Chest

Sit the child on your knee,

facing you, and hold him or
her firmly under the arms.
Use your thumbs to massage
the chest between the nipples,
gently stroking away from the
midline towards each nipple.
3-4 minutes.
Indications Coughs, asthma.

Shoulder

See Asthma, page 106.

Indications Severe asthma
attack.

Scapular

Sit the child on your knee,

facing away from you, and
hold him or her firmly under
the arms. With your thumbs,
massage the back between the
shoulder blades (see
illustration). Stroke firmly,
from near the top of the back
to between the bases of the
shoulder blades (scapulae).
50-100 times.
Indications Coughs, asthma,
wheezing, general lethargy
and weakness.

Rotating abdomen (Around

abdomen)

Let the child lie comfortably,

chest up. Gently massage the
abdomen in a clockwise
direction, using two or three
• fingers (see illustration on
I page 139). For some ailments,
the anti-clockwise direction is
more effective, as described on
the relevant pages. Repeat 50-
100 times.

xE
age and the navel,
ushing about 50 times
minutes.
us Indigestion, weak
n . insomnia due to
e..--. tion, lack of
cower abdomen
I IN I EM • I IIIII! E
heel of your hand to
the lower part of the
below the navel (see
MASSAGES
Chest and abdomen
illustration on page 6), gently Zhongwan massage
pushing about 50 times over
2-3 minutes.
Indications As for Heel on
upper abdomen, also general
weakness, bed wetting,
urinary problems.
Zhongwan (Smooth digestion,
Stomach passage or Belly)
se !
Let the child lie down
comfortably, chest up. Gently
massage the point midway
between the navel and the
lower tip of the breastbone
(sternum) using your index
and middle fingers (see
illustration). Gently rotate
about 200 times keeping your
wrist and hand flexible.
Indications Liver congestion
(page 23), indigestion, poor
appetite, general digestive Tiantu massage
problems and weakness.
Guanyuan (Constitution or
Intestines point)
As for Zhongwan, but
massage the point midway
between the navel and the top
of the pubic bone.
Indications General weakness,
urinary problems.
Tiantu (Windpipe, Wind tunnel)
Sit the child upright, or hold a
baby almost vertical and
support the head. From
behind, massage the hollow at
the base of the front of the
neck and the top of the chest 75
with your index finger (see
illustration). Vibrate gently
but firmly 200 times.
Indications Coughs, asthma.
 INDIVIDUAL MASSAGE TECHNIQUES
Back pinch-pull (Back
stimulation or Roll up)
Note: This massage is for
babies only. It can be tried on
older children but it is usually
less effective, being most
suitable for babies up to the
age of about 9 months.
Lie the baby face down.
With the thumb and
forefinger of each hand, gently
grasp a fold of flesh on either
side of the lower back (see
illustration on page 168).
Gently roll it along, with your
thumb going downwards and
finger moving upwards, so
that the fold of flesh travels up
the back rather like a wave.
When you reach the shoulder
area, start again. Repeat 20-
50 times over 2-3 minutes.
Indications Weakness.
Spinal stroke
See Fevers, page 87.
Indications Fevers, sore eyes,
headaches.
Down sacrum
See the description of the Up
sacrum stroke in Acute
diarrhoea, page 155. Using
the heel of your hand,
massage firmly down the
sacrum to the tip of the "tail"
just above the buttocks.
Repeat 50-100 times.
Indications Constipation.
76 Up sacrum
See the description in Acute
diarrhoea, page 155.
Indications Diarrhoea.
Elbow to little finger massage
Shenshu (Cure the kidneys)
Stretching apart your index
and middle fingers, massage
either side of the spine, level
with the top of the hip bone
and just below the waist line.
Vibrate gently for 1-2
minutes. In older children you
may not be able to stretch
your fingers wide enough, so
do one side at a time.
Indications Urinary problems,
general kidney problems and
urinary tract weakness.
Hollow of back
Lie the child on his or her
chest. Massage the hollow at
the base of the back gently but
firmly, using the heel of your
hand (see illustration on page
72). 50-100 times.
Indications Urinary problems,
general weakness, bed
wetting.
Indications Weak digest
chills, diarrhoea. Espe
effective in children at
vears old.
Sanjiao channel (Ears ar
Sit the child comfortab
front of you. Hold the c
hand in your left hand
are right-handed) and
massage down the out
the forearm, from the
the back of the hand. a
line midway between t
long bones (see illustrl
page 121). 30-50 time=
on other side if that is
affected.
Indications Earaches. rE
sore eyes.
Elbow to little finger
Sit the child comfortably in
front of you. Hold the child's
hand in your left hand (if you
are right-handed) and gently
stroke down the forearm from
the inside of the elbow to the
little finger, using your index
and middle fingers (see
illustration). 30-50 times,
repeat on other side.
Indications Fevers, hot head,
panics. Especially effective in
children under 3 years old.
Thumb to elbow
Hold the child's hand in your
left hand (if you are right-
handed) and gently stroke up
the forearm from the base of
the thumb to the inside of the Forefinger massage
elbow, using your index and
middle fingers (see Elbow to
little finger). 30-50 times,
repeat on other side.
 MASSAGES

Back and arms

Indications Weak digestion,
chills, diarrhoea. Especially
effective in children under 3
years old.
Sanjiao channel (Ears and eyes)
Sit the child comfortably in
front of you. Hold the child's
hand in your left hand (if you
are right-handed) and gently
massage down the outside of
the forearm, from the elbow to
the back of the hand, along a
line midway between the two
long bones (see illustration on
page 121). 30-50 times, repeat
on other side if that is also
affected.
Indications Earaches, red or
sore eyes.
little finger
!hild comfortably in
you. Hold the child's
your left hand (if you
t-handed) and gently
own the forearm from
fie of the elbow to the
ger. using your index
[die fingers (see
don). 30-50 times,
n other side.
as Fevers, hot head,
Especially effective in
under 3 years old.
o elbow
Thenar eminence (Mound of
thumb)
Hold the child's thumb in your
left hand (if you are right-
handed) and gently stroke the
mound-like joint at the base of
the thumb, which is known as
the thenar eminence. Stroke
upwards towards the wrist
200-300 times, repeat on the
other hand.
Indications Indigestion,
diarrhoea, respiratory
problems. Especially effective
in children under 3 years old.
Forefinger
Hold the child's hand in your
left hand (if you are right-
handed) and stroke the back
of the forefinger (index finger)
towards the wrist (see
illustration). 200-300 times,
repeat on other side.
Indications Indigestion,
diarrhoea. Especially effective
in children under 3 years old.
Dewpond
Hold the child's hand palm-
upwards in your left hand (if
you are right-handed).
Moisten the palm with cool
cream or water. Massage from
the tip of the little finger, in a
curved movement around the
"heel" of the palm to the
thumb's base (see
illustration). 50 times, repeat
on other palm.
Indications Fevers, panics, heat
type of insomnia.
Dewpond massage

child's hand in your

d if you are right-
, and gently stroke up
arm from the base of
nb to the inside of the Forefinger massage 77
sing your index and
fingers (see Elbow to
ger). 30-50 times,
n other side.
 THE NATURAL THERAPIES
INDIVIDUAL MASSAGE TECHNIQUES
Stomach channel massage
Ten kings
Using a matchstick or the tip
of a pencil, massage the ten
points at the flesh over the
base of each fingernail on each
hand. It is usually enough to
press each point firmly 1-2
78 times. Press on each finger in
turn, working along one hand
and then the other.
Indications Fright type of
insomnia, delayed shock.
Lifeline
See the description in
Sleeping problems, page 165.
Indications Insomnia, night
terrors and panics.
Hegu (End of crease)
See Teething, page 159. This
point may also be treated with
an overnight poultice of
ground cloves.
Zusanli massage
Indications Indigestion,
teething, insomnia from
teething. short ( near) sight.
Fingerprints
Hold the child's wrist in your
left hand (if you are right-
handed), with the finger to be
massaged supported by your
right hand, leaving your right
thumb free to do the massage.
Push upwards on the print
area towards the finger
Press about 100 times,
repeat on other hand.
Indications For indigesti
chronic mucus ( phlegm
massage prints of thurr
index finger and middl(
finger.
Neiguan (Internal organs
Rebellious stomach)
See Travel sickness, pa
Indications Nausea, vom
travel (motion) sicknes
Stomach channel
Hold the child's leg in y
left hand (if you are rig
handed) and massage u
front of the shin, on the
muscle one finger's bre
the outside of the shin I
(see illustration opposit
minutes, repeat on othE
Indications Indigestion,
vomiting, diarrhoea, gE
weakness.
Zusanli (Stomach point of
mile walk)
- • . __
See also Stomach chant
above. The point is on t
channel, in the curve of
bone just under the knE
your index finger to ma
here for 1-2 minutes. 13.1
on other side.
Indications Indigestion,
vomiting, diarrhoea, ge
weakness.
Bladder channel
This channel runs dowi
back of the leg, where t

li massage
ons Indigestion,
Le. insomnia from
L .- . short ( near) sight.
orints
ke child's wrist in your
idlif you are right-
with the finger to be
fed supported by your
and, leaving your right
free to do the massage.
pwards on the print
area towards the fingertip.
Press about 100 times, then
repeat on other hand.
Indications For indigestion or
chronic mucus (phlegm)
massage prints of thumb,
index finger and middle
finger.
Neiguan (Internal organs,
Rebellious stomach)
7311111011
See Travel sickness, page 147.
Indications Nausea, vomiting,
travel (motion) sickness.
Stomach channel
Hold the child's leg in your
left hand (if you are right-
handed) and massage up the
front of the shin, on the
muscle one finger's breadth to
the outside of the shin bone
(see illustration opposite). 1-3
minutes, repeat on other side.
Indications Indigestion,
vomiting, diarrhoea, general
weakness.
Zusanli (Stomach point or Three-
mile walk)
See also Stomach channel,
above. The point is on the
channel, in the curve of the
bone just under the knee. Use
your index finger to massage
here for 1-2 minutes. Repeat
on other side.
Indications Indigestion,
vomiting, diarrhoea, general
weakness.
Bladder channel
This channel runs down the
back of the leg, where the
seam of a stocking would run.
For cystitis or similar
inflammation or infection of
the bladder, massage
downwards from the hollow at
the back of the knee to the
Achilles tendon above the
heel, to draw the
inflammation away.
If the bladder is weak but
there is no infection, massage
along the same line but
upwards, to bring energy to
the bladder. Continue for 2-3
minutes, repeat on other side.
Indications Urinary problems,
bed wetting.
Hollow of heel
With your thumb and index
finger, pinch the hollow just
below the calf and above the
back of the heel, inside the
Achilles tendon. Vibrate
vigorously for 1-5 minutes
with a rotating and squeezing
action (but not too roughly).
Repeat on other side. If the
Yongquan massage
MASSAGES
Hands, legs and feet
child is held by another
person, both heels can be
massaged at the same time.
Indications Fits (seizures or
convulsions), hot head.
Yongquan (Bubbling spring or
Middle of foot)
Let the child lie on his or her
back, on the floor or on the bed
beside you. Find the point on
the sole of the foot, on the
midline, one-third of the way
from toes to heel (see
illustration). Grasp the child's
foot with your left hand ( if you
are right-handed) and
massage the point with your
thumb for 1-2 minutes.
Repeat on other foot.
Indications Fevers, hot head,
red or sore eyes, vomiting,
diarrhoea.
79