Library

Pediatric malnutrition syndrome (a chronic consumptive disease caused by improper feeding or illness affecting the spleen and stomach, leading to qi and blood deficiency) has five names: Heart Malnutrition, Liver Malnutrition, Spleen Malnutrition, Lung Malnutrition, and Kidney Malnutrition, which are analyzed in detail below.

Gnashing teeth and protruding the tongue, sores on the tongue, preference for drinking cold water, red lips and reddish face, preference for lying prone on the ground, is called Heart Malnutrition (Xin Gan). Excessive eye discharge, bluish discoloration at the hairline and left cheek, or slightly yellow sclera, diarrhea or dysentery with watery stool, or stool resembling moss color, is called Liver Malnutrition (Gan Gan). Craving dirt and cold foods, uncontrolled drinking, yellowing of the whole body and face, sparse hair forming tufts, large head with a thin neck, abdominal distension and weak legs, occasional loose stools resembling gruel, emaciation and lax eyelids, coolness during the day and fever at night, loss of appetite for milk and food, is called Spleen Malnutrition (Pi Gan). Redness and erosion under the nose, withered and thin hands and feet, fishy odor from the mouth, or wheezing and coughing, pale right cheek, is called Lung Malnutrition (Fei Gan). Sores inside and outside both ears, ankles swollen like a crane's knee, unfused cranial sutures, or inability to walk, delayed tooth eruption, foul-smelling and eroded sutures, progressing to conditions similar to Running Horse Cancre (Zou Ma Gan), is called Kidney Malnutrition (Shen Gan).

Generally speaking, the disease of Malnutrition arises from overeating, where accumulation in the Spleen remains untreated and transmits to other zang organs, resulting in the five types of Malnutrition. If the Spleen disease is cured, the other zang organs will be at peace. If treatment is neglected, transmission will inevitably occur over time. However, Spleen diseases are suitable for treating with Lu Hui Wan (Aloe Pill), Chen Xiang Bing Lang Wan (Agarwood and Areca Seed Pill), Shui Jing Dan (Crystal Pill), or Wu Xi Wan (Black Rhinoceros Horn Pill), while observing deficiency and excess for appropriate therapy. For cases with parasites, Shi Jun Zi Wan (Quisqualis Pill) or Hua Chong Yin (Paricide Decoction) should be administered; if heart and abdominal pain occur, vomiting clear fluid, and worms are expelled naturally, Er Sheng Wan (Two Sages Pill) can be given frequently. All types of Malnutrition are suitable for taking Ju Fang Wu Gan Bao Tong Wan (Bureau Formula Five Malnutrition Child-Protecting Pill) or Wan Ying Wan (Ten Thousand Remedies Pill) for long-term use to resolve accumulation and treat Malnutrition, while simultaneously administering decoctions to regulate the respective affected zang organ. To calm the mind, Fu Shen Tang (Poria Cocos Decoction) is used; to harmonize the Liver, Si Wu Tang (Four Substance Decoction) is used; to regulate the Spleen, Shen Ling Bai Zhu San (Ginseng, Poria, and Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder) is used; to tonify the Lung, Bu Fei San (Lung-Tonifying Powder) is used; to tonify the Kidney, Diao Yuan San (Origin-Regulating Powder) is used. Thus, each case receives appropriate treatment, preventing the recurrence of previous symptoms.

Any condition presenting as such is mostly due to qi deficiency combined with cold invasion, along with retained food stagnation that fails to dissipate. Accumulation generates heat over time, and deficient heat qi steams upward. Alternatively, consuming sweet, sour, salty, or greasy foods may cause issues; although the Spleen favors sweet flavors, prolonged stagnation leads to accumulated heat steaming upward into the mouth. This causes teeth to become blackened, scorched, and eroded, occasionally bleeding clear blood. Blood accumulates and turns into pus, which becomes foul-smelling and breeds parasites that erode the oral cavity and teeth. In severe cases, it leads to perforation of the cheeks, difficulty in nursing and eating, a shiny and puffy complexion, wheezing, and recurrent fever, known as Running Horse Cancre (Zou Ma Gan).

The treatment method involves first clearing accumulated heat using Dang Gui San (Angelica Sinensis Powder) combined with San Leng San (Curcuma Zedoaria Powder), decocted with water, ginger, and jujube. Subsequently, administer Lu Hui Wan (Aloe Pill) and Yu Lu Yin (Jade Dew Decoction), and rinse the mouth with warm salt water, or gently brush the affected area with soft chicken feathers dipped in salt water. After wiping dry, apply Shao Yan San (Burnt Salt Powder), Nei Jin San (Chicken Gizzard Lining Powder), or Mi Tuo Seng San (Lead Monoxide Powder). If the condition persists without healing, it spreads to the upper and lower lips, forming Beng Sha Zheng (Falling Sand Syndrome). If lesions fill the cheeks, teeth fall out exposing bone, food intake decreases, and breathing becomes rapid with rattling phlegm, the condition will inevitably become critical.