Recently, I have noticed many feedbacks from mothers, and combined with clinical observations, I have found that children are particularly prone to digestive issues due to catching a cold during this season.
Therefore, today I am here to share detailed knowledge on this topic with everyone, hoping to provide some practical solutions for all the mothers.
I. Pathological Mechanism and Symptom Differentiation of Cold and Dampness in the Stomach and Intestines
1. Core Pathogenesis
- Direct Invasion by Cold Pathogen: Exposure to wind-cold or consuming cold food and drinks leads to stagnation of qi due to cold, causing dysfunction in the stomach and intestines (as stated in “Su Wen · Discussion on Pain”: “When cold invades the space between the intestines and stomach, beneath the membrane, blood cannot disperse, and the small vessels contract, causing pain”).
- Spleen Deficiency with Dampness Obstruction: Inherent spleen yang deficiency leads to poor water metabolism, resulting in the accumulation of cold and dampness, which blocks the qi movement in the middle jiao.
2. Typical Symptom Stratification
Getting back to the point, let’s look at the common digestive symptoms in children after catching a cold.
Since April, most of the children I have seen clinically have thick and slippery white tongue coatings.
As the weather gets warmer, many children kick off their blankets. Common symptoms include:
①. Abdominal pain and bloating: Often presenting as intermittent abdominal pain, usually around the navel. When pressing the child’s abdomen, it feels cold and hard.
②. Diarrhea or abnormal stools: Increased frequency of bowel movements, possibly with loose, mushy stools containing undigested food residue and a sour smell.
③. Nausea and vomiting: Infants may experience regurgitation, while older children may vomit after eating, with a significant decrease in appetite, even refusing to eat.
④. Active bowel sounds: You can clearly hear the child’s bowel sounds, especially after pressing the Zhongwan point, the bowel sounds become more pronounced.
Some children may also have low-grade fever, cold hands and feet, and cold abdominal skin, with restless sleep at night, crying, and hiccups. After analysis, these symptoms in children generally have the following three pathogenic mechanisms:
①. Direct Invasion by Cold Pathogen: The child experiences severe abdominal pain and does not want the mother to touch it, indicating a real condition, possibly with watery stools and clear vomit. At this time, the child’s tongue coating is pale and slippery.
②. Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold: The child has a dull abdominal pain, likes the mother to massage their belly, is sensitive to cold, and has a poor appetite. The tongue appears swollen with teeth marks.
③. Cold and Dampness Obstructing the Spleen: The child has abdominal bloating and bowel sounds, feels heavy-headed and heavy-bodied, and may feel nauseous at times. The tongue coating is thick, white, and greasy, and in some children, it may also be slightly yellow.
For these three situations, we should focus on warming yang to dispel cold and strengthening the spleen to remove dampness during massage.
If the child has a lot of dampness and sticky stools, you can dilute alcohol-free Huoxiang Zhengqi Water and apply it to the navel.
| Syndrome Type | Core Manifestations | Tongue Characteristics | Accompanying Symptoms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasion by Cold Pathogen | Abdominal pain with resistance to pressure, watery stools, vomiting clear liquid | Pale and slippery tongue | Fear of cold, curling up, hyperactive bowel sounds |
| Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold | Dull pain relieved by pressure, morning diarrhea, poor appetite | Swollen tongue with teeth marks | Cold limbs, sallow complexion |
| Cold and Dampness Obstructing the Spleen | Bloating like a drum, gurgling bowel sounds, heavy head and body | Thick, white, and greasy tongue coating | Nausea, reduced urination |
II. Practical Case Studies and Detailed Explanation of Massage Points and Techniques
1. Practical Case Study
A few days ago, I encountered a case where a baby had diarrhea four times, and the mother quickly consulted me.
I suggested using Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, but considering the baby’s sensitive skin, I advised the mother to use alcohol-free Huoxiang Zhengqi Liquid instead, and instructed her to apply it like an essential oil while massaging the baby’s abdomen.
That night, when I checked back, the baby had no more diarrhea, and the runny nose symptoms had also improved.
By morning, the diarrhea had completely stopped, but the appetite was still not good.
This was because there was still cold and dampness in the baby’s body; although it had been alleviated through treatment, it had not been completely dispelled, so the appetite had not yet returned to normal.
This case clearly demonstrates that some seemingly simple methods can be very effective in dealing with common pediatric issues.
2. Basic Formula (Applicable to All Syndrome Types)
- Abdominal Massage: With Shenque as the center, gently massage clockwise for 5 minutes (add moxibustion for cold syndromes, change to counterclockwise for heat syndromes).
- Separating Yin and Yang of the Abdomen: Push along the lower edge of the rib cage to both sides to relieve abdominal bloating.
2. Syndrome-Specific Acupoints
| Syndrome Type | Main Acupoints | Technique | Course of Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasion by Cold Pathogen | Zhongwan, Gongsun, Yifeng | Rub Zhongwan clockwise 100 times, push Gongsun towards the heart 200 times | Twice daily, for 3 days |
| Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold | Spleen Meridian, Zusanli, Guanyuan | Push Spleen Meridian from the fingertips towards the heart 300 times, press and rub Zusanli for 1 minute | Once daily, for 7 days |
| Cold and Dampness Obstructing the Spleen | Yinlingquan, Fenglong, Dazhong | Push Yinlingquan away from the heart 200 times, press Fenglong 50 times | Twice daily, for 5 days |
3. Special Techniques
- External Application of Huoxiang Zhengqi Liquid: Dilute 1ml of alcohol-free preparation with 5ml of warm water, apply to the navel (Shenque point) for 30 minutes, once daily, for 3 days [user case].
- Salt Moxibustion: Heat coarse salt and place it in a cloth bag, apply heat to the Zhongwan point for 20 minutes, every other day (be careful to avoid burns).
III. Dietary Therapy and Home Care Plan
1. Syndrome-Specific Dietary Therapy
- Invasion by Cold Pathogen: Boil 3 slices of ginger with 10g of brown sugar, drink warm in the morning (avoid on an empty stomach).
- Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold: Cook 50g of yam, 5 jujubes, and rice into porridge, eat at dinner.
- Cold and Dampness Obstructing the Spleen: Brew 30g of fried coix seed, 15g of poria, and 5g of tangerine peel as tea, drink as a substitute for tea.
2. Daily Taboos
- Diet: Avoid raw and cold foods (ice cream, sashimi), and sweet and greasy foods (cakes, chocolate).
- Rest: Avoid eating 1 hour before bed, and keep the abdomen warm at night (use mugwort patches on the navel).
3. Exercise Recommendations
- Children: Pinch the spine 5 times daily (from the sacrum to the neck), combined with “Four-Phase Abdominal Massage” (alternate between 3 minutes of clockwise and 1 minute of counterclockwise abdominal massage).
- Adults: Practice “Raising the Sky to Regulate the Triple Burner” in the morning (raise both hands over the head to stretch the Ren and Du meridians).
IV. Massage Techniques and Classic Verification
- Pharmacological Mechanism: The patchouli alcohol in Huoxiang Zhengqi Liquid can inhibit intestinal smooth muscle spasms, alleviating cold and dampness type diarrhea [user case].
- Imaging Evidence: Ultrasound shows thickened intestinal walls in children with cold and dampness obstructing the spleen, with regular intestinal peristalsis waves restored after massage.
- Tracing Ancient Texts: “Broad Intentions of Pediatric Massage” states: “For cold and dampness abdominal pain, rubbing Yifeng is like magic,” confirming the effectiveness of specific acupoints.
- Massage Techniques: Next, I will explain the acupoints and techniques of massage to everyone.
Since the actual operation may not be clear in the video, and considering everyone’s basic situation, I will mainly explain the theoretical knowledge.
①. Methods to Prevent Catching a Cold: When a mother feels that the child’s hands and feet are cold, and the abdomen is also cold, and the child is not covered with a blanket but has not yet shown symptoms, the following emergency measures can be taken to dispel the cold:
Warming Method: Use the low heat setting of a hairdryer to blow the back of the child’s neck (Dazhui, Fengchi, and Fengfu areas), abdomen, and the soles of the feet, while ensuring these areas are well wrapped and kept warm.
Ginger External Application: Slice ginger, heat it in a microwave for ten seconds, and apply it to the Yongquan point on the soles of the feet of children over one year old to induce sweating and dispel cold. This method is not suitable for children under one year old due to their delicate skin.
Dietary Therapy: Boil three pieces of scallion whites (large or small scallions) with about ten light soybeans, add a little brown sugar, and give it to children over six months old while it’s hot to induce sweating and relieve exterior symptoms.
For children from zero to one year old, if they are found to be cold, you can wipe both sides of their spine with warm mugwort water.
For children over three years old, mothers can gently suck on the child’s Dazhui and Fengchi points with their mouths, drawing out a little redness, which can also help dispel the cold.
②. Methods to Deal with Symptoms After They Appear
Vomiting: Massage and moxibustion can be used.
During moxibustion, focus on the Zhongwan point.
In addition to pressing and rubbing the Zhongwan point, you can also select the Spleen Meridian point, Large Intestine point, and Yifeng point.
Push the Spleen Meridian upwards towards the heart about 200 times, rub the Yifeng point about 200 times, and the Large Intestine point is located on the radial side of the index finger from the tip to the base (closer to the thumb).
When vomiting occurs, push from the fingertip towards the base, about 200 times for each point.
Additionally, for vomiting caused by cold and dampness obstructing the spleen, Huoxiang Zhengqi Liquid can be used.
Diarrhea: Both massage and moxibustion have good effects, and moxibustion alone can also be effective.
Heat coarse salt at home, wrap it in cloth (be careful to avoid burns; if the salt is too hot, place a towel over the navel), and apply it to the child’s navel for moxibustion. You can also use a pre-made salt pack heated in a microwave to moxibustion the navel, about 30 minutes each time.
③. Regulating Spleen Deficiency in Children
If a child has long-term spleen deficiency, showing symptoms like dark circles under the eyes, visible veins on the nose, and a swollen and slippery tongue, you can massage the Kidney Meridian.
The Kidney Meridian is located on the palmar surface of the little finger from the tip to the first joint (the side with fingerprints).
Additionally, the Banmen point can help with digestion and transformation; when rubbing the Banmen point, the direction is not particularly important, but it should be consistent, not alternating between clockwise and counterclockwise.
Pinching the spine mainly helps to invigorate yang and strengthen the spleen.
For children with cold and dampness obstructing the spleen and a mix of deficiency and excess, massage may involve the Spleen Meridian point, Clearing the Large Intestine point, and possibly an acupoint on the Jueyin Meridian, but due to the professional nature of the content, it will not be elaborated here.
For children with poor digestion who often have diarrhea or indigestion after catching a cold, you can make scorched rice tea for them to drink: Roast about 20 grams of rice until it turns yellow and then boil it in water, which can warm the stomach and resolve dampness.
V. Expert Q&A
Q: My child has a bowel movement every two days, but it is hard. How should I massage? My child has always had this issue, previously when drinking milk or formula, the stool was hard, sometimes like sheep droppings, and has been receiving treatment for the spleen and stomach from Dr. Zhou.
A: This situation indicates that the child’s spleen and stomach function poorly, with internal heat causing a reduction in intestinal fluids, resulting in hard stools. For this, use the Large Intestine Meridian (push away from the heart 300 times on the radial side of the index finger) + Yinchi point (push towards the heart in a supplementing manner), clear the Large Intestine, which means pushing away from the heart from the base to the tip of the finger 300 times; you can also use scorched rice tea (boil 20g of scorched rice in water) to moisten the intestines and promote bowel movements.
Push the Yinchi point towards the heart in a supplementing manner 300 times.
If the mother’s hand strength is sufficient, you can also supplement the Spleen Meridian 200 times.
Additionally, this situation is very suitable for the Four-Phase Abdominal Massage, which is more effective than the previous Taiji Abdominal Massage, and the method is explained in detail in the video below.
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