Digestive Disorders, Constipation, and Diarrhea

Functional digestive disorders in children are a group of conditions in which GI function is disturbed without organic pathology. This includes constipation (infrequent, hard, painful stools, sometimes with soiling), diarrhea (frequent loose stools, bloating), "food stagnation" and poor appetite, and — in TCM logic — spleen-and-stomach weakness. Causes vary: gut microbiota dysbiosis, dietary patterns, constitutional factors. In children with ASD, GI problems are very common and sustain irritability, sleep disturbances, and behavioral issues through the gut-brain axis — serotonin and dopamine are secreted primarily in the gut, and microbiota status directly affects the emotional and behavioral picture.

At H&B Neurolife International Rehabilitation Center (Shangrao), the GI focus is one of the center's strengths. Gut microbiota regulation is built on precision microbiota testing — this is substantially different from the "try this probiotic" approach: personalized probiotics, individualized dietary therapy, and nutritional intervention are selected, and work is done to restore the gut barrier. In parallel, TCM methods are applied: pediatric Tui Na massage (in TCM logic, it harmonizes Qi and blood and strengthens the spleen and stomach), pediatric acupuncture, and Chinese herbal medicine (as part of TCM care). When indicated — medication support per physician decision.

What matters for parents

The GI focus at the center works not only "on digestion" but also on the child's emotional and behavioral state — especially important in comorbidity with ASD, emotional instability, or sleep disturbances. Often, when the microbiota is balanced, the child shows improvement not only in stools and appetite but also in sleep, emotions, and tolerance of therapy sessions. Severe acute-phase diarrhea is a contraindication — medical stabilization comes first.