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Yijian Rensu Yin (Easy-to-Use Ginseng and Perilla Decoction): Indicated for fever and headache caused by common cold. It is also suitable for cases where heat is triggered by the accumulation of phlegm-fluids (Tan-Yin). Both conditions are appropriate for its use. It additionally treats epigastric fullness and oppression, vomiting with reflux, and nausea. It is particularly suitable for infants, children, and unmarried young women.

Ingredients: Qianhu (Peucedani Radix), Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma; if unavailable, high-quality Dangshen [Codonopsis Radix] may be substituted), Zisu (Perillae Folium), Gange (Puerariae Radix), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma Preparatum), Fuling (Poria); each 3 fen. Zhike (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix); each 2 fen.

Preparation and Administration: Coarsely crush the herbs. For each dose, take 4 qian, add one cup of water, seven slices of fresh ginger, and one jujube. Decoct until six-tenths of the liquid remains, strain, and administer.

Xingxing San (Awakening Powder): Treats pediatric Shanghan (Cold Damage).

Ingredients: Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, stir-fried), Fuling (Poria), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Beixixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix, stir-fried); all in equal proportions.

Preparation and Administration: Grind into a fine powder. For each dose, take 2 qian, add five leaves of Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), decoct in water, and administer. (Another version includes Fangfeng [Saposhnikoviae Radix] and Tianhuafen [Trichosanthis Radix].)

In general, treating interior syndromes (Bing Wei Zang Fu Nei Bu De Bing Zheng) in children hinges on the principles of "appropriateness" (Yi) and "contraindication" (Ji). The key lies in clear differentiation and accurate judgment. Since children have limited primordial qi (Yuan Qi) and fragile zang-fu organs, failing to apply purgation (Xia Fa) when indicated leads to the depletion of body fluids (Jin Ye), which is referred to as "urgent purgation to save the stomach's fluids." Conversely, applying purgation when not indicated injures the interior qi, allowing pathogenic factors to sink inward due to deficiency, causing even more severe harm. The following symptoms are analyzed to distinguish indications and contraindications for purgation:

If a child has a constitutionally robust nature, sweating fails to resolve the condition, and symptoms include fever, delirium (Shan Yu), thick yellow tongue coating, thirst with desire to drink, constipation, dark red urine, abdominal distension with tenderness upon pressure, heat in the palms and soles, and a deep, forceful pulse. This indicates yang pathogens entering the interior (Yang Xie Ru Li), and purgation is indicated. Even if only two or three days have passed since onset, if these symptoms are present, purgation is appropriate. Formulas such as Tiaowei Chengqi Tang (Regulate the Stomach Order Qi Decoction) or Sishun Qingliang Yin (Four-Smooth Clearing and Cooling Decoction) should be administered in small amounts. The goal is to match the medicinal strength with the pathogen, avoiding excessive purgation that could lead to the loss of yin. One must not adhere to the fallacy of quacks who claim "purgation is never too late," falsely calling it safe, and delaying treatment until after seven days.

If Taiyang syndrome (Tai Yang Bing - exterior cold damage syndrome) signs persist, the exterior pathogen has not been resolved, the pulse is floating and large, and there is aversion to cold, the pathogen remains at the exterior. Even if ten or more days have passed, purgation is inappropriate. Frequent vomiting is a contraindication for purgation. In combined Taiyang and Yangming disease presenting with wheezing and chest fullness, purgation is contraindicated. Aversion to drinking water is a contraindication. Constitutional deficiency is a contraindication. Cold extremities (Ni Jue) are a contraindication.

Master Zhang Zhongjing stated: Although many days have passed, if exterior signs remain and the pulse is floating, diaphoresis (Fa Han) is still appropriate. Although few days have passed, if interior signs exist and the pulse is deep, purgation is appropriate. This principle must be understood.

Furthermore, delirium caused by qi deficiency and yang collapse represents a severe deficiency syndrome. Tonifying formulas containing Renshen (Ginseng) and Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata) should be used. It must not be mistaken for an excess syndrome and erroneously treated with purgation. Exercise extreme caution. Regarding food stagnation, while occasional in children, it invariably stems from spleen deficiency and impaired transportation. As the classics state: "Where pathogenic factors gather, qi is necessarily deficient." I often observe quacks recklessly using harsh draining methods, or misidentifying exterior syndromes as having interior components, leading to unresolved exterior pathogens and injured interior qi. This frequently results in unpredictable complications that are incurable. Many suffer this harm, which is truly lamentable. These practitioners fail to realize that "purgation" refers to expelling pathogens, not merely clearing food stagnation. Countless people secretly suffer from this error. Therefore, I specifically highlight and elaborate on this point.