典藏书目

Generally speaking, in treating diseases, the use of medicines must be based on the seasonal climate, and prescriptions should be formulated according to the disease; the properties of cold, heat, warm, and cool are all different, and methods such as dispersing, unblocking, tonifying, and purging are most appropriate when applied correctly. One should always harbor a heart for saving people and universal love, finding joy in others' joy and sorrow in others' sorrow, then there will be no medicine that is not effective. Hereby, nine general rules are attached:

1. Distinguishing Local Environments
For example, in the North where the climate is biting and cold, medicinal herbs should be acrid and hot; in Liangguang (Guangdong and Guangxi) regions with smoky miasma, detoxification comes first; in Yunnan and Guizhou, which are high and warm, cooling agents prevail, and the same applies to Jiangnan; in Jiangbei, where the terrain is low and dampness is prevalent, acrid and warm substances are primary. By inferring the wind and qi of the Nine Provinces to prescribe medication, efficacy is invariably achieved.

2. Adhering to Seasonal Changes
In spring, one should raise yang and disperse fire, adding acrid-warm herbs; in summer, clear summerheat and benefit qi, assisted by cooling herbs; in autumn, during the time of肃杀 (severe/clearing), clear Metal and remove dryness; in winter, during the time of closure and storage, medications should be acrid and hot. Thus it is said: "One must first know the annual qi, and not damage the natural harmony," which refers to this principle.

3. Upholding Classical Theory
Among pediatric syndromes, treating fright (Jing) is the most difficult. Generally speaking, Hupo Baolong Wan (Amber Embracing Dragon Pill), Zijin Ding (Purple Gold Ingot), Shuijing Wan (Sleep Fright Pill), Lijing Wan (Relieve Fright Pill), and Lijing Dan (Relieve Fright Pellet) are all excellent preparations. For severe phlegm, Yuzhi Wan (Jade Fruit Pill), Baiyu Bing (White Jade Cake), Niuhuang Babao San (Calculus Bovis Eight-Treasure Powder), Niuhuang Wan (Calculus Bovis Pill), and Xieshao Bing (Scorpion Tip Cake) are all essential medicines for treating fright. Prescribing after careful syndrome differentiation yields no ineffectiveness. Non-experiential claims are not elaborated upon.

4. Exercising Discretion
Medications should generally follow "Kingly Way" (Wangdao) gentle formulas; even if occasionally ineffective, they do not harm the body. Toxic herbs such as Fuzi (Aconite Lateral Root), Wugong (Scolopendra), and Quanxie (Scorpio) should not be used recklessly. If the medicine does not match the syndrome, the harm to the child is profound. In cases of slow fright (Man Jing) where other medicines fail, if one must use them, discretion is required, and usage should cease once the disease is cured. Minerals and metals used to settle fright and calm the spirit, if taken in excess, cause children to become dull. She Xiang (Musk) and Bing Pian (Borneol), used to open orifices, if taken in excess, deplete true yuan. Radix Crotonis Fructus (Badou, Castor Bean Seed) has the merit of pacifying chaos and bringing peace, but if not processed correctly, it causes harm instead. Taking this as an example, the nature of other toxic drugs can be understood. Whenever using toxic agents, decocting Licorice Root (Gancao, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) as a guide and assistant improves safety.

5. Immediate Purgation for Infant Accumulation
If an infant is delayed in being handled after birth, foul matter accumulates in the mouth, causing abdominal distension and refusal to nurse, resembling Umbilical Wind (Qifeng); or if breast milk is insufficient and food is fed, or if there is excessive milk and cakes are also fed; or if dried persimmon cakes and black dates are fed, infants, lacking knowledge, swallow whatever is offered. Young mothers, seeing the child willing to eat, happily feed incessantly. I have witnessed various situations, unaware that newborns have fragile and thin intestines and stomachs; how can accumulated food be digested day by day? This leads to abdominal distension, vomiting, fever, and the onset of various diseases. Families remain ignorant and silent, and doctors may not realize it. If one fails to investigate and uses anti-fright medicines, the error is extreme; recovery would be impossible. It is suitable to use Yinggan Wan (Response Pill) sized like rapeseed seeds, 7-8 pills, along with a small amount of Pingwei Wan (Calm the Stomach Pill), taken down with a decoction of Fresh Ginger (Shengjiang, Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), Perilla Leaf (Zisu, Perillae Folium), and Licorice Root (Gancao, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma). For infants over one month old, add 5-6 pills. Whenever encountering this syndrome, immediate purgation is recommended; once food digestion occurs, the disease resolves. This is a good method. Moreover, since children possess a "Pure Yang" constitution, purgation does not necessarily cause deficiency; delaying purgation allows the disease to worsen over time, forming masses internally, often leading to untreatable conditions.

Prohibition of Tendon Cutting Theory
1. The Wind, Qi, and Life three gates at the tiger's mouth of both hands in children correspond to the Cun, Guan, and Chi pulses of adults. The left side discerns the principles of Heart and Liver, while the right side observes the condition of Spleen and Lung. Internal pathology manifests externally in the lines; observing form and color verifies syndromes and determines life or death, which is no trivial matter. My jurisdiction originally had no such technique; the disaster began with Luo Pingye. Anciently, there was a pediatric massage method used in villages without doctors to relieve temporary emergencies. Rubbing forehead (Yintang, Ex-HN14) and tiger's mouth with ginger and scallion, and rubbing the abdomen, utilizes the power of ginger and scallion to open pores and induce slight sweating for cure. Luo Pingye's skills were not refined, causing much harm to children. After Luo Pingye's death, teachers in Tong Commandery claimed he suddenly transmitted the method, which evolved into the tendon-cutting theory. This is truly absurd and laughable. If the tendons of the three gates at the tiger's mouth can be cut, there must be a transmitted book as evidence. Does it come from the Huangdi Suwen (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon)? From famous doctors of past dynasties? From which classic? Families are ignorant and act recklessly, treating children as commodities and demanding fees. Such bewitchment of the world and deception of people is detestable. If tendons at the tiger's mouth can be cut for pediatric diseases, can the tendons at Cun, Guan, and Chi be cut for adult diseases? Acupuncture requires knowing the location of "Ren Shen" (Human Spirit/Taboo Points); those cutting tendons likely do not know this, ignoring the location of Ren Shen! If encountered, the disaster suffered by the child would not be slight. Tendons have major and minor collaterals with fixed numbers; are they easily cut? If this technique is not banned, it will spread endlessly, awaiting correction by superior experts in the Dao. If tendons are cut and lines destroyed, how can childhood diseases be treated?

1. When infants are born, midwives use Bianzhen (stone needles) to cut the tendons under the tongue, causing bleeding, and apply ink. This results in oral pain and fear of nursing due to pain. I could not bear this and asked for the reason. They said: "If not cut, the child will have a stiff tongue and speech difficulties when grown." Such reckless statements are baseless; most uncuted children do not show speech difficulties. Where do midwives come from in rural areas? This alone refutes the practice; knife incision is clearly inappropriate.

Theory of Shock Upon Birth
1. When infants are born, midwives roll them on the ground several times, claiming this makes the child brave and fearless of fright. Foolish people obey and practice this. They do not know that infants just leaving the womb come from a warm environment; touching the ground causes fright, leading to sudden fright syndromes or Umbilical Wind with mouth contraction. Summer is tolerable, but winter exposes them to cold. The Lung governs skin and hair, preferring warmth and hating cold, leading to cough and wheezing. Cold injures the Kidney, which is affected first, causing hernia and testicular swelling. Cold qi entering the abdomen causes scaly skin, emaciation, and cold abdominal pain. Various other syndromes become inseparable like glue in lacquer. Innocent infants suffer harm undeservedly; it is too late to bite the umbilicus to remedy it.

Prohibition of Bathing for Children
1. Upon birth, infants are bathed with pig bile to make skin delicate and free from sores. If unavailable, gently wash with soft silk cloth, and white residue will naturally fade. I often see midwives washing infants' heads and faces with soap, getting it into the eyes, causing eyes to remain closed for days, resulting in blindness; it also makes skin rough and dry. Frequent bathing should be avoided as it leaks the child's Yuan Qi or damages the umbilical cord, leading to umbilical ulcers becoming lifelong chronic diseases.