a review on the treatment of childhood anorexia using natural and herbal agents

Objective: anorexia in children is a common nutritional issue that can adversely affect their growth and overall health. the use of natural methods and medicinal plants in traditional medicine has gained attention as a safe and effective approach to address this concern. this study aims to identify medicinal plants effective in treating childhood anorexia, based on the rich knowledge and documentation of traditional medicine. methodology: this review article was conducted by searching for key terms related to medicinal plants, traditional medicine, children, appetite stimulants, and anorexia in databases such as web of science, medline, pubmed, scopus, and google scholar. relevant articles were selected for literature review. results: in iranian traditional medicine, several medicinal plants are considered effective appetite stimulants for children. these include lemon, rosemary, thyme, ginger, wheat, tarragon, black pepper, golpar, mint, oregano, coriander, fennel, potato, olive, pomegranate, fig, carrot, garlic, cinnamon, saffron, yarrow, wild thyme, chicory, turmeric, fenugreek, balm, horseradish, and aloe vera. these plants are part of the significant herbal flora in iran and have been traditionally used to stimulate appetite in children. conclusion: treating childhood anorexia with medicinal plants in iranian traditional medicine is recognized as a safe and effective method. due to their appetite-stimulating properties and digestive benefits, these herbs can contribute to enhancing appetite and improving the nutritional intake of children. further research is needed to confirm the clinical effects of these plants.