特發性身材矮小 (Idiopathic short stature, ISS) 是造成青春期 (Puberty) 孩童生長發育遲緩最常見的課題，許多父母在孩童青春期長高時會尋求中醫協助，而中西醫在面對臨床上診斷為ISS 的孩童，會有不同的治療思維並給予適當的藥物，因此了解中醫藥發展身材矮小治療概況是極為重要的議題。中醫在孩童生長的治療觀念，是以脾、腎兩臟論治的「轉骨」學說為本，透過中醫藥輔助治療是目前廣泛被接受且有一定的療效。本文統整中醫轉骨的傳統醫學理論及藥物應用，利用中醫藥辨證施治提供ISS 臨床治療新的方向。

 

Idiopathic short stature (ISS) is a growth disorder that affects children undergoing puberty. Some parents apply traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments or Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) to promote the physical growth and development of their children with ISS. The diagnosis, treatment decision-making, and treatment procedures for children with ISS are associated with various challenges in outpatient settings. Accordingly, the development of an efficient TCM procedure for identifying such children is beneficial. The TCM concepts associated with ISS include the concept of “tonifying the spleen and kidney” (i.e., “Jhuan-Gu”), which is a widespread practice and serves as an alternative and complementary treatment option for children with ISS that is considerably effective. The objective of this article is to review this TCM concept and the use of CHM to treat ISS, thereby providing new insights into ISS treatment based on TCM pattern identification methods.

 

Submitted for publication: 2023.6.5; Accepted for publication: 2023.11.13