Ganji in gan refers to the imbalance of diet in children, improper feeding, weak spleen and stomach, incomplete digestion and absorption, characterized by slow disease progression, thin body, dull hair, delayed development, and fatigue. Ji refers to a chronic digestive disorder syndrome caused by stagnation of breast milk and failure to digest, characterized by lack of appetite for breast milk, indigestion after eating, no weight gain, and loose stools. Since gan and ji not only have a causal relationship, but also have close relationship in clinical manifestations, although they differ in severity, they are collectively referred to as ganji. Let's take a look at whether massage therapy for ganji in babies is effective.
Is massage therapy for ganji in babies effective?
Massage therapy for ganji in babies has certain therapeutic effects.
Massaging certain acupoints can promote spleen and appetite, improve digestion, and promote smooth flow of visceral qi, thereby effectively relieving symptoms of ganji in babies.
Causes and pathogenesis of ganji in babies
1. Injury to the spleen due to breast milk: Improper or insufficient feeding, excessive or irregular eating, excessive hunger or fullness, lack of nutrition, or excessive consumption of sweet and greasy food can damage the spleen and stomach, leading to stagnation and retention, and the inability of water and food essence to be digested and absorbed. If not nourished for a long time, it will turn into gan.
2. Weakness of the spleen and stomach: Children's spleen is often insufficient. Due to injury to breast milk, long-term illness, or weaning, the spleen and stomach become weak and unable to produce and transform qi, blood, and essence, resulting in ganji.
Clinical manifestations of ganji in babies
The clinical manifestations of ganji include poor appetite, food stagnation, abdominal distension, emaciation, and irregular bowel movements, with a slow disease progression.
1. Stagnation of breast milk: Abdominal distension, sour belching, poor appetite and sleep, no weight gain, rice-like urine, foul or constipated stools.
2. Deficiency of qi and blood: Lack of appetite, abdominal distension and pain, bloating after eating, strange cravings, fatigue, emaciation, pale complexion, and yellowish color.
In severe cases, due to extremely reduced resistance, various complications often occur, with iron-deficiency anemia being the most common. Various vitamin deficiencies are often secondary, with vitamin A, B, C, and D deficiencies being more common, leading to delayed development.
Massage therapy prescription for ganji in babies
Treatment principles: Promote digestion, invigorate spleen and stomach.
Common massage techniques: Pinching the four horizontal lines, kneading the gate of the abdomen, rubbing the abdomen, pinching the spine, and massaging the point Sanyinjiao on the foot.
For those who have suffered from diet-induced spleen injury, add clearing and tonifying the spleen and stomach, clearing the large intestine, and dividing and massaging the abdominal yin and yang.
For those with weak body and weak spleen, add tonifying the spleen and stomach, massaging the three gates on the upper body, massaging the middle of the abdomen, and massaging the points Pishu and Weishu on the spleen and stomach meridians.
Explanation of massage therapy for ganji in babies
Rubbing the gate of the abdomen, rubbing the abdomen, massaging the middle of the abdomen, dividing and massaging the abdominal yin and yang, promoting digestion, regulating intestinal stagnation; tonifying the spleen meridian, massaging the point Sanyinjiao on the foot to invigorate the spleen and nourish the stomach, promote digestion and harmonize the middle; massaging the three gates on the upper body, massaging the middle of the abdomen, pinching the spine to warm the middle, invigorate the spleen, tonify qi and blood, and enhance appetite; pinching the spine can invigorate the spleen and stomach, eliminate stagnation and remove gan.
