Patient's question:
My daughter is 13 months old. Yesterday, she vomited after eating and had watery stools. This morning, she had a fever with a temperature of 38.8°C, and at noon, it dropped to 37.8°C. How should she be treated? Thank you!Doctor's answer:
Hello:Composition of the Diarrhea-Stopping Formula: Atractylodes rhizome, tangerine peel, fried white atractylodes, pinellia tuber, prepared ginger, pomegranate rind, carbonized hawthorn, plantain seed, and fried malt. Dosage varies with age.
Modifications:
- Add patchouli and safflower if there is fever.
- Addangelica sinensis and triterpenoid if there is abdominal distension.
- Add cinnamon if the diarrhea occurs immediately after eating, undigested food is present, and the condition persists for a long duration.
- Add patchouli, cardamom, and fresh ginger if there is vomiting.
Administer one dose per day, decocted in water, and taken in small, frequent doses.
For patients with dehydration symptoms, fluid replacement should be provided to correct water and electrolyte imbalances. For those with acidosis, appropriate acid correction should be administered.
Children often have insufficient spleen function and weaker digestive capacity. Improper care or overeating cold fruits and vegetables can easily damage the stomach and intestines, leading to impaired digestive function and diarrhea. This condition is more common in autumn and winter, particularly in cases of cold-dampness type. Treatment should focus on regulating the stomach and intestines while dispelling cold and dampness.
In the Diarrhea-Stopping Formula, atractylodes rhizome, tangerine peel, fried white atractylodes, and pinellia tuber strengthen the spleen, dry dampness, and regulate qi. Prepared ginger warms the middle and dispels cold. Carbonized hawthorn and pomegranate rind astringe the intestines and stop diarrhea. Plantain seed promotes urination to solidify stool and clarify the clear and turbid. Fried malt, combined with carbonized hawthorn, also enhances appetite.
When all these herbs are combined, they achieve the goals of strengthening the spleen, drying dampness, warming the middle, dispelling cold, and astringing diarrhea. The formula aligns with the disease mechanism, making it highly effective.