Remember how, when our kids were wee babies, we would rub baby oil all over their little bodies after bath time? Well, it wasn’t just because we love the little bundles of joy so much, but also because the physical contact helped to soothe them, body and mind. Children go through so many changes so quickly, and growing pains can really take a toll. That’s why my husband and I have continued the practice of oiling our son up after his shower, even now at the age of 6. Also, I was worried about a skin condition called keratosis pilaris in which little bumps form on the arms, which I seem to have passed on to him.

So when I came across Molly House on Dianping – the Chinese equivalent of Yelp – and its focus on children’s holistic health through Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) methods like tui na massage, I knew I had to bring my child to try it. I bought a voucher and booked my appointment for the day easily on the app.

Watch my kid get his first TCM massage in the Salt Therapy Room!

The outlet we went to was on the 17th floor of a tall office building east of Beijing city center. The entrance was marked by a cheery yellow curtain sporting the name and logo of Molly House, and a child gate that I was able to navigate (hey, some of them are really hard to open). Inside the clean, well-lit space, the windows were slightly ajar to allow the summer breeze in, and we were greeted by a kindly middle-aged lady who sanitized our hands and gave us indoor slippers to wear. There was a boy, much younger than my own, sitting in a padded play area surrounded by Fisher Price-looking toys, who was getting massaged by another lady as he gazed at the TV which was airing a local cartoon.

I was asked to fill in a health survey for my child, identifying any concerns or issues that he had, which I specifically wanted addressed. Aside from the aforementioned skin condition, I pointed out that he tends to catch a cold once a year, and sometimes complains of stomach aches without reason. We proceeded into another room with massage beds, where she conducted an overall assessment of my son – looking at the pallor of his tongue and inside of his throat (which was just a tad too red, probably because he was mildly dehydrated), among other things. She concluded that he was generally healthy, and would not require any huge “adjustments.” And thus began the “treatment.”

In TCM, they often use the word 调理 (Tiáolǐ) – which loosely translates to “conditioning” – to describe the treatments required to bring the “patient” back to equilibrium, the idea being that our body needs to be balanced and that poor lifestyle habits throw this delicate balance off-kilter. At least, this is my layman’s understanding of the complex subject.

We had chosen to have the “adjustment” massage inside the Salt Therapy Room, which looks like an indoor beach, but with salt instead of sand. There is also a halogenerator that disperses a dry salt aerosol into the environment. It made me tear up and cough a little which, according to the lady, meant I probably had some respiratory issues, because it shouldn’t affect those of “normal” health. This dry salt therapy, also called halotherapy, utilises the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of salt to help remove airborne pathogens, which is supposed to decrease allergic reactions and promote better breathing.

I sat in the room with my child as he lay in a comfortable couch. The lady offered to put on a cartoon in English, and he jumped at the offer. For the next 45 minutes, she kneaded and tugged at my child’s muscles, starting with his arm, then moving on to his stomach, and finally his back. He only seemed bothered when she rubbed his stomach in a clockwise motion, and when she “adjusted” his vertebrae, almost yelling as she did the latter. We knew our time was up when the halogenerator stopped (she had set a timer on it). Despite his occasional discomfort, my son told me he wanted to return because he enjoyed most of it.

According to the lady – who has more than ten years of TCM massage experience – this natural treatment is available to babies as young as 3 months old and is effective until the child hits puberty, whereby their acupressure points shrink to pea-size, and there they remain till the end of time (which is why she said it’s harder to adjust adults). Kids with ailments like chronic sinus issues or a persistent cough, and also constipation, were the most common patients. Apparently, it usually requires a weekly or even twice-weekly visit over the course of a few months to resolve an issue, depending on its severity.

It cost RMB 128 for the initial salt therapy and tui na massage trial appointment, with each session running RMB 258 thereafter. Of course, Molly House offers a package of ten or 20 sessions at a discounted price. I am still thinking about it.

Look up Molly House on Dianping if you’re interested in trying this holistic approach to tackle your child’s health issues!

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Images: Vivienne Tseng-Rush

I’m all about holistic remedies and adopting natural ways to combat illness, stress, and promote overall physical well-being. I usually hold off on taking prescription drugs in favor of using plant-based medicinal and holistic remedies.

When it comes to our children we can also seek out natural remedies to fight everyday ailments and support better well-being. As parents we are all familiar with the likes of antibiotics, cough syrups, and fever and cold medicines. However for children who regularly take medication for common colds, coughs, allergies, and digestive ailments, there is always the worry of them becoming over-reliant on these kinds of chemically based medications, as well as overdosing.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help you and your family live more holistically. TCM views the body constitution of children as extremely delicate as their organs are still developing. TCM Physician Dr. Wang Yi of Beijing Normal Traditional Chinese Hospital believes that the use of chemicals and prescription medication is not a cure for ailments and diseases. Dr. Yi who has been practicing for over 15 years values respecting the “unity of man and nature”, whereby natural plants, animals, and minerals as medicine can enhance our immune systems and produce lifelong results. She explained; “Diabetes, high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, and so on, all need lifelong medication, which is not treatment all.” In other words, it’s one thing to suppress the effects of these ailments, but another to actively mold your lifestyle in a way that gives you better chances of eradicating these ailments completely through extended support from TCM.

Using techniques such as observing, hearing, and smelling, a TCM physician can tailor a treatment plan that works best for your child’s condition. In addition to herbal remedies your child can also be offered TCM Massage and other TCM treatments to help with the following:

• Asthma
• Cough and cold
• Digestive disorders such as poor appetite, bloating and constipation
• Sinusitis
• Skin conditions like eczema and hives
• Sleeping problems
• Weak eyesight

TCM Massage for children, also known as Xiao Er Na, is massage therapy that promotes health and well-being in children. It involves the stimulation of unique acupoints (specific areas of the body) to regulate energy flow within the meridians to improve organ function.

Benefits of TCM Massage for Children

• Strengthen immune support
• Improves sleeping patterns
• Relieves colic and constipation
• Improves motor development and muscle tone
• Facilitates food digestion and absorption
• Supports physical and mental growth and development
• Weak eyesight

Get in touch with Dr. Wang Yi now to book your consultation and see what benefits holistic remedies can have for your children. Contact WeChat: wxid_218byvt4xfbt22.

Photo: Pixabay

What is baby massage?
Baby massage involves the rhythmic, gentle stroking of different parts of your baby’s body; a professional can apply gentle pressure on certain points to relieve pain and discomfort, while manipulating a baby’s ankles, wrists, and fingers. You can choose between using organic and natural oils or perfume free moisturizers to help make movement over your baby’s skin smoother.

Soothing strokes of your hands can stimulate the production of the feel-good hormone oxytocin in your baby. Oxytocin is the hormone that gives you that heartfelt and tender feeling that one gets when being held by a loved one, or when you hold your baby for the first time and initiate skin-to-skin contact.

Traditional Chinese Massage for Infants and Babies
Nakato Tracy, a student of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, will graduate this summer with a Bachelors Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The aspiring acupuncturist and Pediatric Masseuse is currently offering parents traditional Chinese massage for babies and infants.

Tracy describes her baby massage sessions as the perfect combination of basic Chinese medicine theory in partnership with therapeutic principles and manipulation of certain parts of the body. The forearms, hands, and sometimes the chest, abdominal area, and head are the main areas of focus.

Tracy highlights that the needs a baby might have cannot always be communicated. It can sometimes be difficult to determine if your baby might be in discomfort or pain. Tracy always asks parents to give as much information as possible while she conducts a tongue and finger vein observation. A combination of these diagnostic techniques helps Tracy to find the root of the pain and discomfort if any so that she can use the appropriate massage to help your baby.

Below are the common infantile disorders that Chinese traditional massage can help with:

• Fever, coughs, and colds
• Poor appetite and malnutrition
• Diarrhea, vomit, and constipation
• Night crying
• Enuresis

To find out more information, message Nakato on WeChat: Nakato1. RMB 300 (for two sessions). Wednesdays 1.30pm-6pm and Saturdays 12pm-4pm (131 2118 8602).

This week on beijingkids online: CBD residential hood lacks hot water, TCM and mental health, a group for female expats, and more!

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Many of the TCM healing practices can be found everywhere in Beijing, but does it have the ability to help with, or even cure, mental health issues? We talked to a Western doctor who practices TCM to find out more.

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Photos: Clem Onojeghuo via Pexels, Pixabay, Alex Lindblom, courtesy of BIBA

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can be a point of contention between foreigners living in China. While some point to the lack of scientific evidence for its effectiveness, many others describe how it’s helped them personally. In Beijing, these ancient healing practices can be found everywhere, including at both local and international hospitals. But does TCM have the ability to help with, or even cure, mental health issues?

TCM has a history of over 3,000 years and is known for its unique system of diagnosing and curing illnesses. The approach of TCM is extremely complex, but essentially is based on the yin-yang theory. Treatment and diagnoses are not based on symptoms; different issues might have similar treatments, and the same symptoms can be treated differently.

It should be noted that TCM can be used as a complement to other treatments and Western medicine, and we don’t recommend, at least for serious cases, that this should be the only source of medical help that you seek out, including for people who have been experiencing mental health issues.

We visited Shelly Ochs, an American TCM doctor located in Beijing. Ochs is well known in the expat community and comes highly recommended. It helps that she speaks English and understands the struggle of being part of an international community. Ochs has firsthand experience with mental health issues and explains that even before an official diagnosis it can be beneficial to have a TCM session. This session can give the patient enough energy to seek help, be it at the hospital or through other mental health caregivers.

How does TCM tie in with mental health and Chinese culture, people might wonder? Ochs explains that in the olden days, disturbing dreams or emotions were seen as imbalances. A treatment with TCM focuses on these imbalances in your body and mind. So people with mental breakdowns would see TCM doctors for acupuncture or herbal remedies, and feel much better after. Ochs does emphasize that China is in real need of more mental health resources. TCM, according to Ochs, has been known to work really well for mild mental health issues, and transitional phases like moving overseas. For severe cases, TCM can complement what’s being done by your doctor, and even help wean people off their medication when the time comes.

The world is still dealing with very negative stigmas about mental health, and though it is a major issue here, this is not only a problem in China. We still might not be able to view mental health like we might a broken arm, but it is nonetheless a very real illness which requires the right, qualified help. Self-care is also important to exist in a peaceful and happy way. There is no right or wrong answer to finding a solution to your personal mental health issues. After all, each person is different, and their individual needs require different solutions to make sure the patient can feel their best. While in Beijing, why not find out whether this ancient approach to medicine can benefit you?

Da Fu Tang Chinese Medicine Clinic
Daily 9am-10pm. 39 Shenlujie (across from North gate of Ritan), Chaoyang District. 大福堂中医诊所神路街39号(日坛公园北门对面)  (134 3938 6197) 

This post appeared in the beijingkids October 2018 Mental Health issue.
Photo: Alex Lindblom

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was the standard form of healthcare in China for millennia. Many customs and traditions in China have their root in Chinese medicine and the principle of yin and yang. TCM explains that there are cycles in the natural world; that we must work with these cycles and be balanced with them. Balance creates harmony, which in turn leads to health. Let’s look at how TCM can help women find balance.

In nature there are many cycles: the seasons, the 24-hour clock, and even human life. These examples follow a distinct rhythm and pattern. In the same manner, our bodies also have cycles. According to TCM, men have an 8-year cycle and women have a 7-year cycle. In the female cycle, kidney energy increases at age 7, menstruation arrivesat age 14, and a woman is fully mature at age 21. Her kidney essence peaks at this age and so the cycle continues every 7 years. From a TCM perspective the kidney is an important organ for reproduction, growth, and development. A woman also has a 28 day monthly cycle, and according to TCM this is a special time when she must take care to nourish her body, mind, and spirit. One of the ways to do this is through the diet.

Traditionally, food items that have been helpful for women are dates, red beans, and red sugar 븐鎌, also known as brown sugar. In Chinese medicine it’s important for women to build sufficient blood so they do not become deficient during their period. From a Western medical perspective we know this to be true; iron deficiency anemia is common in women with heavy periods. In ancient times perhaps these foods had been originally chosen for their red color, but now we know that these food items are actually high in iron. Another typical food for women, especially after giving birth, is black chicken. It’s traditionally made as a soup, in which the meat and bones are cooked for a long time with added herbs like ginger, goji berries and dates. According to TCM this soup gives women nourishment, can relieve fatigue, and helps build blood. In recent years there has been great interest in bone broth and its medicinal qualities. We know that chicken extract has many beneficial nutrients, including various amino acids, minerals, and trace elements. This black chicken is a breed called silkie, and not only is the flesh black but also its bones. Black chicken meat contains twice the amount of iron as conventional chicken. Isn’t it amazing to think that people figured out the importance of these foods for women thousands of years ago?

TCM tells us the importance of living in harmony with the rhythms and cycles of the natural world. There is a wisdom there, and from a Western point of view we are finally beginning to understand.

Got a question?

Dr. Melissa Rodriguez is a naturopathic doctor and mother of two, who works at Beijing United Family Hospital. To find out more, check out her website at www.drmelissarodriguez.com.