🌿 Folk Prescriptions

The widespread use of antibiotics has brought benefits in eliminating and controlling infectious diseases. However, with continuous updates and extensive use, antibiotic-related adverse effects are increasingly common, including antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
This condition is most prevalent in children. Its occurrence relates to antibiotic spectrum, duration of use, individual differences, and overall and local intestinal immune function. High-risk factors include broad-spectrum antibiotic combination and prolonged repeated use. Current Western medical treatments, whether in approach, method, drug selection, or efficacy, are inferior to those of traditional Chinese medicine.
1. Diagnosis
Children receiving antibiotics who develop diarrhea within two months, with watery or pasty stools lasting over two consecutive days, should raise suspicion of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and be treated accordingly.
2. Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment
(1) Spleen Deficiency Type: Children experience recurrent or persistent diarrhea during or after antibiotic use, loose stools or watery stools with milk curds or undigested food residue, fatigue, poor appetite, pale complexion, pale tongue, greasy coating, weak pulse. Treatment aims to strengthen the spleen and stop diarrhea. Formula: Qiwu Bai Shu San with modifications: Codonopsis pilosula 12g, Atractylodes macrocephala 12g, Kudzu root 9g, Yam 9g, Shenqu 9g, Lablab bean 9g, Costus root 3g, Licorice 3g. Add fermented three-fruit for epigastric distension; add dried ginger and cinnamon for clear, undigested stools; add Cinnabar Stone and Chezi for chronic diarrhea without accumulation.
(2) Spleen-Kidney Yang Deficiency Type: After prolonged or repeated antibiotic use, patients present with loose stools, undigested food, emaciation, cold limbs, pale tongue with white coating, fine weak pulse. Treatment aims to warm and tonify spleen and kidney, consolidate and stop diarrhea. Formula: Fuzi Lizhong Tang combined with Sishen Wan with modifications: Codonopsis pilosula 10g, Atractylodes macrocephala 10g, Psoralea corymbosa 10g, Evodia rutaecarpa 10g, Myristica fragrans 6g, Schisandra chinensis 6g, Aconite root 3g, Prepared ginger 3g. For persistent diarrhea, add Cinnabar Stone and Pomegranate peel; for rectal prolapse, add Astragalus membranaceus and Bupleurum chinense.
While using traditional Chinese medicine, discontinue antibiotics. If necessary, only resume with microbiological and antibiotic sensitivity test evidence.
3. Field Effect Therapy
Using a field effect therapy device is convenient, safe, and effective. Place the field effect pad centrally over the navel. Use weak intensity for mild cases, moderate intensity for severe cases, each session lasting 30 minutes. Mild cases: once daily; severe cases: twice daily. The purpose is to stimulate the navel, thereby strengthening the spleen and stomach, boosting qi, consolidating vital essence, warming the lower burner, and promoting recovery of spleen-stomach function. Modern medicine suggests that field effect stimulation improves local microcirculation, dilates gastrointestinal vessels, causes skin vessel congestion, increases blood flow—facilitating faster water absorption in the small intestine and aiding heat dissipation—making it simple and suitable for home-based treatment.
4. Patent Medicine Treatment
Pediatric Anti-Diarrheal Tablets, Pediatric Anti-Diarrheal Granules, Pediatric Spleen-Strengthening Anti-Diarrheal Tablets, etc., are pediatric patent medicines with functions of strengthening spleen and stomach, warming and drying dampness, and astringent diarrhea control. Administer according to age.
Only one patent medicine should be selected. Discontinue all antibiotics during use.
5. Tuina Therapy
Techniques include supplementing the spleen meridian, pushing the three pass points, supplementing the large intestine, rubbing the navel, pushing up the seven vertebrae, rubbing the turtle tail, and kneading the spine. Applicable for spleen deficiency type. For spleen-kidney yang deficiency type, add supplementing the spleen meridian and rubbing outer labor point. Each session should last no less than 30 minutes, once or twice daily.
6. Plaster Application Therapy
Mix equal parts of Fivefold Acacia, Fennel, Cinnamon, Clove, Pepper, Evodia rutaecarpa, Costus root, and Corydalis yanhusuo, dry-roast, grind into powder. Apply 1–2g each time, spread on the navel, change daily. Usually, healing occurs within 3–5 days.