Herbal formulations have a wide range of therapeutic applications in both children and adults.

An herbal formulation containing Caper Bush and Chicory is useful in managing anorexia and suboptimal growth in children. It improves appetite, digestion, and assimilation and thus normalizes the basic appetite-satiety rhythm in children.

The principal herbal constituents of the formulation have several therapeutic properties that aid in improving the appetite. Tamarix gallica has both hepatoprotective and digestive properties.

There are several clinical trials that prove the efficacy of this polyherbal formulation in improving appetite in children. In an open clinical trial, 70 children with a history of loss of appetite for at least 1 month were advised to take 15 to 20 drops of the formulation, BID, orally, for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, most of the children exhibited significant improvement in their appetite score. Most children were relieved of symptoms such as nausea and fatigue. There was also an improvement in their body weight, a significant increase in the levels of hemoglobin and total proteins, and a decrease in the eosinophil level.

Source: Bhattacharya SS, et al. Antiseptic. 2008;105(3):139–141.