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There are two types of fire in the human body: one is called Junhu (Monarch Fire, 君火), which is like normal human fire; the other is called Xianghu (Ministerial Fire, 相火), which is like dragon fire. Children usually have fire within their bodies; if this is compounded by cold stagnation, heat conditions arise. If the Zang-fu Qi is inherently Yin-predominant, then even if cold pathogens enter, heat will not be generated. In the early stage, only aversion to cold without fever is seen, with fever appearing only at night. Additionally, there are cases where there is no prior heat, but due to deficiency of fire, heat floats upward, presenting symptoms that resemble heat. Or, there may be food retention in the middle jiao, causing obstruction of Qi flow and inability to excrete, leading to intermittent fever. None of these constitute pure true heat. Therefore, treating heat requires distinguishing between exterior and interior, Yin and Yang, as well as differentiating among accumulated heat, latent heat, heat toxicity, and false heat. Fire and heat are closely related; herbs in Materia Medica used to treat fire mostly treat heat. Thus, heat is subsumed under fire, so discussing heat diseases inherently includes fire.

When a child presents with fullness and stuffiness in the four limbs, difficulty in defecation, convulsions, irritability, fright, flaccidity of sinews preventing them from getting out of bed, and heat felt upon palpation below the muscle and above the bone, especially severe during the Yin-Mao hours (3:00-7:00 AM), this is Liver Heat. The ancient method primarily prescribes Chaihu Yin (Bupleurum Decoction, e.g., equal parts of Chaihu [Bupleuri Radix], Huangqin [Scutellariae Radix], Renshen [Ginseng Radix], Danggui [Angelicae Sinensis Radix], Chi Shao [Paeoniae Radix Rubra], Dahuang [Rhei Radix et Rhizoma], and Gancao [Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma]), decocted in water and taken orally.
[Chen Shouzhen's Note:] To drain Liver heat, use only Shijueming (Haliotidis Concha) 3 qian, Cheqianzi (Plantaginis Semen) 1 qian, Dan Zhuyeqie (Lophatheri Herba) 1.5 qian, and Sheng Caoshao (raw end of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) 3 fen. Use juice ground from raw Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) as a guide to take the medicine.

When a child suffers from mental restlessness, heat in the palms, and heat in the wrist area that is detectable only with light pressure on the skin below the muscle, but disappears completely with heavy pressure, peaking at noon, this indicates heat in the blood vessels, i.e., Heart Heat. The ancient method primarily prescribes Huanglian Xiexin Tang (Coptis Decoction to Drain the Heart, e.g., consisting solely of Huanglian [Coptidis Rhizoma]) decocted in water and taken orally.
[Chen Shouzhen's Note:] To drain Heart heat, using Huanglian alone is too bitter and cold, potentially damaging the Stomach Qi. Instead, use Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix, heart removed) 1 qian, Dan Zhuyeqie (Lophatheri Herba) 1 qian, and Sheng Caoshao (raw end of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) 3 fen. Use Dengxin (Junci Medulla) 30 cun as a guide, decoct and take orally to reduce fever.

When a child is lethargic, prefers lying down, has weak limbs unable to support themselves, lacks energy to move, feels no heat with light palpation, no heat with heavy palpation down to the bones, but feels heat with moderate pressure (between light and heavy), worsening overnight, this indicates heat in the muscles, i.e., Spleen Heat. For excess heat, the ancient method primarily prescribes Tiaowei Chengqi Tang (Regulate the Stomach and Purge the Bowels Decoction, e.g., containing Dahuang [Rhei Radix et Rhizoma], Mangxiao [Natrii Sulfas], and Gancao [Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma]); for deficiency heat, it primarily prescribes Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Decoction to Supplement the Middle and Augment the Qi, e.g., containing Renshen [Ginseng Radix], Huangqi [Astragali Radix], Baizhu [Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma], Shengma [Cimicifugae Rhizoma], etc., ten ingredients).
[Chen Shouzhen's Note:] To drain Spleen heat: for excess patterns, use only Sheng Huangqin (raw Scutellariae Radix) 1 qian, Sheng Baishao (raw Paeoniae Radix Alba) 1 qian, and Sheng Caoshao (raw end of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) 5 fen; for deficiency patterns, use only Xian Zhuru (fresh Bamboo Sap/Dendrocalamus Old Shoots) 1.5 qian, Sheng Baishao (raw Paeoniae Radix Alba) 1 qian, Yun Fuling (Poria Cocos with pine wood) 1.5 qian, and Bai Tongcao (Tetrapanacis Medulla) 3 fen, formulated as a dosage.