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Remedies to increase appetite in children
Last reviewed: 03.07.2025

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A child's good appetite is influenced by many factors. Therefore, as soon as you notice that your baby has started to eat poorly, you should immediately seek help from a professional pediatrician. He will help to find out the reason, and also advise the most suitable means to increase appetite, which will be safe for the child's health.
Indications appetite suppressants for children
There are many reasons for the lack of normal appetite in children:
- Teething, a cold or an allergic reaction – as a rule, all ailments lead to a loss of appetite, and not only in small children.
- Gingivitis, stomatitis, toothache or gum sores – food intensifies the unpleasant sensations, so the baby often refuses it.
- Colitis, dysbacteriosis, gastritis.
- Helminthic infestations (ascariasis, taeniasis, taeniasis).
- Overwork, fatigue, insomnia.
- Nervous overexcitement and stress.
- Incorrect daily routine.
Various appetite enhancers are recommended for the above factors.
Release form
There are many different remedies that can be used to increase a child's appetite. Some of them are natural and are used to prepare various decoctions and tinctures. Here you can add such popular preparations based on natural components:
- Calamus rhizome.
- Medicinal herb centaury.
- Dandelion root.
- Bitter wormwood herb.
- Bitters.
- Collection "Appetizing".
- Water trefoil leaf.
- Ferrovin quinine wine with added iron.
- Periactin.
- Elixir Pernexin.
- Primobolan-depot.
Of course, they must be used with extreme caution.
Calamus rhizomes
A popular herbal remedy that helps not only stimulate digestion, but also significantly reduce the amount of gases that form in the intestines.
The active ingredient in the medicine is an extract of the rhizome of the calamus plant, which is sold in crushed form. The mechanism of action of this medicine is to irritate the taste receptors that are in the mouth, in particular on its mucous membrane, and stimulate the secretion of gastric juice. This improves appetite. It also has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and diuretic properties.
The product is available in the form of bags containing crushed plant. For treatment, two bags are used, which are poured with 100 ml of boiled hot water. The product should be steamed for about twenty minutes in an enamel bowl with the lid closed. Drink ¼ glass three to four times in 24 hours. It is used before meals. The treatment lasts about three weeks.
Patients with intolerance to the components of the drug are prohibited from taking this medicine. It is not recommended to use the herbal preparation to treat pregnant women, women who are breastfeeding, or small children (under twelve years of age). May cause allergies.
Centaury herb
A popular herbal remedy based on dried centaury herb, which increases appetite and stimulates the secretion of gastric juice, improves the secretion of bile, relieves pain, and has an anthelmintic and laxative effect.
Pour two tablespoons of the preparation into an enamel cup and add two glasses of water (hot and boiled) to infuse the remedy. Cover the cup tightly, using a water bath, heat for fifteen minutes. Cool before use. Pour 200 ml of water into the resulting infusion again and boil. Drink one tablespoon three times in 24 hours half an hour before meals.
Patients with intolerance to the components of the drug, gastric ulcers, reflux esophagitis are prohibited from taking the drug. Children under eighteen years of age cannot use it for treatment. May cause diarrhea and allergic reactions.
Dandelion root
A popular herbal remedy based on the extract of the roots of medicinal dandelion (crushed plant substance), which stimulates motor and secretory functions in the intestine, improves appetite, and has a choleretic effect
To prepare a medicinal decoction, take 10 g (about two tablespoons) of the preparation and place it in an enamel bowl. Pour one glass (about 200 ml) of water, cover with a lid, put in a boiling water bath and heat for about half an hour. Cool and strain, add another glass of boiled hot water. Use half an hour before meals, ¼ or 1/3 of a glass three to four times in 24 hours.
Patients with intolerance to the components of the drug, gastric ulcer, acute pancreatitis, gastritis, hypersecretion of bile, cholelithiasis are prohibited from taking the drug. It is not recommended to use for the treatment of women who breastfeed, pregnant women and children under twelve years of age. May cause allergies.
Wormwood herb
A plant remedy that contains the following active ingredients: phellandrene, thujol, thujone, absinthine (bitterness), tannin. It has a choleretic effect and helps improve appetite.
It is recommended to take three times in 24 hours. It is advisable to drink the drug twenty minutes before meals. The therapy is long-term and lasts about a month. It can also be used in the form of a tincture. In this case, fifteen drops are taken.
Patients with reflux esophagitis, intolerance to the components of the drug, hyperacid gastritis, acute cholecystitis, gastric ulcer, increased gastric secretion are prohibited from taking the drug. Do not use during lactation. May cause allergies, nausea, diarrhea, gastralgia and heartburn.
Bitter tincture
This tincture is made from several ingredients: centaury herb, trefoil leaves, calamus rhizomes, wormwood herb, tangerine peel, 40% alcohol. The liquid is slightly brownish in color, has an aromatic smell and a spicy bitter taste.
To improve appetite, it is recommended to drink ten to twenty drops of the resulting tincture two to three times a day. It is best to use before meals. The tincture helps improve the secretion of bile juice when its active components irritate the mucous membrane of the oral cavity.
Patients with increased secretion and intolerance to the components of the drug are prohibited from drinking the tincture. Do not take it for pregnant women and children under eighteen years of age. May cause allergies.
The collection is delicious
A popular herbal remedy that contains the following active ingredients: two parts yarrow and eight parts wormwood. It is taken to increase appetite.
It is used in the form of a tincture, which is prepared as follows. It is necessary to take one tablespoon of the collection and pour one glass of boiled hot water. Infuse for about half an hour. Take one tablespoon before meals three to four times a day.
Patients with hyperacid gastritis, gastric ulcer, intolerance to the components of the drug are prohibited from drinking the product. May cause allergies.
Water trefoil leaf
This remedy is based on the extract and leaf of the water trefoil, which helps to increase appetite and improve bile secretion. It is used in the form of a tincture, which is prepared as follows: take two teaspoons of the remedy and pour a glass of boiled hot water in an enamel bowl. After the medicine has infused, drink ¼ glass three to four times in 24 hours. Use strictly before meals.
Patients with hyperacid gastritis, gastric ulcer and intolerance to the components of the drug are not recommended to use it to improve appetite. It may cause allergies and diarrhea.
Ferrovin quinine wine with iron
A popular remedy for increasing appetite and stimulating hematopoiesis (blood formation). The medicine contains the following active components: nitrogen-containing iron citrate, magnesium hypophosphate, quinine extract, orange peel tincture.
Ferrovin quinine wine with iron should be drunk an hour before meals. It is recommended to take one tablespoon two to three times per 24 hours. If the treatment is carried out to improve appetite in adolescents, it should be taken only once per 24 hours.
Patients with diabetes, intolerance to the components of the drug are prohibited from drinking it. It is not used for alcoholism, during pregnancy and for the treatment of women who breastfeed.
May cause abdominal discomfort, constipation, feeling of full stomach, diarrhea, change in stool color.
Periactin
A popular drug with antihistamine activity. The drug contains the active component methylpiperidine hydrochloride. Helps reduce spasms caused by serotonin. It has an anticholinergic effect. It also has an antiallergic effect.
The standard dosage for treating children depends on the patient's age and body weight. That is why it is necessary to consult a specialist before using the drug. Do not exceed the maximum daily dose - 8-12 mg (for children of different ages).
Patients with glaucoma, gastric ulcer, urinary retention, predisposition to edema, bronchial asthma, intolerance to the components of the drug are prohibited from drinking it. Do not use for treatment in the elderly, children under two years old, pregnant women. May cause dry mouth, drowsiness, ataxia, anxiety, headaches, dizziness, allergies, nausea.
Pernexin Elixir
A popular remedy with hepatoprotective properties. The medicine contains the following active components: liver extract, cyanocobalamin, thiamine hydrochloride, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, nicotinamide, calcium pantothenate, sodium glycerophosphate, iron gluconate. Due to this composition, the drug helps to stimulate hematopoiesis, increase overall tone, and improve appetite.
The remedy can be taken from the first year of life. For the treatment of children, it is recommended to take one teaspoon of the elixir three times per 24 hours. It is worth drinking during meals. It can be taken for a long time.
Patients with increased iron levels in the body, iron absorption disorders, cardiac decompensation, myocardial infarction, intolerance to the components of the drug are prohibited from taking it. May cause allergies.
Primobolan-depot
A drug that can increase appetite and physical activity. The drug contains the active component methenolone entanant. Due to this, the drug increases body weight and stimulates protein synthesis.
It is recommended to use one ampoule of the drug once every two weeks (administer intramuscularly), then increase the dose to one ampoule once a week. For the treatment of children, the dosage is calculated according to body weight (1 mg of the drug per 1 kg of weight). Administer to children once every two weeks.
Patients with prostate cancer and intolerance to the components of the drug are prohibited from using it. Not recommended for pregnant women. May cause allergies.
Pharmacodynamics
Let us consider the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of appetite stimulants for children using the popular drug “Acorus rhizome” as an example.
By irritating the taste buds located on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and on the tongue, this drug helps to reflexively increase the secretion of gastric juice, improve digestion and increase appetite. It also has an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, diuretic and choleretic effect.
Attention!
To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Remedies to increase appetite in children" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.
Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.