Abstract
Background:
Cyclic vomiting syndrome is a unique pediatric disorder associated with characteristic episodes of recurrent explosive bouts of vomiting, alternating with periods of normal health. A Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) textbook description of nausea and vomiting in cyclic vomiting syndrome was lacking.
Objective:
To evaluate the TCM pattern presentation of children with cyclic vomiting syndrome.
Design, Setting, and Patients:
Prospective pilot observational study of 24 pediatric patients with cyclic vomiting syndrome evaluated at a university-affiliated, tertiary care pediatric teaching hospital in Chicago.
Main Outcome Measures:
TCM texts in the English language were evaluated to determine the likely patterns for nausea and vomiting. The symptoms associated with cyclic vomiting syndrome in these patients could not be explained using the TCM patterns described by standard textbooks. Further literature review was undertaken to establish 2 main patterns that explain the severity of cyclic vomiting syndrome. To verify the relevance of these patterns, 3 staff acupuncturists performed a full TCM intake on the pediatric study population.
Results:
Within the 2 major patterns, 19 (79.2%) were categorized in the Liver Yang Reversal group and 5 (20.8%) in the Liver Cold Vacuity group.
Conclusions:
The standard TCM literature describing “nausea and vomiting” as a disease category is not adequate for describing the patients seen with cyclic vomiting syndrome. The patterns described in this pilot study provide potentially valuable information for TCM practitioners to consider when treating patients with cyclic vomiting syndrome.
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