After childbirth, a lessening or complete lack of milk in new mothers can be treated by the following methods.
Applications of hand therapy:
Massage therapy:
Location: Palm, palm root, head, kidney, and liver areas, Shaoze (SI 1), Qiangu (SI 2)
Method of manipulation: Both hands are rubbed to produce a hot sensation. Rubbing palm, kneading and pressing palm root, pushing and rubbing maneuvers applied to head, kidney, and liver areas; and digit-pressing, kneading, twisting, and rubbing maneuvers at Shaoze (SI l) and Qiangu (SI 2) acupoints.
Acupuncture therapy:
At regular and extra acupoints:
Location: Neiguan (PC6), Hegu (LI 4), Shaoze (SI 1)
Method of manipulation: Bleeding therapy is applied at Shaoze; and routine acupuncture is applied at other acupoints for 30 minutes.
At reflective points:
Location: Chest point and liver point.
Method of manipulation: The needles are inserted for 1 cm and retained for five minutes.
At special acupoints beside the second metacarpal bone:
Location: Lung and heart acupoint, liver acupoint, and stomach acupoint.
Method ofmanipulation: The needles are inserted for 1.6 cm and retained for 20 minutes.
Hand bath:
Recipe: Loulu (Radix Phapontici) 20 g, Tianhuafen (Radix Trichosanthis) 30 g, Baizhi (Chinese Angelica) 20 g, Danggui (Chinese Angelica) 60 g, Xiangfu (Rhizoma Cyperi) 15 g, Lulutong (Fructus Liquidambaris) 20 g, and half a pig's foot.
Function: To tone the blood, release stagnation in meridians, and promote the discharge of milk.
Method of manipulation: These herbs are boiled for 60 minutes and the hot decoction is used to steam and wash both hands for 20-30 minutes, three times a day for seven days.