Cerebral palsy refers to a non-progressive motor dysfunction caused by brain damage, which falls under the category of "Wu Chi," "Wu Ruan," "Wu Ying," and "Wei Zheng" in traditional Chinese medicine. It is mainly caused by various factors during the perinatal and prenatal periods, such as intracranial hypoxia, bleeding, maternal infections during pregnancy, fetal distress, neonatal asphyxia, prematurity, cerebrovascular diseases, or systemic bleeding disorders. Etiology: Insufficiency from birth, deficiency of liver and kidney, or postnatal malnutrition, weakness of qi and blood. Pathogenesis: Insufficiency of the five viscera, weakness of qi and blood, lack of essence, leading to growth and development disorders. Localization: Liver, heart, spleen, and kidney. Nature of the disease: Usually a deficiency syndrome. Moxibustion focuses on the acupoints along the Governing Vessel (Du Meridian).
Liver and Kidney Deficiency: There are obstacles in the motor function of the limbs. The bones and tendons are weak, development is delayed, intelligence is low, and the ability to sit up, stand, walk, and grow teeth is significantly later than normal children of the same age. The head and neck are weak, the spine is not upright, the tendons and blood vessels are tense, and there is difficulty in flexing and extending. There may be irritability, anger, or hyperactivity and foul language. The tongue is pale with little coating, and the pulse is taut, thin, and weak.
Heart and Spleen Deficiency: There are obstacles in the motor function of the limbs. Speech is slow, mental state is sluggish, intelligence is low, hair growth is slow, sparse and withered, limbs are weak, muscles are flabby, there is drooling at the corners of the mouth, and weakness in chewing and sucking, or tongue playing, poor appetite, and constipation. The tongue is pale with little coating, and the pulse is deep and thin.
It is recommended to perform moxibustion once a day, targeting 2 to 3 acupoints each time, with each acupoint being treated for 30 to 40 minutes. Rotate the points treated, with a 10-day period constituting one course of treatment, and then rest for 2 to 3 days before continuing with the next course. (If time permits and there is a need, more acupoints can be treated with moxibustion. The specific duration should be adjusted according to one's own physical needs.)
1. Children with cerebral palsy should avoid eating fried, spicy, greasy, and irritating foods that are difficult to digest, as children tend to have a hot constitution, and consuming fried and other hot foods can easily lead to heat-related illnesses. 2. Children with cerebral palsy should not indiscriminately consume warming supplements, as children are inherently of a pure yang constitution and should only be nourished with clear and moistening foods. 3. Avoid excessive sugar intake, as bacteria in the mouth can ferment sugar, leading to tooth decay that can affect appetite. 4. Avoid being a picky eater, as it can lead to malnutrition. This is an important aspect of the diet for children with cerebral palsy. 5. Do not overuse seasonings such as ginger, onions, monosodium glutamate (MSG), pepper, and alcohol.