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Tang Dynasty Sun Simiao's *Yuguan Yaojue* states: For a pulse indicating excess wind, one must apply methods to dissipate the wind. For a pulse indicating fright-heat (fever caused by fright), one must apply methods to promote drainage and unblocking. For a pulse indicating cold injury (injury from cold pathogens), one must apply warming methods. For a pulse indicating accumulation and mass (pathological masses or stagnation within the body) (alternatively described as accumulated heat), one must apply purgative methods. If there is accumulated heat amidst deficiency, first clear and drain the heat, then treat the deficiency. If there is deficiency amidst heat, first tonify the deficiency, then reduce the heat, followed by regulating stomach qi; this approach ensures no errors.

*Huiyan Guanzheng* discusses treatment principles:
Infantile crying due to fright is always caused by internal stagnation; wind-heat resides in the Heart, generating phlegm-saliva (phlegm-fluids), which necessitates purgation. For fright-heat, treating Spleen-fright and resolving phlegm-saliva below the Heart will naturally bring peace. For malnutrition fever (fever associated with infantile malnutrition syndrome), the Spleen and Stomach are damaged, and pathogenic factors transmit to the Kidney and Heart; one must first resolve pathogenic heat, then administer medicines for malnutrition. For diarrhoea due to fright, one must harmonize qi. For cold damage (Shanghan), use mild decoctions to release both the exterior and interior. There are five types of malnutrition; one must exercise discretion in handling them.

If measles and smallpox have already erupted, excessive use of cold-natured herbs should be avoided, lest it cause diarrhoea and dysentery, or prevent the expulsion of toxic vapours, leading to death. If measles and smallpox have not yet erupted, they should be promoted for eruption. Cholera-like vomiting and diarrhoea result from disharmony of Stomach qi. If a three-year-old child suddenly closes their eyes, it indicates Liver malnutrition; one should administer boiled Gan San Zi.

When administering anti-stagnation medicines to children, follow immediately with Yunqi Tang to prevent damage to the child.

*Huiyan Guanzheng* further states: The method for regulating children requires careful protection of Kidney and Stomach qi. Since children have not yet reached the peak of Tian Gui (essence of the Kidneys that promotes sexual maturity), they generally follow the four seasons. Once Stomach qi becomes deficient, diseases proliferate; mild cases become severe, and severe cases lead to death. This is an absolute principle. Observing contemporary physicians, who fail to contemplate deeply, claiming that children possess pure Yang qi, and thus insisting on draining and purging for all diseases, many die due to such reckless purgation. This is truly lamentable. Although purgation must be judicious and not excessive, the key to regulating children lies here. The five Zang organs have their own Yin-Yang distinctions; Zang organs belong to Yin, and Fu organs belong to Yang. Yin syndromes are caused by invasion of Yin pathogens, such as slow convulsion, vomiting and diarrhoea, malaria, and dysentery. Yang syndromes are caused by invasion of Yang pathogens, such as acute wind, cold damage, rashes, and smallpox. However, Yin and Yang qi interact and move; Yang responds to Yang, and Yin responds to Yin. There are cases where Yang has not moved, waiting for Yin to trigger it; or Yin has not moved, waiting for Yang to trigger it. At the end of winter and beginning of spring, cold damage and rashes/smallpox are common; this is Yang disease responding to Yang movement. At the end of summer and beginning of autumn, vomiting/diarrhoea and malaria/dysentery are common; this is Yin disease responding to Yin movement. Misdiagnosis or delay, such as encountering a fright syndrome at the end of winter/beginning of spring, treating with phlegm-resolving agents but failing to purge, allowing it to linger until autumn when it manifests slowly, indicates Yang disease accumulating into Yin, responding to Yin movement. Encountering a fright syndrome at the end of autumn/beginning of winter, failing to purge and resolve phlegm, allowing it to erupt when Spring Qi becomes vigorous, indicates Yin disease waiting for Yang movement. From this, we deduce that regulating children depends on strengthening Yin and Yang, and distinguishing deficiency and excess. For every disease, one must anticipate it before it occurs; knowing that excess generates wind and deficiency leads to Qi timidity is excellent.

*Lianzhu* discusses the five untreatable deficiencies in children (referring to prolonged illness with deficiency, manifesting as any of the following five swellings):
Swelling of the palms, swelling of the umbilicus, swelling of the soles, swelling of the genitalia, and swelling of the tongue.

The five untreatable hardenings in children:
Hardness of the Heart (crying without tears), hardness of the head, hardness of the hands, hardness of the feet, and hardness of the back.

The five untreatable softnesses in children:
Softness of the hands, flaccidity of the neck, softness of the feet, flaccidity of the waist, and softness of the back.

Another verse states: Children’s conditions differ from adults’; illnesses often arise from Fright, Wind, and Heat. First treat the Heart Spirit, then eliminate Heat; the pulse should be tight, rapid, floating, and full.

Mao Bin, a physician from Changsha, collected signs observed at the bedside indicating life and death:
Regarding pulse diagnosis locations, the left arm corresponds to the Liver, and the upper area to the Lung. The face corresponds to the Heart, which is obvious. Spleen disease is indicated by lethargy/sleepiness. Kidney disease does not manifest at night; closing the mouth tightly is a sign of imminent death. Sudden expulsion of cold, tenacious phlegm-saliva renders even good medicine useless. Thin and hoarse voice indicates depletion of Qi and Blood; drowsiness and inability to speak indicate extreme difficulty in treatment. Delirium and failure to recognize people, with chest fullness, is pitiable. Chronic red lips are untreatable; wide-open eyes after fright should not be stared at. Blue sclerae, red cheeks, and blackish ears with white spots, straight hair, crow-like voice, and fear of chaotic crying are ominous. Absence of palm lines and black tongue, black nose tip, and drooping corners of the mouth indicate doom. Drowsiness with eyes closed is incurable even by immortals.