小儿烦渴，有虚有实，逐一审视，看的方可用药。
唇舌干燥，用生地、木通、竹叶、知母各八分，水煎服。
唇舌黑色，用熟石膏、淡竹叶、麦冬、连翘各八分，灶心土引。
口渴、小便闭涩，用猪苓、赤苓、泽泻、干葛、花粉各八分，水煎服。
夜间渴甚，小便不已，用生地、泽泻、茯苓、山药、枣皮、麦冬各八分，五味子二分，
水煎服。
服清火药烦渴仍不止，当用干姜一钱、白芍一钱、党参二钱、甘草五分、附子一钱、乌
梅二枚，水煎服。
小儿体虚口渴，诸药不效，余用洋参二钱、麦冬三钱（去心）、五味三粒，水煎服。
伤风发热、口渴，用炒栀、淡豆豉各一钱，水煎服。
余治一小儿夏月泄泻后烦渴饮茶，小便不已，用熟地、枣皮、山药、茯苓、陈皮、半夏
、甘草、花粉、麦冬、五味，水煎服，四剂而愈。
治小儿夏月泄泻烦渴，用黄连煎汤，调六一散服之即安。
余治一小儿泄泻，神倦口渴，用白术、云苓、沙参、麦冬、甘草，水煎服。
余治小儿泄后渴甚吐蛔，用花椒、附子、条参、白术、乌梅，水煎服之即止。
小儿盗汗为阴虚，每于睡后满身有汗，宜用四物汤加龙骨、牡蛎、浮小麦、五味之属，
以养其阴。余之意，善补阴者，于阳中求阴，加箭 、枣仁、桑叶为妙。
小儿无端自汗为阳虚，宜用∶四君子汤加五味、牡蛎，以养其阴。或用玉屏风散∶
生箭 （二钱） 防风（八分）
一方五倍子一钱、枯矾五分，为末，掺小儿肚脐上，以能收汗。
一方生地、浮麦各二钱，水煎服。
Irritability and thirst in children may stem from either deficiency or excess patterns; each case must be carefully examined to identify the cause before administering medication.
For dryness of the lips and tongue, use Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), Mu Tong (Akebiae Caulis), Zhu Ye (Bambusae Folium), and Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), each 0.8 fen, decocted in water and taken orally.
For blackening of the lips and tongue, use Shu Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum prepared with starch), Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatheri Herba), Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), and Lian Qiao (Forsythiae Fructus), each 0.8 fen, with Zao Xin Tu (Caulis Longanae Preparatus) as a guiding herb.
For thirst accompanied by obstructed and difficult urination, use Zhu Ling (Polyporus), Chi Ling (Poria cum Rosa), Ze Xie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Gan Ge (Puerariae Radix), and Hua Fen (Trichosanthis Radix), each 0.8 fen, decocted in water and taken orally.
For severe thirst at night accompanied by frequent urination, use Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), Ze Xie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Fu Ling (Poria), Shan Yao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), Zao Pi (Corni Fructus), and Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), each 0.8 fen, along with Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus) 0.2 fen, decocted in water and taken orally.
If irritability and thirst persist despite the administration of heat-clearing and fire-draining medications, use Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) 1 qian, Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) 1 qian, Dang Shen (Codonopsis Radix) 2 qian, Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) 0.5 qian, Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata) 1 qian, and Wu Mei (Mume Fructus) two pieces, decocted in water and taken orally.
When a child’s weak constitution causes thirst that is unresponsive to various medications, I commonly use Yang Shen (Panacis Quinquefolii Radix) 2 qian, Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Tuber) 3 qian (heart removed), and Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus) three grains, decocted in water and taken orally.
For wind-cold injury causing fever and thirst, use Chao Zhi Zi (Gardeniae Fructus stir-fried) and Dan Dou Chi (Sojae Semen Preparatum) each 1 qian, decocted in water and taken orally.
I treated a child who, after suffering diarrhea in summer, experienced irritability, thirst for tea, and frequent urination. I prescribed Shu Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), Zao Pi (Corni Fructus), Shan Yao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), Fu Ling (Poria), Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Ban Xia (Pinelliae Tuber), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Hua Fen (Trichosanthis Radix), Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), and Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus), decocted in water and taken orally. After four doses, the condition resolved.
To treat irritability and thirst caused by summer diarrhea, decoct Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma) in water, mix with Liu Yi San (Six-to-One Powder), and administer; symptoms will subside immediately.
I treated a child with diarrhea presenting with mental fatigue and thirst using Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Yun Ling Fu (Poria), Sha Shen (Glehniae Radix seu Bupleuri Radix), Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), and Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), decocted in water and taken orally.
I treated a child who, after diarrhea, suffered severe thirst and vomited roundworms. I prescribed Hua Jiao (Zanthoxyli Pericarpium), Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata), Tiao Shen (Codonopsis Radix), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), and Wu Mei (Mume Fructus), decocted in water and taken orally; symptoms ceased immediately.
Night sweats in children indicate Yin deficiency, characterized by sweating all over the body after falling asleep. It is appropriate to use Si Wu Tang (Four-Substance Decoction) augmented with Long Gu (Fossilia Ossis Mastodi), Mu Li (Concha Ostreae), Fu Xiao Mai (Tritici Levis Fructus), and Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus) to nourish Yin. In my opinion, those skilled in tonifying Yin should seek Yin within Yang; adding Huang Qi (Astragali Radix), Suan Zao Ren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen), and Sang Ye (Mori Folium) is particularly effective.
Spontaneous sweating without apparent cause in children indicates Yang deficiency. It is appropriate to use: Si Jun Zi Tang (Four-Gentlemen Decoction) augmented with Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus) and Mu Li (Concha Ostreae) to nourish Yin (note: this likely refers to securing the exterior through yin-yang interaction). Alternatively, use Yu Ping Feng San (Jade Windscreen Powder): Sheng Huang Qi (Astragali Radix) 2 qian and Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) 0.8 fen.
Another prescription: Bei Zi (Galla Chinensis) 1 qian and Ku Fan (Alumen) 0.5 fen, ground into powder, applied to the child’s umbilicus to arrest sweating.
Another prescription: Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix) and Fu Xiao Mai (Tritici Levis Fructus) each 2 qian, decocted in water and taken orally.