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The navel is the general aperture for wind pathogens and the cold gate of the five zang organs. Daoists refer to it as the Lower Dantian (Lower Elixir Field), the life stem of the human body. When a fetus is in the womb, its mouth and nose have not yet established respiration; it relies solely on the true breath at the navel, breathing in sync with the mother's respiration. Upon birth, when the infant cries out, qi connects through the mouth and nose, and the single breath of the fetal origin is no longer used. This qi resides within the navel, one inch and three fen deep, forming a hollow cavity. The left side is green, the right white, the upper red, the lower black, and the center yellow. The eight extraordinary vessels and nine orifices are connected here by longitude and latitude, serving as the pathway for the往来 of true breath and the meeting place of Kan and Li (Water and Fire). All practices of cultivating the immortal fetus are founded here, hence it is called the "Life Stem." Therefore, for newborns, the care of the navel is of utmost importance. When cutting the umbilical cord, one must be extremely cautious. If the cord is cut too short or bound loosely, external wind may invade the navel. Or, if moving the cord during bathing allows water to enter and cause sores, guest wind may enter due to deficiency, damaging the Kidney internally. The pathogen then transmits from the Kidney to the Liver, from the Liver to the Heart, from the Heart to the Spleen, and from the Spleen to the Lung, accumulating toxicity until it manifests as Umbilical Tetanus (Qi Feng). Symptoms include: red face and crying indicating Heart disease; slight twitching of hands and feet indicating Liver disease; blue lips, retracted mouth, and phlegm obstruction indicating Spleen disease; tight jaw indicating Kidney disease; incessant crying indicating Lung disease. If symptoms of the five zang organs appear only partially, it is treatable; if all appear, it is untreatable.

Among newborns, Umbilical Tetanus is considered a malignant condition. There are three types: Umbilical Tetanus, Locked Mouth, and Locked Belly. Although all are navel-related syndromes, their cold-heat nature differs, and practitioners should distinguish them carefully.

The first is Umbilical Tetanus. It occurs when, after cord cutting, water-dampness and wind-cold invade the navel and flow into the Heart and Spleen, causing abdominal distension, loose grip during suckling, excessive crying without feeding. In the early stage, fire therapy should be used promptly to disperse the pathogen. If it progresses to rapid breathing, loss of cry, exposed blue veins on the abdomen, or painful hernia, this indicates fetal toxin combined with wind-pathogen entering the zang organs. External fire therapy should be applied, and internally, Zhimi Qiqi Decoction (Seven-Qi Decoction for Pointing Confusion) should be taken. If the navel becomes blue and swollen, the mouth cannot open, the jaw is tightly shut, white foam is spat out, and the fingernails turn blue-black, these are signs of untreatable conditions.

The second is Locked Mouth. Symptoms include closed eyes, locked jaw, diminishing cry, flesh-like granules on the tongue resembling millet grains, inability to suckle, spitting white foam, and blockage of urination and defecation. In such cases, first check for small white spots on the palate. If present, gently scrape them with a fingernail. Then, decoct Mugwort Root (Muxiang) and White Cardamom Seed (Baikouren), each 5 fen, and administer Hangxie Dan dissolved in the decoction. This promotes bowel movement and organ function, allowing qi to smooth out and the condition to heal spontaneously.

The third is Locked Belly. It results from excessive heat-toxin in the womb blocking the anus, causing constipation. Urgently have a woman rinse her mouth with warm water and suckle the infant's anterior and posterior chest, below the navel, and the palms of hands and soles of feet—seven areas in total—for four or five times. Externally, grind Calomel (Qingfen) 5 fen into powder, mix with a little honey, and administer with warm water, aiming for bowel evacuation. If still blocked, take a scallion white piece 3-4 cun long, lubricate with oil, and gently insert it about 2 cun into the rectum, aiming for relief. If there is no passage by the seventh day, death ensues.

Ancient discussions on Umbilical Tetanus attribute it solely to water-dampness and wind-cold. I believe this explanation is incomplete. Umbilical Tetanus has both internal and external causes, distinguishing between treatable and untreatable cases. The external cause is injury from wind-dampness; the internal cause is insufficiency of the True Yang inherited from parents. I once observed a scholar whose wife bore over ten sons, all dying of Umbilical Tetanus within seven days, none surviving. If it were merely external pathogens, why would they exclusively harm this family's children? Why would not some escape? This clearly demonstrates the internal cause. For men with insufficient True Yang of the Mingmen (Gate of Life), the pulse at the right Chi position will be fine, choppy, and spiritless; their offspring will inevitably suffer from Umbilical Tetanus. My observations are detailed and accurate, unlike hearsay. External causes typically manifest between the second and fifth days, affecting the fu organs, thus being treatable. Internal causes typically manifest between the sixth and seventh days, affecting the zang organs, thus being untreatable. Previously, Xia Yuzhu offered a secret for preventing Umbilical Tetanus: observe the inner corners of the eyes on the third to seventh day; yellowing indicates impending tetanus. However, infants with strong constitution may have a red-yellow complexion immediately after birth, which is auspicious, not tetanus. Mistaking this leads to significant harm; this method is inaccurate. A better sign is for the lactating mother to massage the infant's breasts daily; a small lump inside indicates the syndrome. While many with lumps develop tetanus, some do not; this method is 70-80% accurate but not infallible. The true signs are frequent sneezing, excessive crying, and loose grip during suckling. Treatment should begin immediately. However, there is no fixed formula for treating Umbilical Tetanus. Methods like dispersing wind and purging downward cannot address emergencies. Only my uniquely transmitted Fire-Lamp Therapy can save lives in cases of tetanic convulsions or critical conditions where medicine fails. It has proven effective over time. I was reluctant to share it because I saw pediatricians misuse fire points, inadvertently stirring wind pathogens and trapping fire-toxin, leading to persistent fever and internal attack by fire-toxin, often resulting in death. Thus, I reveal it publicly. Pediatricians often speak of "cutting wind" or "blocking wind." "Cutting" implies intercepting and restraining; "blocking" implies sealing off. Applying fire therapy to the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) in the central palace seems to block the pathogen, violating the principle of "locking the door to chase away thieves." Wind pathogens in the body are agile and changeable, formless and soundless. To eliminate them, one must disperse and guide them out, preventing them from lingering in the Ying and Wei levels and meridians. Zhang Zhongjing treated Cold Damage using sweating, vomiting, and purging methods. Pathogens on the exterior are dispersed via sweating; those above are expelled via vomiting; those deeply interior are removed via purging. The goal is always to exhaust the pathogen, never to intercept or block it. Modern pediatricians not only fail to expel pathogens but also close the gates, blocking their exit, trapping them so they cannot advance or retreat, leading to chaotic rebellion. This disaster is caused by the practitioner, not the pathogen. Pathogens enter via the Three Yang channels; they must be expelled via the Three Yang channels. Therefore, this fire-point therapy is applicable only to the Three Yang channels, aiming to draw pathogens out to the exterior, never letting them enter the interior. Detailed diagrams follow, and I respectfully request correction from experts.