Pediatric medical books in China date from the late 200s C.E.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can be a very effective treatment for fairly serious conditions – the main treatment chosen is usually a form of Chinese herbal medicine, followed by ‘tui-na’ (massage), and sometimes acupuncture. Herbal remedies are selected according to the differential diagnosis of Chinese Medical therapy, along with some herbs chosen according to modern pharmaceutical study. Children are not considered to be miniature adults – they have different constitutions and different “patterns of disharmony” which lead to illness.. Pediatrics is a specialty of TCM – and while there are many folk remedies available (diet/herbs/massage), the child is brought in to see the TCM herbal doctor for any serious condition. The doctor may also refer out or work with a Western-trained M.D.
When I studied at the Zhejiang Provincial Hospital in Hangzhou, China, for 2 months in 1992, there was a section on the 2nd floor devoted to pediatric treatment. Mothers would come with their children and line up on benches along the hallway awaiting their turns. Upon entering, the child would be examined by the doctor – and questions would be asked of the child and parent. Unlike adult TCM, less emphasis was placed on pulse diagnosis and more upon tongue diagnosis and overall observation. After the examination, the doctor would write down a formula of between 4 to 15 herbs. The doctor would also refer the child to Western-trained M.D. if necessary (in the same unit). The mother would take the prescription down to the pharmacy and have it filled, and then go home and decoct (boil) it and give it to the child – usually a small cup (2-3 droppers is how I usually do it here) a few times a day.
The majority of the babies and children I saw treated in China were treated for digestive complaints and for respiratory conditions. Some were also treated for what TCM calls “Kidney-deficiency”, illnesses which they may have inherited. Whatever the problem, the doctors would diagnosis the condition based on the time-honored system of the traditional medicine, and from this diagnosis they would choose the herb formula.
The parents were also given dietary advice for their child. Different foods were recommended for different conditions. At the onset of a cold/flu it was recommended to boil the white part of a green onion with ginger root and salted soybean to promote sweating and clear the body of the incoming pathogens. The parents were often reminded of the basics of TCM nutrition. In all cases advice was given to strengthen the digestion and so promote strength and longevity. For example, parents who had a child that had chronic stomachaches and runny noses were advised to not overfeed their children and to avoid icy drinks and sweets (including fruit juices). To prevent colds the advice was to not expose the neck and upper back to wind and cold, to dress warmly but not overdue it (Chinese love to overbundled their babies for Winter so that they can hardly move!), and to use the herb Astragulus in daily cooking.
In TCM, infants are considered to have immature digestions which can create digestive and respiratory weakness. They easily overheat, which can create feverish conditions, spasms, and emotional disturbances. Because of these tendencies, a lot of emphasis is put on proper diet, avoidance of excess and healthy lifestyle.
On the 1st floor of the hospital were the massage doctors, two of whom specialized in infant tui-na. They would deftly press, rub, and scrape points on the body of the baby – especially the acupressure points on the hands, as they explained that while the child was still crawling, the hands were more energized and suitable for treatment. When the child walked, they focused more on the feet. Almost always back and belly points were chosen, and “spirit-calming” points between the eyebrows and on the ears. It was emphasized that the massage be given lightly, yet confidently and with focused intent.
TCM can treat many illnesses as well as modern medicine without side-effects, although its View of the body is very different. TCM’s clinical gaze names illnesses in ways that we don’t – so that what seems to our view an unrelated group of symptoms might, to the Chinese doctors eyes, be basically one condition, or “pattern of disharmony”. In my practice here in Oregon, I’ve discovered that if the child shows the symptoms that fit this “pattern” well, Chinese medicine can work extremely well, even in potentially serious cases.
Choosing TCM to treat a baby in America requires finding a trained and experienced practitioner. Although there are many acupuncturists presently in practice, it is helpful if they have a full understanding of Chinese herbal therapy as well. For using TCM without a doctor, there are many patent (pill, syrup, powder) herb remedies and food cures that are worth experimenting with if the condition is clear and not complex. Still, it is best to visit a TCM doctor first to get a grasp on a child’s underlying pattern, and be pointed in the right direction as far as books and patent remedies.
KB – 2001