Spotlight on TCM Pediatrics: Inherent Characteristics of Children

Most authoritative discussions of traditional Chinese pediatric medicine always begins with a list of fundamental inherent characteristics of children.

It's kind of a mouthful -- and phrased differently in different texts -- but the idea is that children are, by nature, different from adults anatomically and physiologically, and - by extension - mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Chinese medicine practitioners have, over the millenia, through medical practice & observation, teased out some of the factors that set children apart from adults.

I think these "inherent characteristics" are fun to think about --- and, of course, they have implications for clinical treatment & lifelong health. Discussion of TCM pediatrics in popular forums is sparse, so, I thought I'd hash out some of these "characteristics" over a series of blogposts.

Let me start by saying that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a highly effective option in the treatment of children. In fact, children typically respond more quickly to the subtle influences of TCM treatment than adults do because they are growing and changing so rapidly. However, children can not simply be treated as mini-versions of adults. To treat children effectively, a TCM practitioner must consider the inherent characteristics of children, which necessarily inform diagnosis and treatment.

The classical Chinese medical texts, which were written by many different physician-authors over the course of several thousand years and form the basis for modern TCM, abound with sayings or proverbs. These proverbs are usually four or five Chinese characters long. The inherent characteristics of children lists also come from these classical texts and follow this format. Some examples are:

"Children's Spleen is often insufficient."

"Children's Yin is often insufficient."

"Children's organs are fragile and soft, Qi easily leaves its path."

"Children easily become ill, and their illness quickly becomes serious."

"Yin & yang organs are clear & spirited. They easily & quickly regain their health."

Lists of the characteristics of children vary somewhat among the different TCM source texts available in the English language. My presentation will draw on various sources, but is ultimately my own summary.

Who Counts as a Kid in Chinese Medicine?

From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, the kidneys control developmental cycles in human life. Women are thought to follow seven-year cycles and men eight year cycles (the end of the first cycle characterized by the loss of baby teeth & the growth of permanent teeth at ages 7 & 8, and the end of the second cycle marked by the onset of puberty and maturation of reproductive capacities at ages 14 & 16, for girls and boys respectively) -- this according to the first chapter of the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, the fundamental text of traditional Chinese medicine, compiled between 400 and 200 BCE, roughly.

The principles and considerations of Chinese medicine pediatrics apply to children during the first 7- or 8-year life cycle and, to a lesser extent, during the second cycle. The same Chinese medicine diagnostic and treatment principles that are applied to adults can mostly be applied to teenagers after they've hit through puberty. However, the first life transition at 7/8 years and, more importantly perhaps, the transition of puberty can be viewed through a Chinese medicine lens, and Chinese medicine can be useful in easing challenges that arise during these transitions. Maybe this is material for another blogpost.

Stay tuned for more discussion on the Fundamental Inherent Characteristics of Children in future posts.

A few sources:

Julian Scott & Teresa Barlow. Acupuncture in the Treatment of Children. Seattle: Eastland Press, 1991.

Bob Flaws. A Practitioner's Guide to the Care & Treatment of Common Childhood Diseases, Boulder: Blue Poppy Press, 1997.

Common Chinese Patent Herbal Formulas for Allergic Rhinitis

For Acute Symptoms:

There are two patent formulas that are worth having in your home-remedy kit for the relief of acute allergic symptoms, particularly allergic rhinitis and headaches:

"Bi Yan Pian," or "Nose Inflammation Tablets," disperses wind, clears heat, expels toxins and transforms phlegm to unblock the sinuses, treat sinus congestion and pain and sinus headaches and relieve red, itchy or watery eyes.

"Xin Yi Wan," or "Magnolia Flower Teapills," dispel wind-cold and eliminate dampness to relieve nasal congestion, sinus pain, post-nasal drip, sneezing, runny nose, headache, stiff & achy upper back & neck.

Both of these formulas consist of herbs that expel wind from the exterior of the body, like Japanese catnip, or Schizonepeta tenuifolie (jing jie) and Siler divaricata (fang feng). They also contain herbs to clear the nasal passages, like magnolia buds (xin yi hua) and xanthium fuit (cang er zi). 


What is the difference between these two formulas?

Basically, bi yan pian is for allergies characterized by wind-heat and phlegm signs (which might include thick, sticky, yellow nasal discharge; red, itchy eyes; feeling of warmth, fever or agitation or avoidance of warmth.)

Xin Yin Wan is for allergies characterized by wind-cold and dampness signs (copious, clear, runny nasal discharge; stiff upper back & neck; feeling of heaviness or foggy-headedness; sneezing; feeling of chilliness or avoidance of cold.)



For Allergy Prevention:

As your acute symptoms decrease, your herbalist will work with you to address underlying physiological imbalances and regulate your immune system to reduce overall occurrence of allergic reactions.

Typically, an underlying weakness, often a deficiency of Lung and Spleen Qi, is what makes people susceptible to allergies. Lung Qi is responsible for the proper function of the entire respiratory tract, including the nasal passages. Spleen Qi controls the transport of fluids in the body. When the Spleen is impaired, weakening digestive function, it can lead to an overproduction of mucous, which tends to collect in the lungs. Weakness of Kidney Qi sometimes plays a role in long-term chronic allergies and asthma.

The weakness of Qi underlying seasonal allergies is treated with herbs that bolster Lung and Spleen function, such as codonopsis (dang shen), atractylodes (bai zhu), and honey-roasted licorice (zhi gan cao).

A classic formula for toning the immune system is Jade Windscreen Powder (in Chinese, yu ping feng san), containing two herbs to bolster Lung and Spleen--astragalus root (huang qi) and atractylodes (bai zhu)-- and one herb to repel wind--siler (fang feng).

Another useful formula for allergy prevention is Six Gentlemen Decocotion (liu jun zi tang). This formula bolsters the Spleen and Lung AND contains to medicinals, pinellia (ban xia) and aged citrus peel (chen pi), which enhance the base formula's ability to clear mucous and dry dampness.

There are many other Chinese herbal patent formulations on the market besides those mentioned here. Consult with your herbalist to learn which products are safe and from reputable companies, as well as which formulations might best meet your needs. Furthermore, an herbalist who mixes formulas from individual herbs has a much wider range of options to draw from in customizing a formula that meets your specific needs.


Related Articles:

Relieve Allergies Naturally with Chinese Medicine

Research: Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs Effective in Relieving Seasonal Allergies