🌿 Folk Prescriptions

The widespread use of antibiotics has brought great benefits in eliminating and controlling infectious diseases. However, with continuous updates and extensive application, drug-related diseases are increasingly prevalent, including antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
This condition is most common in children. Pediatric antibiotic-associated diarrhea relates to antibiotic spectrum, duration of use, individual differences, and immune status of the whole body and gut. High-risk factors include broad-spectrum antibiotic combination and prolonged repeated use. Currently, Western medicine treatment—whether in approach, method, drug selection, or efficacy—is inferior to traditional Chinese medicine.
1. Diagnosis
Children receiving antibiotics who develop diarrhea within two months, with watery or paste-like stools lasting more than two consecutive days, should raise suspicion of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and receive corresponding treatment.
2. Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment
(1) Spleen Deficiency Type: Children experience recurrent or chronic diarrhea during or after antibiotic use, with loose or watery stools containing undigested milk curds or food residue, fatigue, poor appetite, pale complexion, pale tongue, greasy coating, weak pulse. Treatment aims to strengthen the spleen and stop diarrhea. Use Qiwu Bai Zhu San with modifications: Codonopsis 12g, Atractylodes 12g, Kudzu Root 9g, Yam 9g, Shenqu 9g, Lablab Bean 9g, Sandalwood 3g, Licorice 3g. Add fried Three Shen for epigastric distension; for clear, undigested stools, add dried ginger, cinnamon; for chronic diarrhea without accumulation, add Cinnabar Stone, Chebulic Myrobalan.
(2) Spleen-Kidney Yang Deficiency Type: After prolonged or repeated antibiotic use, patients develop loose stools with undigested food, emaciation, cold extremities, pale tongue with white coating, fine weak pulse. Treatment aims to warm and tonify spleen and kidney, consolidate and stop diarrhea. Use Fuzi Lizhong Tang combined with Sishen Wan with modifications: Codonopsis 10g, Atractylodes 10g, Psoralea 10g, Evodia 10g, Myristica 6g, Schisandra 6g, Aconite 3g, Prepared Ginger 3g. For persistent diarrhea, add Cinnabar Stone, Pomegranate Peel; for rectal prolapse, add Astragalus, Bupleurum.
During TCM treatment, discontinue antibiotics unless supported by pathogen culture and drug sensitivity testing.
3. Field Effect Therapy
Using a field effect therapy device is convenient, safe, and effective. Place the field effect pad centrally on the child’s 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, achieving spleen-strengthening, stomach-tonifying, qi-consolidating, warming the lower burner, and restoring spleen-stomach function. Modern medicine suggests that field effect stimulation improves local microcirculation, dilates gastrointestinal vessels, increases skin blood flow, facilitates faster water absorption in the small intestine, aids heat dissipation, and is simple and suitable for home use.
4. Patent Medicine Treatment
Medicines like Xiao'er Zhixie Pian, Xiao'er Zhixie Chongji, and Xiao'er Jianpi Zhixie Pian have functions of strengthening spleen, harmonizing stomach, warming and drying dampness, and astringent diarrhea. Administer according to age.
Only one patent medicine should be selected. During use, discontinue all antibiotics.
5. Tuina Therapy
Use techniques such as supplementing the spleen meridian, pushing San Guan, supplementing large intestine, massaging the navel, pushing Shang Qi Jie Gu, rubbing Guiwei, and pinching the spine. Suitable for spleen deficiency type. For spleen-kidney yang deficiency type, add supplementing spleen meridian and rubbing Wailao. Each session should last no less than 30 minutes, once or twice daily.
6. Plaster Therapy
Take equal parts of gallnut, fennel, cinnamon, cloves, pepper, Evodia, sandalwood, and Corydalis, dry-roast, grind into powder. Apply 1–2g per time onto the navel, change daily. Usually cures in 3–5 days.