ABSTRACT
Objective@#To evaluate the effect of massage combined with external application of Xiaoji powder on Shenque point in treating children’s functional constipation (FC) of gastrointestinal heat accumulation syndrome.@*Methods@#A total of 88 FC children who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups, 44 in each group. The control group was treated with viablebifidobacterium tetrad tablets orally, while the treatment group was treated with massage combined with external application of Xiaoji powder on Shenque point. Both groups were treated for 18 days. Before and after treatment, TCM syndromes were scored from the main symptoms and secondary symptoms to evaluate the clinical efficacy.@*Results@#The effective rate was 93.2% (41/44) in the treatment group and 65.9% (29/44) in the control group. There were significant differences between the two groups (χ2=9.058, P=0.004). After treatment, the scores of main symptoms (3.8 ± 0.6) and minor symptoms (1.7 ± 0.4) in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (6.8 ± 1.3) and (3.1 ± 0.4) (t=13.899, 16.417, respectively, P<0.05).@*Conclusions@#Massage combined with external application of Xiaoji powder on Shenque point can improve the constipation symptoms and clinical efficacy of children suffering from FC of gastrointestinal heat accumulation syndrome.