经说∶年六岁以上为小儿，十八以上为少年，二十以上为壮年，五十以上为老年也。其
六岁已还者，经所不载，是以乳下婴儿病难治者，皆无所承按故也。中古有巫方，立小儿《
颅囟经》以占夭寿，判疾病死生，世所相传，始有小儿方焉。逮乎晋宋，推诸苏家，传袭有
验，流于人间。
小儿始生，肌肤未成，不可暖衣，暖衣则令筋骨缓弱。宜时见风日，若都不见风日，则
令肌肤脆软，便易伤损。皆当以故絮着衣，莫用新绵也。天和暖无风之时，令母将抱日中嬉
戏，数见风日，则血凝气刚，肌肉硬密，堪耐风寒，不致疾病。若常藏在帏帐之内，重衣温
暖，譬如阴地之草木，不见风日，软脆不任风寒。又当薄衣，薄衣之法，当从秋习之，不可
以春夏卒减其衣，则令中风寒。从秋习之，以渐稍寒，如此则必耐寒。冬月但当着两薄襦，
一复裳耳，非不忍见其寒，适当佳耳。爱而暖之，适所以害之也。又当消息，无令汗出，汗
出则致虚损，便受风寒。昼夜寤寐，皆当慎之。
其饮乳食哺，不能无痰癖，常当节适乳哺。若微不进乳，仍当将护之。凡不能进乳哺，
则宜下之，如此则终不致寒热也。
又，小儿始生，生气尚盛，无有虚劳，微恶则须下之，所损不足言。及其愈病，则致深
益。若不时下，则成大疾，疾成则难治矣。其冬月下之，难将护，然有疾者，不可不下。夏
月下之后，腹中常当小胀满，故当节哺乳将护之，数日间。又节哺之，当令多少有常剂。
儿稍大，食哺亦当稍增。若减少者，此是腹中已有小不调也。盒饭微将药，勿复哺之，
但当乳之，甚者十许日，轻者五六日，自当如常。若都不肯食哺，而但饮乳者，此是有癖，
为疾重，要当下之。不可不下，不下则致寒热，或吐而发痫，或致下利，此皆病重，不早下
之所为也，则难治。先治其轻时，儿不耗损，百病速除矣。
小儿所以少病痫者，其母怀娠，时时劳役，运动骨血，则气强、胎养盛故也。若待御多
，血气微，胎养弱，则儿软脆易伤，故多病痫。
儿皆须着帽、项衣，取燥，菊花为枕枕之。儿母乳儿，三时摸儿项风池，若壮热者，即
须熨，使微汗。微汗不瘥，便灸两风池及背第三椎、第五椎、第七椎、第九椎两边各二壮，
与风池凡为十壮。一岁儿七壮，儿大者，以意节度，增壮数可至三十壮，唯风池特令多，七
岁以上可百壮。小儿常须慎护风池，谚云∶戒养小儿，慎护风池。风池在颈项筋两辕之边，
有病乃治之。疾微，慎不欲妄针灸，亦不用辄吐下，所以然者，针灸伤经络，吐下动腑脏故
也。但当以除热汤浴之，除热散粉之，除热赤膏摩之，又以脐中膏涂之。令儿在凉处，勿禁
水洗，常以新水洗。
新生无疾，慎不可逆针灸。逆针灸则忍痛动其五脉，因喜成痫。河洛间土地多寒，儿喜
病痉。其俗生儿三日，喜逆灸以防之，又灸颊以防噤。有噤者，舌下脉急，牙车筋急，其土
地寒，皆决舌下去血，灸颊以防噤。江东地温无此疾。古方既传有逆针灸之法，今人不详南
北之殊，便按方用之，多害于小儿。是以田舍小儿，任自然，皆得无横夭。
又云∶春夏决定不得下小儿。所以尔者，小儿腑脏之气软弱，易虚易实，下则下焦必益
虚，上焦生热，热则增痰，痰则成病。自非当病，不可下也。
古籍记载：年龄六岁以上称为小儿，十八岁以上称为少年，二十岁以上称为壮年，五十岁以上称为老年。
对于六岁以下的儿童，医经中没有详细记载，因此哺乳期的婴儿患病难以治疗，是因为没有现成的理论依据可供遵循。
中古时期有巫医，编写了小儿《颅囟经》来预测寿命长短，判断疾病的生死预后，世人相传，从此才有了专门针对小儿的方剂。
到了晋朝和宋朝，这些知识多由苏氏家族传承，流传下来经过验证，普及于民间。
小儿刚出生时，肌肤尚未发育成熟，不能穿太暖和的衣服，穿得太暖会使筋骨松弛软弱。
应当经常接触风和阳光，如果完全不见风日，就会使肌肤脆软，容易受伤受损。
衣服里都应用旧棉絮，不要用新绵。
天气温和无风的时候，让母亲抱着孩子在阳光下嬉戏，多次接触风日，就能使血液凝固、气机刚强，肌肉坚实致密，能够耐受风寒，不会导致疾病。
如果总是藏在帷帐之内，穿着厚衣保暖，就像阴地里的草木，不见风日，柔软脆弱，不能耐受风寒。
另外应当少穿衣服，少穿衣的方法，应当从秋天开始练习，不能在春夏季节突然减少衣物，否则会导致中风寒。
从秋天开始练习，逐渐适应寒冷，这样就能耐寒。
冬季只需穿两件薄夹袄，一条双层裙子即可，并不是不忍心让孩子受冻，而是这样做对孩子更好。
过分溺爱而让孩子穿得过多过暖，恰恰是害了他。
还应当注意调节，不要让孩子出汗，出汗会导致虚损，从而遭受风寒侵袭。
无论是白天还是夜晚，清醒或睡眠，都要谨慎对待这一点。
关于喂奶和辅食，不可能完全没有痰癖（体内停聚的痰饮与积滞），应当经常节制乳食。
如果孩子稍微不吃奶，仍应当加以护理。
凡是不能进食乳食的，就应当使用泻下法，这样最终就不会导致寒热病。
另外，小儿刚出生时，生机旺盛，没有虚劳之症，轻微不适就需要使用泻下法，所损耗的不足为惧。
等到病愈后，反而会有深远的益处。
如果不及时使用泻下法，就会发展成大病，病成之后就很难治疗了。
冬季使用泻下法，难以护理，但是有病的孩子，不可不使用。
夏季使用泻下法后，腹中常会感到轻微胀满，所以应当节制哺乳并加以护理，持续数天。
又需节制喂食，应当让每次的食量有一定的常规剂量。
孩子稍大一些，辅食也应当适当增加。
如果减少进食，这是腹中已有轻微不调的表现。
应当立即给予少量药物，不再喂辅食，只喂奶，严重的十几天，轻的五六天，自然就会恢复正常。
如果完全不肯吃辅食，只喝奶，这是有积癖，病情较重，必须使用泻下法。
不可不下，不下就会导致寒热，或者呕吐并发癫痫，或者导致腹泻，这些都是病情严重，不早用泻下法造成的，这样就难治了。
先治疗轻症时，孩子不耗损，百病就能迅速消除。
小儿之所以少患癫痫，是因为母亲怀孕时，经常劳作运动，活动筋骨血脉，使得气强、胎养充足。
如果房事过多，血气微弱，胎养虚弱，那么孩子就软弱脆弱容易受伤，所以多患癫痫。
孩子都必须戴帽子、穿护项衣，保持干燥，用菊花做枕头枕着。
母亲给孩子喂奶时，三个季节要抚摸孩子的风池穴，如果出现高热，就必须熨烫，使其微微出汗。
微微出汗后病未愈，就灸两侧的风池穴以及背部第三椎、第五椎、第七椎、第九椎两边各两壮，加上风池穴一共十壮。
一岁的孩子七壮，孩子大的，根据情况调整，增加的壮数可达三十壮，只有风池穴特别要多，七岁以上的可灸一百壮。
小儿常常需要谨慎保护风池穴，谚语说：养育小儿，谨慎保护风池穴。
风池穴在颈项筋脉两侧的边缘，有病时才治疗它。
病情轻微，谨慎不要随意针灸，也不要轻易使用吐下法，之所以这样，是因为针灸会损伤经络，吐下会扰动脏腑的缘故。
只应当用退热的汤药给孩子洗澡，涂抹退热散粉，用退热赤膏按摩，又用脐中膏涂抹肚脐。
让孩子待在凉快的地方，不要禁止水洗，经常用新水清洗。
新生儿没有疾病，谨慎不可进行逆针灸。
逆针灸会让患儿忍受疼痛，扰动五脏经脉，因为惊恐而诱发癫痫。
河洛地区土地多寒冷，孩子容易患痉病（抽搐）。
当地习俗在孩子出生后三天，喜欢进行逆灸以防病，又灸脸颊以防口噤（牙关紧闭）。
有口噤症状的，舌下脉紧急，牙车筋（咀嚼肌）紧张，由于土地寒冷，都刺破舌头放血，灸脸颊以防口噤。
江东地区气候温暖，没有这种病。
古方既然传有逆针灸的方法，现在人不详细考察南北差异，就按照方子使用，大多伤害了小儿。
因此乡野间的小儿，顺应自然，都能避免横死夭折。
又说：春夏季节绝对不可以给小儿使用泻下法。
之所以这样，是因为小儿脏腑之气软弱，容易虚也容易实，泻下则下焦必然更加虚弱，上焦产生热气，热气则增加痰液，痰液则形成疾病。
除非确实有病需要泻下，否则不可使用泻下法。
The classics state: Those aged six and above are called children (Xiao'er), those aged eighteen and above are called youths (Shaonian), those aged twenty and above are called adults in their prime (Zhuangnian), and those aged fifty and above are called the elderly (Laonian).
For those under six years old, the classics do not record details; therefore, illnesses in nursing infants are difficult to treat because there is no established theoretical basis to follow.
In the middle ancient period, shamanic physicians compiled the *Luxin Jing* (Suture Classic) for children to predict longevity and judge the prognosis of diseases, which was passed down by the world, marking the beginning of pediatric prescriptions.
By the Jin and Song dynasties, these teachings were largely propagated by the Su family, transmitted with verified efficacy, and spread among the people.
When a child is first born, the skin and muscles are not yet fully formed; they should not be kept too warm, as excessive warmth causes the sinews and bones to become lax and weak.
They should be exposed to wind and sunlight regularly. If completely shielded from wind and sun, the skin and muscles will become brittle and soft, making them prone to injury and damage.
Clothing should be lined with old cotton wadding, not new cotton.
On mild, windless days, the mother should hold the child and play with them in the sunlight. Frequent exposure to wind and sun will cause the blood to coagulate and the Qi to become firm, resulting in dense and tough muscles capable of withstanding cold and wind, thereby preventing disease.
If always kept inside curtains, heavily clothed and warmed, it is like plants in the shade—soft, fragile, and unable to withstand cold and wind.
Furthermore, clothing should be thin. The method of wearing thin clothes should be practiced starting from autumn; one should not suddenly reduce clothing in spring and summer, as this invites wind-cold.
Practicing from autumn allows gradual adaptation to cold, thus building tolerance.
In winter, only two thin padded jackets and a double-layered skirt are needed. This is not out of indifference to their coldness, but because it is truly beneficial.
Overindulgence in keeping them warm is actually harmful.
Care must also be taken to prevent sweating, as sweating leads to deficiency and susceptibility to wind-cold.
This caution applies to both day and night, whether awake or asleep.
Regarding breastfeeding and supplementary food, phlegm and accumulation (Tanpi) cannot be entirely avoided; breastfeeding and feeding should be regulated.
If the infant slightly refuses milk, care should still be taken.
Generally, if the infant cannot take milk or food, purgation (Xia) should be employed, which ultimately prevents febrile diseases.
Moreover, newborns have vigorous vital energy and lack deficiency-fatigue conditions. For minor ailments, purgation is required; the loss incurred is negligible.
Once recovered, this brings profound benefit.
If purgation is not applied promptly, minor issues develop into major diseases, which become difficult to treat.
Purgation in winter is hard to manage, but necessary when illness exists.
After purgation in summer, the abdomen may feel slightly distended; thus, breastfeeding should be moderated and care taken for several days.
Feeding should also be regulated, ensuring consistent quantities.
As the child grows, supplementary food intake should increase accordingly.
A decrease in intake indicates slight internal disharmony.
Medication should be administered immediately, stopping supplementary food and relying solely on breastfeeding. Severe cases may take ten-plus days, mild cases five to six days, before returning to normal.
If the child refuses all supplementary food and drinks only milk, it indicates severe accumulation (Pi), requiring purgation.
Purgation is essential; without it, febrile diseases may arise, or vomiting and epilepsy (Xian) may occur, or diarrhea may result. These serious outcomes stem from delayed purgation, making treatment difficult.
Treating early, when the child is not depleted, ensures rapid recovery from various diseases.
Children suffer less from epilepsy because during pregnancy, the mother’s frequent labor and movement strengthen her Qi and enrich fetal nourishment.
Conversely, excessive sexual activity depletes Qi and Blood, weakening fetal nourishment, resulting in a fragile child prone to illness and epilepsy.
Children must wear hats and neck guards to keep dry, and use chrysanthemum pillows.
During breastfeeding in three seasons, the mother should massage the Fengchi (GB20) acupoint at the back of the neck. If high fever occurs, moxibustion or warming therapy should be applied to induce slight sweating.
If slight sweating does not resolve the condition, moxa should be applied to both Fengchi points and the bilateral sides of the 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th thoracic vertebrae, two moxa cones per point, totaling ten cones.
For a one-year-old, seven cones are used. For older children, the number can be adjusted up to thirty cones, with special emphasis on Fengchi, where up to one hundred cones may be used for children over seven.
Pediatric care must strictly protect the Fengchi point. As the proverb says: "Raising children requires careful protection of Fengchi."
Fengchi is located at the edges of the tendons in the neck. Treatment is indicated only when disease is present.
For mild illnesses, avoid unnecessary acupuncture and moxibustion, and do not readily use emetic or purgative methods, as acupuncture damages meridians and emetics/purgatives disturb the Zang-Fu organs.
Instead, bathe the child in heat-clearing decoctions, apply heat-clearing powder, massage with heat-clearing red ointment, and apply umbilical paste.
Keep the child in cool places, allow washing with fresh water regularly.
For healthy newborns, reverse moxibustion (Ni Zhenjiu) should be strictly avoided.
Reverse moxibustion causes pain and disturbs the Five Pulses, potentially inducing epilepsy due to fright.
In the Heluo region, the cold climate makes children prone to spasms (Jing).
Local custom involves reverse moxibustion on the third day after birth for prevention, and moxibustion on the cheeks to prevent trismus (lockjaw).
Trismus presents with tight sublingual vessels and tense masseter muscles. Due to the cold climate, bloodletting from the tongue and cheek moxibustion are performed.
Such diseases are absent in the warmer Jiangdong region.
Although ancient texts record reverse moxibustion, modern practitioners often ignore north-south climatic differences and apply it indiscriminately, harming many children.
Therefore, rural children, left to nature, often avoid premature death.
It is also stated: Purgation must absolutely not be used for children in spring and summer.
This is because children's Zang-Fu Qi is weak and easily shifts between deficiency and excess. Purgation further depletes the Lower Jiao, generates heat in the Upper Jiao, increases phlegm, and creates disease.
Unless specifically indicated by illness, purgation should not be used.