Library

When infants are first born, their intestines and stomachs are delicate and brittle; they are prone to hunger and satiety, deficiency and excess, cold and heat. These points have long been known by everyone in the world according to old medical texts. However, what is stated in *The Rites of Zhou* (Zhou Li) and *Qu Li*, as well as in the *Yufu Qianjue Lun*, remains unknown to the general public. *Qu Li* states: "Children do not wear fur coats or skirts." The commentary explains: "Fur coats are too warm and consume Yin Qi." Moreover, even when a person reaches fifteen years of age and becomes a 'cheng tong' (a youth), they are still not allowed to wear fur. Nowadays, people raising young children wrap their bellies with cotton layers during midsummer, never taking them off during the day, causing body heat to steam together; upon seeing slightly cold weather, they seal the room tightly, sleep under felt curtains, use heated kang beds and red stoves, preventing even slight cold from entering and retaining excessive warmth. Even for elderly people, this is inadvisable, let alone for infants who possess pure Yang constitution. Indeed, even gentlemen residing in sealed rooms should not keep them so warm. The *Yufu Qianjue Lun* states: "Infants' illnesses stem from overfeeding." People raising infants today do not consider how much their digestive systems can hold; hearing a cry, they assume it is hunger and hastily feed milk into the infant's mouth without measuring quantity, continuing until vomiting occurs. As they grow slightly older and able to eat, any food offered is given. Infants have no other skills; crying loudly is their way of showing strength. These two factors—overfeeding and overheating—are the sources of all diseases.

Apart from congenital diseases, there are four types of pediatric conditions: Jing (startle/wind syndrome), Gan (malnutrition syndrome), vomiting, and diarrhea. Their root causes lie in only two aspects: overfeeding and overheating. Jing arises when Fire pathogen attacks the Liver's Wood element; Gan occurs when Heat pathogen attacks the Spleen's Damp-Soil element; vomiting results from Fire attacking the Stomach and Diaphragm, ascending severely; diarrhea is caused by Fire attacking the Liver and Large Intestine. Milk transforms from blood and is extremely cold; while it builds muscle mass in infants, the infant's body is Water-based. Therefore, excessive milk consumption leads to transformation into Dampness. When Damp-Heat combines, vomiting and dysentery arise.

Physicians who fail to understand the root cause often prescribe medicines like Zishuang Wan (Purple Frost Pill) or Jinbai Bing (Gold White Cake), which contain Radix Euphorbiae Humifusae (Badou, 巴豆) and Semen Armeniacae Amarum (Xingren, 杏仁). Badou is extremely hot and highly toxic; Xingren is mildly hot and slightly toxic. Since infants naturally have strong Yang and internal heat, administering such hot and toxic drugs retains toxins within, eventually leading to further complications. Thus, Liu Hejian used Fangfeng Tongsheng San (Wind-Barrier Universal Rescue Decoction), Liangge San (Cooling the Chest Powder), Shenxiong Wan (Divine Achyranthes Pill), and Yiyuan San (Benefit Origin Powder)—all non-toxic formulas—to treat these conditions. Some argue that these adult medications are unsuitable for children. I laughed and replied: Although adults and children differ in physical maturity, their Zang-Fu organs are fundamentally the same. Adults take larger doses, children smaller ones, but the principle is identical. For cases where purging is contraindicated, detoxification is appropriate; for cases requiring purging, regulating the Stomach or draining Heart heat is suitable. There are also formulas to expel Dampness. I once used Qian Niu Zi (Seed of Morning Glory), Dahuang (Rhubarb Root and Rhizome), and Mutong (Akebia Stem) ground into powder and made into pills, which proved effective for various pediatric ailments. This is likely because nursing infants often suffer from combined Damp-Heat. Contemporary physicians slander me for this. Since they do not comprehend natural transformations, debate is futile. I record this formula for future generations who understand these principles. However, skilled pediatricians must treat based on the family's socioeconomic status.

Wealthy families, having abundant food and clothing, often see their children die young; poor families, lacking resources, often see their children survive robustly. Poor children cannot indulge their desires; even if dissatisfied, they dare not anger, resulting in less Liver pathology. Wealthy children indulge freely; minor dissatisfaction leads to frequent anger, increasing Liver disease. The Liver corresponds to Wood and, when severe, overacts upon the Spleen. Furthermore, the poor lack money and medicine, so fewer die; the rich have money and medicine, so more die. Thus, although poor families provide less materially than wealthy ones, they better preserve their children's lives. Four hidden principles align with proper child-rearing: wearing thin clothes and eating bland food with few desires and little anger (1); lacking wealth and medicine allows self-healing without attack by quacks using hot drugs (2); maternal labor in utero stimulates Qi and Blood, ensuring fetal physical fullness (3); maternal labor facilitates easier childbirth (4). These four aspects contrast with those of wealthy families.

A folk saying goes: "Crying is like singing for a child; silence leads to deformity." Though vulgar, this hits the mark. How does society know that crying is a method for infants to vent internal heat? Laozi said: "One can cry all day without losing one's voice." I have taught others methods of nurturing children: before an infant can sit, let them lie on bare ground; in cold weather, dress them in cloth rather than thick cotton. Once they can sit, place toys like iron bells, wooden pots, and other items tied with strings in a water basin, making them float and sink with sound. During summer heat, let them sit nearby, splashing water and playing with bells to dissipate heat. The *Neijing* states: "The four limbs are the root of all Yang meridians." Cold water touching the hands allows Yin Qi to reach the heart; this is the "medicine without medication." I once told Chen Jingzhi: If a child falls ill and no medicine is available, it is better to avoid quack doctors. Fearing criticism from his wife's relatives for not treating him, he could soak steamed dough cakes until soft, shape them into white pills, deceive the relatives into thinking they are real medicine, administer them to the child, and leave the outcome to Heaven's will. This is the best approach. In the year Bingxu, many children suffered diarrhea; those treated with medicine died, likely because physicians misunderstood Damp-Heat principles and applied warming-drying methods. Only Chen Jingzhi, following my advice and withholding medicine, saved his child. Alas! Ban Gu was indeed a fine historian, stating: "Not treating illness yields medium-level medical care." For sudden severe diseases requiring medication, one must carefully study Yin-Yang and consult wisely. Before illness strikes, following my nurturing methods prevents disease. Even with minor ailments, abstaining from medicine is acceptable.