Childhood bronchitis is a common acute upper respiratory tract infection caused by viral infections such as the common cold. Symptoms include coughing, fever, chest pain, phlegm, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. In addition to medication, massage therapy can help alleviate symptoms such as fever and cough, thereby shortening the duration of the illness. Let's take a look at the massage points for childhood bronchitis.
Effective Massage Points for Childhood Bronchitis
Gates of Heaven Point
Also known as Zan Zhu Point, massaging the Gates of Heaven Point has the effects of relieving wind, clearing the head, relieving pain, and calming the mind.
Location: The midpoint between the eyebrows and the hairline, forming a straight line on the forehead.
Massage technique: Use both thumbs to alternately press and push upward, with moderate pressure, for 3 minutes each time.
Ding Chuan Point
Also known as Asthma Relief Point, this point is effective in treating cough, pneumonia, and asthma. Massaging the Ding Chuan Point can calm the lungs and relieve coughing.
Location: In the spinal area, 0.5 inch below the 7th cervical vertebra prominence, on both sides of the midline.
Massage technique: Use the index and middle fingertips to press and apply pressure to the points on both sides, with slight force, for 3 minutes each time.
Tianhe Water Point
Tianhe Water Point is a special and effective point for children, with the functions of clearing heat, relieving restlessness, and regulating the body's energy flow.
Location: On the palm side of the forearm, forming a straight line from the midpoint of the wrist crease to the Quze Point.
Massage technique: Use the thumb pad to push from the wrist crease towards the elbow, known as clearing Tianhe Water, with moderate pressure, for 3 minutes each time.
Common Massage Techniques for Childhood Bronchitis
1. Hold or lay the child down, and the parent should stabilize the child's upper limbs. Perform 300 repetitions of clearing the lung meridian, 300 repetitions of retreating the six fu organs, and 100 repetitions of pushing the San Guan points.
2. Lay the child down, and perform 100 repetitions of pushing the scapula, and 1 minute of kneading the Lung Yu and Da Zhui points.
3. Knead the Shan Zhong and Feng Long points for 2 minutes each.
Massage Adjustments for Childhood Bronchitis with Different Conditions
Wind-Heat Invading the Lungs Type
Symptoms include fever with slight chills, minimal sweating, headache, slight thirst, cough with shortness of breath, sticky white phlegm with small amount, hidden chest pain. Use common massage techniques, add 30 repetitions of pushing Taiyang points, 300 repetitions of pushing San Guan points, and 10 times of pressing Feng Chi and Jian Jing points.
Phlegm-Heat Blocking the Lungs Type
Symptoms include high fever with red face, restlessness and desire to drink, yellow and sticky phlegm, sometimes mixed with blood or rusty-colored phlegm, chest tightness, coarse breath, chest pain, red tongue with yellow greasy coating. Use common massage techniques, add 300 repetitions of retreating the six fu organs, 100 repetitions of clearing the heart meridian, and knead the Feng Long point 50 times and the Zhong Wan point for 3 minutes.
Heat Entering the Heart Camp Type
Symptoms include persistent high fever, worsened at night, restlessness, occasional delirium or even confusion, shortness of breath, wheezing in the throat, blood in the phlegm, twitching of the limbs, dry lips, and yellow dry coating on the tongue. Use common massage techniques, add retreating the six fu organs, and clearing Tianhe Water points 500 times each, and clear the heart meridian and liver meridian 300 times each. Knead the Qu Chi point for 1 minute and push the Yong Quan point 300 times.
Precautions for Childhood Bronchitis Massage
1. According to the principle of treating winter diseases in summer, massage therapy can be performed on children during the hottest days of the year to enhance their physical health, prevent illness during the winter and spring seasons, or improve symptoms. Massage therapy can also be performed during the illness.
2. Avoid consuming seafood, cold drinks, and other cold and fishy foods during the treatment period.
3. Ginger juice or scallion juice can be used as media during the massage.
4. Severe cases must be treated in a hospital to avoid worsening the condition and potential danger.
5. The child's living environment should have fresh air and appropriate temperature.
