White Atractylodes and Alisma Treat Infant Diarrhea #InfantDiarrhea

【Indications】 Strengthens the spleen, promotes diuresis to drain dampness, and regulates intestinal function to stop diarrhea. Treats watery stools with undigested food residues, postprandial diarrhea, increased bowel movements after consuming greasy or cold foods, reduced appetite, fatigue, incomplete eyelid closure during sleep, scanty urine, sallow complexion, pale tongue with thin white coating.

【Herbal Formula】

White Atractylodes (Baizhu) – 200g

Alisma (Zexie) – 150g

Poria (Fuling) – 200g

Polyporus (Zhuling) – 150g

Plantago Seeds (Cheqianzi) – 100g

Chaenomeles Fruit (Mugua) – 50g

【Usage and Dosage】

Dry-fry the herbs according to their properties, grind into a fine powder, and store in a sealed container.

Steep the powder in boiling water for oral administration.

Dosage:

Under 1 year: 10g per dose, twice daily.

1–3 years: 15g per dose, twice daily.

4–7 years: 15–20g per dose, three times daily.

【Modifications】

Suitable for diarrhea due to spleen deficiency and failure to separate clear and turbid substances.

Add Hawthorn (Shanzha) and Medicated Leaven (Shenqu) for undigested milk/food.

Add Chebula (Hezi) and Pomegranate Husk (Shiliupi) for persistent diarrhea.

【Case Study】
A 9-month-old male patient, Zhang, had chronic diarrhea for 5 months (10+ episodes daily), watery stools with undigested food, poor appetite, incomplete eyelid closure during sleep, excessive sweating, and scanty urine. Despite three hospitalizations and combined TCM/Western treatments, symptoms recurred.

Initial exam: Fatigue, pale complexion, pale red tongue with thin white coating, faint venule pattern on the index finger.

Treatment: Administered 20g of this formula daily (divided into two doses), steeped in boiling water. The clear decoction was mixed with a small amount of sugar and taken frequently.

Outcome: Symptoms improved after 2 days; full recovery after 4 days.

#InfantDiarrhea