ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of pivot-regulating manipulations applied in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical nursing for infantile anorexia based on the meridian and acupoint theory. Methods One hundred and twenty children with anorexia were randomly divided into trial group and control group , 60 cases in each group. The control group was given spine-pinching therapy based on the conventional nursing care. The trial group was given pivot-regulating manipulations based on the conventional nursing care , and the pivot-regulating manipulations covered manipulating spleen -stomach meridian , regulating Neibagua, kneading Banmen, kneading abdomen, manipulating acupoints of Zhongwan, Tianshu and Zusanli, and pinching spine according to the deficiency-excess differentiation, once every other day and 3 times constituting one course of treatment. After treatment for 2 courses, the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated. The changes in TCM symptom scores and physical examination indexes of body height, body mass, head circumference, chest circumference, height-for-age (HT/A), weight-for-age (WT/A) in the two groups were observed before and after treatment. Results(1) Five cases(3 differentiated into excess syndrome and 2 into deficiency syndrome) of the trial group dropped out and quitted from the trial, and 6 cases of the control group dropped out and quitted from the trial. (2) After two courses of treatment, the total effective rate of the trial group was 94.55％, and that of the control group was 87.04％, the difference being significant (P < 0.05). (3) After treatment, the scores of appetite and food-intake amount, complexion and lip color, water intake, restlessness, and urination as well as TCM symptom scores in both groups were improved; the WT/A of the trial group was also improved (P < 0.05 compared with those before treatment). The trial group had better effect on improving the scores of appetite and food-intake amount, complexion and lip color, and restlessness as well as TCM symptom scores than the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001). The trial group also showed better effect on improving body mass, body height, head circumference, and HT/A than the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion As a nursing method based on the meridian and acupoint theory as well as syndrome differentiation and treatment, pivot-regulating manipulations are effective for the treatment of infantile anorexia by quickly starting an effect and obviously relieving the symptoms.