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After the infant is born, the umbilical cord must be severed in a timely manner. If not severed promptly, it will cause umbilical exudate to remain wet and generate coldness, which is the cause of *Umbilical Wind* (Qifeng). The method for severing the cord should involve biting through it while separated by a single layer of clothing.
Then, blow warm air into the wound seven times consecutively. If using scissors, they must first be warmed inside the chest before use; cold scissors must never be used directly, as this often damages the umbilicus and causes illness. This practice must be strictly avoided.
When cutting the umbilical cord, the length should extend to the dorsum of the foot, or approximately six cun. If cut too short, it may damage the internal organs, causing abdominal imbalance; if cut too long, it may damage the muscles, leading to dry, scaly skin. Immediately after severing the cord, apply the "Moxibustion Umbilical Cake" onto the cord stump and burn three moxa cones, each the size of a wheat grain. If the infant has not yet cried, moxibustion can be continued to five or seven cones. After moxibustion, seal the area with the "Umbilical Sealing Powder". The sealing cloth should be beaten until soft, cut into a square of about four cun, lined with half a cun of thick new cotton wool, topped with the medicinal powder, and wrapped according to appropriate tightness. If the specific medicine is unavailable, use a lump of very fine processed mugwort instead. Do not wrap the cloth too tightly, as excessive tension may induce vomiting. Furthermore, constant care is required to prevent moisture from soaking the bandage or swaddling clothes, and urine must be kept away to avoid sores, swelling, and wind invasion.

**Moxibustion Umbilical Cake (Lu Qi Bing Zi)**
Fermented Soybean Paste (Douchi), Beeswax (Huangla) (1 fen each), Musk (Shexiang) (a small amount).
Grind Douchi into a fine powder, mix evenly with Shexiang, melt Huangla to form a paste, shape into cakes according to the infant's size, and use.

**Umbilical Sealing Powder (Feng Qi San)**
Male Rat Feces (Xiong Shufen) (7 pieces, those pointed at both ends are authentic), Dried Ginger (Ganjiang) (size of a jujube), Steamer Strap (Zengdai) (three items combined and burned to ash), Cotton Ash (Mianhui) (0.5 liang, burned separately and weighed), Red Silk Ash (Feibo Hui) (burned separately and weighed 0.5 fen), Lead Carbonate (Hufen) (3 qian, stir-fried until yellow), Musk (Shexiang) (a small amount).
Grind all ingredients into an extremely fine powder. Apply 0.5 to 1 qian to the umbilicus and seal. This prevents umbilical sores and swelling entirely. If sores have already occurred due to wind-dampness, regardless of whether the cord has fallen off, applying this formula will lead to recovery.

Once the infant's umbilicus is sealed, routine care should be followed. After several days, if the infant suddenly cries angrily as if pricked by a thorn in the clothing, this indicates dryness of the umbilicus irritating the abdomen. The old dressing and medicines should be removed and replaced. If no such symptoms occur, inspect and change the dressing around the tenth day. Changes must be made avoiding wind and cold; in winter, place fire nearby and perform changes in a warm environment. Regular diaper changes and talcum powder application should follow the same precautions. Neglect in care may lead to umbilical injury and disease; the following formulas treat such conditions:

For newborns with unsevered cords exhibiting swelling, pain, and discharge: Burn old red silk to ash, grind finely, and apply.

For continuous umbilical discharge with redness and swelling: Grind Alumen (Baishizhi) into a fine powder, warm slightly by stir-frying, and apply 3-4 times daily.

For umbilical ulcers: Burn steamer straps to ash, grind finely, and apply mixed with lard (Zhugao). Alternatively, apply mulberry root bark juice to the nipple for the infant to suckle.

Another formula: Apply soil from the east wall. For chronic cases that do not heal, Dragon's House Earth (Fulonggan) is also effective.

Another formula: Apply Angelica Sinensis (Danggui) powder. It is highly effective for chronic non-healing cases.

For redness, swelling, or discharge of pus, blood, or clear fluid: Burn Purslane (Machixian) leaves to ash, grind, and apply. Alternatively, burn Honeycomb (Lufengfang) to ash and apply.

Another formula: Burn dried larvae of *Phyllophaga* (Kan'e) to ash, grind, and apply.

Another formula: Apply Phellodendron Bark (Huangbai) powder. Effective for chronic cases.

For infant umbilical redness and swelling: Mix 0.5 liang of Apricot Kernels (Xingren) ground thoroughly with 0.5 qian of marrow from the pig's cheekbone. Apply the mixture. Another method involves grinding Xingren into a paste and mixing with the marrow fat.

For umbilical ulcers caused by external wind invasion during cord cutting, resulting in chronic non-healing: Mix equal parts of Alum (Bai Fan) and Calcined Long Bone (Bai Longgu) into a fine powder. Apply sparingly. Using only one of these ingredients is also acceptable if both are unavailable.

Another formula: Burn cotton to ash, grind finely, and apply. Both new and old cotton are suitable.

**Lead Carbonate Powder (Hufen San)**
Treats infant umbilical ulcers that are damp and non-healing; if untreated until 100 days, the condition becomes critical.
Lead Carbonate (Hufen) (1 qian, finely ground), Dried Ginger (Ganjiang) (burned to ash, 1 qian, finely ground), Alumen (Baishizhi) (calcined to retain properties, 1 qian, finely ground).
Grind together into a fine powder. Apply 1 zi or 0.5 qian to the affected area.

When an infant suffers from an umbilical ulcer that has not healed, avoid overfeeding with milk, as overfeeding may induce Umbilical Wind.