The slow growth of children at this age is indeed a matter of concern. I once met a mother from Nanyang whose child is five years old, but only 106 cm tall and grows very slowly. The mother took the child to the local hospital for examination, and the doctor recommended that the child be injected with growth hormone to promote growth, but the mother felt that the child was still too young and did not want to inject the child. After being introduced, she approached me and asked me to help the child grow taller. For this mom, her trust and recognition of me is extremely important, so I feel a great responsibility.
When he first met the child, he was thin and pale, and he didn't look like a five-year-old. I noticed that his hair was dry and dull, and his whole person looked listless. My mother told me that when my child entered kindergarten, he realized that he was a lot shorter than the other children. After an examination at the county hospital, it was found that the child was deficient in iron, zinc and calcium. Mom has taken various ways to supplement her nutrition, such as eggs, beef, fish and shrimp, and drink milk every day. However, the child's height did not increase significantly, but he often fell ill, which made the mother very distressed. Finally, the doctor at the city hospital recommended that the child be injected with growth hormone. Just when my mother was hesitating, she learned of my existence and came with her child from afar.
After the first communication and face-to-face consultation, I preliminarily judged that the child's short height was mainly caused by the underlying problem, rather than a congenital lack of growth hormone. The child's bone age is not too large, which means that his body is still able to secrete growth hormone. However, some previous underlying issues led to slow growth in the child's height. The height of the child's parents is 178 cm and 165 cm respectively, and the genetic height is relatively good. After a detailed inquiry and diagnosis, I found some problems. The child's tongue coating is thick and greasy, the tongue is reddish, there is a bruise on the lower part of the head, and there are green tendons on the bridge of the nose. My mother also told me that the child has an average appetite, but likes to eat delicious food, needs to be urged to defecate every day, and sometimes there will be blood in the stool, the stool is dry and rough, and the toilet is often blocked. The child sleeps okay, but likes to flip, talk in sleep, and have problems such as poor breathing, mild rhinitis, mouth ulcers, and colds.
Through my diagnosis, I determined that the child had a spleen deficiency and internal heat accumulation. This results in slow gastrointestinal motility and poor digestion and absorption, which, combined with the wear and tear of illness, leads to slow growth in the child. At the same time, overfeeding and incorrect handling are also problems. The child's spleen and stomach are relatively delicate, but the mother eats more to supplement nutrition, which further aggravates the problem of food accumulation and spleen deficiency. Especially drinking milk before bedtime, I recommend that children can quit after the age of three and do not eat two hours before bedtime to ensure normal digestion of the spleen and stomach and more growth hormone secretion.
My conditioning idea is to first eliminate heat accumulation, and then strengthen the spleen and stomach. Clearing heat can remove waste from the body and help children recover a good internal environment. Strengthening the spleen and stomach is to restore the function of the spleen and stomach itself, only when the spleen and stomach are good, the child can fully absorb the nutrients eaten, no longer constipation and picky eaters, the physique will improve, less sick, and can grow taller faster.
I prescribed Jiao San Xian Qing Moist Formula for my child, which is a classic food remedy that consists of Jiao Hawthorn, Jiao Shenqu and Jiao Malt. Not only do these ingredients have medicinal properties, but they are also perfect for children to clear their heat. Children drink Jiao Sanxian soup every day for about 3 days, which can help smooth bowel movements and clear internal heat.
In addition, I also prescribed Qingrun prescription for my children, including Chinese herbs such as Dan Fur, Atractylodes, Poria Cocos and Chuanxiong. These herbs help to strengthen the spleen and stomach, improve digestion and absorption, and improve the child's appetite and nutrient absorption. Children taking Qingrun Fang every day for one or two months can improve spleen and stomach function, increase energy**, and promote growth.
In addition to TCM conditioning, I also recommend that children do appropriate exercises, such as swimming, basketball, skipping rope, etc., to promote muscle development and bone growth. In addition, mothers need to pay attention to their child's nutritional intake to ensure that he is getting enough protein, vitamins and minerals.
After a period of conditioning, the child's physical condition gradually improved. His mental state has improved a lot, and his appetite has increased significantly. After three months of conditioning, the child's height has increased by 3 cm, and the mother is very happy. I encourage my mother to continue to persevere, the child's growth potential is still there, as long as she does a good job of conditioning and management, I believe he will grow taller.
To sum up, for the problem of a child's slow growth, the first thing to determine is whether there is a basic problem. If there is no congenital deficiency of growth hormone, it is likely to be due to spleen deficiency and internal heat accumulation. Through traditional Chinese medicine conditioning and proper exercise, the spleen and stomach function can be improved and the growth and development of children can be promoted. At the same time, pay attention to your child's nutritional intake to ensure that he gets enough nutrients. Most importantly, parents should be patient and confident that their child's growth is a gradual process that requires constant effort and attention.