钱氏看小儿脉纹，男左女右，取决于虎口之次指，未有究其义者，予考之《素》、《灵》始悟，以其属
阳明脉之根始也。阳明之脉，起于大指、次指之端。阳明多气多血，有病则应之，小儿纯阳之体，故即于此以
观其变也。○小儿脉见虎口，亦犹大人脉见寸口也。三关直透者不治。（《怡堂散记》）
幼科指纹，总无正论。有谓不必用者，有用而至于怪诞不经、诬民惑世者，是皆未明纹中之理，所以有
用不用之殊议也。请以
一得之愚，聊发其要∶盖此指纹，与寸关尺实同一脉。按《内经》十二经络始于手太阴，其支者，从腕后出次
指之端，而交于手阳明，即此指纹是也。明如景岳，犹谓此纹为手阳明经络，不知手太阴经，起于中府，而终
于大拇之少商。手阳明经，起于食指之商阳。两不相值，若无此旁支，交通营卫，不几令太阴、阳明表里断绝
乎？况此脉可诊，人所不知，其迟、数、代、促，与太渊无异，但脉体差小耳。指纹之法，起于宋人钱仲阳，
以食指分为三关∶寅曰风关，卯曰气关，辰曰命关。其诀谓∶风轻、气重、命危。虽未必其言悉验，而其义可
取。盖位则自下而上，邪则自浅而深，证则自轻而重，人皆可信。只恨复出诡异之说，谬撰惊风门类，致后贤
多歧亡羊，反成疑案。予意仲阳，宋之明人，以孝见称，岂肯妄言误世！大抵后之俗子，假托其名而为之。惟
有识者，知其语言鄙俚，论证荒唐，便能弃置不用。如张景岳、夏禹铸辈，皆谓可不必用。盖非不用，实恶其
妄诞不经耳。近世医家，不知真伪，习而行之，乃致惑世诬民，祸害婴幼。夫医事动关生命，乃听无稽之言，
流传贻殃，是岂其可！予虽不敏，粗知诊脉，每见幼科指纹之说，不胜发竖。请言其要∶盖此指纹，既太渊脉
之旁支，则纹之变易，亦即太渊之变易，不必别立异说，眩人心目。但当以浮沉分表里，红紫辨寒热，淡滞定
虚实，则用之不尽矣。倘舍此不图，妄执伪说，临证不察病原，谬指为人惊、畜惊，诳惑愚昧，予恐盲人翳马，
终堕重渊，莫之能出矣。（《幼幼集成》）
看眼
目分五脏∶黑珠属肝；白珠属肺。色青，肝风侮肺也；淡黄，腑有积滞也；老黄，肺受湿热也。瞳人属肾，
无光彩，肾虚也；大角属大肠，破烂，肺有风也；小角属小肠，破烂，心有热也；上胞属脾，肿，则脾伤也；
下胞属胃，青色，胃有风也；睡而露睛者，脾胃虚极也。（《幼科铁镜》）
小儿诸病，但见两目无精光，黑睛无运转，目睫无锋芒，如鱼眼之状者，不治。或神藏于内，外若昏困者，
无妨。其有病笃而眼中神气不脱者，犹可治。眼者，脏腑神气之所见，神气已脱，脉虽仅存，亦未能保。（《寿世保元》）
目内赤者心实热；淡红者心虚热。青者肝实热；淡青者肝虚热。黄者脾实热；白而混者肺实热；目无精光
者肾虚也。（《小儿直诀》）
验颅囟
婴孩周岁以前，须验颅囟，与证兼看，则补泻自得，吉凶易彰。诀曰∶颅囟青筋，脉虚不荣；颅囟常陷，
滑泄便便；颅囟肿起，风痰不止；颅囟久冷，吐泻青青，颅囟虚软，颠痫不免，颅囟扁阔，暴泄易脱；颅囟歪
斜，风作即亡；颅囟连额，惊风易伤；颅囟未充，怕热怕寒；颅囟缓收，胎气不周；颅囟动数，神气昏弱；颅
囟宽大，受疾恐害；颅囟未合，筋骨柔弱。（《冯氏锦囊》）
相寿夭
小儿识悟过人者多夭，大则项橐颜回之流。小儿骨格成就威仪，回转迟舒，稍费人力雕琢者寿。其预知人
意，回旋敏速者亦夭，大即杨修孔融之徒。由此观之，寿夭大略可知也。（《千金方》）
头者，诸阳之会，髓之海也。凡儿头角丰隆，髓海足也。背者，五脏六腑俞窍皆附于背。脊背平满，脏腑
实也。腹者，水谷之海。腹皮宽浓，水谷盈也。目为肝窍、耳为肾窍、鼻为肺窍、口为脾窍，七窍无阙，形象
全矣。故知肉实者脾足，筋强者肝足，骨坚者肾足，不妄言笑者心足，不多啼哭者肺足。哭声连续者肺实，不
久眠睡者脾实，脚健而壮，项长而肥，囊小而黑者，根株固也。肌肉温润者，营卫和也。腮妍如桃，发黑如漆
者，表气实也。小便清长，大便滋润者，里气实也。以上皆为寿相，其儿无病易养。○诸阳皆起于头。颅破项
软者，阳衰于上也。诸阴皆起于足。 小脚蜷者，阴衰于下也。鼻孔干燥者肺枯，唇缩流涎者
脾冷。发稀者血衰。项软者柱折。青紫之筋，散见于面者，多病风热。形枯色灰者表虚。泻利无时者里虚。疮
疥啼哭，及多笑语者，皆阳火妄动之候也。以上皆为夭相，其儿多病难养。（陈飞霞）
验二便
古人有以小儿泻痢，粪黄馊臭，作胃热论治，此大误也。盖饮食入胃，化而为粪，则无有不黄，无有不
臭者，岂得以黄臭概为热乎？今以大人之粪验之，凡胃强粪实者，深黄苍老，方是正色。若纯黄色不苍，则胃
中火力便有不到之处。再若淡黄，则近白矣，近白则半黄之色也。粪色半黄，则谷食半化之色也。粪气馊腥，
则谷食半化之气也。谷食半化，则胃中火力盛衰可知。若必待粪青粪白，气味不臭，然后为寒，则觉之迟矣。
故但以粪色之浅、深，粪气之微、甚，便可别胃气阳和之成色。智者见于未然，而况于显然乎？再若小水之色，
凡大便泻痢者，清浊既不分，小水必不利。小水不利，其色必变，即清者亦常有之，然黄者十居八九。此因泻
亡阴则气不化，气不化则水涸，水涸则色黄不清。使非有淋热痛涩之证，而但以黄色便作火治者，亦大误也。
○小儿小便如米泔，或溺停少顷，变作泔浊者，此脾胃湿热也。凡饮食不节者，多有此证。然亦有气虚下陷而然
者。若止见溺白，而别无烦热脉证，则但节其生冷及甘甜等物，不久自愈。不可因其溺白，而过用清利，多致
伤脾，反生吐泻等证。是皆误治之害也。（张景岳）
小儿泻出青色者，乃脾土受肝木克制，而见本质，由其脏气虚寒故也。黄 益黄散主之。（《得效方》）
护养
田妇护儿，绝无他疾。譬之树木，生于深山大泽，容易合抱。至于异果奇材，纵加培养，每多不秀实者，
岂贵贱异哉？数见风日，则血凝气刚，肌肉坚固，堪耐风寒，以田舍儿较之相似。（《万全方》）
小儿初生，肌肤未实，宜用旧絮护其背，不可太暖。更宜数见风日，则血气刚强，肌肉致密。若藏于重帏
密室，则筋骨软脆，不任风寒，多易致病。衣服当随寒热加减，但令背暖为佳，亦勿多令出汗，恐表虚，风
邪易伤。乳哺不宜过饱，陈氏所谓∶忍三分寒，吃七分饱，频揉肚，少洗澡。要肚暖、头凉、心胸凉，皆至论
也。又须令乳母预慎六淫、七情、浓味炙爆，则乳汁清和，儿不致疾。否则阴阳偏胜，血气沸腾，乳汁败坏，
必生诸病。若屡用药饵，则脏腑阴损，多变败证，可不慎欤！(《保婴撮要》)
俗云∶若要小儿安，常带三分饥与寒。言殊未当。夫欲其带饥者，恐过饱伤脾，脾化不及，则未有不病。
使饮食调匀，节其生冷，何病之有？奚必带饥耶？欲防未然，使其略饥，犹庶几也。至若寒之一字，则大有关
系矣。《经》云∶避风如避箭，婴儿血气未成，肌肤嫩薄，顾可令其带寒耶？儿处腹中，裹护最密，胞胎初脱，
极易感邪，收生迟慢，风寒袭之，即生惊风，多致不救。及其稍长，每多发热，幼科不识，概呼变蒸，或寒伤
脏为吐泻，或寒生热为惊疳，种种变生，多由外感，虽禀体强盛，不畏风寒者，亦所常有。但强少弱多，贫富
异质，医家不能察，婴儿不能言，病家不能辨，徒付之命，诚可叹也。（张景岳）
乳哺
小儿乳哺，须要得法。乳者，奶也；哺者，食也。乳后不得便与食，哺后不得便与乳。小儿脾胃怯弱，乳
食相并，难以克化，必成乳癖，腹痛作热，疳病从此起也。（汤氏）
凡乳儿不可过饱，饱则溢而成呕吐。若乳来猛，取出挪后再乳。如母欲寐，当以臂枕儿，令乳与儿头平。
母欲睡着时，即夺其乳，恐填儿口鼻也。母热乳儿令变黄；母怒乳子令变惊；母吐下乳子令虚羸；母醉乳子令
身热腹满。○夏不去热乳，令儿呕吐；冬不去寒乳，令儿泄泻。○夜间乳儿，母须起坐，抱儿喂之。○每早欲乳，
皆须捏去宿乳。○乳汁勿投于地，虫蚁食之，令乳无
汁。可沃东壁上佳。（《千金方》）
儿啼未定，气息不调，不可乳饮。恐乳停胸膈为呕吐也。（巢元方）
小儿在胎之时，冲脉运血以养之。及其产下，冲脉载血以乳之。乳为血化，所以儿之脾胃，独与此乳汁相
吻合，其他则皆非所宜矣。凡小儿一周二岁，止可饮之以乳，不可 以谷食。盖谷食有形之物，坚硬难消，儿
之脾气未强，不能运化，每多因食致病。倘乳少，必欲借谷食调养者，须以早米炒熟磨粉，微入白糖，滚汤调
服，不致停滞。至于肉食，尤为有害。（《幼幼集成》）
小儿四、五岁当断乳。而不肯断者，宜用画眉膏。断乳之后，方可渐与肉食，则无疳癖之患。（《证治准绳》）
服药
小儿气血未充，而一生盛衰之基，全在幼时，此饮食之宜调，而药饵尤当慎也。今世幼科，本无确见，凡
遇一病，无论虚实寒热，悉以散风消食、清痰降火、行滞利水之剂，通套混用，谬称稳当，何其诞也！夫有是
病，而用是药，则病受之；无是病而用是药，则元气受之。小儿元气几何，能无阴受其损，而变生不测耶？又
有爱子者，因其瘦弱为虑，询之庸流，则不云痰火，必云食积，动以肥儿丸、保和丸，使之常服。不知肥儿丸，
苦寒之品，最败元阳；保和丸，消耗之物，极损胃气。谓其肥儿，适足瘦儿；谓其保和，适足违和耳！即如抱
龙丸之类，亦不宜轻用。尝见一富翁子，每多痰气，或时惊叫，辄用此丸，一投即愈。彼时以为神丹，长则一
无所知。岂非暗损元神所致耶？（张景岳）
小儿勿轻服药，药性偏，易损萌儿之冲和。○小儿勿多服药，多服耗散真气，非质弱，则识愚也。○小儿
变蒸，可勿服药，变蒸乃古人凿空之谈，实无此理。○小儿初生七日，可勿服药。初出母胎，元气太和，宜全
其真。（汪广期）
时下幼科，常用金药。不论内伤、外感，一见小儿发热，辄与服之，以为惊可预散。不知发热自有多端，
退热亦有多法，设
非实在惊证，则引贼入门，缠绵不解，变证蜂作。又以为药力尚轻，更服利惊丹、牛黄、紫雪等剂，速其死亡。
自有幼科以来，未有斯药之弊之甚也。尤可骇者，习俗移人，病家无论何证，医不以此药与之，即加嗔怪，竟
视为寻常服饵之方，悲哉！（《慈幼筏》）
乳下婴儿有病，必调其母，母病子病，母安子安。儿难服药，当令其母服之，药从乳传，其效便捷。（《保婴撮要》）
附方
肥儿丸 治食积五疳。黄连、芜荑、神曲、麦芽等分为末，糊丸桐子大。每服一、二十丸，白汤下。
利惊丸 治急惊。轻粉、青黛各一钱、牵牛五钱、天竺黄二钱、蜜丸小豆大，薄荷汤化下。
抱龙丸 胆星四两、天竺黄一两、雄黄、朱砂各半两、麝香一钱。甘草膏丸，皂荚子大，温水化下。百日，
一丸分三、四次服。
画眉膏 山栀三个、雄黄、朱砂等分、轻粉少许。共为细末，麻油调匀。候儿睡着，浓抹两眉，醒来便不思乳。
Qian Yi's observation of children's finger veins: for males, the left hand is examined; for females, the right hand. The assessment is based on the second segment of the index finger at the tiger's mouth (base of the thumb and index finger). No one had previously investigated its rationale. I consulted the *Suwen* (Basic Questions) and *Lingshu* (Spiritual Pivot) and finally understood that this is because this area belongs to the root of the Yangming meridians. The Yangming meridians originate from the ends of the big toe and the second toe. The Yangming meridians are rich in Qi and Blood; when disease occurs, they respond. Since children are of a "pure Yang" constitution, changes can be observed here. ○ Examining the finger veins at the tiger's mouth in children is analogous to examining the Cun Kou pulse in adults. If the three sections of the vein penetrate straight through, it is considered incurable. (From *Yi Tang San Ji*)
Pediatric finger vein diagnosis has never had a unified orthodox theory. Some say it is unnecessary; others use it but become absurd and misleading, deceiving the public. This is due to a lack of understanding of the principles behind the veins, leading to divergent opinions on whether to use them or not. Allow me to briefly elucidate the essentials with my humble insights: These finger veins share the same origin as the Cun, Guan, and Chi pulses at the wrist. According to the *Neijing*, the twelve meridians begin with the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Its branch emerges from behind the wrist to the end of the second finger and connects with the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian; this is what is referred to as the finger vein. Even Zhang Jingyue, a figure of great clarity, still considered this vein part of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, failing to realize that the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian begins at Zhongfu (LU-1) and ends at Shaoshang (LU-11) on the thumb, while the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian begins at Shangyang (LI-1) on the index finger. The two do not directly connect; without this collateral branch communicating Ying and Wei, would not the interior-exterior relationship between Taiyin and Yangming be severed? Moreover, this pulse can be diagnosed, though people are unaware of it. Its characteristics of slow (Chi), rapid (Shu), intermittent (Dai), and hurried (Cu) are no different from those at Taiyuan (LU-9); only the pulse body is smaller. The method of diagnosing finger veins originated with Qian Zhongyang (Qian Yi) of the Song Dynasty. He divided the index finger into three sections: the first section is called the Wind Section (Feng Guan), the second the Qi Section (Qi Guan), and the third the Life Section (Ming Guan). His mnemonic states: Light indicates mildness, heavy indicates severity, and critical indicates danger. Although not every statement may be accurate, the principle is worth adopting. Because the position goes from bottom to top, pathogens go from shallow to deep, and symptoms progress from mild to severe, everyone can trust this. It is only regrettable that later bizarre theories emerged, falsely creating the category of "Convulsion," causing later scholars to lose their way and turning it into a confusing case. I believe Qian Yi, a renowned physician of the Song Dynasty known for his filial piety, would not have made reckless statements to mislead the world. Most likely, vulgar people later fabricated these under his name. Only those with insight, recognizing the coarse language and absurd arguments, would discard them. Figures like Zhang Jingyue and Xia Yuzhu claimed they were unnecessary. In fact, it was not that they could not be used, but rather that they detested their absurdity. Modern physicians, unaware of the truth or falsehood, have followed this practice, thereby misleading the world and harming infants. Medical matters concern life itself; how can we listen to groundless talk and let it spread, causing harm? Although I am not intelligent, I roughly understand pulse diagnosis. Every time I encounter pediatric finger vein theories, I am indignant. Let me state the essentials: Since these finger veins are collaterals of the Taiyuan pulse, changes in the veins reflect changes in the Taiyuan pulse. There is no need to establish異说 (heterodox theories) to confuse people. One should simply distinguish exterior-interior by floating/sinking, cold-heat by red/purple, and deficiency-excess by pale/stagnant. Applied thus, the utility is inexhaustible. If one abandains this correct approach, clings to false theories, fails to investigate the cause of disease during clinical practice, and wrongly attributes symptoms to human or animal fright, deceiving the ignorant, I fear they will be like blind men riding horses, ultimately falling into an abyss from which they cannot escape. (From *You You Ji Cheng*)
**Observing the Eyes**
The eyes correspond to the five Zang organs: the black part (iris/cornea) belongs to the Liver; the white part (sclera) belongs to the Lung. A bluish color indicates Liver Wind insulting the Lung; a pale yellow color indicates accumulation and stagnation in the Fu organs; an old yellow color indicates Damp-Heat in the Lung. The pupil belongs to the Kidney; lack of luster indicates Kidney Deficiency. The outer canthus (large corner) belongs to the Large Intestine; if broken/ulcerated, it indicates Wind in the Lung. The inner canthus (small corner) belongs to the Small Intestine; if broken/ulcerated, it indicates Heat in the Heart. The upper eyelid belongs to the Spleen; swelling indicates Spleen injury. The lower eyelid belongs to the Stomach; a bluish color indicates Wind in the Stomach. Sleeping with eyes open indicates extreme Spleen-Stomach Deficiency. (From *You Ke Tie Jing*)
In various pediatric diseases, if both eyes lack luster, the black part does not move, and the eyelashes lack sharpness, resembling fish eyes, it is incurable. However, if the Spirit is stored internally and appears externally drowsy or confused, it is not necessarily harmful. If the disease is severe but the spiritual light in the eyes remains intact, it is still treatable. The eyes are the manifestation of the spiritual Qi of the Zang-Fu organs. If the Spiritual Qi has departed, even if the pulse barely exists, life cannot be preserved. (From *Shou Shi Bao Yuan*)
Redness inside the eye indicates Heart Excess-Heat; pale red indicates Heart Deficiency-Heat. Bluish color indicates Liver Excess-Heat; pale blue indicates Liver Deficiency-Heat. Yellow indicates Spleen Excess-Heat; white and turbid indicates Lung Excess-Heat; lack of luster in the eyes indicates Kidney Deficiency. (From *Xiao Er Zhi Jue*)
**Examining the Fontanelle**
Before the age of one, infants must have their fontanelles examined alongside symptoms to ensure appropriate tonification or purgation, making prognosis clearer. The mnemonic states: Blue veins on the fontanelle indicate deficient pulse and lack of nourishment; a sunken fontanelle indicates slippery diarrhea; a swollen fontanelle indicates unceasing Wind-Phlegm; a chronically cold fontanelle indicates vomiting and green diarrhea; a soft/flaccid fontanelle suggests inevitable epilepsy; a flat/broad fontanelle indicates sudden diarrhea prone to collapse; a tilted fontanelle indicates death upon onset of wind; a fontanelle extending to the forehead makes one susceptible to Convulsion; an unfilled fontanelle indicates sensitivity to heat and cold; a slowly closing fontanelle indicates incomplete prenatal Qi; a pulsating fontanelle indicates weak Spirit; a wide fontanelle indicates susceptibility to disease harm; an unclosed fontanelle indicates weak bones and sinews. (From *Feng Shi Jin Nang*)
**Physiognomy of Longevity and Short Life**
Children with exceptional insight often have short lives, exemplified by Xiang Tuo and Yan Hui. Children whose skeletal structure is fully formed, bearing dignified demeanor, moving slowly and gracefully, requiring little artificial shaping, tend to live long. Those who anticipate others' thoughts and react quickly also tend to have short lives, exemplified by Yang Xiu and Kong Rong. From this, longevity and short life can be roughly predicted. (From *Qian Jin Fang*)
The head is the convergence of all Yang meridians and the Sea of Marrow. Full and prominent head angles indicate sufficient Marrow Sea. The back is where the Shu points of the Five Zang and Six Fu organs attach. A flat and full spine indicates solid Zang-Fu organs. The abdomen is the Sea of Grain and Water. Wide and thick abdominal skin indicates abundant grain and water. The eyes are the orifice of the Liver; ears, the orifice of the Kidneys; nose, the orifice of the Lungs; mouth, the orifice of the Spleen. If the seven orifices are intact and the form complete, then solid flesh indicates sufficient Spleen, strong sinews indicate sufficient Liver, hard bones indicate sufficient Kidney, calm speech/laughter indicates sufficient Heart, and infrequent crying indicates sufficient Lungs. Continuous crying indicates Lung Excess; inability to sleep long indicates Spleen Excess. Strong legs, a long and fat neck, and small dark scrotum indicate a solid root. Warm and moist muscles indicate harmonious Ying and Wei. Peach-like rosy cheeks and hair black as lacquer indicate solid Exterior Qi. Clear and copious urine and moist stool indicate solid Interior Qi. All these are signs of longevity; such children are healthy and easy to raise. ○ All Yang meridians originate at the head. Cracked skull and soft neck indicate decline of Yang above. All Yin meridians originate at the feet. Curling of small feet indicates decline of Yin below. Dry nostrils indicate Withered Lungs; retracted lips and drooling indicate Cold Spleen. Sparse hair indicates Blood Deficiency. Soft neck indicates collapsing pillar. Scattered blue-purple veins on the face indicate frequent Wind-Heat. Emaciated form and gray complexion indicate Exterior Deficiency. Uncontrollable diarrhea indicates Interior Deficiency. Sores, itching, crying, and excessive laughter are signs of妄动 (reckless movement) of Yang Fire. All these are signs of premature death; such children are often sick and difficult to raise. (Chen Feixia)
**Examining Urination and Defecation**
Ancient physicians sometimes treated pediatric dysentery/diarrhea with yellow, sour-smelling feces as Stomach Heat, which is a major error. Food entering the stomach transforms into feces, which is invariably yellow and smelly. How can yellow and smelly feces be generally classified as Heat? Verifying with adult feces: when Stomach strength is high and feces are solid, deep yellow and aged/coarse is the normal color. Pure yellow without coarseness indicates insufficient fire power in the Stomach. Pale yellow approaches white; approaching white is half-yellow. Half-yellow feces indicate partially digested food. Sour/fishy odor indicates partially digested food aroma. Partial digestion reveals the strength or weakness of Stomach fire power. Waiting until feces are green or white and odorless to diagnose Cold is too late. Therefore, judging the depth/lightness of fecal color and the intensity/mildness of odor allows one to distinguish the degree of Stomach Qi and Yang harmony. The wise see before it happens, let alone obvious cases. Regarding urine color: in cases of diarrhea/dysentery, clear and turbid are not separated, so urination is difficult. Difficult urination changes color; even clear urine can occur, but yellow accounts for 80-90%. This is because diarrhea depletes Yin, impairing Qi transformation; impaired Qi transformation leads to dried fluids; dried fluids lead to unclear yellow color. Unless there are symptoms of strangury, heat, pain, and astringency, treating yellow urine merely as Fire is a major error. ○ Infant urine resembling rice wash water, or becoming turbid after standing for a moment, indicates Spleen-Stomach Damp-Heat. This is common in irregular diet. However, it can also result from Qi Deficiency sinking. If only white urine is seen without other烦热 (irritability and heat) pulse/symptoms, simply restricting raw/cold and sweet/greasy foods will lead to self-healing soon. Do not overuse clearing/draining herbs just because urine is white, as this often damages the Spleen, causing vomiting and diarrhea. These are harms of mis-treatment. (Zhang Jingyue)
Green feces in children indicate Spleen Earth being controlled by Liver Wood, revealing the underlying nature, due to organ Qi Deficiency and Cold. Treat with Yi Huang San. (From *De Xiao Fang*)
**Care and Nursing**
Rural women raising children rarely encounter other illnesses. It is like trees growing in deep mountains and large marshes, easily becoming thick-trunked. Rare fruits and precious timbers, even with cultivation, often fail to bear fruit. Is this due to nobility vs. baseness? Regular exposure to wind and sunlight causes blood to congeal and Qi to become firm, muscles to solidify, and tolerance to wind-cold to increase, similar to country children. (From *Wan Quan Fang*)
Newborns have unfirm skin; old cotton wadding should be used to protect the back, not too warm. Frequent exposure to wind and sunlight makes Qi and Blood strong and muscles dense. Hiding in heavy curtains and sealed rooms makes bones and sinews soft and brittle, unable to withstand wind-cold, making illness easy. Clothing should be adjusted for cold/heat; keeping the back warm is best. Avoid excessive sweating, lest Exterior become deficient and Wind pathogens easily invade. Breastfeeding should not be excessive. As Chen said: "Endure one-third cold, eat seventy percent full, frequently rub the belly, bathe less." Keep the belly warm, head cool, and chest/heart cool; these are profound truths. The nursing mother must also guard against the Six Evils, Seven Emotions, and rich/spicy/fried foods, so milk remains clear and harmonious, preventing disease. Otherwise, Yin-Yang imbalance, boiling Qi-Blood, and spoiled milk will generate various diseases. Repeated medication damages Zang-Fu Yin, leading to complex syndromes; caution is essential! (From *Bao Ying Cuo Yao*)
Common saying: "To keep a child safe, always keep them slightly hungry and cold." This is inappropriate. Wanting them slightly hungry prevents spleen damage from overeating; if digestion fails, illness ensues. If diet is balanced and raw/cold foods restricted, what illness would there be? Why must one be hungry? Preventing future issues by slight hunger is acceptable. But "cold" is crucial. The *Jing* says: "Avoid wind as if avoiding arrows." Infants' Qi-Blood is unformed, skin tender and thin; how can they endure cold? In the womb, protection is tight. Upon birth, they are highly susceptible to pathogens. Delayed delivery exposes them to wind-cold, causing Convulsion, often fatal. As they grow, fever is common. Pediatricians, unfamiliar with it, call it "Bian Zheng" (transformation and steaming). Or cold damaging organs causes vomiting/diarrhea; cold generating heat causes Convulsion/Gan syndrome. Various changes stem from external contraction. Even robust children not fearing wind-cold exist, but weak ones are more numerous. Rich and poor constitutions differ. Physicians cannot observe, infants cannot speak, families cannot discern; leaving it to fate is truly lamentable. (Zhang Jingyue)
**Feeding**
Infant feeding must be methodical. "Ru" is milk; "Bu" is food. Do not give food immediately after milk, nor milk immediately after food. Children's Spleen-Stomach is weak; mixing milk and food makes digestion difficult, inevitably causing "Ru Pi" (milk lump), abdominal pain, fever, and Gan disease. (Tang Shi)
Never overfeed. Overfeeding causes overflow and vomiting. If milk flow is too strong, pause and resume. If the mother wants to sleep, prop the baby on her arm so the breast aligns with the baby's head. When the mother feels sleepy, remove the nipple to avoid blocking the baby's mouth/nose. Maternal fever causes jaundice in the baby; maternal anger causes fright; maternal vomiting/diarrhea causes emaciation; maternal drunkenness causes fever and abdominal fullness. ○ Summer: removing heat from milk prevents vomiting; Winter: removing cold from milk prevents diarrhea. ○ Night feeding: mother should sit up and hold the baby. ○ Morning feeding: squeeze out retained milk first. ○ Do not spill milk on the ground; insects eating it cause milk production to cease. Pouring it on the east wall is best. (From *Qian Jin Fang*)
Do not feed or drink while the infant is crying and breathing is irregular, lest milk stagnate in the chest/diaphragm causing vomiting. (Chao Yuanfang)
During fetal development, the Chong Mai transports blood to nourish the fetus. After birth, the Chong Mai carries blood to produce milk. Milk is transformed from blood, so the infant's Spleen-Stomach uniquely matches this milk; other foods are unsuitable. For one to two years, only milk should be consumed, not grains. Grains are solid, hard to digest; infant Spleen Qi is not strong enough to transform them, often causing disease from food. If milk is insufficient and grain is necessary, roast early rice, grind to powder, add a little white sugar, and mix with boiling water to prevent stagnation. Meat is particularly harmful. (From *You You Ji Cheng*)
Weaning should occur at four or five years. If reluctant, use Mei Hua Gao (Eyebrow Painting Paste). After weaning, meat can be gradually introduced to avoid Gan and Pi syndromes. (From *Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng*)
**Medication**
Infant Qi-Blood is not full; the foundation of lifelong health lies in childhood. Diet should be regulated, and medication especially cautious. Modern pediatricians lack precise insight. Regardless of excess/deficiency or cold/heat, they indiscriminately use wind-dispersing, food-digesting, phlegm-clearing, fire-reducing, stagnation-moving, and diuretic formulas, claiming stability. How absurd! With the disease, use the medicine; the disease receives it. Without the disease, using medicine harms the Yuan Qi. How much Yuan Qi does an infant have? Can Yin remain undamaged without unpredictable changes? Loving parents, worried about thinness, consult quacks who blame Phlegm-Fire or Food Stagnation, prescribing Fei Er Wan and Bao He Wan for regular use. Ignorance: Fei Er Wan is bitter-cold, destroying Yuan Yang; Bao He Wan is draining, damaging Stomach Qi. Claiming it fattens the child actually thins them; claiming it preserves harmony actually disrupts it! Bao Long Wan should also not be used lightly. I once saw a wealthy man's son with much phlegm-Qi and occasional fright cries. Using this pill cured him instantly. They thought it a divine elixir, but he grew up ignorant. Wasn't this hidden damage to the Yuan Spirit? (Zhang Jingyue)
Do not lightly medicate infants; biased drug properties easily damage the infant's harmonious Qi. ○ Do not over-medicate; it dissipates True Qi. Unless constitutionally weak, it shows ignorance. ○ Bian Zheng (transformation/steaming) requires no medication; it is an ancient fabrication with no basis. ○ Newborns in their first seven days need no medication. Just born, Yuan Qi is harmonious; preserve its truth. (Wang Guangqi)
Modern pediatricians commonly use "Gold Medicine" (mercury-containing pills). Regardless of internal injury or external contraction, seeing fever, they administer it to prevent fright. Fever has many causes; reducing fever has many methods. If not true Fright Syndrome, this invites thieves indoors, causing lingering unresolved conditions and myriad complications. Thinking the dose is light, they add Li Jing Dan, Niuhuang, Zixue, etc., accelerating death. Since pediatrics began, no drug has been so harmful. Shockingly, custom influences people; families blame doctors if this drug is not given, treating it as routine. Tragic! (From *Ci You Fa*)
For breastfeeding infants with illness, the mother must be regulated. Mother sick, child sick; mother well, child well. Since infants find medication difficult, have the mother take it; the medicine transmits via milk, achieving rapid effect. (From *Bao Ying Cuo Yao*)
**Attached Formulas**
**Fei Er Wan (Fattening Child Pill)**: Treats Food Stagnation and the Five Gan Syndromes. Equal parts Coptis Rhizome (Huanglian), Prunus Mume Seed (Wuyi), Medicated Leaven (Shenqu), and Barley Sprout (Maiya). Grind to powder, make pills with honey paste size of Sophora seeds. Take 10-20 pills per dose, washed down with plain hot water.
**Li Jing Wan (Relieving Fright Pill)**: Treats Acute Fright. Calomel (Qingfen) and Indigo Naturalis (Qingdai) 1 qian each, Semen Kochiae (Qianniu) 5 qian, and Tianshu Huang (Tianzhuhuang) 2 qian. Make pills with honey size of Adzuki beans. Dissolve in Mint Decoction before taking.
**Bao Long Wan (Embracing Dragon Pill)**: Pinellia Ternata processed with Alum (Danning) 4 liang, Tianshu Huang 1 liang, Realgar (Xionghuang) and Cinnabar (Zhusha) 0.5 liang each, Moschus (Shexiang) 1 qian. Make pills with Licorice paste size of Soap Pod seeds. Dissolve in warm water before taking. For infants under 100 days, divide one pill into 3-4 doses.
**Mei Hua Gao (Eyebrow Painting Paste)**: Gardenia Fruit (Shanzhi) 3 pieces, Realgar, Cinnabar equal parts, Calomel a small amount. Grind to fine powder, mix with Sesame Oil. Apply thickly to eyebrows while the child sleeps; upon waking, the child will desire milk less.