Pediatric diarrhea is a disease characterized by increased frequency of bowel movements due to external pathogens or internal damage caused by diet. If not treated properly, it can lead to malnutrition. Based on the causes and symptoms of diarrhea, it can be divided into cold-damp diarrhea, damp-heat diarrhea, food damage diarrhea, and spleen deficiency diarrhea. Let's take a look at the massage techniques for pediatric diarrhea according to the different patterns.
Causes of Pediatric Diarrhea
1. External pathogen invasion: This disease is closely related to the climate, and can be caused by cold, damp, heat, or other external pathogens, with dampness being the most common cause.
2. Internal damage from diet: Improper feeding, overeating or sudden change in diet, excessive consumption of greasy, cold, or unclean food can damage the spleen and stomach, leading to indigestion and diarrhea.
3. Weakness of the spleen and stomach: Children's organs are delicate and their qi is not fully developed, making them more prone to external pathogen invasion and damage to the spleen and stomach.
Massage Techniques for Pediatric Diarrhea according to Different Patterns
Cold-damp diarrhea
Symptoms: Watery and frothy stools, pale and odorless, abdominal pain, pale complexion, no thirst, pale tongue with white greasy coating, slippery pulse, and red fingerprints.
Treatment principle: Warm the middle, dispel cold, transform dampness, and stop diarrhea.
Massage techniques: Massage the spleen meridian 300 times, massage the large intestine meridian 150 times, knead the laogong point 100 times, push the three guan points 100 times, knead the navel 200 times, push the upper seven spinal joints 150 times, knead the tailbone 100 times, and rub the abdomen for 5 minutes.
Damp-heat diarrhea
Symptoms: Urgent diarrhea, yellowish-brown and foul-smelling stools, mild fever, thirst, decreased urine output and yellowish color, yellow greasy tongue coating, rapid pulse, and purple fingerprints.
Treatment principle: Clear heat, resolve dampness, regulate the middle, and stop diarrhea.
Massage techniques: Massage the spleen and stomach meridians 300 times, massage the large intestine meridian 200 times, massage the small intestine meridian 200 times, retreat the six fu organs 150 times, knead the tianshu point 200 times, knead the tailbone 100 times, push the upper seven spinal joints 150 times, and clear the stomach meridian 300 times.
Food damage diarrhea
Symptoms: Abdominal pain and distention, crying before diarrhea, relief of pain after diarrhea, large amount of sour and foul-smelling stools, bad breath, or accompanied by vomiting of sour and rotten substances, thick or greasy tongue coating, slippery pulse.
Treatment principle: Promote digestion, regulate the middle, and assist in transportation.
Massage techniques: Clear and tonify the spleen meridian 150 times each, massage the large intestine meridian 200 times, knead the banmen point 200 times, knead the navel 200 times, knead the tianshu point 200 times, rub the abdomen for 5 minutes, knead the tailbone 100 times, and push the upper seven spinal joints 150 times.
Spleen deficiency diarrhea
Symptoms: Chronic diarrhea that does not improve, or frequently recurring episodes, pale complexion, poor appetite, loose stools with milk clots and food residue, or diarrhea immediately after eating, pale tongue, thin white coating, and slippery pulse.
Treatment principle: Strengthen the spleen, nourish qi, warm yang, and stop diarrhea.
Massage techniques: Massage the spleen meridian 300 times, massage the large intestine meridian 200 times, push the banmen point 100 times, push the three guan points 100 times, rub the abdomen for 5 minutes, knead the navel 200 times, knead the tailbone 100 times, push the upper seven spinal joints 150 times, and pinch the spine 5 times.
Common Acupoints used in Pediatric Diarrhea Massage
1. Shenque: Shenque is located in the center of the belly button. When massaging, use the thumb to gently rotate and knead the acupoint.
2. Zhongwan: Zhongwan is located in the upper abdomen, in the middle line, about 4 inches above the navel. When massaging, use the thumb to knead the acupoint in a clockwise direction.
3. Laogong: Laogong is located in the palm, between the 2nd and 3rd metacarpal bones, closer to the 3rd metacarpal bone. When massaging, use the thumb to massage the acupoint in a clockwise direction with even pressure.
4. Zusanli: Zusanli is located on the outer side of the lower leg, 3 inches below the knee and in front. When massaging, use the thumb to massage the acupoint in a clockwise direction with even pressure.
5. Pishu: Pishu is located on the back, 1.5 inches beside the lower edge of the 11th thoracic vertebra spinous process. When massaging, rub the palms to warm them, and then rub the acupoint in a clockwise direction with moderate pressure.
6. Weishu: Weishu is located on the back, 1.5 inches below the lower edge of the 12th thoracic vertebra spinous process. When massaging, use the thumb to press the acupoint with a frequency of 1-2 times per second.
Analysis of acupoints for treatment: Shenque warms yang, dispels cold, and promotes digestion; Zhongwan strengthens the spleen, nourishes the stomach, and promotes water metabolism; Laogong clears heat, relieves restlessness, and dispels wind; Zusanli regulates the meridians and promotes circulation; Pishu strengthens the spleen and stomach, stops vomiting and diarrhea; Weishu regulates the stomach and assists in digestion. The combination of these six acupoints, with long-term massage, can help alleviate pediatric diarrhea.
Daily Care and Precautions for Pediatric Diarrhea
1. Pay attention to nurturing, feeding should be regular, in terms of quality and quantity. When adding complementary foods, follow the principles of starting with liquid and then solid, vegetarian before meat, less before more, and soft before hard.
2. Pay attention to balanced nutrition, avoid excessive consumption of fatty and sweet foods.
3. Pay attention to food hygiene, food should be fresh and clean; eat at regular intervals and in moderation, avoid overeating.
4. Breastfeeding should be encouraged as much as possible, and weaning should not be done too early. After weaning, provide easily digestible and nutritious food.
5. Take the child outdoors regularly to breathe fresh air and get more sunlight to enhance their physical fitness.
