Pediatric ADHD (Adjunct)
Overview
Pediatric ADHD falls under the TCM categories of 'zang躁' (visceral agitation), 'forgetfulness', and 'poor hearing'. The disease involves the heart, liver, spleen, and kidney. It commonly arises from insufficient innate constitution and improper postnatal care, leading to yin-yang imbalance and visceral dysfunction. Clinically, it presents with inattention, hyperactivity, emotional instability, and impulsivity, often accompanied by learning difficulties and sleep disturbances. Common patterns include heart-spleen deficiency, liver-kidney yin deficiency, and phlegm-fire harassing internally. Adjunctive TCM treatment aims to regulate yin and yang, calm the spirit and stabilize the will, fortify the spleen and nourish the heart, and enrich the kidney and pacify the liver, thereby improving core symptoms, comorbidities, and quality of life.
Pattern differentiation (clinical patterns)
Heart-Spleen Deficiency
Inattention, restlessness, fatigue, sallow complexion, poor appetite, loose stools, restless sleep, pale tongue with white coating, and a thin weak pulse.
Fortify the spleen and nourish the heart; boost qi and calm the spirit.
Liver-Kidney Yin Deficiency
Hyperactivity with difficulty staying still, impulsivity, irritability, dizziness, tinnitus, poor memory, five-center heat, night sweats, red tongue with scanty coating, and a thin rapid pulse.
Nourish the liver and kidney; pacify the liver and subdue yang; calm the spirit and stabilize the will.
Phlegm-Fire Harassing Internally
Hyperactivity and irritability, impulsivity, scattered attention, chest oppression with profuse phlegm, bitter taste and dry mouth, restless sleep, dry bound stools, red tongue with yellow greasy coating, and a slippery rapid pulse.
Clear heat and transform phlegm; calm the heart and stabilize the spirit.
Connections
Daily care & prevention
Parents should establish regular routines, ensure adequate sleep, and limit screen time. Provide a light, nutritious diet, avoiding spicy, stimulating, and caffeine-containing foods. Encourage more and punish less; set stable behavioral guidelines. Engage in appropriate outdoor activities and sensory integration training. Acupressure can be applied to Baihui (GV20), Shenmen (HT7), and Sanyinjiao (SP6) for 1-2 minutes per point daily. Attend regular follow-ups and do not stop medication without medical advice.
When to seek medical care
Seek immediate medical attention if there is sudden severe headache, vomiting, blurred vision, convulsions, or impaired consciousness; or if extreme emotional agitation with self-harm or harm to others occurs; or if symptoms rapidly worsen within a short period affecting eating and sleeping, to rule out intracranial lesions, epilepsy, and psychiatric comorbidities.