When the Ten Thousand Things are seen in their Oneness, We return to the Origin where we have always been. - Sengtan

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Oriental Medicine Newspaper

NEWS RELEASE

July, 25 2008
For More Information Contact: Kathleen Rushall Phone: (800) 729-0941

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Infantile Diarrhea

Infantile Diarrhea is common condition that is often overlooked, but one that can be alleviated with traditional Chinese medicine. Infantile Diarrhea is a spleno-gastric disorder, marked by frequent defecation of thin or watery stool. Especially in infants, severe diarrhea can lead to serious complications such as dehydration or malnutrition. Even in its mildest form it can cause serious discomfort for the infant - and for his or her parents.

TCM sees infantile diarrhea as a dysfunction of Qi within the spleen and stomach. Since the spleen and stomach of infants are small and not yet developed, their digestive function is weak. Because of this intrinsic weakness of their digestive organs, yin and yang or both are easily impaired and complications such as infantile diarrhea are the result.

Babies are easily exposed to external pathogens. This coupled with the weakness of the spleen and stomach causes dysfunction in transportation of foodstuffs. This is referred to as Food Stagnation in TCM. Food Stagnation leads to excessive dampness in the large intestine, which gives rise to frequent watery diarrhea. TCM views Damp, Heat and Cold as the root causes for diarrhea. Exposure to wind; cold; summer heat and dampness cause imbalances in the spleen and stomach, resulting in infantile diarrhea.

TCM treatment for infantile diarrhea involves any and all protocols that restore spleen, kidney and stomach yang, including herbal medications, acupuncture and Tui-Na. Tui-Na is an Oriental form of massage that uses physical manipulation to directly influences the flow of Qi. It is a complementary procedure to acupuncture and herbal medicine, as practitioners believe it allows them to influence a whole channel of energy rather than just one point.

Traditional and Chinese medicine agree that a prevention of infantile diarrhea starts with a proper diet. Both philosophies indicate that mother's milk is the preferred diet for an infant. However, the baby's diet, whether milk or food, should be regular, consistent and bland, to maintain proper function of the spleen.

For more information on Infantile Diarrhea and TCM, please call(800) 729-0941, or visit www.PacificCollege.edu.

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