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[Methods for Nursing a Newborn]

When a newborn is delivered, the infant should not be wrapped in overly thick or hot clothing, as this may damage the skin and harm the blood vessels, leading to various sores and jaundice. Furthermore, since the infant's skin and flesh are not yet fully developed at birth, warm clothing should not be used; doing so may cause the sinews and bones to become lax and weak. It is appropriate to frequently expose the infant to wind and sunlight. If completely deprived of wind and sunlight, the skin and flesh will become brittle and soft, making the infant susceptible to external pathogens. Old cotton wadding should be used for clothing, not new cotton batting. On mild, windless days, the mother should take the child out to play in the sunlight. Frequent exposure to wind and sunlight will consolidate the blood and strengthen the qi, resulting in firm and dense muscles capable of withstanding wind and cold, thereby preventing disease. If the child is kept within curtains, heavily clothed and kept warm, it is akin to grass and trees growing in the shade: deprived of wind and sunlight, they become soft, fragile, and unable to withstand wind and cold. (From Volume 5)

[Discussion on the Initial Reception of Qi in Infants]

Cui Shi stated: Regarding the initial reception of fetal qi, at one month of gestation, the embryo forms; at two months, the fetus takes shape; at three months, blood vessels appear; at four months, the physical form is complete; at five months, the fetus can move; at six months, sinews and bones are established; at seven months, hair grows; at eight months, the zang-fu organs are functional; at nine months, grain qi enters the stomach; and at ten months, all spiritual faculties are prepared, and the infant is born. Sixty days after birth, the pupils are formed, and the infant begins to smile and recognize people. At one hundred and fifty days, the meridians are generated, and the infant can roll over. At one hundred and eighty days, the coccyx bone develops, allowing the infant to sit alone. At two hundred and ten days, the metacarpal bones develop, enabling crawling. At three hundred days, the patella develops, allowing the infant to stand leaning. At three hundred and sixty days, completing one cycle, the knee bones develop, enabling walking. This is the fixed pattern. Any deviation from this timeline indicates an imbalance in the body.

[Discussion on Bianzheng in Infants]

Cui Shi posited: Thirty-two days after birth, the infant undergoes the first "Bian" (transformation); at sixty-four days, the second "Bian" occurs accompanied by "Zheng" (steaming); at ninety-six days, the third "Bian"; at one hundred and twenty-eight days, the fourth "Bian" accompanied by "Zheng"; at one hundred and sixty days, the fifth "Bian"; at one hundred and ninety-two days, the sixth "Bian" accompanied by "Zheng"; at two hundred and twenty-four days, the seventh "Bian"; at two hundred and fifty-six days, the eighth "Bian" accompanied by "Zheng"; at two hundred and eighty-eight days, the ninth "Bian"; and at three hundred and twenty days, the tenth "Bian" accompanied by "Zheng". With this, the minor Bianzheng cycles conclude. Another "Zheng" occurs sixty-four days later; another major "Zheng" occurs sixty-four days after that; and another major "Zheng" occurs one hundred and twenty-eight days after the previous one. Thus, both minor and major Bianzheng are completed. The infant reaches adulthood after five hundred and seventy-six days. The term Bianzheng refers to the process of nourishing the blood vessels and transforming the five zang organs. Consequently, upon the completion of each transformation, one often notices sudden changes in the infant's demeanor. Signs of Bianzheng include fever, irregular pulse, sweating, unclear gaze, slight signs of fright, refusal to nurse, small white blisters appearing on the upper lip like beads, cold ears, and a cold buttocks. These constitute the diagnostic criteria. Pure "Bian" presents with mild symptoms, while "Bian" accompanied by "Zheng" presents with slightly more severe symptoms. Symptoms typically begin four to five days before the expected date and subside four to five days after onset. For stable Bianzheng, symptoms decline within five days, or up to seven or nine days in some cases. During the period of Bianzheng, treatment, moxibustion, and acupuncture must strictly be avoided. One should only observe calmly. If fever persists for a long time, Zi Wan (Purple Pill) may be administered mildly, stopping once the fever subsides. If epidemic warm pathogenic factors are superimposed during Bianzheng, or if the infant contracts an epidemic warm disease unrelated to Bianzheng, the diagnosis appears similar, except that the ears and buttocks are uniformly hot, and there are no white blisters on the mouth. In such cases, Hei San (Black Powder) should be administered first to induce sweating. After sweating, Wen Fen (Warm Powder) should be applied to the body. The fever should then subside, and recovery follows. If symptoms do not fully resolve, Zi Wan may be given to purge.

Formula for Hei San (Black Powder):
Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba, 1 fen, nodes removed), Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, 1 fen), Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum, 2 fen, skin and tips removed, stir-baked until color changes).
Pulverize Mahuang and Dahuang together. Separate Xingren and grind into a paste. Mix the paste finely into the powder, blend thoroughly, and store in a sealed container. For a one-month-old infant, administer one pill the size of a soybean, mixed with breast milk. Hold the infant to induce sweating. Apply Warm Powder after sweating. Avoid exposure to wind. For a hundred-day-old infant, administer the size of a jujube pit, adjusting according to the infant's size.

Formula for Zi Wan (Purple Pill):
Daizhe (Hematitum, 1 liang), Shizhi (Halloysitum Rubrum, 1 liang), Badou (Crotonis Fructus, 30 seeds, heart and skin removed, stir-baked), Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum, 50 seeds, tips and skin removed, stir-baked).
Pulverize Daizhe and Shizhi. Grind Badou and Xingren separately into a paste. Combine the pastes with the powders and pound three thousand times until well mixed. If too hard, add a little honey and pound again. Store in a sealed container for thirty days. Administer one pill the size of a sesame seed to an infant, mixed with a little breast milk to help swallow. Feed a little breast milk after a short while, but do not overfeed. Mild diarrhea is expected around noon, indicating the removal of heat and cure. If not fully resolved, administer another pill the next morning. For a hundred-day-old infant, administer one pill the size of a soybean, adjusting dosage accordingly. In summer, infants are prone to heat and rashes; administering this pill every twenty to thirty days is beneficial. This pill treats all ailments. Daizhe must be genuine; if not, Zuogu Muli (Ostreae Concha facing left) may be substituted. Avoid pork and Asparagus cochinchinensis. (From Volume 10, Upper Part)