🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Vitamin A primarily participates in the formation of retinal pigment in retinal rod cells, maintaining visual function under low light conditions; promotes growth and development, especially bone and tooth growth; maintains integrity of epithelial cells, stabilizes cell membranes, enhances resistance of skin and mucous membranes; strengthens immunity, promoting proliferation and function of T and B lymphocytes. Daily requirement ranges from 900–1500μg (3000–5000 IU). Deficiency leads to ocular, skin, and mucosal symptoms, as well as impaired immune function.
(1) Medical History
1. Inquiry into feeding history: long-term reliance on starch-based foods; chronic gastrointestinal diseases like diarrhea or hepatitis causing malabsorption; persistent infections such as pneumonia or tuberculosis leading to both malabsorption and increased consumption.
2. Early signs often include dry eyes, reduced tears, poor dark adaptation, or night blindness—difficult to detect in infants.
3. Prone to respiratory, urinary tract, and gastrointestinal infections.
(2) Physical Examination
1. Eyes
Dry, lusterless conjunctiva and cornea, reduced tear production, Bitot's spots, brown pigmentation in bulbar conjunctiva; corneal opacity, softening, necrosis, ulceration, secondary infection leading to anterior chamber exudate, resulting in cataract formation affecting vision; severe cases may lead to corneal perforation, iris prolapse, or eyeball atrophy.
2. Skin and Mucosa
Dry, flaky skin with keratotic papules, dull, brittle hair, loss of hair, ridged, lusterless, easily broken fingernails and toenails.
3. May present with delayed growth and development, malnutrition, and other vitamin deficiencies.
[Treatment Principle]: Nourish Liver and Brighten Eyes, Tonify Blood and Activate Blood Circulation
[Postprandial Decoction] (Simmered over low flame)
Pork Liver 30g, Dang Shen 12g, Yun Ling 10g, Shu Di 15g, Dang Gui 8g, Goji Berries 10g
Sang Shen Zi 10g, Tu Si Zi 10g, Mu Zei 9g, Chan Yi 9g, Bai Zhu 12g