Three Treasures of Traditional Chinese Medicine Help Children to Have a Healthy Spleen and Stomach

In daily life, children with poor spleen and stomach may often be picky eaters, have poor appetite, dry stools, abdominal distension, indigestion, and even vomiting. These symptoms may be related to the weak spleen and stomach function of children. So, what simple and easy methods can parents and friends use at home to help children regulate their spleen and stomach? Pharmacist Duoduo will talk to you today.

First, hawthorn. Hawthorn has the effect of helping digestion, strengthening the stomach and promoting qi circulation, especially for greasy meat. [1] If a child has symptoms of food accumulation such as sour breath, foul-smelling stool, and thick yellow and greasy tongue coating, you can use hawthorn to boil water for the child to drink, which will help the child digest food, strengthen the stomach, and promote qi circulation. However, it should be noted that hawthorn has no obvious tonic effect, and excessive consumption can easily cause excessive gastric acid. Therefore, children with weak spleen and stomach and no stagnation or excessive gastric acid secretion should use it with caution.

Second, Chinese yam. Chinese yam has the function of nourishing the spleen and stomach. If a child has symptoms of spleen deficiency such as anorexia, small appetite, weight loss, abdominal distension after meals, or diarrhea, parents can use Chinese yam to cook porridge for the child to help strengthen the spleen and stop diarrhea [2].

Third, tangerine peel. Tangerine peel has the effect of regulating qi, strengthening the spleen and resolving phlegm. First, for children with symptoms of abdominal distension, belching, or loss of appetite and vomiting, parents can add a little tangerine peel to their children when cooking porridge. Tangerine peel has a good effect on vomiting and hiccups. Secondly, tangerine peel is particularly suitable for improving the symptoms of children with cold and dampness blocking the middle and qi stagnation [3]. These children can drink some tangerine peel water on a regular basis to help them regulate qi and strengthen the spleen.

For children with weak spleen and stomach, parents may try the above three Chinese medicines which are both medicine and food. Dietary adjustments may help improve the spleen and stomach functions of children.

References

[1] Qin Yaozhen, Wang Danyi. Multicenter clinical study on the treatment of anorexia with spleen dysfunction syndrome using Yanshikang granules in children[J]. World Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 2022, 17(11): 2211-2214.

[2] Yang Yan, Sun Yuling, Sun Jianmei, et al. Research progress on the pharmacological effects of active ingredients of yam[J]. Chinese Wild Plant Resources, 2022,

41(12):55-60.

[3] Li Sibo, Yan Meiyi, Liu Yang. Research progress on the classification and mechanism of action of traditional Chinese medicine for lowering blood lipids[J]. Journal of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2021, 23(05): 166-169.

Source: Department of Pharmacy, Tianjin Children's Hospital

Author: Gao Yan, Deputy Chief Pharmacist

Reviewer: Sun Yanyan, Chief Pharmacist

Wei Yue, Deputy Chief Pharmacist