Question
A parent describes that their baby has abdominal bloating and a lack of appetite, refusing to eat and sometimes only eating a few mouthfuls before stopping. The baby is also picky, only eating half a banana. This condition has persisted for some time, with the baby’s temperament worsening, sleeping later at night, and frequently waking up to kick the blanket off. The baby only calms down when breastfed, until noon when they wake up. They have previously seen a doctor and received injections, but the symptoms quickly returned. They went to the doctor again today, where the diagnosis was abdominal bloating. The doctor recommended boiling some carrot water for the baby to drink and observing any changes. If there is no improvement, they need to see a doctor again. The parent is worried that the baby’s loss of appetite may affect growth and development and intellectual development, so they are seeking medical advice.
Answer
According to the parent’s description, the baby’s symptoms may be due to low spleen and stomach function. It is suggested to use traditional Chinese medicine for adjustment, choosing some herbs with functions of digestion, invigorating the spleen, and clearing heat, such as Pinellia ternata, dried tangerine peel, Poria cocos, Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F., Inner Gold (Stomach), Licorice root, Scutellaria baicalensis, etc. Parents can help the baby with abdominal massage in daily life to promote gastrointestinal motility and maintain smooth bowel movements.