典藏书目

Xia Yuzhu stated: Within three days after birth, it is umbilical tetanus (Umbilical Wind); if it occurs after seven days, it is certainly not. Predecessors only said that wind pathogen enters through the umbilicus, causing mouth contraction and jaw lock (Jin Kou), but did not explain the underlying principle. I pondered that after an infant is born and the umbilical cord is cut, there is fluid at the stump. The wind pathogen takes advantage of this moisture to enter the abdomen through the umbilicus. However, the abdomen is far from the lips and tongue; why do lip contraction and tongue stiffness occur? Upon realizing the principle of "thieving pathogen counter-attacking" (Zei Xie Ni Fan), where pathogens invade organs in a reverse sequence, the mystery was solved. The wind pathogen enters the abdomen and first attaches to the Liver. The Liver belongs to Wood; wind attaches to wood and resonates. The eyes are the orifices of the Liver, hence yellow discoloration appears at the corners of the eyes. Once the wind enters the Liver, it must counter-attack the Spleen. The tip of the nose belongs to the Spleen, so the nasal tip also shows yellow. Entering the Spleen, it must counter-attack the Kidneys. The lips belong to the Kidneys, hence the lips turn yellow and contract. Entering the Kidneys, it must counter-attack the Heart. The tongue is the sprout of the Heart, hence the tongue becomes stiff and rigid. At this stage, wind and fire wreak havoc together, and death is inevitable. Having comprehended the entire course of umbilical tetanus, I asked myself, still feeling amazed. As the saying goes: "Deep contemplation allows even ghosts and spirits to connect with you," which likely refers to this realization. When umbilical tetanus first manifests, sucking on milk will be slightly looser than before. Yellow discoloration suddenly appears near the inner canthus of the eyes. Immediate treatment is required, as it is easiest to cure at this stage; if the yellow spreads to the nose, treatment is still easy; if it reaches the Renzhong (GV26) and Chengjiang (CV24) points, treatment becomes slightly difficult; if the mouth does not contract but shows slight puffing sounds, it is still treatable; however, once the lips and mouth tighten like a lock and the tongue is rigid, treatment is futile. If yellow is seen at the eye corners, nose, and Renzhong, but the lips are not contracted, bend the child's fingers and massage the Wailaigong (EX-EN4) point. Immediately apply moxibustion (fire therapy) to the Fontanelle (Baihui area), Meixin (Yintang/Ex-HN3), Renzhong (GV26), Chengjiang (CV24), and Shaoshang (LU11) on both thumbs, one moxa cone each. Apply six cones around the umbilical ring. If the cord is not yet detached, apply one cone to the stump; if detached, apply one to the healing site. Total thirteen cones. The wind pathogen will cease, and the yellow complexion will recede. This fire therapy method is no different from the medicines in Lu Zu's gourd or Lu Gong's resurrection prescription. May all parents follow my instructions for treatment; among thousands or millions, surely not a single child will die of umbilical tetanus.

Tu Weisheng stated: The Spleen belongs to Earth in the Five Elements. In terms of position, it resides in the center of the four directions, hence the theory of diagnosing the Spleen via the nose. In terms of orifices, it opens into the mouth, hence the theory of diagnosing the Spleen via the mouth. Although these theories differ, their principles are consistent. Xia Yuzhu's forced adherence to the generation and restriction cycle of the Five Elements, claiming the Kidneys govern the lips, is erroneous. The manifestation area of the Kidneys should ideally be under the chin on the face, while its orifice is located at the ears. Furthermore, "six cones around the umbilical ring" refers to applying fire therapy six times in a circular pattern around the umbilicus, neither too close nor too far.

Chen Feixia stated: The umbilicus is the master aperture for all winds and the gate of cold for the five Zang organs. Daoists call it the Lower Dantian, the life stem of the human body. While in the womb, the fetus does not breathe through the mouth or nose; it breathes solely through the true Qi at the umbilicus, syncing with the mother's respiration. Upon birth, the first cry opens the airways, and the fetal breath ceases to function. It then resides within the umbilicus, one cun and three fen deep, forming a hollow cavity. The left is green, right white, top red, bottom black, center yellow. The eight extraordinary vessels and nine apertures are connected by meridians, serving as the pathway for true Qi circulation and the intersection of Kan and Li. All cultivation of immortal embryos is based here, hence called the life stem. Therefore, for newborns, the umbilicus is of utmost importance. Cutting the cord requires extreme caution. If cut too short or tied loosely, external wind may invade. If water enters during bathing, causing infection, external wind enters due to deficiency, injuring the Kidneys internally. The Kidney transmits to the Liver, Liver to the Heart, Heart to the Spleen, Spleen to the Lungs. Toxicity accumulates and manifests as umbilical tetanus. Symptoms include: red face and crying indicating Heart disease; slight convulsions of hands and feet indicating Liver disease; blue lips, mouth contraction, and phlegm obstruction indicating Spleen disease; tight jaw indicating Kidney disease; incessant crying indicating Lung disease. If symptoms of the five Zang organs appear partially, it is treatable; if all appear, it is untreatable. He further stated: Umbilical tetanus is the most malignant condition in newborns. There are three types: Umbilical Tetanus, Jin Kou (Jaw Lock), and Suo Du (Locked Belly). Though all are umbilical disorders, they differ in cold and heat nature, requiring detailed differentiation.

First is Umbilical Tetanus. Caused by water-dampness and wind-cold invading the umbilicus after cutting, spreading to the Heart and Spleen. Symptoms include abdominal distension, loose sucking reflex, frequent crying without feeding. At this early stage, use fire therapy to disperse it quickly. If it progresses to rapid breathing, inability to cry, visible blue veins on the abdomen, or painful hernia, it indicates fetal toxicity combined with wind pathogen entering the five Zang organs. Use external fire therapy and internal administration of Zhimi Qiqi Tang (Source: *Jicheng*, details unknown). If the umbilicus is swollen and blue, mouth locked shut, jaw clenched, foaming at the mouth, and nails turning cyan/black, it is untreatable.

Second is Jin Kou (Jaw Lock). Symptoms include closed eyes and jaw, diminishing cries, flesh granules like millet seeds on the tongue, inability to suck, foaming at the mouth, and constipation. Check for spots on the tongue; if present, gently scrape them with a fingernail. Decoct Mugwort (Muxiang) and White Cardamom Seed (Baikouren), each 5 fen, and administer Hangxie Dan dissolved in the decoction. This promotes bowel movement and qi smoothness, leading to self-healing.

Third is Suo Du (Locked Belly). Caused by excessive heat-toxin in the fetus blocking the anus, resulting in constipation. Urgently have a woman rinse her mouth with warm water and suck the infant's anterior and posterior chest, below the umbilicus, and palms/soles (seven areas total), repeating four or five times. Externally, mix 5 fen of Calomel (Qingfen) powder with a little honey and warm water, administer orally until bowel movement occurs. If ineffective, take a 3-4 cun long scallion white part, lubricate with oil, and gently insert about two cun into the rectum until passage is achieved. If no bowel movement after seven days, death ensues.

Tu Weisheng stated: What Chen Feixia calls Jin Kou is commonly known as Thrush (E Kou). What he calls Suo Du corresponds to Yangming Heat Binding in Shanghan Lun. Chen Feixia argues that newborns should not suffer such heat diseases and forces Thrush and Heat Binding into the category of Umbilical Tetanus, which is overly pedantic.

Chen Feixia stated: Ancient theories attribute umbilical tetanus solely to water-dampness and wind-cold. I believe this is incomplete. Umbilical tetanus has internal and external causes, with distinctions between treatable and untreatable cases. External cause: injury by wind-dampness. Internal cause: insufficiency of True Yang inherited from parents. I have witnessed a woman bearing over ten sons, all dying of umbilical tetanus within seven days. If it were merely external pathogens, why would they specifically target this family's children, leaving none unharmed? This clearly demonstrates the internal cause. For men, if the Gate of Life (Mingmen) has insufficient True Yang, the pulse at the right Chi position will be fine, choppy, and spiritless; their offspring will inevitably suffer from umbilical tetanus. My observations are detailed and accurate, unlike hearsay. External cases manifest between days 2-4, affecting the Six Fu organs, thus treatable. Internal cases manifest between days 6-7, affecting the five Zang organs, thus untreatable. Previously, Xia Yuzhu's rule stated that seeing yellow at the eye corners within three to seven days indicates umbilical tetanus. However, infants with strong constitution may have a ruddy-yellow complexion at birth, which is auspicious, not pathological. Mistaking this for tetanus causes harm; this method is inaccurate. A better sign is if the mother feels a small lump in her breasts daily. While breast lumps often precede tetanus, some infants with lumps do not develop it. This method is 70-80% accurate, with 20-30% error. The true signs are frequent sneezing, excessive crying, and loose sucking. These require urgent treatment. However, there is no fixed formula for treating umbilical tetanus. Methods like dispersing wind or purging downward cannot address emergencies. Only my unique fire-lamp therapy can save cases of tetanic convulsions or critical conditions where medicine fails. It has proven effective over time and was rarely shared. Seeing pediatricians misuse fire points, aggravating wind pathogen and trapping fire-toxin, leading to persistent fever and internal attack, causing death, I could not keep it secret. I reveal it publicly. Pediatricians often speak of "cutting" or "blocking" wind. "Cutting" means intercepting; "blocking" means obstructing. Applying fire to the Ren Mai in the middle jiao seems to block the pathogen, violating the taboo of "locking the door to chase thieves." Wind pathogens are agile and formless. To eliminate them, one must disperse and guide them out through the Ying and Wei levels and meridians, preventing stagnation. Zhang Zhongjing treated Cold Damage with sweating, vomiting, and purging methods. Pathogens in the exterior are dispersed via sweating; those above are expelled via vomiting; those deep are purged downward. The goal is complete elimination, never interception. Modern pediatricians, instead of expelling pathogens, block their exit, trapping them inside. This creates disaster, blaming the wrong party. Pathogens enter via the Three Yang channels and must exit via the Three Yang. Thus, this fire therapy applies only to the Three Yang channels, aiming to draw pathogens outward, never inward. Detailed diagrams follow.

Tu Weisheng stated: Insufficient prenatal essence naturally predisposes infants to umbilical tetanus and early death. However, syphilis transmitted from parents can also cause death within days of birth. Symptoms appearing 2-3 days after birth include white or red spots all over the body, refusal to feed, spots turning red, followed by rapid death. This tragic condition warns parents to exercise extreme caution.