Library

Pediatric patients suffering from *Ke Wu* (Guest Hostility) do so because their *Shen Qi* (Spiritual Energy) is tender and weak. Suddenly encountering unusual objects or unfamiliar people, and accidentally being touched by or seeing them, causes external *Ke Qi* (Guest Energy) to clash with the child's *Shen Qi*, thereby generating disease. This is called *Ke Wu*. The manifestations include vomiting and purging of green, yellow, or white substances, separation of water and grain, abdominal pain with twisting and writhing (*Yao Jiao*), alteration of facial complexion, irregularity of the five colors, a condition resembling *Jing Xian* (Startled Epilepsy), but without upward deviation of the eyes. The pulse is wiry, rapid, and tense; this is *Ke Wu*. If not treated immediately, it becomes difficult to cure after a long time. *Sheng Ji Jing* states: "Irregular daily routines lead to *Ke Wu*," warning against illness caused by seeing unusual figures. *Qian Jin Fang* states: "Children's clothing, silk floss, and shoes/socks must not contain hair. All unfamiliar persons coming from outside should be kept away from the child's sight. Accidental contact will cause *Ke Wu*." If a child falls ill due to such contact, one must urgently examine the left and right sides of the *Xuan Yong* (Uvula) in the child's mouth. If there are swollen nodules the size of hemp seeds or beans, they must be pricked to induce suppuration. Wrap the head of a hairpin with cotton, wipe away the blood, and administer various herbal medicines for treatment.

To treat pediatric *Ke Wu* causing abdominal pain, twisting/writhing, and altered complexion: Take several *He* (a unit of volume) of fermented soybeans (*Xiang Chi*), moisten them with water, pound until cooked/soft, and form into pills the size of chicken eggs. Rub these on the child's fontanelle (anterior fontanelle), as well as on the palms of hands and soles of feet, seven times each. Also rub the child's chest (heart area) and umbilicus, moving up and down. After the duration of a meal, discard the pill on the road; the pain will then cease.

For treating sudden onset of *Ke Wu* in children, apply the following paste: Mix equal parts of loess soil from the hearth and earthworm feces. Grind into fine powder, mix with water, and apply to the child's head and the "five centers" (two palms, two soles, and chest). This is highly effective.

Another bathing method: Treat as above. Use three *Sheng* (a unit of volume) of horse manure, burn until smoke ceases, add three *Sheng* of wine, boil several times, strain. Bathe the child with this liquid. Alternatively, use two *Sheng* of pig manure, pour hot water over it and stir. When warm enough, bathe the child.

Another prescription for administering treatment for pediatric *Ke Wu*: Apply saliva from a cow's mouth onto breast milk and feed the child.

Another prescription: Heat the nose/boss of a bronze mirror until red-hot, place it in wine. Let the child drink if able; otherwise, hold the liquid in the mouth and force-feed.

To treat pediatric *Ke Wu* where the child vomits green and white foam, expels all milk and food, suffers abdominal pain, and has breath nearly failing: Take one *Liang* (unit of weight) of *Gui Xin* (Cinnamon Heart/Cortex Cinnamomi), grind into powder. For infants aged one to one hundred days, take half a *Qian* (unit of weight). Add one small cup of water, decoct until reduced to five *Fen* (units of volume), strain. Warm and divide into four doses. Administer at any time, adjusting dosage according to the child's age and size.

Another prescription for pediatric *Ke Wu*: Take seven dried silkworms (*Bai Jiang Can*), grind into powder, and take half to one *Qian* mixed with wine.

Another prescription: Treat as above. Take ten booklice (white fish found in books, now known as *Yi Yu*), apply to the nipple, and let the child suck and swallow.

Another prescription: Treat as above. Give donkey milk in small amounts. Or, take a piece of hot horse dung, squeeze out the juice, and have the child drink it; healing occurs upon swallowing.

*Moxiang Ru* (Musk Milk):
Treats *Ke Wu* causing neck stiffness and extreme distress. Take a small amount of *Mo Xiang* (Musk), grind finely, mix with milk, and smear inside the child's mouth, about the size of a soybean. Effective.

Another prescription: Treat as above. Burn *Jie Geng* (Platycodon Root) to ash, take half a *Qian*, mix with wine and administer. Adjust dosage based on age.

Treating Horse-Toxin *Ke Wu*: Burn horse tail hairs in front of the child's face. Let the child inhale the smoke. Use daily until recovered.

*Bixie Gao* (Evil-Expelling Ointment):
Treats *Ke Wu*, as well as *Zhong E* (Sudden Evil Attack) caused by malevolent spirits. Symptoms resemble epilepsy but without upward or backward deviation of the eyes; the pulse is wiry and tense. In cases of sudden attack, it restores consciousness immediately.

Ingredients: *Zhen Jiang Xiang* (Agarwood/Dalbergia Odorifera - sliced), *Bai Jiao Xiang* (Benzoin Resin - ground separately), *Chen Xiang* (Aquilaria Wood), *Hu Tou Gu* (Tiger Skull Bone - fried with butter until yellow), *Gui Jiu* (Podophyllum Peltatum - de-haired), *Long Dan Cao* (Gentiana Root - de-rhizome), *Ren Shen* (Ginseng Root - de-rhizome), *Bai Fu Shen* (Poria with Hostwood - de-heart and internal wood, 0.5 *Liang* each).
Grind the above into fine powder. Then add 0.5 *Liang* of refined and sieved *Xiong Huang* (Realgar Powder) and 1 *Qian* of finely ground *Mo Xiang* (Musk). Mix well. Blend with refined honey to form pills the size of a cockle seed. Take one pill per dose, dissolve in decoction of *Ru Xiang* (Frankincense) soup. Additionally, make pills the size of a bullet, store in a green silk bag, and carry on the child's clothing.