Pediatric Tui-Na Massage for Infants and Children

This is some notes I’ve gathered from school along with our text book and other special
books of Traditional Chinese Medicine and helping infants. This is a very special topic as
I have a infant son and find myself using massage as a useful mode to relieve problems.
Acupuncture is not recommended for infants until the age of 5. the view is that the
internal organs and elements of the body have not settles and are moving and active.
Though I have also seen direct moxa and quick needling acupuncture used before. Most
cases are for emergency as well like prick-bleeding Erjian on the ear to relieve fever.
Many of these points I was aware of from years as a massage therapist. Some are points
specific children.

Infant Massage session should take 20 minutes to complete. While the method
is called Tui-na (push and grasp), the actual way of doing the massage is more An-Mo in
nature since it uses a more press/rubbing method.
Pediatric Tui-Na
Head and Neck Region
Tian Ma (Gate to Heaven) Technique: 30-60x massage UP ONLY from yintang to
hairline with thumbs.
Indications: External invasion headache, fever, mental depression, anxiety, panic.
Kan Gong (Water palace) Technique: 20-30x Push with thumbs apart from medial
eyebrow to lateral eyebrow.
Indications: Headache due to external invasion.
Tai Yang (Great yang) Technique: 30-50x kneading in circular motion at temples.
Indications: External invasion headache.
Standard: Above three must be done Reason: Calm spirit of infant to prep for
other more specific points.

Shen Gen (Mountain Root) Technique: 3 to 5 taps with fingernail on bridge of nose
below yin tang.
Indications: Infantile convulsions and spasms.
Ren zhong (Center of Man) Technique: Du 26, Not common point, only used for
First aid.
Indications: Convulsions and Spasms.
Feng chi (wind Pond) Technique: 5-10x press GB 20 inferior to occiput.
Indications: Headache, Fever, neck rigidity.
Tian Zhu Gu (Heavenly pillar bone) Technique: 100-500x push with thumb
massage down from C1 to C7
Indications: High fever, sore throat, vomiting.

____________________________________________________________

Chest and Abdomen

Shan zhong (Penetrating Organ) Technique: Ren 17: On sternum between nipples:
(3) 1. spread part 2. circular motion, or 3. pushing toward Xypoid process 50-100x
Indication: Asthma, infant phlegmy, stuffy chest, vomiting milk, bronchitis.
Zhong Wan (Middle of Abdomen) Technique: Ren 12: rubbing 100x or 5 minutes,
between xyphoid process and umbilicus.
Indication: vomiting, diarrhea, invigorate SP/ST. (add Zusanli)
FU (abdomen) Technique: Rubbing 100-200x around abdomen counterclock wise
(tonify) or clockwise (disperse).
Indication: Abdominal pain, Indigestion, vomiting. (add Zusanli).

Umblicius w/ ST25 Technique: 100-300x immediate area at navel, massage in circles

around umblicus.
Indication: Abdomen pain, Diarrhea.
Dan tien (Elixer field) Technique: 50-100x or 5 minute circular kneading.
Indication: Abdominal pain, bedwetting, Yuan qi, diarrhea.
Du Jiao (corner of Abdomen) Technique: **Use if area feels Cold. 2 to 5 presses.
Indication: Abdominal pain, diarrhea.
Tian Tu (Heavenly Process) Technique: Ren 22: knead with middle finger 10x
Indication: Cough with difficult muscous, first aid to induce vomiting.
____________________________________________________________
____________

Back and Spine

Jain Jing (Shoulder Well) Technique: GB 21: 5-10x grasp/pinch or press
Indication: Improve Qi and Blood circulation.
Feng men (Wind gate) Technique: BL 12: 20-30x Kneading
Indication: Common cold, asthma, Repiratory disease.
Fei Shu (Lung shu) Technique: BL 13 at T-3: push apart 100-300x
Indication: Lung Deficiency, Cough, respiratory issues.
Pi shu (Spleen Shu) Technique: BL 20 at T-11: 50-100x Kneading
Indication: Vomit, diarrhea, infantile malnutrition, Spleen deficiency.

Shen Shu (Kidney shu) Technique: BL 23 at L2: 50-100x kneading

Indication: Enuresis, morning diarrhea, weak limbs.
Ji Zhu (spinal column) Technique: C-7 to Sacrum: Push down 100-300x, or
pinch/roll up 3x
Indication: Fever, convulsions.
Qi Jie Gu (Sacrum) Technique: L-4 to sacrum: 100-300x push up: diarrhea or down:
constipation
Indication: Diarrhea, constipation (see technique).
____________________________________________________________
_________________________

Legs, Feet, other special points

Bai Hui (meeting of 100) Technique: Du 20 at vertex: 100x kneading
Indication: Restlessness, crying, irritability, insomnia.
Da Zhui Technique: First aid: emergency prick with high fever
Indication: see above.
Qu Chi Technique: LI 11: kneading 100x
Indication: Skin issues, reduce high fevers.
He gu Technique: LI 4: kneading 100x
Indication: Strengthen weiqi, headache, Qi and blood circulation, face: jaw, teeth,
allergy.
Kwei Wei (turtle Tail) Technique: Tip of coccyx: 100x kneading
Indication: diarrhea.
Zu San Li Technique: ST 36: 100x kneading (tonifying) pushing increases perstalisis.
Indication: Diarrhea, vomiting, food stagnation, loss of appetite.
San Yin Jiao Technique: SP 6: 100x kneading
Indication: Convulsion and bed wetting.
Yong Quan Technique: KD 1: kneading 100x
Indication: Tonfigy Kidney, sore throat, Cooling body temperature.
____________________________________________________________
____________________

Infant hand: (Yin) Unilateral: Male: left hand, Female: right hand
Pi jing (Spleen) Technique: Palmar surface distal thumb. 100 to 500x distal to
proximal pushing.
Indication: Reduce ST/LI fever, diarrhea, indigestion, constipation.
Gan jing (Liver) Technique: Palmar pad of distal index finger. 100 to 500x distal to
proximal pushing.
Indication: Convulsion due to Liver wind, red eyes, sore thorat.
Xin jing (Heart) Technique: Palmar pad to distal middle finger: 100-500x distal to
proximal pushing.
Indication: High fever, eruptions of mouth and tongue.
Fei Jing (Lung) Technique: Palmar pad distal ring finger. 100-500x distal to proximal
pushing.
Indication: Asthma, cough, Cold, Fever, chest pain.
Shen Jing (Kidney) Technique: Palmar pad distal little finger. 100-500x distal to
proximal pushing.
Indication: Euresis, KD def. diarrhea.
____________________________________________________________
_______

Other: Unilateral: Male: left hand, Female: right hand

Lao gong Technique: PC 8: center of palm 100-500x kneading.
Indication: Excess heat, heat in mouth.
Wei lao gong Technique: Finger knead 100-500x
Indication: Exogenous disease.
Er shan men (2 doors) Technique: 100-500x press/knead. Dorsal side of hand 1st
knuckle middle finger.
Indication: Febrile disease without sweating, heat symptoms.
Wei Guan Technique: TB 5: 100-500x kneading massage
Indication: Headache, alternating fever and chills.
____________________________________________________________
_________

Infant hand (Yang) Unilateral: Male: left hand, Female: right hand
Da Chang Jing (Large Intestine) Technique: 100-500x massage from radial side of
index finger to webbing.
Indication: Diarrhea, constipation.
Xiao chang jing (Small intestine) Technique: 100-300x massage from Ulnar side of
little finger to webbing.
Indication: Scanty urine, Anuria, Enuresis.
Wei jing (Stomach) Technique: 100-300x massage proximal phlange on ventral
surface of thumb.
Indication: Vomiting, hiccup, thirst, poor appetite, Stomach fire.
Dan Jin (Gall Bladder) Technique: 100x Second phlangne on index finger
Indication: Ear ache, Shao yang syndrome.
Ban men (Wood Gate) Technique: Kneading greater thenar eminence.
Indication: Vomiting, indigestion, shortness of breath, diarrhea.
Shi Xuan Technique: Digging method with finger nail 3-5x each finger.
Indication: High Fever.
San guan (3 gates) Technique: 100-300x massage from ventral surface of forearm,
radial side wrist to elbow.
Indication: Def. of Qi and Blood, weak constitution, weakness after illness, yang Def,
cold limbs.
Liu fu (6 bowels) Technique: 100-300x ventral surface of forewarm, ulnar side from
elbow to wrist.
Indication: High Fever, irritability, sore throat, constipation, dry stool.
Tian he Shui (Celestrial River) Technique: 100-300x midline of ventral surce from
wrist to elbow.
Indication: Yin Def. heat.
Xiao Tian Xin (Small heaven heart) Technique: 100x kneading Root of palm
Indication: Restlessness, Anxious, teething, night crying, nightmares.
Yin yang (LU9 and HT7) Technique: 100x towards or away from each other LU9
HT7 at wrist
Indication: Towards: Fever. Away: Open chest.
____________________________________________________________
_________________________

References:
Foundations of Chinese Medicine: Giovanni Maciocia

Chinese Nutritional Therapy: Joerg Kastner

Turtle Tail and other Tender Mercies: Bob Flaws

Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion: Cheng Xinnong