🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Pediatric Anemia: Strengthening the Spleen and Nourishing Blood
Children aged 6 months to 3 years are prone to anemia due to iron deficiency. Iron and protein are the main substances for blood production. Infants are primarily fed milk, so protein deficiency is rare. However, iron content in milk is very low, and some foods contain oxalates, carbonates, and phytates that interfere with iron absorption and utilization, leading to iron-deficiency anemia. Newborns have iron reserves from their mothers, so they usually do not develop anemia initially. By around six months of age, these iron stores are typically depleted, making children susceptible to anemia thereafter. During this period, infants grow rapidly—by age one, their weight triples, and the oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin in circulation doubles, requiring more iron for hemoglobin synthesis. How can this iron be replenished?
Rational feeding is essential to ensure children receive adequate iron and nutrients and is a crucial measure in preventing iron-deficiency anemia. "Rational" feeding means adjusting milk and food intake according to the child’s age. For infants under six months, complementary foods should be introduced to meet growth needs. Suitable options include egg yolks, minced meat, vegetable juice, fruit juice, vegetable puree, and liver paste. This helps effectively prevent iron-deficiency anemia.
Once iron-deficiency anemia develops, children may exhibit fatigue, weakness, irritability, poor appetite, bloating, diarrhea, malnutrition, and frequent colds—adversely affecting their growth and development. If hemoglobin levels fall below 11 g/dL, anemia is confirmed, and active treatment is necessary. TCM believes children have weak spleen and stomach functions. Overeating harms the stomach, while fasting harms the spleen. Without proper digestion and absorption, the essence of food cannot be transformed into qi, blood, and body fluids, leading to anemia. Even if sufficient food is consumed, poor digestive absorption can still result in anemia. Therefore, TCM treats iron-deficiency anemia in children by strengthening the spleen, tonifying qi, and nourishing blood. Patent medicines include Xiao'er Jianpi Wan, Qipi Jiu, and Jianpi Xiaoshi Wan. Herbal decoctions may include:
Dangshen 10g, Poria 10g, White Atractylodes 10g, Astragalus 10g
Danggui 10g, Chishao 10g, Huangjing 10g, Sheng Ejiao 10g
BianDou 10g, Shan Yao 10g
Decocted and taken twice daily, 100ml each time.
Alternatively, use:
Danggui 10g, Astragalus 10g, Shan Zha 10g, Shenqu 10g
Maiya 10g, Chenpi 10g, Jixueteng 10g, Honghua 5g
Ji Neijin 10g, Shengdi 10g, Gouqizi 10g, Heshouwu 10g
Renshen 10g, Bai Zhu 10g, Shan Yao 10g, Da Zao 20 pieces
Xiānfēng 50g
All ingredients decocted three times, filtered, concentrated to 200ml, then mixed with honey. Take three times daily, 10–20ml each time. This method is simple, easy for children to accept, and reliable in efficacy.
Aside from medication, dietary therapy can also be used. Many medicinal herbs in TCM have nutritional benefits and are considered “food and medicine alike.” Use ingredients like Job's tears, yam, dates, peanuts, lotus seeds, black sesame, red adzuki beans, longan flesh, and honey to create nutritious meals:
1. 300g glutinous rice, 50g Job's tears, 20 dates, 20g lotus seeds, 30g yam, 30g white bean, cooked into porridge and eaten.
2. 3g black fungus, 30g red dates, boiled until soft, add a little brown sugar.
3. 25g black fungus, 100g lean meat, stewed with water, seasoned with salt, eat meat and drink soup.
4. 10g longan flesh, 12g peanuts, 30g Job's tears, 10g red dates, decocted and taken as tea.
These methods can assist in treating pediatric iron-deficiency anemia.
In daily life, when introducing complementary foods, increase iron-rich and easily absorbable foods such as animal liver, lean meat, fish, and egg yolks. Additionally, include vitamin C-rich foods like oranges, tangerines, tomatoes, and kiwi to enhance iron absorption. Also, encourage using iron cookware such as iron pots and spatulas to increase iron intake.
Moreover, many childhood diseases—such as indigestion, chronic diarrhea, intestinal parasitic infections, tuberculosis—can lead to anemia. Prompt treatment of these conditions is therefore an effective preventive measure against pediatric anemia.