(General Principles of Medical Formulas) Thirteen Categories in Total

The *Qianjin Fang* (Thousand Gold Prescriptions) states: The way to nurture the people is such that no one fails to regard raising children as a major priority; without attending to the young, one cannot ultimately become an adult. Thus, the *I Ching* (Book of Changes) says: "Accumulate the small to achieve the great." The *Shi Jing* (Classic of Poetry) mentions: "At the beginning, the people were born." The *Zuo Zhuan* records: "Shengzi gave birth to Duke Yin." This meaning—that which is subtle becomes manifest, and that which is young grows long—is evident to all human nature and does not require verification through classics or histories. Therefore, this collection of formulas first addresses women and children, and subsequently adult men and the elderly, which embodies the principle of honoring the root. However, infants possess weak vital energy (*Qi*) and blood (*Xue*), making it difficult for physicians to pay close attention to their treatment and achieve curative results. Contemporary medical students often neglect this area. This is largely because infants are within swaddling clothes, emitting the fishy and pungent odor of breast milk; physicians who maintain noble conduct would hardly be willing to examine them. Reflecting quietly on this, one can only sigh with regret. The *Duanju Fang* (Short-Acting Prescriptions) states: The *Shenghui Fang* (Holy Grace Prescriptions) states: (According to the *Duanju Fang*, the Yellow Emperor said:) Ordinary people aged six and above are termed "small" (child), and those aged sixteen and above are termed "young" (adolescent). (The *Zhubing Yuanhou Lun* [Treatise on Pathogenesis and Symptomatology of All Diseases] and the *Waitai Miyao* [Secret Essentials from the Outer Cabinet] state that eighteen years and above is considered "young".) Those aged thirty and above are termed "strong" (prime of life). (The *Zhubing Yuanhou Lun* and *Waitai Miyao* state that twenty years and above is considered "strong".) Those aged fifty and above are termed "old". The period below six years old is not recorded in the canonical texts. Therefore, infants under nursing age suffer from difficult-to-treat illnesses because there is no established basis for diagnosis and treatment. In ancient times, Wu Fang (written as Wu Fang in the *Zhubing Yuanhou Lun*) established the *Luxin Jing* (Sutra of the Cranial Fontanelle) for children to divinate longevity and judge the life-and-death prognosis of diseases. These were passed down through generations, marking the beginning of specialized pediatric prescriptions. By the Jin and Song dynasties, the Jiangzuo region promoted the Su family's lineage; their transmission and practice proved effective and spread among the populace. During the Qi dynasty, Prince Xu also compiled three volumes of *Xiao'er Fang* (Pediatric Prescriptions). Consequently, contemporary practitioners have received some transmission of these methods. However, given Prince Xu's high status and prestige, he had little leisure to focus on pediatrics. A detailed examination of his formula principles reveals they are not particularly profound or meticulous, with few aspects worthy of adoption, and thus they do not constitute highly secret knowledge. Now, I have extensively compiled various schools' works and my own clinically effective experiences to compose this section. Every household should understand these techniques for nurturing children, thereby avoiding the disaster of premature death.