June 2010

Pediatric Tuina: Ancient Chinese Massage for Children

by Yongxin Fan, L.Ac., M.D.

I have 2-year-old twin boys, Daniel and Jack. When my smaller one, Jack, was 3 months old, he suffered from colic after breastfeeding almost once a day. When he was in pain, he would cry and his belly would be very tight to the touch. I began to massage his abdomen beside the belly button three to five times on both sides; after a minute or so of loud crying, he would gradually calm down and then immediately fall asleep. I found this ancient massage technique to be very helpful, and after about two weeks of massage combined with Chinese herbs, the colic never returned.

This technique is called Na Du Jiao, which means “Grasping Belly Corner,” and it is one of the numerous massage techniques of Chinese Pediatric Tuina (traditional massage). Chinese pediatric tuina has been applied for more than 1,000 years in China. Its popularity has grown in the last 300 to 400 years.

Pediatric massage is applied on specific points of various parts of the body, such as the face, abdomen, back and extremities, depending on the disorder. Lotion can be used to protect the skin and ease the treatment. Each session lasts about 20 to 30 minutes. In most cases, the treatment should be given once a day or every other day. Since the pediatric tuina technique is simple, parents are encouraged to learn and practice some of the major techniques, so they can repeat the treatments at home.

In Chinese medicine, children are regarded with “pure Yang constitution,” which means they grow and develop fast in physique and intelligence. At the same time, they are also “young Yang and Yin constitution,” meaning they have imperfect organic function and physical bodies—which is why they get sick easily, especially with digestive and respiratory problems. As a parent, it often seems that stomach aches (bloating, vomiting, nausea, constipation and diarrhea) or colds (coughing, asthma and allergies), as well as bed-wetting and nighttime crying, are ubiquitous during childhood.

Pediatric tuina is designed to be a safe manual therapy; it is gentle, without side effects, and ideal to relieve most discomforts experienced during childhood. In addition, it is also excellent at preventing other diseases. Providing regular and simple pediatric tuina '

Before providing a pediatric tuina treatment, make sure a child does not come to a session on an empty or full stomach. Also, make sure the child rests after treatment.

Yongxin Fan, L.Ac., M.D. (China) graduated from the Beijing College of Acupuncture and Orthopedics in 1991. An accomplished instructor of traditional Chinese tuina, Fan has practiced and taught as an attending medical doctor and instructor in the Acupuncture Institute at the Chinese National Academy of TCM and at the Beijing International Acupuncture Training Center. A member of American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia, Fan has lectured and worked as a visiting professor in Holland, Germany and Japan. He has more than 16 years of clinical experience and his research has been published in the National Journal of TCM. He specializes in applying an integrated therapy of acupuncture, herbs and tuina to treat various pain syndromes, acute and chronic articulation and muscle injury lumbago, recovery of fractures, headaches, stress, allergies, insomnia and gastrointestinal disorders. Fan has instructed at the Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin since 2002. He is an approved massage therapy continuing-education provider through the Texas Department of State Health Services.

About AOMA   
The Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin (AOMA) offers a masters-level graduate program in acupuncture and Chinese medicine, preparing its students for careers as skilled, professional practitioners. AOMA is known for its internationally recognized faculty, award-winning student clinical internship program and herbal medicine program. Since its founding in 1993, AOMA has grown rapidly in size and reputation, drawing students from around the nation and faculty from around the world. AOMA also conducts more than 20,000 patient visits annually in its student and professional clinics. AOMA collaborates with Western health-care institutions, including the Seton Family of Hospitals, and gives back to the community through partnerships with nonprofit organizations and by providing free and reduced price treatments to people who cannot afford them. For more information, visit www.aoma.edu.