典藏书目

Whenever infants present with symptoms resembling yersinia pestis (plague) sores or syphilis-like eruptions all over the head, face, and body, use the condensed steam water collected from the top of a steamer used for glutinous rice. Collect this water in a plate and apply it to the affected areas. It will heal after a few days.

If the condition is severe, with ulcers filling the mouth and rotting through the facial bones, rendering other medicines ineffective, this method is particularly efficacious.

Take one large taro root, crush it into a paste, and apply it as a poultice.

Collect leaves of Broussonetia papyrifera (Paper Mulberry), preferably harvested in the ninth lunar month. Char them while retaining their medicinal properties. For every two qian of ash, add three li of borneol. Sprinkle this mixture on the wound to promote muscle regeneration.

(This formula treats gan gangrene / noma.)

Take Renzhongbai (Urine Sediment, obtained by scraping the white deposit from the bottom of urine jars, calcining it on new tiles until it resembles white salt, dosage: five qian) and Wubeizi (Chinese Gallnut, raw, dosage: one qian). Place these into a container with alum, grind them into an extremely fine powder. First, soak and wash the ulcer with strong rice washing water, then insufflate the powder onto the wound.

Another method: Calcinate Renlong (a specific traditional material, possibly fossilized bone/tooth) on a tile until dry, grind it into a fine powder, add a small amount of Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis) and a small amount of Borneol, mix uniformly, and insufflate into the lesion. The patient will recover.

Yet another method: Use aged Jingmo (Beijing Inkstick), burn it until only the carbon remains, add a small amount of Borneol, and apply to the site. Recovery follows.

(This formula treats Tongzi Lao [Childhood Consumption/Tuberculosis], initially presenting with fever, cough, Yin deficiency with night sweats, poor spleen/stomach function leading to loss of appetite, seminal emission, and hemoptysis.)

Prepare Sea Cucumber (with dense punctures), large Mussel (Dancai), Jianlian Meat (Lotus seeds from Jianyang), and Southern Dates (Nanzao), eight liang each. Simmer using moderate heat, ensuring the fire is not extinguished day or night. Once reduced to a paste, remove the dregs.

(This formula is suitable for children with weak spleen and stomach, poor appetite, or excessive eating desires, as well as for post-illness or weaning care. It should be taken regularly.)

Huai Shan Yao (Dioscorea opposita), Jianlian Meat, Guojiao Fen (Scorched Rice Powder), Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala), Dangshen (Codonopsis), Fuling (Poria), each two liang; Shenqu (Medicated Leaven), Xu Guya (Sprouted Millet), Wu Gu Chong (Insect larvae found in grain), Shanzha (Crataegus), each appropriate amount. Boil and form into pills the size of marbles. Take two pills daily.

All infants inevitably undergo periods of "Bian Zheng" (Transformation and Steaming) after birth. Their symptoms of fever, vomiting, and diarrhea are indistinguishable from illness. If mistaken for disease and treated with inappropriate medication, it may hinder the growth-promoting Qi.

From birth to thirty-two days constitutes one "Bian" (Transformation); sixty-four days constitute one "Zheng" (Steaming).

The human body has 365 bones. Excluding the 45 small bones in the hands and feet, there remain 320. From the first day of birth, ten segments of Qi are generated daily.

[Stage 1] The Qi belongs to the Foot Shaoyin Meridian, governing body heat, coldness of the face and ears, and white patches on the lips.

[Stage 2] The Qi belongs to the Foot Taiyang Meridian, governing alternating chills and fever with frequent sneezing, and irritability during nursing.

[Stage 3] At ninety-six days, the third Bian occurs, generating Heart Qi belonging to the Hand Shaoyang Meridian, governing body heat with sweating, fearfulness, and false fright.

[Stage 7] At two hundred twenty-four days, the seventh Bian occurs, generating Lung Qi (Metal element) belonging to the Hand Taiyin Meridian, governing sorrowful thoughts, anxiety, and excessive crying.

[Stage 9] At two hundred eighty-eight days, the ninth Bian occurs, generating Spleen Qi (Earth element) belonging to the Foot Taiyin Meridian, governing body heat, vomiting, and diarrhea.

[Stage 10] At three hundred twenty days, the tenth Bian occurs...

After a total of five hundred seventy-six days, the Bian Zheng process stabilizes, the Cun pulse (inch position) becomes palpable, allowing for diagnosis. Only then is the child considered fully formed.

"Bian" refers to the transformation that generates the Five Zang organs and alters their emotional states. "Zheng" refers to the steaming that nourishes the Six Fu organs and promotes the growth of bone joints.

When a "Bian" begins, starting from the first day, the upper lip swells slightly like a silkworm, the body experiences high fever or intermittent hot and cold sensations, the lips, mouth, and nose become dry, accompanied by hiccups, vomiting, chaotic pulse, sweating or lack thereof, refusal to nurse, frequent fright, loud crying, and irritability during feeding. From the first day of receiving the Bian Qi, until the thirteenth day, when the Bian Zheng is complete, no further distress occurs.

Regarding the three major "Zheng" cycles, symptoms must include dry lips and mouth, coughing and rapid breathing, restlessness, hiccups, abdominal pain, pain throughout the body and joints, upward gaze of the eyes, and frequent palpitations/fright. However, if illness occurs within seven days, simply massage the fontanelle frequently and do not administer medicine lightly. If there is no fright, no fever, and no other suffering, it indicates that the infant was conceived with robust constitution and underwent a hidden Bian Zheng.