(Air Umbilicus, Attached: Macerated and Broken Umbilicus)

The *Shenghui Fang* (Prescriptions of the Holy Benefit) states: The condition known as "umbilical dampness" in infants arises from exposure to dampness during bathing after the umbilical cord is cut. Water enters the umbilicus, causing swelling and moisture that persists for a long time without drying. After cutting the cord, one should wrap it densely with mugwort (Ai Ye) and ensure the infant's urine does not wet the umbilicus; this must be handled with extreme caution. Often, swelling caused by dampness becomes incurable after one hundred days.

The *Yingru Shu* (Book for Infants and Children) states: If an infant's urine is clear and cold, the cold combines with water in the umbilicus, leading to abdominal pain, frightened crying, and a bluish-black complexion. When treating umbilical swelling, one must assess its severity. For severe cases, moxibustion should be applied immediately, eight or ninety cones. For mild cases where the umbilicus is not significantly swollen, but the infant cries when sweating, crushed Angelicae Radix (Danggui) and lead white powder (Hufen) should be applied externally. Simultaneously, moxa wool should be moxibusted and ironed daily until recovery, which may occur within a day, indicated by the cessation of crying.

The *Lunxin Jing* (Cranial Fontanelle Classic) treats persistent weeping of the umbilicus in children.
Alum (Bai Fan, 1 qian, calcined) and Dragon Bone (Long Gu, 1 fen).
Grind these into powder, add a small amount of Moschus (Shexiang), and use to wipe the umbilicus dry each time, then dust with the powder. Wrap with a cloth to avoid wind. (This formula is identical to that in *Shenghui Fang*, except Moschus is omitted.)

The *Qianjin Fang* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) treats continuous discharge from the umbilicus accompanied by redness and swelling. Formula: Baituzhi San (White Litharge Powder).
Grind Baituzhi (Halloysitum Rubrum) finely, heat slightly, and apply to the umbilical wound three to four times daily.

The *Waitai Mi Yao* (Secret Essentials of the Outer Cabinet), citing *Gujin Luyan*, treats "windy umbilicus" with discharge in children. Formula: Gancao San (Licorice Powder).
Prepared Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Zhi Gancao) and Toxocara cati (Lougu), roasted (each 3 fen).
Pound these two ingredients into a powder and place inside the umbilicus until healed; this is highly effective.

The *Waitai Mi Yao*, citing *Gujin Luyan*, treats umbilical discharge that fails to heal. Formula: Huangbai Hei San (Yellow Bark Black Powder).
Prepared Phellodendri Cortex (Zhi Huangbai, 1 liang) and Soot from the pot bottom (Fudi Mo, 4 fen).
Pound and mix these two into a powder and apply to the umbilicus for cure.

The *Waitai Mi Yao*, citing *Gujin Luyan*, treats umbilical dampness. Formula: Warm Salt and Fermented Soybean Compress.
Take equal parts of salt and fermented soybeans (Chi Dou), pound into cakes the size of a coin. Heat on a new tile and apply as a compress to the umbilicus until healed. Applying Huangbai powder is also excellent.

The *Waitai Mi Yao*, citing *Beiji Fang* (Emergency Prescriptions), treats red and swollen umbilicus in children.
Apricot Kernels (Xing Ren, 2 fen, roasted until purple) and Marrow from the jawbone of a pig.
First grind the apricot kernels, mix with the marrow, and apply to the umbilicus. (Identical to *Qianjin Fang*.)

The *Waitai Mi Yao*, citing *Beiji Fang*, urgently treats umbilical discharge in infants past one month of age.
Burn crimson silk to ash, grind, and apply to the umbilicus. (Identical to *Qianjin Fang*.)

Yao Hezhong’s formula for umbilical swelling in children.
Use Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guixin), heat it, and apply as a compress four to five times daily.

The *Zimu Milu* (Secret Records of Mother and Child) treats wind-damp swelling of the umbilicus that persists.
Burn honeycomb (Fengfang) to ash, grind into powder, and apply.

The *Zimu Milu* treats red and swollen umbilicus in children.
Crush apricot kernels into a paste-like consistency, mix in the palm, and apply to the umbilicus.

The *Shenghui Fang* treats umbilical swelling and dampness that persists. Formula: Fengqi San (Umbilical Sealing Powder).
Lead White (Hufen, 1 fen), Excrement of male rat (Xiongshufen, 7 pieces, burned to ash), Strap from the steamer (Zengdai, one circumference, burned to ash), Ash of dried ginger (Ganjiang Hui), Ash of cotton silk (Mianbo Hui), and Halloysitum Rubrum (Baishizhi, each 0.5 liang).
Mix these medicines finely, add 1 qian of Moschus powder. Observe if the umbilical cord is about to fall off; applying this seal will cure it. If applied before illness occurs, it prevents disease entirely. Ensure no other ashes are mixed in during burning.

The *Shenghui Fang* treats umbilical dampness and swelling lasting over a month.
Dried Bufo bufo gargarizans (Gan Xiamato), Seeds of Gleditsia sinensis (Zaojiazi), and Alum (Bai Fan) (all burned to ash, each 1 fen).
Grind finely and evenly, and apply sparingly to the umbilicus.

The *Shenghui Fang* treats red swelling of the umbilicus with continuous discharge.
Bufo bufo gargarizans (Xiamato) and Ostrea concha (Muli) (one of each).
Burn both to ash, grind finely like powder, and apply a small amount to the umbilicus twice or three times daily until healed.

The *Shenghui Fang* treats umbilical dampness that does not dry.
Calcined Alum (Bai Fan) and Dragon Bone (Long Gu) (each 1 fen).
Grind finely and apply to the umbilicus until healed. (Identical to Master Wang of Handong’s formula in *Poxin Jing*, both containing a little Moschus.)

Another formula from *Shenghui Fang*.
Burn alum to ash, grind finely, and apply.

Mr. Mao’s formula for chronic umbilical dampness in children.
Burn silkworm cast skin (Can tui) to ash, add Calomelas (Qingfen), and apply dry.

Qian Yi’s Baimo San (Black Ink Powder) treats damage to the umbilicus by water-dampness after cord cutting, or injury by dampness from clothing, or invasion by wind-cold due to improper wrapping. This causes disharmony of the four limbs, umbilical swelling, excessive crying, and inability to feed. It requires prompt treatment.
Processed Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai, sliced), Soot from the stove bottom (Fuxia Mei), and Tangled hair (Luafa, burned) (equal parts).
Grind into fine powder and apply a small amount each time.

Master Wang of Handong’s *Jiabao*: Treats umbilical sores that do not dry due to external wind invasion after cord cutting.
Take cotton wool (any amount), burn to ash (old cotton is also good), grind into powder. Apply a small amount dry to the site.

Zhang Huan: For infant umbilical sores with swelling and dampness that persist. If it reaches one hundred days, it becomes critical.
Finely ground Lead White (Hufen), Ash of dried ginger (Ganjiang, burned and ground), and Calcined Halloysitum Rubrum (Baishizhi, burned to retain nature, ground) (each 1 qian).
Re-grind these together. Use a quantity ranging from one "zi" to half a qian, apply to the umbilicus frequently.

The *Liang Fang* (Good Prescriptions) treats prolonged umbilical discharge of pus, redness, swelling, and clear fluid in children.
Roast Angelicae Radix (Danggui) until dry, grind into fine powder, place in the umbilicus, and use frequently for natural healing. My family child suffered from umbilical dampness for over fifty days; other remedies failed. I tried over ten formulas from *Shenghui Fang*, and only this one dried it upon first application. Later, it recurred due to urine wetting; a second application cured it.

The *Zhuang Shi Jia Chuan* (Zhuang Family Tradition): Describes "Air Umbilicus," where the umbilicus is large like a chestnut, soft, swollen, and painful.
Apply bamboo sap (Zhuli) several times daily until it subsides naturally.

The *Zhuang Shi Jia Chuan* treats maceration and breaking due to wet diapers.
Grind rotten roof grass into powder and apply frequently for efficacy.

Moxibustion method from *Shenghui Fang*: For umbilical swelling in children, moxibustion at the vertebral joint opposite the umbilicus on the lower back, three cones, cone size like a wheat grain.