Traditional Chinese Medicine recommends three folk remedies for acute enteritis:
1. Longan Seed for Acute Gastroenteritis
Ingredients: Longan seeds (lychee nuts) as needed.
Preparation: Dry-roast longan seeds and grind into fine powder. Take 25g twice daily with warm water.
Efficacy: Tonifies spleen and harmonizes stomach.
2. Jujube Bark and Brown Sugar Decoction for Gastroenteritis
Ingredients: 20g jujube tree bark, 15g brown sugar.
Preparation: Decoct in water, strain, add brown sugar, and take once daily.
Effects: Anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, and intestinal tonic. Treats gastroenteritis, dysentery with abdominal pain, and stomach pain.
3. Plum-Coptis-Magnolia Decoction for Gastroenteritis
Ingredients: 15g dried plum, 10g Coptis rhizome, 30g Eucommia bark, 10g Atractylodes rhizome, 10g Magnolia bark, 10g dried tangerine peel, 5g roasted licorice root, 10g ginger, 5 jujubes.
Preparation: Decoct each daily dose twice, mix decoctions, and take in 3 divided doses.
Effects: Black plum astringes and constricts the intestines; Coptis and Eucommia bark clear heat and dry dampness; Atractylodes strengthens the spleen and stomach; Magnolia bark guides stagnation and eliminates distension; Tangerine peel regulates qi and harmonizes the middle; Fried licorice, ginger, and dates harmonize the spleen and stomach. This formula combines bitter-cold herbs to clear heat and dry dampness with aromatic herbs to regulate qi and strengthen the spleen. It is thus suitable for prolonged enteritis with spleen deficiency and lingering damp-heat.
Causes of Acute Enteritis in Children
① Intestinal infections caused by bacteria and viruses, particularly pathogenic Escherichia coli, are the primary pathogens. Excessive or inappropriate antibiotic use during illness may also lead to fungal invasion of the gastrointestinal tract.
② Upper respiratory tract inflammation, pneumonia, nephritis, otitis media, and other non-gastrointestinal diseases can reduce digestive enzyme secretion and increase intestinal motility due to fever and bacterial toxin absorption.④ Climate changes: Extreme cold increases intestinal motility, while excessive heat reduces gastric acid and digestive enzyme secretion, both potentially triggering acute gastroenteritis.