Question
My child has been talking to himself, and it turns out he has tic disorder. What should I pay attention to during the treatment period?
Answer
Since children with tic disorder often have symptoms of yin deficiency and yang excess, they should avoid spicy and greasy foods to prevent further depletion of yin essence, which can exacerbate the yang excess condition. They should also limit consumption of drinks containing caffeine and dyes, such as cola, strong tea, and coffee, as well as preserved foods like instant noodles, popcorn, cheese, and chocolate. They should eat more vegetables and fruits. During medication, they should avoid eating ginger, scallions, garlic, lamb, donkey meat, seafood, cold dishes, and should not smoke or drink alcohol. Green bean soup is also prohibited.