Library

Infants aged between half a year and two years are called *ying'er* (infants). Those aged three to four years are called *hai'er* (young children). Those aged five to six years are called *xiao'er* (children). Those aged seven to eight years are in the *taochen* stage (period of changing teeth). Nine-year-olds are called *tongzi* (boys/children). Ten-year-olds are called *zizi* (young boys).

When an infant under six months of age is ill, examination should be conducted on the forehead, specifically between the eyebrows and the hairline. Use the middle, index, and ring fingers to gently press across the entire forehead. If the child's head is turned to the left, use the right hand; if turned to the right, use the left hand. The index finger corresponds to the upper region, the middle finger to the middle region, and the ring finger to the lower region. If all three fingers feel hot upon pressing, it indicates contraction of Wind Pathogen (Feng Xie), with symptoms such as nasal congestion, coarse breathing, fever, and coughing. If all three fingers feel cold, it indicates external contraction combined with internal injury, manifesting as fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. If the index and middle fingers feel hot, it indicates heat above and cold below. If the ring and middle fingers feel hot, it indicates complication with Jing Feng (Convulsions). If only the index finger feels hot, it indicates Qi stagnation and fullness in the chest and diaphragm, with indigestion of milk and food. Furthermore, one must observe the physical form and complexion. For instance, disease of the Liver manifests as a greenish face; Heart disease as a red face; Spleen disease as a yellow face; Lung disease as a white face; Kidney disease as a black face. One must first distinguish the morphological and symptomatic signs of the Five Zang Organs, then assess the constitution's abundance or deficiency, and the excess or deficiency of fetal Qi. By clarifying the root and branch of the pathology, treatment can be effective without exception.

Observing form and complexion helps identify the cause: Yin deficiency with Yang excess leads to stiffness or flaccidity. In Shang Han (Cold Damage) syndrome, both feet are cold; to determine if there is internal heat, check if the abdomen is hot. A cold nose indicates Chu Zhen (exanthematous diseases like smallpox or measles); cold ears indicate Wind-Heat syndrome. Generalized body heat indicates Shang Han; heat in the upper body and cold in the lower body indicates Food Stagnation.

The left cheek belongs to the Liver. A greenish color is a favorable sign (Shun); a white color is unfavorable (Ni). A reddish color indicates Liver Meridian Wind-Heat, accompanied by fever and limb rigidity. Green-black indicates Jing Feng and abdominal pain; pale red indicates tidal fever and phlegm-cough.
The right cheek belongs to the Lung. A white color is favorable; a red color is unfavorable. Severe redness indicates cough, wheezing, rapid breathing, and chest distress. If heat transmits to the Kidney, urine becomes red and scanty, or may be obstructed and difficult to pass.
The forehead belongs to the Heart. A red color is favorable; a black color is unfavorable. Black-green indicates Jing Feng, abdominal pain, convulsions, and crying. Slight yellow indicates night sweats, dry hair, Jing Gan (pediatric malnutrition/wasting syndrome), and bone-steaming fever.
The nose belongs to the Spleen. A yellow color is favorable; a green color is unfavorable. Redness indicates Spleen Meridian Deficiency Heat and poor appetite; deep yellow indicates urinary retention, dry nose, and epistaxis.
The chin (Ke) belongs to the Kidney. A black color is favorable; a yellow color is unfavorable. Redness indicates Heat in the Kidney and Bladder, leading to urinary obstruction.

Additionally: A red face indicates Heart Heat; a yellow face indicates Spleen Food Stagnation; a white face indicates Lung Cold; a green face indicates Liver Wind. Red lips indicate Heart Heat; yellow lips indicate Spleen Stagnation; white lips indicate Lung Deficiency Cold; dry lips indicate Spleen Heat. Red eyes indicate Heart Meridian Heat; green eyes indicate Liver Jing (Shock/Fright); yellow eyes indicate Spleen Stagnation; white sclera with green tint indicates Lung Jing. A blue nose indicates vomiting and diarrhea; a blue philtrum (area under the nose) indicates Wind contraction; a red philtrum indicates Phlegm in the Lung; a black philtrum indicates abdominal pain from intestinal parasites. Redness at Feng Chi (GB20) suggests excessive crying; yellow Feng Chi suggests vomiting and regurgitation. Purple Shan Gen (root of the nose between eyes) indicates Food Stagnation complicated by Fright. Yellow Cheng Jiang (point on the chin) indicates vomiting; blue Cheng Jiang indicates Fright. Red lips and a red face indicate Shang Han; a blue face and black lips indicate Jing Feng; blue lips and a white face indicate Malaria; a sallow, earth-yellow face indicates severe Food Syndrome (Shi Zheng). Furrowed brows during dysentery indicate Jing Feng; red cheeks indicate Jing Feng; red lips when thirsty indicate Heat; blurred vision indicates severe Heat; a yellow face often indicates Food Stagnation; a green face indicates Jing Feng; a white face often indicates Diarrhea; Shang Han presents with a purplish-red hue.