Tiaopi-Kaiwei decoction combined with acupoint application in the treatment of infantile anorexia

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of Tiaopi-Kaiwei decoction combined with acupoint application in the treatment of spleen-stomach deficiency type infantile anorexia. Methods A total of 86 children with infantile anorexia with spleen-stomach deficiency were randomly divided into the control group (n=43) and the observation group (n=43). The control group were treated with Tiaopi-Kaiwei decoction, while the observation group were treated with acupoint application of self-designed Tiaopi-Kaiwei powder, 15 days as a course. Both groups were treated for 2 courses. The curative effect, changes of appetite score, food intake score and weight were observed, and plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY), orexin, nutritional indexes [serum albumin (Alb) and serum prealbumin (PA) levels were compared between the two groups. Results The total effective rate of the observation group was 95.3% (41/43), and the control group 81.4% (34/43), which showed a significant difference between both groups (χ2=4.074, P<0.05). After treatment, levels of NPY (26.97 ± 1.98 ng/ml vs. 23.05 ± 1.74 ng/ml, t=9.752) and orexin (1.97 ± 0.47 ng/ml vs. 1.68 ± 0.55 ng/ml, t=2.629) in the observation group were significant higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of appetite (1.18 ± 0.87 vs. 1.89 ± 0.94, t=3.635) and food intake (1.86 ± 1.03 vs. 2.48 ± 1.21, t=2.559) of the observation group were significant lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). The body weight (19.76 ± 0.74 kg vs. 18.19 ± 0.67 kg, t=10.598) was significant higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, levels of Alb (23.49 ± 1.41 g/L vs. 21.17 ± 1.36 g/L, t=7.766) and PA (53.69 ± 2.61 g/L vs. 50.34 ± 2.68) g/L, t=5.872) in the observation group were significant higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions The application of Tiaopi-Kaiwei decoction combined with acupoint for the infantile anorexia with spleen-stomach deficiency type can improve NPY and promote appetite, food intake and body weight. Key words: Anorexia; Child; Tiaopi-Kaiwei decoction; Application therapy; Clinical study