What medications can help improve loss of appetite in summer?

Generally, loss of appetite during summer is often caused by high temperatures slowing gastrointestinal motility, reducing digestive enzyme activity, or impairing spleen and stomach function due to summer heat and dampness. Patients may take medications such as domperidone tablets, compound digestive enzyme capsules, lactase tablets, Xiangsha Yangwei pills, and Dazhajiu pills under medical guidance. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Domperidone Tablets

Domperidone is a prokinetic agent that promotes gastrointestinal smooth muscle motility, accelerates gastric emptying, and reduces abdominal distension and belching caused by food retention. It improves loss of appetite caused by insufficient gastrointestinal motility and is suitable for adults and children over 12 years old. Optimal effects are achieved when taken 15–30 minutes before meals.

2. Compound Digestive Enzyme Capsules

Compound digestive enzyme capsules contain multiple digestive enzymes such as pepsin, trypsin, and amylase. They supplement digestive enzymes that may be deficient due to high summer temperatures, promote the breakdown and absorption of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, reduce gastrointestinal digestive burden, and alleviate loss of appetite caused by enzyme deficiency. These capsules are suitable for both adults and children and should be taken with meals to minimize gastrointestinal irritation.

3. Lactase Tablets

Lactase tablets mainly contain live Enterococcus faecalis. Once in the intestines, they break down carbohydrates to produce lactic acid, increase intestinal acidity, inhibit the growth of putrefactive bacteria, reduce harmful substances in the gut, improve intestinal flora balance, and thereby alleviate loss of appetite and bloating caused by intestinal flora imbalance. They are suitable for adults and infants, and are most effective when taken on an empty stomach or before meals.

4. Xiangsha Yangwei Pills

Xiangsha Yangwei pills are a traditional Chinese medicine containing ingredients such as Saussurea lappa, Amomum fruit, and Atractylodes macrocephala. They warm the middle jiao and harmonize the stomach, improving spleen and stomach cold deficiency caused by summer heat and dampness. They alleviate loss of appetite, nausea, and acid regurgitation caused by weakened spleen and stomach function. Suitable for adults, they should be taken with warm water to enhance efficacy, especially for loss of appetite following excessive consumption of cold foods or drinks during summer.

5. Dazhajiu Pills

Dazhajiu pills are primarily composed of hawthorn, Semen Oryzae, and barley malt. They stimulate appetite and aid digestion, promoting the digestion of meat, rice, and flour-based foods. They alleviate summer-related loss of appetite and abdominal distension caused by greasy diets or weakened digestion. Suitable for both adults and children, they have a sweet and sour taste and are easy to take, especially suitable for children with summer picky eating or poor appetite.

During summer, maintain a light diet, avoid excessive consumption of raw, cold, or greasy foods such as ice cream and fried foods; eat regularly and avoid overeating or extreme hunger; increase water intake appropriately, avoid prolonged outdoor exposure during peak heat hours, and keep indoor environments cool to help improve appetite.