Enuresis, also known as bedwetting, is a condition in which children over the age of three cannot control their urination and frequently urinate in their sleep, only realizing it after waking up. Massage therapy is one of the treatment methods for enuresis in children. It mainly aims to tonify the spleen, lungs, and kidneys or clear dampness and heat, improving the bladder's ability to control urination. Below, I will teach you some massage techniques for enuresis in children.
Causes and Mechanism of Enuresis in Children
Enuresis is caused by a lack of bladder control, and there are many reasons for the dysfunction of bladder control. It can be due to congenital insufficiency, imbalances in the functions of the spleen, lungs, and kidneys, or dampness and heat affecting bladder function.
It is important to note that if a child of school age occasionally wets the bed due to excessive daytime play or deep sleep, it is not considered a disease.
Different Manifestations of Enuresis in Children
1. Enuresis caused by insufficient kidney qi is characterized by frequent bedwetting during sleep, sometimes multiple times in one night. The urine volume is large, with a mild odor. The child only realizes they wet the bed after waking up. The child's complexion is pale, limbs often feel cold, they have poor mental state, and their intelligence is lower.
2. If a child frequently wets the bed during sleep, urinates frequently during the day, sweats easily, and is prone to catching colds, with a lackluster appearance and formed or loose stools, it is generally classified as enuresis due to deficiency of the spleen and lungs.
3. Children with enuresis caused by dampness and heat in the liver meridian often wet the bed in their sleep. The urine volume is small and has a foul odor. These children tend to be irritable and easily angered, or they may talk in their sleep or grind their teeth at night. Their tongue is red, and the coating is yellow and greasy.
Common Massage Techniques for Enuresis in Children
Heated Massage
Rub the hands together to generate heat, and then place the warm palms on the navel for the child to feel the warmth. Repeat this rubbing motion multiple times, continuously moving the warm palms downwards to the lower abdomen, gently massaging or vibrating the area around the navel. The purpose of this technique is to dissipate coldness and stimulate bladder function, promoting the sensation of needing to urinate.
Rubbing Massage
In the lower abdomen or at the coccyx and buttocks, use the warm palms to gently rub and shake. Although this shaking action is not as effective as heated massage, the reflexive effects of the coccyx and buttocks on the internal organs, especially the spleen, stomach, large intestine, and small intestine, have a significant impact on urination. It is important to note that the rubbing motion should be gentle, slow, and maintained for a certain period, usually 3-5 minutes.
Finger Massage
Use the middle finger of the massage therapist, either the left or right hand. First, rub the middle finger in the palm of the other hand to generate heat, then place it below the child's navel and massage along the midline of the abdomen, moving up and down repeatedly. This can stimulate the bladder and the brain to create a downward transportation mentality, promoting the flow of urine downwards and gradually developing the child's awareness of urination, thus facilitating urination.
Massage Methods for Different Types of Enuresis in Children
Massage for Deficiency of the Spleen, Lungs, and Kidneys
If the child's enuresis is due to deficiency of the spleen, lungs, and kidneys, parents can choose to tonify the spleen meridian, lung meridian, and kidney meridian. This includes pushing San Guan, rubbing Wai Lao Gong, massaging Bai Hui, rubbing Dan Tian, massaging Shen Yu, and rubbing the waist and sacrum, as well as massaging San Yin Jiao for 1 minute each.
Massage Explanation: Pushing San Guan, rubbing Dan Tian, and massaging Shen Yu warm and tonify the kidney qi. Tonifying the lung meridian and spleen meridian address deficiency of the lung and spleen qi. Massaging Bai Hui, rubbing Wai Lao Gong, and massaging San Yin Jiao have the function of warming and promoting bladder control.
Massage for Liver Meridian Dampness and Heat
If the child's enuresis is caused by dampness and heat in the liver meridian, parents can choose to clear the liver meridian, heart meridian, and small intestine meridian. This includes rubbing Dan Tian, rubbing the waist and sacrum, pushing Ji Men, tonifying the kidney meridian, rubbing Shang Ma, rubbing San Yin Jiao, and rubbing Yong Quan for 1 minute each.
Massage Explanation: Clearing the liver meridian, heart meridian, and small intestine meridian helps remove dampness and heat. Tonifying the kidney meridian, rubbing Shang Ma, and pushing Ji Men nourish yin and clear heat. Rubbing Dan Tian and rubbing the waist and sacrum help alleviate enuresis.
Daily Care for Children with Enuresis
Parents should help children with enuresis establish a good routine and develop good hygiene habits, such as:
Avoid excessive excitement or vigorous exercise before bedtime; reduce fluid intake after dinner, avoiding drinking milk or consuming large amounts of water or fruits within 2 hours before sleep; avoid overeating at night, being comfortably full is sufficient; encourage urination before bedtime, etc., all of which can reduce the frequency of bedwetting.
If inappropriate behavior and lifestyle habits are ruled out as the cause of enuresis, it is mostly caused by deficiency of the spleen, lungs, and kidneys. Therefore, children's diet should consist of easily digestible and nutritious foods.
