How to manage a child with excessive lung heat, hyperactive heart fire, and spleen deficiency
Dec 12, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Regulating a child with excessive lung heat, hyperactive fire of the heart, and spleen deficiency requires simultaneously clearing heat without harming the spleen, reducing fire without causing coldness, and strengthening the spleen to aid digestion. Specific approaches mainly include dietary therapy, daily care, emotional regulation, moderate exercise, and symptomatic massage. During regulation, contraindications and precautions should also be observed, following the principle of gentle and gradual improvement; one must not blindly use cold-natured foods or medications.
When a child has symptoms of lung heat, excessive heart fire, and spleen deficiency, regulation should simultaneously focus on clearing heat without harming the spleen, reducing fire without causing coldness, and strengthening the spleen to support digestion. Specific approaches mainly include dietary therapy, daily care, emotional regulation, moderate exercise, and symptom-specific massage techniques. Details are as follows:
1. Dietary Therapy: Choose ingredients that clear heat and moisten the lungs while calming the heart and strengthening the spleen, such as lotus seeds, lily bulbs, Chinese yam, winter melon, pear, and millet. Dishes like lily-lotus seed porridge, Chinese yam-millet porridge, and stewed pear with Fritillaria can be prepared. Avoid spicy, fried, and overly sweet or greasy foods, which helps relieve lung heat and excessive internal fire while protecting spleen and stomach function.
2. Daily Care: Ensure adequate sleep and avoid staying up late, as sleep deprivation may aggravate heart fire. Keep indoor air well-ventilated with moderate humidity to reduce dryness-related irritation to the lungs. Pay attention to keeping the abdomen warm to prevent chilling, which may impair spleen and stomach function. Also, regulate clothing thickness to avoid overheating, which could trigger or worsen lung heat.
3. Emotional Regulation: Spend quality time playing with the child, avoiding excessive restrictions or criticism, to minimize irritability, crying, and other negative emotions—factors that easily fuel heart fire. Soothe the child’s emotions through positive parent-child interaction, helping calm the mind and reduce internal heat, thereby indirectly supporting recovery of spleen and stomach function.
4. Moderate Exercise: Opt for gentle activities such as walking, jogging, or children's yoga. Avoid intense exercise that may deplete the vital energy of the spleen and stomach. Regular mild exercise promotes blood and qi circulation, enhances digestive capacity, and helps expel internal stagnated heat, thus alleviating symptoms of lung heat.
5. Symptom-Specific Massage: Use gentle techniques such as kneading the Banmen point, clearing the Heavenly River Water point, rubbing the Feishu acupoint, and clockwise abdominal massage. Apply light pressure for 5–10 minutes per session to help regulate organ functions and relieve discomfort.
During the调理 process, contraindications and precautions must also be observed. Follow the principle of gentle and gradual adjustment; avoid blindly using cold-natured foods or medications. Adjust the plan according to the child’s individual constitution and strictly follow medical guidance to ensure safety and effectiveness of the treatment.
