cold, and treats symptoms such as wind-cold invasion, accumulation of cold in the organs, abdominal distention, abdominal pain, diarrhea, intestinal rumbling, prolapse, enuresis, hernia, cough with abundant phlegm, and dysentery.
Rubbing the Plate Gate
The plate gate is located on the surface of the palm at the base of the thumb (near the inner side of both thumbs, at the muscular prominence of the palm). Use the fingertip of the thumb to rub and press the plate gate or move it back and forth for 100-300 times.
Effects: Tonifies the spleen and nourishes the stomach, promotes digestion and resolves food stagnation, and treats symptoms such as food stagnation, abdominal distention, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, asthma, and belching.
Pinching and Pressing the Two Fan Gates
The two fan gates are located on the back of the hand, on both sides of the proximal end of the third metacarpophalangeal joint. During the massage, hold the child's hand with one hand, palm facing down, and use the thumbnail of the other hand to pinch and press the two fan gates 3-5 times, then use the fingertip of the thumb to press and rub in a clockwise direction for 100-300 times.
Effects: Tonifies the spleen and nourishes the stomach, clears heat and releases the exterior, and treats symptoms such as nosebleeds, convulsions, vomiting, diarrhea, fever without sweating, and fainting.
Rubbing the Abdomen
Place the palm on the abdomen, without pressing too tightly against the skin, and make clockwise circular rubbing motions on the surface of the skin for 100-200 times, until the local skin feels warm.
Effects: Tonifies the spleen and nourishes the stomach, regulates qi and aids digestion. Treats symptoms such as constipation, abdominal distention, loss of appetite, fecal incontinence, indigestion, abdominal pain, diarrhea, malnutrition, nausea, and vomiting.
