Jizhi is a condition in which the food stagnates and accumulates in the body of a child, causing poor digestion and blocked Qi flow. It can occur alone or be accompanied by other illnesses such as colds, malnutrition, and pneumonia. In Western medicine, it falls under the category of functional indigestion. Massage therapy can help relieve symptoms and promote digestion. Let's take a look at the methods of pediatric massage for treating jizhi.
Clinical Symptoms of Jizhi in Children
Accumulation of Food
Loss of appetite, distension and fullness in the epigastrium, pain and resistance to touch, poor appetite, or vomiting sour and spoiled food, yellow and emaciated complexion, irritability and frequent crying, restless sleep at night, short and yellow urine or rice water-like urine, sour and foul-smelling stools, red tongue with thick white or yellow coating, slippery and rapid pulse, and purple-red fingerprints.
Spleen Deficiency with Accumulation
Pale yellow complexion, fatigue and weakness, restless sleep, loss of appetite, feeling fullness after meals, abdominal distension relieved by pressure, vomiting sour and spoiled food, emaciated body, loose and foul-smelling stools with undigested food particles or milk curds, pale tongue with white greasy coating, weak or slippery pulse, and pale fingerprints.
Pediatric Massage for Accumulation of Food
Treatment principles: Promote digestion and regulate the spleen and stomach.
Massage techniques: Tonify the Spleen meridian, knead the Gate of the Stomach, clear the Large Intestine, push along the four horizontal lines, manipulate the internal Bagua, separate and push the abdominal Yin and Yang, knead the Heavenly Pivot.
Explanation: Tonifying the Spleen meridian strengthens the spleen and aids digestion; kneading the Gate of the Stomach and manipulating the internal Bagua regulate Qi and promote harmonization; clearing the Large Intestine and pushing along the four horizontal lines facilitate digestion and relieve stagnation; separating and pushing the abdominal Yin and Yang and kneading the Heavenly Pivot harmonize Qi and blood.
Differentiation and Modification of Pediatric Massage for Accumulation of Food
In cases where there is frequent vomiting and abdominal distension, tonify the Spleen meridian, clear the Spleen meridian, and clear the Stomach meridian by pressing and rubbing; for children with significant abdominal pain, add kneading the Heavenly Pivot and manipulating the Stomach Corner points, as well as pressing and kneading the Zu San Li points; for children with low-grade fever and irritability, add clearing the Heart meridian, clearing the Liver meridian, clearing the Heavenly River Water, and clearing the Large Intestine meridian; for children with constipation and foul-smelling stools, add clearing the Large Intestine meridian and pushing down the Seven Bone Segments.
Pediatric Massage for Spleen Deficiency with Accumulation
Treatment principles: Strengthen the spleen, aid digestion, and supplement deficiencies.
Massage techniques: Tonify the Spleen meridian, manipulate the internal Bagua, knead the four horizontal lines, clear the Large Intestine, knead the Outer Labor Palace, and rub the Middle Epigastric region.
Explanation: Tonifying the Spleen meridian strengthens the spleen and aids digestion; manipulating the internal Bagua regulates Qi and promotes digestion; kneading the four horizontal lines and clearing the Large Intestine facilitate digestion and resolve accumulation; kneading the Outer Labor Palace warms Yang and boosts Qi; rubbing the Middle Epigastric region regulates Qi and harmonizes the middle burner, balancing Qi and blood.
Differentiation and Modification of Pediatric Massage for Spleen Deficiency with Accumulation
For children with frequent vomiting, add pushing the Heavenly Column Bone and pushing the horizontal lines towards the Gate of the Stomach; for children with loose and thin foul-smelling stools, add clearing and supplementing the Large Intestine meridian; for children with abdominal distension and pain, especially if they feel cold and are relieved by pressure, add massaging the abdomen and kneading the Shoulder Yang Pool.
Preventive Care for Jizhi in Children
1. Adopt a rational feeding approach, follow the principles of adding complementary foods for children, pay attention to regular and moderate eating, and avoid overeating. The diet should be rich and easily digestible, avoiding fatty, sweet, heavy, and cold foods.
2. Children should temporarily control their food intake, gradually increasing the amount and variety of food after recovery.
3. Pay attention to changes in the child's condition: if vomiting occurs, temporarily withhold food and give a few drops of ginger juice with a little sugar; if abdominal distension is present, massage the abdomen; for children with spleen deficiency, moxibustion on the Zu San Li points can be beneficial.
