Pediatric Massage for Strengthening the Spleen Meridian

If a young child has a bad spleen and stomach, it often leads to indigestion, causing the child to appear pale, have a decreased appetite, or have loose stools and other symptoms. At this time, it is necessary to promote the child's diet adjustment. You can also treat the child with massage, which has a good effect on promoting the dredging of the spleen meridian. The spleen is the foundation of acquired constitution. If any adverse condition occurs, it is likely to cause the child to show a variety of symptoms.

1. Spleen Meridian (Spleen Earth)

Location: ① On the distal segment of the radial edge of the thumb, from the fingertip to the transverse line of the interphalangeal joint (used for direct push method to tonify the spleen meridian); ② On the radial edge of the thumb from the fingertip to the base of the finger (used for direct push method to clear and tonify the spleen meridian); ③ On the spiral surface of the thumb (used for rotational push method to tonify the spleen meridian).

Operation: The operator pinches the child's hand with the ring finger and little finger of the left hand, pinches the child's thumb with the index finger and thumb, and pushes it with the thumb of the right hand. ① Direct push method: bend the child's thumb and push from the fingertips to the transverse lines of the interphalangeal joints, which is called tonifying the spleen meridian (or tonifying spleen earth); ② Straighten the child's thumb and push back and forth from the base to the fingertips, which is called clearing the spleen meridian (or clearing and tonifying the spleen meridian). ③ Rotation and pushing method: Rotate with the thumb, clockwise for tonification and counterclockwise for purgation. Generally used 300 to 500 times.

Function: The spleen is the foundation of acquired constitution. Tonifying it can replenish deficiency and strengthen weakness, replenish blood and regenerate muscles, promote appetite, resolve phlegm and saliva, aid digestion, and stop diarrhea; clearing it can clear away heat and dampness, and digest food and resolve accumulation.

Indications: loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, malnutrition, dysentery, convulsions, jaundice, damp phlegm, impotence, rash, pox, change in complexion, etc.

Description: Experiments have shown that pushing and tonifying the spleen meridian has the following effects: ① It promotes gastric motility; ② It can increase the acidity of gastric juice; ③ It can increase the secretion of pepsin; ④ It has no obvious effect on amylase.