The *Shenghui Fang* records: One night after an infant is born, hold the child near a bright place without wind. Observe whether there are red meridians extending straight upward from the umbilicus. If so, moxa-convuls (Moxa Convulsion) three cones at the end of the meridian at that time; once the redness dissipates, there will be no harm.

Wang Shifa, Inspector of Hunan Province, transmitted: Although my family is a prominent clan, only the children of this branch have historically been few in number and rarely suffered from weakness, abdominal pain, or dysentery; they were often vigorous and healthy. This is because for generations, when male and female infants were first born and the umbilical cord was cut, on the reserved portion of the umbilical cord where it was customary to apply moxibustion, more than thirty large moxa cones were applied, thus making them so robust.

(Attached: Method of Sealing the Umbilicus)
The *Qianjin Fang* discusses: For any method of wrapping the umbilicus, beat white silk until soft, cut into a square four cun on each side, place fresh cotton wool half a cun thick, and combine it with cloth of equal thickness. Adjust the tightness; if too tight, it will cause the infant to vomit. After twenty days of the infant's birth, then untie and inspect the umbilicus. If for ten-plus days the infant cries angrily as if there were thorns in the clothes, this indicates dryness of the umbilicus. One should prick the abdomen, then untie, change the clothing, and re-wrap. When wrapping the umbilicus, close doors and windows, lower the curtains, and light fires to keep the interior warm; changing clothes should also be done similarly. Still, apply warm powder (Warm Powder). This is to counteract winter cold. If the umbilicus does not heal, burn crimson silk into ash and powder it onto the area. If after one month the umbilicus still has discharge and does not heal, burn toad ash and powder it, three or four times a day. (*Qianjin Yi Fang* states: Burn toad ash, grind into powder, and apply to the umbilicus. It also states: If the umbilicus has not healed, feeding the infant too full may cause "Wind Umbilicus" [Feng Qi].) If water enters the umbilicus or it becomes cold, it causes colic, curling up and crying, with blue-black face and eyes; this is due to water entering. One should moxa-moxa cotton wool to warm the area. If not treated and cared for promptly, if the umbilicus swells, treat according to severity. For severe cases, moxa immediately, even up to eighty or ninety cones. For mild cases where the umbilicus is not greatly swollen but has discharge and frequent crying, grind Angelicae Radix (Danggui) powder mixed with lead carbonate (Hufen) and apply externally. Daily warm compress with moxa-warmed cotton wool. Healing occurs by one hundred days, indicated by the cessation of crying. If the infant's stool is green, it indicates cold, same as water entering the umbilicus. (All other formulas are similar; slight differences appear later.)

The *Yingru Fang* wrapping method: Beat white cloth until soft, cut into a square four cun on each side, place fresh cotton wool half a cun thick, combine with cloth of equal thickness, pierce a hole in the center for the umbilical cord to pass through, cover from the outside, wrap with cotton wool on top, and secure with a belt. The rest of the instructions are the same.

Zhang Huan: After an infant is born and the umbilical cord is cut, it is suitable to wrap tightly with cooked mugwort (Cooked Mugwort) for protection. If the nursing mother is careless, or bath water enters the umbilicus; or urine wets the robe, damaging the umbilicus with dampness; or the cord falls off, allowing wind-cold pathogenic factors to invade, causing umbilical swelling, excessive crying, and inability to nurse, resulting in "Umbilical Wind" (Qi Feng). First, urgently use the wrapping method. Formula for Sealing Umbilicus: Good Sichuan Angelica Root (Ban Liang, washed and dried), Tianjiangzi (Three pieces, lightly stir-fried), Disordered Hair (One Qian, burned to ash retaining nature). Grind these together into fine powder, mix with one Zi of Moschus (She Xiang). Apply one Zi to half a Qian to the umbilicus, used frequently.

*Waitai Mi Yao*: Liu's formula for treating infants from birth to seven days, where the umbilical cord is about to fall off but hasn't yet. Rat feces (Seven grains), Dried Ginger (Size of a date pit), Lead Carbonate (Three Fen, roasted), Moschus (A little), Crimson Silk Ash (One Qian Bi). Grind and pulverize the five ingredients. When the umbilical cord is about to fall off, apply the powder. This prevents wind invasion. Using Dried Ginger may cause pain; it is optional.

*Zhuang Family Collection* Sealing Umbilicus Powder: Rat feces (Seven pieces, those pointed at both ends are good), Dried Ginger (Size of a date pit), Steamer Belt (Size of an egg. All above burned to ash), Crimson Silk Ash (Half Fen), Lead Carbonate (Three Qian, yellowed), Moschus (A little). Mix and grind finely. When the umbilical cord is about to fall off, apply half a Qian to one Qian to seal the umbilicus, which will cure it, preventing umbilical swelling and dampness forever. When burning medicines, do not let ash contaminate the final product.