Introduction: Children's organs are delicate and their physical Qi is not fully developed, making them bodies of immature Yin and Yang. The spleen is prone to deficiency while the stomach is prone to excess. This article introduces the experience of using modified Baihu Decoction to moisten dryness, nourish Yin, resolve stagnation, and awaken the spleen in treating infantile anorexia.

Infantile Anorexia, Modified Baihu Decoction

Qiu Dejin

The stomach governs reception, while the spleen governs transformation and transportation. Both are located in the middle and belong to the earth element. Earth is analogous to the ground, represented by the Kun hexagram in the Book of Changes. As stated in the Yi Jing: "Great is the fundamental virtue of Kun, from which all things derive their life." Therefore, the spleen and stomach together constitute the foundation of postnatal life and the source of qi and blood production.

Poor appetite and loss of interest in food should be attributed to the stomach, while impaired transformation and transportation should be attributed to the spleen. Reviewing the approaches of physicians throughout history in treating pediatric anorexia, most have attributed it to spleen deficiency, but this is actually misleading.

The stomach corresponds to the Yang Earth element (戊土), which is Yang in nature and thus referred to as Yangming. It favors warmth and dislikes dryness, and its qi should descend. Stomach disorders often involve dryness, which damages yin. Therefore, to treat poor appetite and loss of interest in food, it is appropriate to moisten dryness, nourish yin, and include a small amount of medicinal herbs to resolve food stagnation and awaken the spleen. The spleen corresponds to the Yin Earth element (己土), which is Yin in nature and thus referred to as Taiyin. It favors dryness and dislikes dampness, and its qi should ascend. Spleen disorders often involve dampness, which leads to qi stagnation. Therefore, for treating spleen deficiency with excessive dampness, the appropriate method is to fortify the spleen, promote the movement of dampness, soothe the liver, and harmonize the stomach.

Modified White Tiger Decoction for Treating Anorexia Due to Stomach Heat and Fluid Impairment

The organs of children are delicate, their physique and vitality are not fully developed, and they possess a constitution of immature yin and yang, making them prone to deficiency and excess conditions. The susceptibility to deficiency and excess, specifically in the middle burner, manifests as spleen deficiency and stomach excess. Stomach excess is characterized by the presence of dryness pathogenic factors, which are detrimental to the stomach. Therefore, when I treat anorexia in children, I consistently adopt the method of moistening dryness, nourishing yin, resolving accumulation, and awakening the spleen. The formula I use is the modified White Tiger Decoction, which consistently yields immediate results.

Take a 5-year-old child as an example:

Prescription: Raw Gypsum Fibrosum 10g, Anemarrhena Rhizome 9g, Chinese Yam 15g, Honey-fried Licorice Root 5g, Dendrobium Stem 9g, Charred Hawthorn Fruit 12g, Amomum Fruit 3g, White Cardamom Seed 2g.

Decoct once with water to obtain 150ml. Take 50ml three times a day, half an hour after meals.

Baihu Decoction clears heat and promotes fluid production, making it a formula for treating intense heat in the Yangming channel. Here, it is adapted to treat anorexia due to stomach heat and fluid depletion, which is also highly appropriate. In the formula, Anemarrhena rhizome and Dendrobium nourish yin and promote fluid production, hawthorn eliminates food stagnation, and amomum fruit and round cardamom awaken the spleen. The prescription matches the syndrome, hence the immediate and remarkable effect.