What is pediatric massage? What are its functions and effects?

In the five thousand years of Chinese civilization, Traditional Chinese Medicine is undoubtedly a shining pearl. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, massage has many benefits. If massage of children can also treat some diseases, then what is pediatric massage?

What is Pediatric Massage

Pediatric massage is based on the holistic concept of traditional Chinese medicine, with the theories of yin and yang, the five elements, internal organs and meridians as theoretical guidance. It uses various techniques to stimulate acupoints to make the meridians unobstructed and the qi and blood circulate, so as to achieve the purpose of adjusting the functions of internal organs, curing diseases and maintaining health.

The pediatric massage treatment system was formed in the Ming Dynasty, marked by the publication of pediatric massage monographs such as "The Magic Massage Sutra for Protecting Infants". The acupoints for pediatric massage include point-shaped acupoints, line-shaped acupoints, surface-shaped acupoints, etc. The operation method emphasizes lightness, softness, stability and firmness, and pays attention to the techniques of tonification and purgation and the operation procedures. It has a good effect on common and frequently occurring diseases, and is particularly effective for digestive tract diseases.

Scope of use

The treatment principles of pediatric massage are basically the same as those of internal treatment. It adheres to the pathogenesis in order to cure the disease at its root, adjust yin and yang, and strengthen the body and eliminate evil. Under the guidance of the basic theories of traditional Chinese medicine, it is widely used in children's diarrhea, vomiting, food accumulation, anorexia, constipation, abdominal pain, rectal prolapse, cold, cough, asthma, fever, enuresis, night crying, muscular torticollis, stiff neck, convulsions and other diseases, with good results.

Common media

Massage medium refers to lubricants of different dosage forms applied to the skin of the massage points. The medium can bring into play the combined therapeutic effects of massage and medicine to achieve the purpose of treating diseases. It can also lubricate and protect the skin, making the manipulation more flexible and free. Generally speaking, if the disease is a superficial symptom, antipyretic drugs are often used, such as onion juice, ginger juice, mint juice, etc.; if it is blood stasis, blood-activating and stasis-removing drugs are suitable, such as safflower chicken oil ointment, etc.; if it is a heat symptom, cold drugs are used as the medium, such as mint juice, pig bile, and light bamboo leaf infusion.

Common massage techniques

Because children have delicate skin and timid spirits, special attention should be paid to the techniques when treating diseases with massage, emphasizing gentleness and penetration, and requiring lightness, softness, stability and firmness.

The basic operation techniques include: pushing, kneading, pressing, rubbing, pinching, rubbing, holding, moving, pinching, rubbing, pounding, twisting, scraping, shaking and patting. In addition to the basic techniques, in hundreds of years of clinical practice, doctors have gradually summed up some operating methods with fixed procedures and specific names. These operating methods often use one technique to perform on one or several acupoints, so they are now called "complex operating methods", such as wasps entering the hole, horses crossing the Milky Way, carrying water into the soil, etc.