J. Acupunct. Tuina. Sci.

(2009) 7: 280-282
DOI: 10.1007/s11726-009-0280-8

Clinical Study

Tuina plus Cupping Therapy for 60 Cases of

Infantile Cough
LIU Deng-hong (刘登红)
Department of Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Guang Dian Hospital of Zibo, Shandong 255000, P. R. China

【摘要】目的：观察推拿配合拔罐治疗小儿咳嗽的临床疗效。方法：符合诊断标准的 60
例患儿，以捏脊、推脊推拿治疗为主，配合辨证取穴推拿法及拔罐。结果：60 例患儿中
治愈 40 例，好转 20 例，总有效率 100%。结论：推拿结合拔罐治疗小儿咳嗽疗效好，无
不良反应。
【关键词】推拿；按摩；拔罐；穴，夹脊；背俞穴；咳嗽
【Abstract】Objective: To observe the clinical effect of tuina plus cupping therapy for infantile
cough. Methods: Sixty subjects were mainly treated with pinching and pushing the spine,
coordinating with the tuina manipulations and cupping therapy based on syndrome
differentiation. Results: Among the 60 patients, 40 cases were cured and 20 cases got improved,
the total effective rate was 100%. Conclusion: Tuina plus cupping therapy works effectively on
infantile cough and without adverse reactions.
【Key Words】Tuina; Massage; Cupping Therapy; Points, Jiaji (Ex-B 2); Points, Back-Shu;
Cough
【CLC Number】R244.1
【Document Code】B

Cough is a common symptom of lung system pinching it 3 times, then tui-push the spine 100-300
conditions. It may occur as a result of either an times (Fig.1)[2].
external contraction or internal injury. The author
treated 60 cases of infantile cough by tuina plus
cupping therapy, the report is as follows.

1 Clinical Data
The 60 cases of patients were all from the
out-patient and in-patient department, Guang Dian
Hospital, who met the diagnostic criteria and
syndrome differentiation of cough in The Criteria of
Diagnosis and Therapeutic Effects for TCM
Diseases and Syndromes[1]. There were 32 boys and
28 girls, the age ranged from 5 months to 7 years
old, and the disease duration ranged from 3 d to 2
months.
2 Therapeutic Methods
2.1 Tuina
Nie-Pinch the spine 3-5 times, lift the skin after
Author: LIU Deng-hong (1972- ), female, attending physician
of traditional Chinese medicine.
● 280 ●︱Copyright©2009 Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian
Fig.1. Tui-pushing the spine
For those with wind-cold cough, combine
tui-pushing Sanguan [pushing along the radial
forearm from Yangchi (TE 4) to Quchi (LI 11)] and
qia-pinching and rou-kneading Ershanmen
(pinching & kneading introcessions on base of
proximal phalanx of dorsal middle finger); for those
with wind-heat cough, combine rou-kneading
Fenglong (ST 40) and Zhangxiao- hengwen (on the
palm, base of proximal phalanx of little finger, and
top of ulnaris palm print); for those with chronic
cough because of yin or yang deficiency, combine
J. Acupunct. Tuina. Sci. (2009) 7: 280-282
reinforcing Pijing and Shenjing (Fig.2) as well as
rou-kneading Zusanli (ST 36). The treatment was
conducted once daily.
2.2 Cupping therapy
Points: Dazhui (GV 14), bilateral Feishu
(BL 13), Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23).
Operation: Apply flash-fire cupping method, and
retain the cups for 5-10 min. Apply cupping after
bloodletting for fever patients. The treatment was
conducted once every other day.
Seven treatments constituted a treatment course,
and the effect was evaluated after 2 courses.
Fig.2. Points of upper limb for tuina therapy
3 Therapeutic Results
3.1 Therapeutic effect criteria
Cured: Cough and accompanied symptoms
disappeared, and no dry or moist rale in lungs;
Improved: Cough and accompanied symptoms
relieved substantially, and dry or moist rale in lungs
almost disappeared;
Ineffective: The cough and rale in lungs remained
unchanged.
Copyright©2009 Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian︱● 281
3.2 Results
Of the 60 cases, 40 cases were cured, 20 cases
were improved, and the total effective rate was
100%.
3.3 Case report
The patient was a 5-year old boy.
Chief complaints: Recurrent common colds and
coughing lasting for over one month.
History of present illness: The patient suffered
from cough, itchy sore throat, stuffy runny nose one
month prior to the treatment. The sore throat and
stuffy runny nose got improved after taking Da
Qing Ye He Ji (folium isatidis mixture) and
Amoxicillin, while the cough remained no change,
but experienced dry throat and small amount of
white sputum. The cough became worse at night,
disturbed sleep and resulted in lassitude and
paroxysmal night sweats, and did not respond to
antibiotics and Carbetapentane.
Physical examination: Little moist rale in lungs
could be heard by auscultation. A sallow
complexion, a pale tongue with scanty coating and a
weak, deep and thready pulse, and a dark red throat.
Diagnosis: Cough (kidney failing to receive qi).
Treatment: Nie-pinching the spine was performed
for 5 times, tui-pushing the spine for 300 times,
reinforcing Feijing, Pijing and Shenjing, as well as
rou-kneading Zusanli (ST 36). The aforementioned
operations were given once daily; cupping therapy
was applied on Dazhui (GV 14), and bilateral
Feishu (BL 13), Pishu (BL 20) every 2 d. Symptoms
were substantially alleviated after 7-day treatments.
Patients got recovered after 14-day treatments. No
recurrence was found in 6-month follow-up.
4 Discussion
The child has very delicate Zang-fu, contraction
of exogenous pathogenic factors, yin deficiency,
phlegm-damp obstructing the lungs or kidney
failing to receive qi may all cause cough. Apply
Nie-pinching or tui-pushing spine manipulations
from Dazhui (GV 14) to Changqiang (GV 1) with
0.5 cun apart from the spinal cord [just the location
of Jiaji (Ex-B2) points]. The treatment can regulate
yin and yang, adjust qi and blood, harmonize the
Zang-fu organs and unblock meridians and
collaterals as well as cultivate Yuan-Primordial qi,
●
 J. Acupunct. Tuina. Sci. (2009) 7: 280-282

which works effectively on chronic diseases caused
by congenital and/or postnatal deficiency[2].
Reinforcing Feijing can tonify lung qi. Reinforcing
Pijing can strengthen the spleen and stomach, and
tonify qi and blood. Reinforcing Shenjing can
invigorate the kidney yang and strengthen tendons
and bones. Rou-kneading Zhangxiaohengwen acts
to clear heat and eliminate stagnation, disperse
lungs, ease cough and dissolve phlegm, which has
curative effect on moist rale in lungs[3]. Tui-pushing
Sanguan can warm yang to expel cold, tonify qi and
activate blood as well as induce sweat and dispell
exogenous evils. Rou-kneading Zusanli (ST 36) and
Fenglong (ST 40) can invigorate spleen and
stomach to promote the transportation and
transformation as well as eliminate phlegmatic
dampness. Cupping on Dazhui (GV 14) can dispel
wind, relieve exterior syndrome, and clear heat to
activate yang. Bilateral Feishu (BL 13), Pishu
(BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) can dispel exogenous
evils and diffuse the lung, invigorate spleen to
dissolve dampness, tonify kidney and cultivate
Yuan-Primordial qi[4,5]. The modern medicine holds
that the pressure of cupping leads to local
congestion or even rupture of blood capillary,
resulting in erythrocyte fragmentation, scarfskin
congestion and auto-hemolysis, thus to release
histamine or a substance similar to histamine; these
substances circulate with body fluids to stimulate
each organs and enhance its functional activity thus
to boost the immunity of the body[6]. The pressure of
cupping therapy dilates local blood vessels, and
improves the blood circulation and congestion,
strengthens the metabolism and also improves the
nutrition of local tissues. Cupping therapy could
promote gastro-intestinal motility, improve the
digestive function and hasten the elimination of
metabolism products thus to palliate the congestion
and hydropsia of trachea, bronchus and alveolar,
finally the cough was alleviated[7].
The research indicated that tuina plus cupping
therapy is simple, safe and effective for infantile
cough and is worth to be generalized.
References
[1] The State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Criteria of Diagnosis and Therapeutic Effects for TCM
Diseases and Syndromes. Nanjing: Nanjing University
Press, 1994: 76-77.
[2] CUI Cheng-bin, WANG Jing-jing. Discussion on Functional
Zone of Back-Shu from the Relationship between Back-Shu
Points and Jiaji (Ex-B2) Points. Chinese Acupuncture &
Moxibustion, 2005, 25(7): 485.
[3] WANG Dao-quan. Illustration of Infantile Tuina. Ji’nan:
Shandong Science & Technology Press, 1998: 126.
[4] SUN Wei-ren. Theory Exploration and Clinical Application
on Back-Shu Points. Huhhot: Inner Mongolia People’s
Publishing House, 1994: 3-4.
[5] LI Ding-zhong, LI Xiu-zhang. Exploration of Meridians and
Collaterals of TCM. Beijing: People’s Military Medical
Press, 1999: 59.
[6] LIU Xin-lian, WANG Rong-chun, XU Jin-ying, et al.
Cupping Therapy on Back-Shu Points to Treat 214 Cases of
Cough Caused by Externally Pathogenic Factors. Shanghai
Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, 1995, 14(3): 112.
[7] WANG Jing. The Principle of Vacuum Cupping Therapy.
Beijing Science & Technology Press, 2004: 36.
Translator: YANG Ling (杨玲)
Received Date: March 24, 2009

● Advance Notice ●
Main Contents of the Sixth Issue in 2009

• Clinical Experiences of Treating Cervical Spondylosis with Acupuncture, Tuina and Psychotherapy
• Clincal Observation on Treatment of Chronic Pelvic Inflammatory Disease with Acupuncture plus Chinese
Herbs
• Influence of Electroacupuncture on bcl-2、bcl-XL Expression in Rats with Degeneration of Cervical
Intervertebral Disc
• Clinical Observation on Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis with Warming Needle Moxibustion
• Clinical Study of Puncturing Acupoints at Low Back for Treating Knee Pain
• Clinical Observation on Treatment of Tennis Elbow with Injecting Ozone in Ashi Point

● 282 ●︱Copyright©2009 Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian