Infantile diarrhea, one of the commonly encountered diseases in pediatrics, is usually due to improper diet, bacterial and viral infection in the intestines. The main clinical manifestations are frequent defecation, abdominal flatulence and borborygmus as well as watery stool. According to TCM this disease is caused by exogenous pathogenic factors, improper diet, hypofunction of the spleen and stomach, dysfunction of the spleen and stom-ach in transformation and transportation as well as inter-action between lucid and turbid materials in the intes-tines. This disease mainly involves the spleen and stom-ach. However, prolongation may affect the kidney.
Treatment
Prescription: Tianshu (ST 25) and Zusanli (ST 36).
Modification: For damp-heat, Quchi (LI 11) and Nei-ting (ST 44) are added; for severe fever, Dazhui (GV 14) and Hegu (LI 4) are added; for severe dampness, Yinlingquan (SP 9) is added; for dyspepsia, Zhongwan (CV 12), Neiting (ST 44) and Sifeng (EX-UE 10) are added; for diarrea due to yang asthenia, Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23) and Guanyuan (CV 4) are added.
Performance: Needling without retention of needles is suitable for the treatment of the infants under the age of 4. for the treatment of diarrhea due to damp-heat and dyspepsia, Sifeng (EX-UE 10) is pricked with three-edged needle to let a little yellowish liquid; for the treatment of diarrhea due to yang asthenia, the acupoints are needled with reinforcing needling technique or warmed needle or moxibusted with moxa-roll or Guanyuan (CV 4) is moxi-busted with big moxa-cone.
2. Moxibustion
Prescription: Shenque (CV 8), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Changqiang (GV 1).
Performance: Shenque (CV 8) is moxibusted with the cushion of salt; Guanyuan (CV 4) and Changqiang (GV 1) are moxibusted with moxa-roll or moxa-cone once a day. Moxibustion therapy is applicable to the treatment of diarrhea due to yang asthenia.
