Infantile Malnutrition - Gan Zheng
From
Contents |
Definition
A chronic condition in young children caused by inadequate feeding or other diseases, which impair the function of the spleen and the stomach and consume and injure qi and fluid. Its main features are emaciation, pale complexion, dry and weak hair, listlessness or vexation and bizarre eating habit.
Causes and Pathological Mechanisms
Improper feedings: most common cause. Too much or too little.
Too much: irregular feeding, too much sweet, greasy and rich food, cold and raw food, hard food causing food accumulation and stagnation. If this lasts too long the result will be Gan Zheng. Ji (accumulation) is the mother of Gan; without Ji there will be no Gan.
Too little: lack of milk, weaning too early, no enough supplementary food, harelip or cleft palate (unable to suck milk). These will lead to insufficient source for micronutrients, Qi and Blood, resulting in Gan Zheng
Diseases
Long term illnesses, repetitive infections, vomiting, diarrhea, dysentery, seasonal febrile diseases. There can result in Qi and fluid exhaustion, Spleen and Stomach deficiencies failing to generate and transform nutrients, Deficient Fire flaring, qi and blood exhaustion.
Weak Constitution
Premature birth, twins and multiple births, drugs damages in pregnancy. All these result in pre-heaven kidney deficiency and other Zang Fu organs’ weakness. Spleen and Stomach weakness leads to Gan Zheng
Patterns
Gan Qi
- Symptoms: Emaciation, dim and wilted complexion with little radiance, sparse hair, loss of appetite or eating a lot but always hungry, low spirit, bad temper, constipation or loose feces.
- Tongue: Pale tongue with thin white of yellowish coating
- Pulse: Thready or pale Finger Vein
- Treatment strategy: Strengthen the spleen to activate transport and transformation
- Formula: Shen Ling Bai Zhu San and Bao He Wan
- Acupoints:
Gan Ji
- Symptoms: Evident emaciation, bloated and proportionally large abdomen, exposed veins, dim and wilted complexion with no radiance, sparse hair, no spirit, bad temper, vexation, disturbed sleep, strange behaviour, loss of appetite or eat a lot and defecate a lot.
- Tongue: Pale tongue with thin greasy coating
- Pulse: Thready and Rapid, pale Finger Vein
- Treatment strategy: Strengthen the spleen and dissipate accumulation
- Formula: Fei Er Wan or Si Jun Zi Tang
- Acupoints:
Gan Gan
- Symptoms: Extreme emaciation, old-age complexion, dry and wrinkled skin, muscle waste, skin and bone, listlessness, dim eyes, weak cry, dry and wilted hair, boat-shaped abdomen, no appetite, loose and clear faeces, low fever, dry lips and mouth.
- Tongue: Red and young tongue with little coating
- Pulse: Deep and Thready, very pale Finger Vein
- Treatment strategy: Tonify qi and blood
- Formula: Ba Zhen Tang
- Acupoints:
Yan (eye) Gan: Spleen - Liver
- Symptoms: Night blindness (nyctalopia) or failing to see in dim light (e.g. evening), dry eyes, aversion to light, cloudy cornea and nebulas.
- Tongue:
- Pulse:
- Treatment strategy: Nourish the liver to brighten the eye
- Formula: Shi Hu Ye Guang Wan
- Acupoints:
Kou (mouth) Gan: Spleen - Heart
- Symptoms: Mouth and tongue ulcer and erosion, foul smell, red face and lips, vexation and crying a lot and prone to fright.
- Tongue: Red tongue with thin yellow coating
- Pulse: Rapid
- Treatment strategy: Clear and purge heart fire
- Formula: Dao Chi San plus Huang Lian and Deng Xin Cao
- Acupoints:
Gan Zhong Zhang (edema): Spleen - Kidney
- Symptoms: Edema in feet and lower legs or even face and all limbs, pale complexion, cold limbs, urination difficulties and loose feces.
- Tongue: Pale tongue with thin white coating
- Pulse: Weak
- Treatment strategy: Invigorate spleen and warm kidney yang to remove water
- Formula: Zhen Wu Tang
- Acupoints:
References
Articles
Books
