TCM Patent Medicines for Pediatric Anorexia
Internal TCM Patent Medicines
1. Accumulation and Spleen Injury Type: Main symptoms include sallow complexion, emaciation, sparse hair, lethargy, drowsiness, epigastric distension, vomiting after eating, hot palms and soles, irritability, dry mouth, restless sleep, loose stools or constipation, yellow turbid urine resembling rice washing water, greasy tongue coating, slippery fine pulse. Treatment should focus on eliminating accumulation and regulating the spleen. Recommended: Fei'er Wan, 6g each time, three times daily; Compound Chicken Gizzard Pill, 3 tablets each time, three times daily; Jiangzhong Digestive Health Tablets, 3 tablets each time, three times daily; Malt Tablets, 3 tablets each time, three times daily.
2. Parasitic Accumulation and Spleen Injury Type: Main symptoms include sallow complexion, emaciation, sparse hair, lethargy, drowsiness, epigastric distension, intermittent abdominal pain localized around the navel, positive worm eggs in stool routine, pale tongue with thin coating, weak pulse. Treatment should strengthen the spleen, aid digestion, and expel parasites. Recommended: Worm-Expelling and Digestive Aid Tablets: children under 4 years old, 1–2 tablets each time; 5–8 years old, 2–3 tablets each time; 9 years and above, 4–5 tablets each time; twice daily. Wu Mei Wan, 3g each time, twice daily; Shi Junzi Wan, 3g each time, twice daily.
3. Spleen Deficiency and Qi Weakness Type: Main symptoms include pale, dull complexion, thin physique, hair tightly knotted like a tuft, listlessness, dull eyes, poor appetite, sleeping with eyes open, epigastric distension, low-grade fever, undigested food in stool, urine like rice washing water, pale red tongue, pale lips, greasy coating, soft slippery pulse with faint purple fingerprints. Treatment should tonify qi, strengthen the spleen, and eliminate accumulation. Recommended: Shenling Baizhu San, 5g each time, three times daily; Huangqi Jing Granules, 5g each time, three times daily; Bu Zhong Yi Qi Oral Liquid, three times daily, one vial each time; Shenqi Wuwei Zi Syrup, 10ml each time, three times daily.
4. Qi and Blood Deficiency Type: Main symptoms include pale complexion, dry lips, large head with thin neck, extreme emaciation, sunken abdomen like a boat, delayed development, fatigue, sleeping with eyes open, weak crying, poor appetite, loose stools, weak and feeble pulse, faint fingerprints. Treatment should tonify qi and nourish blood. Recommended: Bazi Oral Liquid, one vial each time, twice daily; Compound Ejiao Oral Liquid, one vial each time, twice daily; Ejiao Danggui Mixture, 10ml each time, three times daily.
External TCM Patent Medicines
1. Shangshi Zhitong Plaster: Grind Wu Zhu Yu into fine powder, mix with rice vinegar or egg white into a paste, apply to the umbilicus, then secure with the plaster. Usually stops vomiting within 1–4 hours. Warms the center, strengthens the spleen.
2. Huoxiang Zhengqi Water: Grind Wu Zhu Yu into fine powder, mix with Huoxiang Zhengqi Water into a paste, apply to the umbilicus, secure with the plaster. Replace daily for 2–3 days. Also warms the center and strengthens the spleen. Alternatively, soak a piece of gauze in Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, apply to the umbilicus, cover with dressing, fix with tape, change daily for 2–3 days. Stops vomiting and warms the center.
3. Hawthorn Pill: Crush 1–2 pills into fine powder, mix with rice vinegar or egg white into a paste, apply to the umbilicus, secure with the plaster. Replace daily for 2–3 days. Strengthens the spleen and aids digestion.
4. Children's Spleen-Strengthening Patch: After nightly bath, apply one patch to the umbilicus and secure it. Change every two days, for 3–5 applications total. Strengthens the spleen and aids digestion.