Library

Asthma and urgency are caused by the abundance of phlegm and qi.

Yinian Jin (One-Grain Gold) treats infants with wind-phlegm causing foaming at the mouth, asthma, cough, abdominal distension, and loss of appetite. Infantile lung distension with asthma and cough is often mistaken for throat wind (Houfeng); the prescription uses Dahuang (Rhubarb Rhizome), Binglang (Areca Seed), Qian Niu Zi (Morning Glory Seed, including both black and white varieties), and Renshen (Ginseng Root) in equal weights; Wuweizi (Schisandra Berry) is ground into a fine powder, mixed with honey water to an appropriate consistency; each time, one "yi" (a traditional unit of weight, approx. 0.5g) is administered down the throat, without needing to use Shen Zhen Fa (Divine Needle Method) moxibustion.

The aforementioned symptoms manifest as lung distension with fullness and asthma, high chest, rapid breathing, shaking of both hypochondria with depressions forming pits, open nostrils, chest oppression and confusion, cough and thirst, hoarse voice or aphonia, surging phlegm obstructing the throat, commonly known as Ma Pi Feng (Horse Spleen Wind). If not treated urgently, death will occur within a day or night.

To treat severe asthma due to phlegm obstruction in the throat of infants: Use one Ba Dou (Croton Seed), crush it into a pill, wrap it in cotton, and insert it into the left nostril for boys or the right nostril for girls; the phlegm will descend immediately, which is effective.

An infant suffered from asthma; after taking diaphoretic agents, sweating occurred but the asthma worsened. Using Yigong San (Extraordinary Power Powder) taken in one dose resulted in immediate recovery; subsequently, Liu Junzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) led to complete cure. (See Formulas under Tonification.)

An infant had asthma disease; when the mother exerted herself, it would flare up, and the infant would also cough upon breastfeeding. Treating with Liu Junzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) plus Jiegeng (Platycodon Root), Sangbai Pi (Mulberry Bark), and Xingren (Apricot Seed) cured both mother and child. (See Formulas under Tonification.)

For newborns, it is advisable to first decoct Huanglian Gancao Tang (Coptis and Licorice Decoction) strongly. Quickly wrap a finger with soft silk or cotton, dip it in the medicine, and scrape out the evil blood from the anus. If this is not done in time, administer the medicinal soup orally; wait until the evil foam is vomited out before giving breast milk. This will result in fewer smallpox eruptions and fewer various toxic sores.

Infants aged three to five months should be bound to lie flat. Do not hold them upright by the head to avoid inducing epilepsy (Jing Xian).

Breastfeeding and solid food should be separated, not mixed together at one time, to prevent the infant from developing malnutrition syndromes (Gan Pi) and accumulations.

It is advisable to use old skirts and jackets from seventy-to-eighty-year-old elders to make clothes for infants, allowing the elder's true qi to nourish the child, promoting longevity. Wealthy families must not dress infants in newly made silk, satin, velvet, or wool; this not only causes illness but also diminishes fortune, inevitably leading to premature death.

Infants aged four to five months should only receive breast milk; after six months, thin porridge can be introduced; before one year of age, meat and raw/cold foods must strictly be avoided to prevent frequent illness. Only after two or three years, when the zang-fu organs are slightly stronger, can meat be introduced.

Yansheng First Formula: After the umbilical cord falls off in a newborn, collect it, place it on a new tile, and burn it with charcoal fire around it until the smoke nearly ceases. Place it on the earth, cover it with a tile bowl to preserve its nature, and grind it into a fine powder. Prepare Zhusha (Cinnabar) that is transparent, ground to an extremely fine powder and washed with water. If the umbilical cord weighs 5 fen, use 2.5 fen of Cinnabar. Decoct Shengdihuang (Rehmannia Root) and Danggui (Angelica Sinensis Root) body to make a strong juice (1-2 shell measures), mix with the previous two powders, and apply to the infant's body and the nursing mother's nipples. Apply within one day, finishing by night; the next day, feces will discharge turbid filth. The child will be free from sores, rashes, and various diseases throughout life. This is a wonderful method where each son born is protected.

Dihui Mian Dou Tang (Purifying Filth and Avoiding Smallpox Decoction): Use one sheng (approx. 1 liter) of Lian Shu Zi (Chinaberry Fruit). On the first day of the first lunar month at Zi hour, only one parent should know. Decoct the fruits, let it cool to warm temperature, and wash the infant's entire body and face to remove fetal toxins. After washing, no smallpox rash will appear. If it does appear, it will be mild, perhaps only three to five spots.

Another formula: Collect small vines of loofah harvested in May or June, dry them in the shade, weigh about 2.5 liang, decoct in water, and wash.

Another formula: Vines from gourds can be used in the same manner.

Xidou Wanjindan (Rare Smallpox Golden Pill): Treats infants before smallpox eruption, where fetal toxin resides in the zang-fu and erupts due to seasonal qi. If taken during the spring and autumn equinoxes, one pill per dose gradually reduces the toxin, resulting in sparse eruptions. If during the smallpox season, upon the first sign of fever, grind and take one pill; the toxin exits via the large intestine. If there is black depression or inverted crusts, dissolve another pill, which can revive the dying. If smallpox has erupted for seven days, further ingestion may leak vital qi. Compilers must not alter the formula to ensure efficacy.

Mahuang Gen (Ephedra Root), Shengma (Cimicifuga Rhizome) (each 1.5 liang), Qianghuo (Notopterygium Rhizome), Huapi (Birch Bark), Qiancao Gen (Madder Root), Gualou Gen (Trichosanthes Root), Niuzi (Arctium Seed, stir-fried), Tianma (Gastrodia Rhizome), Lianqiao (Forsythia Fruit) (each 1 liang), Danggui (Angelica Sinensis Root), Shaoyao (Peony Root), Chuanxiong (Ligusticum Rhizome) (each 7 qian).

Cut these into slices, decoct in 5 sheng (approx. 2.5 liters) of water until reduced to half a sheng (approx. 250 ml), strain, put into a silver vessel, boil into a paste using hot water, add a little refined honey, mix well, then add the following herbs: Zhusha (Cinnabar) (5 qian), Bingpian (Borneol), Xionghuang (Realgar) (each 5 fen), Xia Ma Hui (Toad Ash) (1.5 qian), Shexiang (Musk) (7 fen), Quanxie (Scorpion, roasted) (14 pieces). Grind all into powder, mix evenly with the previous paste, divide into ten pills, seal with wax, size like a bullet. When needed, mix with pig heart blood or rabbit blood, take with warm wine, and consume warm.

For any newborn, if white spots named "Ma Ya" (Horse Teeth) appear on the lips and gum roots, preventing breastfeeding. This differs from E Kou (Goat Mouth/Thrush). Delay leads to inability to save, often causing death. Urgently bind a needle to a chopstick tip, prick the white spots to bleed. Grind good Beijing ink in mint soup, dip a finger wrapped in the mother's hair into the ink, and wipe the entire mouth. Withhold milk and food. Wait for one hour of sleep, wake up, give milk/food, and wipe again.

Infants undergo periodic "Bian Zheng" (Transformation and Steaming). "Bian" means abnormal change; "Zheng" means fever. This transforms the five zang organs and steams/nourishes the six fu organs. Frequent Bian Zheng promotes flourishing qi and blood, growth of bones and vessels, and changes in temperament, leading to milder smallpox later. During Bian Zheng, medication is inappropriate. If complicated by food stagnation, wind-cold, or fright, wait one or two days for the condition to clarify: resolve food stagnation if food-related, transform phlegm if wind-related, calm spirit if fright-related. Prescribing blindly during Bian Zheng introduces drugs into meridians, obscures symptoms, causes lingering illness, and results in medical error.

An infant within the first month developed convulsions and nasal congestion due to wind pathogen invasion. Administer Liu Junzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) plus Jiegeng (Platycodon Root) and Xixin (Asarum Root) to both mother and child. Additionally, grind seven scallion heads and one slice of ginger finely, spread on paper, heat in palms, and apply urgently to the fontanelle. Soon, nasal passage clears and convulsions stop.

An infant未满 one month developed convulsions, vomiting milk, abdominal distension, and diarrhea due to milk damaging the spleen and stomach. Administer Wuyi Yigong San (Five-Ingredient Extraordinary Power Powder) plus Loulu (Euphorbia Root) to the mother, and have the infant take a spoonful. Recovery ensued.