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Wiping the Mouth and Removing Toxins
When an infant is first born, the method for wiping the mouth must use soft cotton wrapped around a finger to wipe away any impurities in the mouth. Subsequently, rouge dipped in tea liquor should be used to wipe between the mouth, tongue, teeth, and cheeks to ensure cleanliness, preventing oral diseases later in life. Boil licorice root (Gancao) thickly into a decoction. Wrap cotton around a finger, dip it in the juice, and frequently let the infant suck on it to prevent fetal toxins from accumulating in the abdomen. Another method involves boiling coptis rhizome (Huanglian) thickly to extract the juice and dripping it into the infant's mouth; the toxins will naturally clear out with the meconium discharged from the umbilicus. To clear heat and prevent fright, use cinnabar (Zhusha) the size of a soybean, grind it finely, process it by water flotation (Shuifei), mix it with honey and milk, and administer it. However, this method is not suitable for infants with weak constitutions. For detoxifying weak infants, boil fermented soybean (Douchi) thickly to extract the juice, and have the mother taste it so the flavor passes through the milk.

Umbilical Cord Cutting
When an infant is first born, use scissors heated over a fire to cut the umbilical cord, then cauterize the cord with a hot instrument. The length should be appropriate (traditionally six cun for males and five cun for females); if too short, it damages the internal organs; if too long, it harms the muscles. After cutting, apply a moxa cake for the umbilicus (Lao Qi Bingzi) to moxa the umbilicus to prevent wind-cold pathogens from entering externally. Then, apply Hu Fen San (Powder of Lead Carbonate) to the cord, and periodically wrap it with soft silk and fresh cotton to avoid urine moisture.

Bathing the Infant
The method for bathing the infant on the third day is to cleanse filth. One must use a decoction of "Five Branches" (Wu Zhi). Choose a windowless, draft-free room, and adjust the temperature appropriately for winter and summer. Prolonged immersion may cause cold exposure in winter or heat exposure in summer. Add pig bile to remove filth; it also moisturizes the skin and prevents neonatal eczema (Tai Chuang).

Shaving the Head
At one month of age, an infant must have their lanugo shaved off. This must be done in a warm, draft-free room, moderately. Fear that blood and qi are not yet full and cold wind may easily enter; afterwards, mix almond, sesame oil, perilla leaf, mint, and bismuth subcarbonate (Ni Fen), and rub them onto the head. This eliminates all conditions caused by fetal toxins, such as sores and boils.

Failure to Cry
Upon landing on the ground, an infant should cry immediately, establishing form and life. Those who cannot cry are colloquially called "straw-misted." This is often due to difficult labor causing qi obstruction. Or, during deep winter, the infant's qi is constrained by cold, preventing crying. For cases due to difficult labor, gently strike the back with green onion stalks to unblock qi and awaken the spirit, which can restore life. For cases due to cold constraint, do not cut the umbilical cord; instead, quickly make a paper wick dipped in oil, light it, and fumigate the umbilical cord repeatedly until warmth enters the abdomen, inducing crying. If there is no breath or sound, the face is cyanotic, and nails are black, although the body exists, life is imminent.

Failure to Suckle
It is natural for a newborn to suckle milk. If they do not, there must be a reason. It may be because foul matter in the abdomen has not been cleared, causing abdominal distension, shortness of breath, vomiting, and refusal to suckle. Or, in utero, the mother consumed excessive cold foods, transmitting cold qi to the fetus, causing abdominal pain, frequent crying, and a cold constitution. If foul matter remains, Yi Nian Jin is effective. For failure to suckle due to fetal cold, Yun Qi San is primary. If accompanied by a cyanotic face and cold limbs, indicating deficiency-cold, Li Zhong Tang should be decocted and administered.

Eyes Not Opening
Infants born with eyes closed and unable to open them suffer because the pregnant woman did not regulate her diet, indulging in rich and pungent flavors. Heat toxins steamed upward, causing heat accumulation in the infant's spleen. Since the eyelids belong to the spleen, its meridians become tight and bound. This is acquired from the womb. Internally, Dihuang Tang is excellent; externally, washing the eyes with Bear Gallbladder Decoction (Xiong Dan Tang) is highly effective.

Persistent Vomiting
Why does persistent vomiting occur in infants? It may be due to constipation and retained foul matter in the stomach, causing abdominal distension and vomiting; or due to inheriting cold or heat from the womb; or due to catching a cold at birth. If vomiting is due to retained foul matter, purge it with Yi Nian Jin San. If external cold pathogens enter the interior and attack the stomach, the infant bends their waist while crying and vomits froth continuously; Xiang Su Yin warms and disperses this, leading to recovery. If heat accumulated before birth causes a yellow-red face, warm hands and feet, and vomiting of yellow, sour, sticky saliva, treat with Huanglian combined with Er Chen Tang. If cold exposure causes a pale-white face, cold limbs, and vomiting of clear froth, Li Zhong Tang is the main treatment.

Urinary Retention
Infants born unable to urinate suffer from fetal heat stagnating in the lower jiao. Use Dao Chi San; for severe heat, use Ba Zheng San. Externally, apply Dou Chi Gao (Fermented Soybean Paste) to the umbilicus, and urine will flow freely shortly.

Stool Retention
An infant who stools on the first or second day passes meconium (Xia Qi Shi), indicating harmonious intestines and stomach and moistened pylorus. If stool is retained for two to three days, it is called "Locked Belly" (Suo Du). This is due to receiving spicy-hot toxins in the womb; the infant will have a red face, abdominal distension, refuse milk, and cry frequently. Treat with Zhu Mi Fa (Vermilion Honey Method). If ineffective, give Yi Nian Jin judiciously. Then, have a woman rinse her mouth with warm water and urgently suck the palms, below the umbilicus, both soles, and the front and back of the spine—seven points total—until the skin turns red; stool will pass naturally.

Obstruction of Both Urine and Stool
Infants born with both urine and stool obstructed are in a critical state, caused by extreme fetal heat toxins. Urgently use Mu Tong San and Zi Shuang Wan to move stagnation and resolve knots; these are excellent formulas. Urgently apply the sucking method as described above; survival may be hoped for. If delayed to seven days, called "Seven-Day Wind," with a hard, distended abdomen and constant groaning, it is difficult to treat.

Internal Closure of the Anus
There are two types of internal anal closure in newborns. One is due to extreme heat toxins causing internal knotting of the anus; the other is due to fatty membranes covering the opening, leaving no passage. For heat toxin knotting, take Hei Bai San; externally, insert a Su He Xiang Wan (Styrax Pill) shaped like a date pit into the orifice. Its fragrance opens orifices and moistens, guiding stool down, offering hope for survival. For fatty membrane coverage, first pierce the membrane with a gold and jade hairpin, then guide with Su He Xiang Wan as before to restore life.

Jin Kou (Lockjaw/Mouth Closing)
Jin Kou syndrome, if untreated, often leads to death. Symptoms include sores on the tongue resembling millet grains, difficulty suckling, and weakening cries. It is caused by fetal heat. The method is to clear heat and promote drainage, using Long Dan Tang primarily. If the abdomen is hard and distended with urinary and fecal retention, use Zi Shuang Wan. Another type presents with white saliva drooling and tight jaw; this is fetal heat knotting internally with external wind pathogen invasion. First, apply Ya Guan San (Tooth-Cleaning Powder) to the jaw, then decoct and administer Chen Sha Quan Xie San. Stop when symptoms ease; do not overuse. After recovery, harmonize the spleen and stomach, starting with Yun Qi San.

Cuo Kou (Mouth Pinching/Twisting)
Cuo Kou presents with the mouth pinched like a bag mouth, difficulty suckling, stiff tongue, cyanotic lips, frothy sputum, and a reddish-yellow face. It results from extreme heat inherited from the womb. If limbs are cold, the disease is hard to cure. If qi is high and phlegm abundant, use Chen Sha Jiang Can San. For urinary/fecal retention, use Zi Shuang Wan. For body heat and frequent fright, Long Dan Tang is excellent. For limb convulsions, Cuo Feng San is appropriate.

Umbilical Dampness and Ulcer
Arbitrary washing during bathing or incomplete wrapping allows urine moisture to invade the umbilicus, causing it to remain wet and dripping, named Umbilical Dampness (Qi Shi). If severe, it becomes red and ulcerated, named Umbilical Ulcer (Qi Chuang). For Umbilical Dampness, apply Shen Qi San. For Umbilical Ulcer, apply Jin Huang San, which is most suitable.

Umbilical Protrusion
Fetal heat in the abdomen has no outlet, causing frequent stretching and restless sleep. Straining qi rushes into the umbilical base, causing sudden red swelling and bulging, named Umbilical Protrusion (Qi Tu). Internally, take Xi Jiao Xiao Du Yin; externally, apply Er Dou San to reduce swelling effectively. Cold-cooling medicines applied to the umbilicus are strictly forbidden, as freezing the toxic heat may turn it fatal.

Umbilical Wind (Neonatal Tetanus)
The umbilicus is the root of the infant, named Shen Guan. It is near the Three Yin meridians, preferring warmth and dryness, disliking cold and dampness. If umbilical cutting follows previous methods, how would Umbilical Wind arise? Only through negligence allowing wind, cold, water, and dampness to enter the umbilicus, causing abdominal distension, umbilical swelling, and day-and-night crying, forming Umbilical Wind. If impending, Qu Feng San is most effective. If cold pathogens have deeply entered and Umbilical Wind has formed, distinguish accompanying symptoms. Abdominal hardness and constipation indicate Wind-Excess; treat with Hei Bai San. Pale face and cold limbs with loose stools indicate Wind-Deficiency; treat with Li Zhong Tang. Abundant phlegm-saliva and rapid breathing indicate Wind-Phlegm; treat with Jiang Can San. High fever, red face, and dry mouth indicate Wind-Heat; clear with Long Dan Tang. Cyanotic face, vomiting, and bending waist crying indicate Wind-Cold; treat with Yi Pi San. Cyanotic lips, Cuo Kou, and continuous convulsions indicate Wind-Fright; calm with Cuo Feng San. If the umbilical border is blue-black and the mouth is locked, it is Internal Convulsion, untreatable. If encountered within the first lunar month (or seven days), life is doomed. Blood vessels are not yet consolidated, and the disease has penetrated the zang organs; treatment is futile.

Tian Diao (Heavenly Hook/Fixed Eyes)
Tian Diao syndrome is caused by evil heat accumulating in the chest, blocking qi with phlegm-saliva. During attacks, limbs convulse, high fever occurs, palpitations happen, eyes look upward, and nails turn cyanotic. Although similar to Fright-Wind, the fixed upward gaze distinguishes it. For abundant phlegm and convulsions, use Jiu Kong Kong Xian Dan. For severe fright with wind, Niu Huang San is best. For frequent convulsions with heat, use Gou Teng Yin minus Ren Shen. For cyanotic nails, Jing Zhi Su He Xiang Wan is precise.

Nei Diao (Internal Hook)
Nei Diao is often due to pre-existing liver pathology combined with external cold. Symptoms include green stools, paroxysmal convulsions, intermittent episodes resembling epilepsy, stooped posture, abdominal pain, and drooling. It resembles epilepsy but features red thread-like blood spots and eye irritation. For severe convulsions, use Gou Teng Yin. For urgent crying and abdominal pain, use Mu Xiang Wan. For cold limbs, cyanotic nails, and black lips/mouth, use Yang Zang San to warm the middle; survival may be possible.

Pan Chang Qi Tong (Coiled Intestine Gas Pain)
Pan Chang Qi Tong is pain caused by cold pathogens clashing in the intestines. Since Liver and Kidney reside below, pain causes bending of the waist, refusal to suckle, and furrowed brows. Internally, to settle pain and warm the middle, use Bai Dou Kou San. There is also an external moxibustion/warming method for the umbilicus worth preserving.

Rotting Eyes
Infants born with eye diseases experience pain, itching, and inability to open eyes, with red, rotting eyelid margins. Due to heat stored in the womb, toxic heat attacks the eyes after birth. Internally, use Dihuang Tang to clear heat; externally, apply Zhen Jin San to restore vision.

Xuan Yong (Hanging Abscess)
A swelling rising in the upper throat, resembling a reed sheath filled with water, is called Xuan Yong. It is caused by toxic heat from the womb rushing upward. Wrap a long needle with cotton, leave the tip exposed, puncture it, drain the green/yellow/red fluid, rinse the mouth with salt water, or apply Ru Sheng San or Yi Zi San for efficacy.

Chong Yin (Double Gums)
Chong Yin occurs when heat accumulates in the stomach during fetal development, causing swollen gum roots like blisters, intolerable pain. Treat by pricking with a needle, rinsing with salt water, applying Yi Zi San externally, and taking Qing Wei Tang internally for miraculous effects.

Goose Mouth (Thrush)
Goose Mouth presents with white debris filling the mouth and tongue, resembling a goose's beak. It is caused by heat accumulation in the Heart and Spleen meridians, originating from maternal dietary heat toxins received in the womb, appearing immediately after birth. Treat with Qing Re Xie Pi San. Externally, dip hair in well water to wipe the mouth, then apply Bao Sheng San. Delayed treatment leads to oral erosion and difficulty curing.

Tongue Protrusion
If the tongue extends and relaxes slowly, it is named Tongue Protrusion (Tu She). It is caused by heat in the Heart meridian. Symptoms include red face, irritability, thirst, and dark, scanty urine. Use Xie Xin Dao Chi Tang for immediate effect.

Tongue Playing
Tongue Playing involves the tongue constantly moving within the mouth. It is caused by Heart-Spleen heat, resulting in dry/scorched lips, irritability, dry tongue, and foul-smelling stool. First use Xie Huang San, then Xie Xin Dao Chi San for recovery.

Double Tongue
Swelling near the root of the tongue resembling a second tongue is named Double Tongue (Chong She). It is caused by Heart-Spleen heat accumulation attacking upward. Internally, use Qing Re Yin; externally, apply Liang Xin San for best results.

Wood Tongue
Wood Tongue is caused by Heart-Spleen heat accumulation. The spleen's meridians are under the tongue, and the tongue is the sprout of the heart. Fire rushing up causes the tongue to swell, become stiff and wooden, immobile, indicating a dangerous condition. Externally, apply Chuan Xiao San on the tongue; internally, take Xie Xin Dao Chi Tang for best efficacy.

Milk Regurgitation/Vomiting
Infant milk regurgitation/vomiting has various causes: retained milk, stagnant phlegm, stomach heat, or stomach cold. Red face, slight urinary/fecal retention, and warm fingertips indicate heat; treat with He Zhong Qing Re Yin. Pale-green face, green frothy stools, and cold fingertips indicate cold; treat with Wen Zhong Zhi Ou Tang. Dry mouth/lips, restless sleep, and warm palms indicate damaged milk; Ping Wei San is best. Chest oppression, vomiting of stagnant phlegm indicates phlegm stagnation; Zhi Ju Er Chen Tang cures it. Overfeeding causing spontaneous overflow requires no medicine; simply regulate feeding frequency for peace.

Night Crying
Newborn night crying has two causes: Spleen-Cold and Heart-Heat, both inherited from the womb. Observe appearance and color. Spleen-Cold presents with pale face, cold limbs, bent waist, and pain. Heart-Heat presents with red face/lips, internal heat, urinary difficulty, irritability, and frequent crying. For heat, use Dao Chi San; for cold, use Gou Teng Yin. Without exterior-interior cold-heat signs, just frequent crying, follow ancient methods using Chan Hua San for best results.

Fetal Jaundice
Infants born with whole-body and facial jaundice, golden-yellow in color, result from maternal damp-heat steaming and deep fetal reception of maternal heat toxins. The method is to leach dampness and clear heat, treating based on severity. Mild yellow uses Sheng Di Huang Tang; deep yellow uses Xi Jiao San. Both are miraculous.

Fetal Erythema
Fetal Erythema is caused by the mother consuming excessive spicy-hot foods, leading to toxic heat condensation in the uterus. The infant receives deep toxicity, resulting in a red-as-cinnabar complexion all over the head and body after birth. Qing Re Jie Du Tang is excellent. For severe heat with constipation, Jiang Shi Hua Du Dan has unique efficacy.

Red Roaming Wind
Red Roaming Wind is caused by fetal toxic heat. Post-birth, excessive warmth causes toxic heat to evaporate outward, making skin red, hot, and swollen, roaming unpredictably across the body. If on head/limbs, it is treatable; if entering heart/abdomen, life is at risk. Internally, take Xi Jiao Jie Du Yin. If unresolved, continue with Lan Ye San, and externally use Bian Fa (bloodletting/pricking) to draw out toxic blood for cure. For severe toxicity, apply Shen Gong San; for mild, no application needed. Infants under 100 days should avoid bloodletting as their flesh is tender. Use pork paste or adzuki bean powder mixed with egg white for soothing.

Congenital Skin Absence
Newborns without skin have two causes: hereditary syphilitic toxins from parents causing red rot (upper or lower body) turning purple-black, or prematurity causing whole-body red, tender, shiny skin with unbearable pain. Both are malignant. For syphilitic toxins, take Huan Ji Xiao Du Yin externally apply Qing Liang Gao or E Huang Fen for cure. For insufficient fetal origin, take Dang Gui Yin internally, dust with rice flour externally; skin will gradually regenerate firmly.

Bian Zheng (Transformation and Steaming)
Heaven and Earth generate all things through spring warmth and summer heat. Newborns follow this principle, transforming form and spirit. From birth, 32 days constitute one "Bian" (Transformation), growing bones and organs; 64 days constitute one "Zheng" (Steaming), increasing intelligence and wisdom. Beyond ten Bians and five Zhengs, there are additional large steams totaling 76 days. Once Bian Zheng completes, form and spirit are established, and no further transformation occurs. Each stage involves yin-yang mingling qi, causing slight body heat. The sacrum belongs to yin; since yang does not harm yin, it harmonizes with yin, feeling cool. Yin-yang harmonious transformation generates form and spirit, so there are no other pathological conditions.