🌿 Folk Prescriptions

When Yangyang, a 5-year-old boy, was brought by his mother to the Department of Anorectal Diseases at the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, he cried and resisted fiercely, fearing injections and medication. His mother told the doctor that Yangyang had always been picky about food, refusing vegetables, and often suffered from hard stools. For the past two months, he experienced pain during bowel movements accompanied by minor bleeding. In the last week, he would cry and scream in pain while squatting on the toilet, unable to defecate. After examination, the doctor diagnosed him with early-stage anal fissure.
Pediatric anal fissures are generally caused by long-term constipation, with symptoms primarily including pain and bloody stools, causing significant discomfort during defecation. If left untreated, it may progress to chronic anal fissure, requiring surgical intervention. Therefore, early treatment is essential once pediatric anal fissure is detected. Deputy Chief Physician Li Yongqi introduced a home remedy for early-stage anal fissure to Yangyang’s mother: applying egg yolk oil externally. Boil 10 eggs, remove shells and egg whites, place yolks in a pan, and stir-fry over medium heat continuously. After about 15 minutes, the yolks will char and turn black. Continue frying for another 5 minutes until thick, dark-brown egg yolk oil appears. Strain out the residue, keep only the oil. Clean the anus after each bowel movement, then apply the egg yolk oil to the fissure using a cotton swab. Apply twice daily for 10 consecutive days. While using this external treatment, supplement with internal herbal decoction: 10 grams each of Sophora japonica (Huai Mi) and Chrysanthemum (Ju Hua), steeped in 500 ml boiling water. Add an appropriate amount of Sophora honey when drinking, consume several times a day as tea. On the second day of treatment, Yangyang successfully passed stool with reduced pain. By the seventh day, his mother returned for a follow-up visit, reporting daily soft bowel movements without pain during defecation. Examination confirmed complete healing of the fissure. The doctor advised increasing vegetable and fruit intake and regularly drinking Huai-Ju decoction to prevent hard stools. Dr. Li explained that egg yolk oil has the effect of promoting tissue regeneration and moisturizing dryness, commonly used in folk medicine to treat burns and chronic non-healing ulcers. In Huai-Ju decoction, Sophora flowers clear heat and promote bowel movements, cool blood, and stop bleeding; chrysanthemums disperse wind and reduce fire. Combined with Sophora honey as a guide, the formula enhances its ability to clear heat, moisten the intestines, and relieve constipation, while the sweet taste makes it more palatable for children. This self-administered home therapy is simple, painless, and also effective for early-stage anal fissures in adults.