Question
My child has been sick for about five or six days and has been on medication. However, for the past three days, he has hardly eaten anything, only managing to drink a few sips of yogurt. But I’m worried that if he doesn’t eat, the medication might harm his body even more. What should I do? Are there any ways to get him to eat?
Answer
If your child’s lack of appetite is due to a cold and they are not constipated, it is actually beneficial for them to fully recover. According to your description, it’s not good for the child because especially with colds and other diseases, these can cause a significant energy expenditure in the body. It’s very important to get timely digestive energy. Here are some suggestions: first, pay close attention to what your child usually likes to eat and try to encourage them to eat, as long as they’re able to defecate; apples are fine, for instance. Second, if your child’s appetite is poor and despite multiple efforts they still can’t defecate, then check how your child is feeling spiritually. If they are listless and show other signs of inactivity, among many others, then it might be time to consider hospital medication for digestive energy. How is your child feeling? What was their appetite like before the illness? What kind of illness does your child have?