When giving children Chinese herbal medicine, parents need to know how to decoct the medicine first. Since children are smaller, the dosage and amount of water used for decocting the medicine are different. It is also a challenge to make children drink the medicine. Let's take a look at the methods of decocting and administering Chinese herbal medicine for children.
[Methods of Decocting Chinese Herbal Medicine for Children]
Decocting Chinese herbal medicine is a characteristic method in traditional Chinese medicine. The correctness of the decocting method directly affects the efficacy of the medicine. Therefore, it is very important to master the method of decocting medicine. The dosage of Chinese herbal medicine for children is usually 1/3 to 1/2 of that for adults. When decocting the medicine, first rinse the Chinese herbal medicine to remove any dirt, and then put it in a clay pot with water to decoct.
1. For children under one year old, the amount of water used for decocting Chinese herbal medicine is two bowls (200ml/bowl), boiled until it reduces to about half a bowl;
2. For children aged one to seven, the amount of water used for decocting Chinese herbal medicine is three bowls, boiled until it reduces to about three-quarters of a bowl;
3. For children over seven years old, the amount of water used for decocting Chinese herbal medicine is three bowls, boiled until it reduces to one bowl.
For herbal medicine that disperses wind-heat, it should be decocted quickly with strong heat. For nourishing herbal medicine, it should be slowly simmered. Stir the medicine 2-3 times during the decoction process to ensure even heating and improve the quality of the decoction. Nourishing herbal medicine can be decocted twice, while herbal medicine for dispersing wind-heat only needs to be decocted once.
[How to Make Children Drink Chinese Herbal Medicine]
In clinical practice, many parents have reported that Chinese herbal medicine has a strong taste and a large volume, making it difficult for children to accept. Therefore, parents need to be more patient when administering the medicine. It is important not to pinch the child's nose and force them to drink, as this can cause the liquid to be inhaled into the trachea and lungs, leading to aspiration pneumonia or even suffocation. For slightly older children, they should be encouraged to drink the medicine themselves. Bitter herbal medicine can be flavored with a small amount of jujube honey or brown sugar, and can be taken in small amounts multiple times. To prevent vomiting, it is not advisable for the child to eat too much before taking the medicine.
When dealing with a child who cannot drink the medicine on their own, the correct method is as follows: hold the child at an angle, use one hand to hold their cheeks to open their mouth, then place the medicine spoon in their mouth, slightly press the tongue and lower jaw, and slowly pour in the medicine liquid. After the medicine liquid is completely swallowed, release the hand holding the cheek, remove the medicine spoon, and continue this method intermittently until all the medicine is consumed.
[Chinese Herbal Medicine Should Not be Taken with Milk or Fruit Juice]
It is worth noting that Chinese herbal medicine should be taken at a warm temperature and should not be too hot or too cold. Additionally, many parents like to mix Chinese herbal medicine with milk or fruit juice, but this is not the correct practice. Chinese herbal medicine has complex ingredients, and when combined with acidic substances, proteins, fats, etc., it can cause adverse reactions or affect the absorption of the medicine. Therefore, it is best to avoid mixing Chinese herbal medicine with milk, fruit juice, etc.
The above are the methods of decocting and administering Chinese herbal medicine for children. Since children dislike the bitter taste of the medicine, do not force them to drink it, and do not mix it with milk or fruit juice.
