TCM for Tots to Teens

Considering traditional Chinese medicine for your kiddos? Here’s what to know and where to go.

While most of her young patients are between the ages of 1 and 7 years, He Qiu Ling, the associate senior physician at Eu Yan Sang (www.euyansang.com.sg/en/ clinic-services), says she has treated babies as young as 1 month old.

Why so young? Miao Meng, a consultant TCM physician at Raffles Chinese Medicine (www.rafflesmedicalgroup. com.sg/tcm-singapore), shares that babies and young tots can turn to TCM medications to treat common childhood ailments like fever, colds, and runny nose. But, you should never self-diagnose and feed your kid any herbal medication without consulting a licensed practitioner first.

Always stick to the recommended dosage, too. Babies and young children have a different body constitution from adults, so the selection and prescription dosage of medication would be in smaller amounts, too, explains Meng.