Children’s poor appetite, weight loss, constipation, and anemia are commonly linked to gastric issues. The root cause lies in weak digestive function, especially noticeable in early autumn.
Professor Ding Xuesheng, a renowned senior TCM physician in Shanghai, believes children are born with weak spleen and stomach, predisposing them to gastrointestinal problems. Due to limited language skills, children rarely complain about discomfort. If they do show obvious stomach pain, it indicates serious illness—likely superficial gastritis or ulcers. For common pediatric digestive issues, adjusting gut function and cultivating good habits matter more than medication. Dr. Shi Saibao, head of the Gastroenterology Department at Rui Xing Hospital in Shanghai, developed a “Three Nourishments” theory.
Cultivating Good Eating Habits
First, children must develop healthy lifestyles and eating habits. Modern medicine confirms Helicobacter pylori spreads via mouth-to-mouth contact. Therefore, children should practice separate dining to reduce infection risk from parents. In China, asymptomatic children have rising H. pylori infection rates, many infected through family transmission. Children should ideally dine separately from family members to prevent cross-infection. Correcting bad habits like biting fingernails or chewing foreign objects is also crucial to prevent bacterial entry into the stomach.
Some parents overly spoil their children, fostering unhealthy habits and disrupting digestion. Children should avoid fried chicken, ice-cold sodas, and chocolates—stimulating foods harmful to their digestive systems. Children are still growing, with immature organs. Without moderation in raw, cold, or greasy foods, their digestive tracts get no rest, leading to stagnation, eventually causing loss of appetite, indigestion, abnormal bowel movements, and various gastric diseases. Pay attention to the balance between staple and side foods; TCM holds that grains nourish the stomach, making cereals best for digestive health.
Establishing Healthy Feeding Practices
Second, parents must establish proper feeding habits, especially grandparents caring for grandchildren. During feeding, personal hygiene is vital. Many children face academic stress and fatigue, stimulating gastrointestinal function. Over time, this leads to recurring issues like poor appetite, stomach pain, and gastritis. Untreated, these can affect growth and development.
Gastric conditions often start subtly, easily overlooked by parents. Pay close attention to signs like poor appetite or stomach discomfort—don’t ignore minor changes due to busy schedules. Also, protect children from abdominal coldness; avoid cold foods when weather turns chilly.
Emphasizing Digestive Tract Care and Maintenance
Finally, focus on regulating and nurturing children’s digestive functions. A child’s stomach is delicate—adjustment requires great caution. Dr. Shi believes using only antibiotics for pediatric gastritis causes significant irritation, worsening discomfort and making treatment difficult for children who cannot cooperate, potentially leading to intestinal flora imbalance and diarrhea. Treatment needs continuity to prevent recurrence. Integrating Western and Traditional Chinese medicine is key. Use TCM to stimulate appetite first, then administer antibiotics after digestive function improves. However, since herbal medicines are bitter and hard for children to accept, altering taste to make them palatable is important.
Notably, some parents mistakenly give children adult-strength digestive aids or stomach tonics, merely reducing dosage. This is absolutely unacceptable. Pediatric and adult treatments differ fundamentally. When children have stomach discomfort or poor appetite, never self-medicate—consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and use appropriate pediatric formulations.
|
