The main pathological changes of diarrhea are in the spleen, stomach, and large intestine. It is mainly characterized by increased frequency of bowel movements, loose stools, and even watery diarrhea. There are many methods to treat diarrhea, including medication, dietary adjustment, and massage. Now let's take a look at the four massage techniques for adult diarrhea.
Causes and mechanisms of adult diarrhea
1. External pathogenic factors: Common causes of diarrhea caused by external pathogenic factors include cold, dampness, and heat damage to the spleen and stomach. Among them, the combination of dampness and cold, heat, or summer heat is the most common. The spleen prefers dryness and dislikes dampness, so external dampness is most likely to obstruct the spleen yang, leading to weakened spleen function, imbalance in the ascending and descending of the spleen and stomach, confusion between clear and turbid, and the mixture of water and food entering the large intestine, resulting in diarrhea.
2. Diet-related factors: Overeating or excessive consumption of fatty and sweet foods can cause food stagnation in the stomach; eating too much raw or cold food or consuming unclean food can damage the spleen and stomach; dysfunction in digestion and transportation can lead to diarrhea.
3. Emotional imbalance: If the spleen and stomach are already weak, emotional factors such as excessive thinking, worry, anger, and mental stress can lead to liver qi stagnation, invading the spleen, and causing abnormal digestion and transportation, resulting in diarrhea.
4. Weakness of the spleen and stomach: The spleen is responsible for digestion and transformation, and the stomach is responsible for receiving and digesting food. Prolonged dietary imbalance, overwork, chronic illness, etc., can lead to weakness of the spleen and stomach, resulting in inability to receive and transform food and essence, stagnation of food and essence, confusion between clear and turbid, and mixed discharge, resulting in diarrhea.
5. Kidney yang deficiency: After a long illness, the kidney yang can be damaged, or due to old age and physical decline, insufficient yang qi can lead to loss of spleen warming function, resulting in diarrhea.
Massage techniques for adult diarrhea
The principle of massage for adult diarrhea is to strengthen the spleen and stomach, warm and tonify the spleen and kidneys, and soothe the liver and strengthen the spleen. The massage techniques are as follows:
1. The patient lies supine, and the masseur sits on the right side of the patient. Using slow and steady one-finger meditation technique, start from the Zhongwan point and slowly move downward to the Guanyuan point. Repeat this 5-6 times, and combine it with kneading the Zhongwan, Tianshu, Shenque, Qihai, and Guanyuan points, with each point massaged for about 1 minute.
2. In the same position, use rubbing technique on the abdomen in a counterclockwise direction for about 10 minutes.
3. The patient lies prone, and use one-finger meditation technique to massage the bilateral bladder meridians from the back to the segment of Dachangshu. Repeat this 5-6 times.
4. In the same position, use kneading technique to massage the Pishu, Geshu, Shenshu, Dachangshu, and Changqiang points, with each point massaged for about 1 minute. Use rubbing technique to massage the Baliao and Changqiang areas, with the degree of heat penetration as a guide. Finally, use finger kneading technique to massage the bilateral Zusanli and Shangjuxu points, with the degree of soreness and distension as a guide.
Differentiation and treatment of adult diarrhea
1. External pathogenic factors: For those who are affected by cold and dampness, the main treatment is to warm the middle, dispel cold, and eliminate dampness. Additional massage techniques include kneading Fengfu, Quchi, Neiguan, Fengchi, Hegu, and rubbing Dazhui, Pishu, and Geshu points, with the abdominal massage extended appropriately. For those affected by damp-heat, the main treatment is to clear heat and transform dampness. Additional massage techniques include kneading Quchi, Hegu, Waiguan, and Shenque points.
2. Diet-related factors: The main treatment is to promote digestion and resolve food stagnation. One-finger meditation technique and rubbing technique should focus on the epigastric and abdominal areas, with the rubbing motion and movement on the abdomen performed in a clockwise direction. Palm kneading technique can also be used to treat the Zhongwan area.
3. Liver qi invading the spleen: The main treatment is to soothe the liver, regulate qi, and harmonize the stomach. Additional massage techniques include light kneading of bilateral Zhangmen and Qimen points, coupled with oblique rubbing of the bilateral sides, and massage of the liver and gallbladder meridians on the back, including the Ganshu and Danshu points, as well as the Taichong and Xingjian points on the lower extremities.
4. Spleen and kidney yang deficiency: The main treatment is to strengthen the spleen, warm the kidneys, and stop diarrhea. During treatment, the massage time for Qihai and Guanyuan points can be appropriately extended, and the rubbing of Shenshu and Mingmen points should be warm. In addition, the back can be pinched 3-5 times.
Care and taboos for adult diarrhea
1. Pay attention to dietary adjustment. When diarrhea is severe, a liquid or semi-liquid diet should be the main choice. When it improves, a light and easily digestible diet is recommended. Avoid oily and fried foods, and avoid raw and cold foods.
2. For those with recurrent chronic diarrhea, it is advisable to consume medicinal ingredients such as Poria cocos, Chinese yam, and white atractylodes in daily meals to strengthen the spleen and transform dampness.
3. Pay attention to food hygiene. Avoid excessive consumption of fatty foods and all raw, cold, stimulating, and hard-to-digest foods.
