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Umbilical wind (Qifeng) does not originate from the six fu organs (Six Fu Organs), but is a direct attack on the five zang organs (Five Zang Organs). The onset occurs within seven days after birth; symptoms appearing after seven days do not belong to umbilical wind. When umbilical wind first manifests, the infant's mouth will be looser than usual when suckling milk. Suddenly, yellow discoloration appears at the corners of the eyes near the glabella, gradually spreading to the nose. The mouth slightly puckers, showing a slight blowing-like appearance. If the condition progresses downward to the perioral region, the lips and mouth corners become tightly closed, and the tongue becomes stiff. Thus, ominous signs such as puckered mouth (Cuokou), locked jaw (Jinkou), and contracted abdomen (Suofu) appear. The umbilicus is the master aperture for qi circulation and the gateway for cold pathogens to enter the five zang organs. During fetal development, although the five sense organs are formed, respiration is not yet patent. Only the umbilicus can conduct true qi, breathing in sync with the mother, connected via the umbilical cord and placenta to nourish growth. Upon birth, with a cry, qi begins to circulate through the mouth and nose. Therefore, the umbilicus is of utmost importance to infants, and severing the umbilical cord must be done with extreme caution. Leaving the stump too short, failing to tie it tightly, using unwarmed water for bathing, or prolonged handling during care can all allow pathogenic wind, cold, and dampness to invade. Internal heat and external cold clash; since the infant's resistance is weak, external pathogens easily enter through deficiency, damaging the Spleen internally. The Spleen transmits to the Lung, the Lung to the Pericardium, the Pericardium to the Liver, and the Liver to the Kidney. The infant's constitution is fragile, and pathogens cannot accumulate long in the tender body. Once they manifest outwardly, umbilical wind forms because the pathogen originates from the umbilicus. The symptoms are broadly categorized as follows: Red face with crying like a cat's cry and straight voice indicates disease of the Pericardium; convulsions of hands and feet with upward-rolling eyes indicate disease of the Liver Meridian; cyanotic lips, loose mouth, and phlegm-damp obstruction indicate disease of the Spleen Meridian; tight jaw, short tongue, and contracted abdomen indicate disease of the Kidney Meridian; incessant crying, rapid breathing, and flaring nostrils indicate disease of the Lung Meridian. If symptoms of only one or two zang organs appear, treatment is possible; if symptoms of all five zang organs appear, it is incurable. Umbilical wind is the most ominous condition in newborns due to its sudden onset. Once triggered, dangerous signs abound; clinical treatment requires calmness. First, determine the internal and external causes. For external causes, differentiate between cold/heat and wind/dampness. If the infant has abdominal distension, generalized fever, puckered mouth with spitting up milk, loose mouth during suckling, excessive crying without feeding, constipation, scanty dark urine, or anuria, these are early signs of umbilical wind. Rapidly apply methods to clear heat, promote urination, resolve sensation, and unblock collaterals. The pathogen is still in the Spleen and Lung, making it easier to treat. The prescription is listed below:

Chuanjinwen (Rheum Palmatum Root Rhizome, 7 fen) Tiaohuangqin (Scutellaria Baicalensis Root, 8 fen) Longdancao (Gentiana Scabra Root, 5 fen) Shengzhipi (Gardeniae Fructus Peel, 1 qian) Ximutong (Akebia Trifoliata Stem, 1 qian) Jiuchuanxiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome, 5 fen)
Lianqiaoqiao (Forsythiae Fructus, 1 qian) Chishaoyao (Paeonia Lactiflora Root, 8 fen) Boheye (Mentha Haplocalyx, 5 fen) Chuanhuangbai (Phellodendron Amurense Bark, 7 fen) Guangchenpi (Citrus Reticulata Peel, 1 qian)

Decoct the above ingredients in one tea bowl of water until half a tea bowl remains. Administer frequently to the infant for efficacy. Huangqin clears upper jiao heat; Huangbai clears lower jiao heat; Dahuang clears middle jiao heat. Leveraging Dahuang's ability to eliminate old and generate new, and to invigorate blood and relieve irritability, along with Longdancao and Zhipi guiding stagnant fire of the three jiaos out through the large intestine. To prevent the stagnating nature of bitter-cold herbs, Chenpi and Zhike are added to disperse stagnation, move qi, and benefit phlegm-fluids as assistants. Chuanxiong and Bohe guide wind-pathogens from the head and face downward. Lianqiao relieves irritability and clears toxicity; Chishaoyao regulates nutritive qi and unblocks collaterals; Mutong promotes urination, unblocks bladder qi, and relieves depression. This formula greatly clears heat and detoxifies, clears blood and moves qi, and guides evil fire out through stool and urine. If the condition progresses to rapid gasping, silent crying, dry tears and mucus, and visible blue veins on the face, the pathogen has entered the Heart, Liver, and Kidney. The infant will likely develop locked mouth and belly, dizziness, coma, and limb convulsions, transforming from heat-toxin to cold-toxin with deep pathogen penetration. Quickly administer Zhimi Qiqi Tang to directly attack airway obstruction and dredge blood-pathogen, restoring qi flow, resolving dampness, dispersing wind, resolving cold, raising clear yang, lowering turbid yin, and restoring yin-yang balance, offering hope of rescue. Do not hesitate due to the harsh nature of the herbs. Consider that without medicine, death is imminent; better to take the risk. Prescription:

Zhimi Qiqi Tang Formula
Treats abdominal cold pain, excessive crying, and refusal to feed caused by failure of yin and yang to ascend and descend, and airway obstruction. This formula warms and moves, dredges and benefits the zang-fu, unblocks qi, transforms dampness, and dissipates congealed cold.

Jiuzhi Peng'e Zhu (Curcuma Aromatica Rhizome, 5 fen) Xiaoqingpi (Green Citrus Reticulata Peel, 5 fen) Huoxiangye (Agastache Rugosa Herb, 8 fen) Guangchenpi (Citrus Reticulata Peel, 1 qian) Kujiegeng (Platycodon Grandiflorus Root, 1 qian) Xiangfu (Cyperus Rotundus Rhizome, 7 fen)
Shangrougui (Cinnamomum Cassia Bark, 3 fen) Gongdingxiang (Syzygium Aromaticum Flower Bud, 2 fen) Yizhiren (Alpinia Oxyphylla Fruit, 6 fen) Fabanxia (Pinellia Ternata Tuber, 8 fen) Zhigancao (Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root, 3 fen) Laoshengjiang (Zingiber Officinale Rhizome, 2 fen)
Dazao (Jujube, 2 pieces)

Decoct the above in 1.5 tea bowls of water until 0.5 tea bowl remains. Mother and infant take together to turn danger into safety. If the umbilicus shows cyanosis and swelling, fixed puckered mouth, tight jaw, foaming at the mouth, and black/blue nails, vital qi has ceased, and death is immediate; no treatment is needed. If these severe signs are absent, but there is difficulty suckling, foaming at the mouth, decreasing cry, red granules like millet seeds on the tongue, and constipation/anuria, gently wipe the red granules with a cloth-wrapped finger dipped in strong tea juice until bleeding occurs. Wipe nail folds similarly. Then administer the first formula. Do not use Zhimi Qiqi Tang now. The pathogen is still in Spleen/Lung, trending toward Liver but not yet reaching Kidney/Jueyin, so it hasn't transformed from heat to cold. Use qi-unblocking and yang-restoring warming methods. Internal causes are congenital. Before birth, the fetus is closely linked to parents; genetics play a major role. If parents lack self-restraint, fetal toxin (Taidu) often manifests. If parents have gonorrhea or syphilis, the fetus harbors toxic roots. As the child grows, the toxin grows. After birth, contact with external cold/damp/wind may trigger umbilical wind. However, if the infant has strong constitution and innate resistance, the toxin may remain latent for a month, manifesting later as various fetal toxin diseases, avoiding the worst of umbilical wind. Or the toxin may persist until after one year. As the body strengthens, resistance increases. The toxin may then move outward, causing skin sores. With proper medical care, danger can be averted, and umbilical wind avoided. If treatment is delayed or incorrect, focusing only on external sores while ignoring internal toxins blocks the exit path. Externalized toxins turn inward, causing spasms and convulsions, commonly known as "convulsive wind." If the infant was affected by genetic toxins and is born weak, unable to resist external pathogens, external evils invade, activating internal toxins violently. Umbilical wind arises within 1-2 days, with fierce symptoms, often fatal by evening. At this stage, all five zang organs are affected, constituting a terminal illness. Externally caused umbilical wind can be treated by organ differentiation, with a 60-70% cure rate. Internally caused umbilical wind has virtually no hope.

Xieqing Wan Formula
Jinzhuanghuang (Rheum Palmatum Root Rhizome, 5 qian) Heishanzhi (Gardeniae Fructus, 2 qian) Jiuchuanxiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome, 1.5 qian) Chaozhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, 3 qian) Beifangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix, 3 qian) Jiuqianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix, 1.5 qian)
Dangguishen (Angelica Sinensis Root, 3 qian)

Grind into fine powder, make pills with honey the size of sophora seeds, coat with Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis). Take 1 qian with warm water.
This formula treats simultaneous exterior and interior heat, resolving both. It is effective for food/milk stagnation and colds.

Hangxie Dan Formula
Treats all fetal toxins, fetal heat, fetal jaundice, red face/closed eyes, goose-mouth, mouth ulcers, double tongue, wooden tongue, throat closure, tonsillitis, high fever, dark urine, constipation, measles, rubella, scrofula, wandering wind, tinea, scabies, erysipelas, hives, phlegm-food stagnation, wind-heat, mumps, facial swelling. Modified by experts, it is a unique divine formula for pediatrics, governing the three jiaos. Stagnation of zang qi leads to these symptoms. Huangqin clears upper jiao heat; Huangbai clears lower jiao heat; Dahuang clears middle jiao heat, eliminating old and generating new, invigorating blood, relieving irritability, and guiding stagnant fire out via the anus. Binglang and Zhike disperse stagnation and move qi. Chuanxiong and Bohe guide wind-heat downward. Lianqiao clears toxicity and irritability; Chishaoyao regulates blood; Qianniun promotes urination and moves qi; Huashi clears heat and nourishes yin, guiding heat out via urine. Effective for excess syndromes. I rarely use purging methods, but this one is highly effective.

Hangchuanxiong (9 qian, wine-processed) Jinzhuanghuang (9 qian, wine-steamed) Nonghuangqin (9 qian, wine-fried) Shihuangbai (9 qian, wine-fried) Heiqianniun (6 qian, fried top powder) Boheye (4.5 qian) Huashifen (6 qian, water-sedimented) Jianbinglang (7.5 qian, washed in child's urine) Chenzhike (4.5 qian, bran-fried) Lianqiao (6 qian, cleaned) Jingchishaoyao (6 qian, fried)

Process the eleven ingredients, dry, grind finely, make pills with honey the size of euryale seeds. Infants under one month take one pill; older infants take two. Dissolve in tea water. Nursing mothers avoid greasy food. Mild diarrhea indicates efficacy; stop if no diarrhea. Severe cases: three times daily until cured. Not harsh; safe unless contraindicated for fetal cold/weakness with pale face.
One type is "Locked Belly," caused by fetal heat-toxin blocking the anus, causing constipation. Have a woman rinse her mouth with warm water and suck the area, plus anterior/posterior chest, below umbilicus, and palms/soles (7 points), 4-5 times. Then take Xuanningfen (5 fen) mixed with honey and warm water to induce bowel movement. If still blocked, insert oiled scallion white (3-4 cun) into rectum about 1 cun. If still blocked, apply a paste of fresh snail meat (1 liang) and garlic (1 clove) to 0.5 cun below umbilicus for one hour. This formula is potent; use with caution. Death if no stool by day 7. Ancients attributed umbilical wind to water/damp/cold/wind, but I believe this is incomplete. There are internal and external causes, curable and incurable types. External: wind-damp injury. Internal: congenital deficiency of true yang. I saw a woman whose ten sons died of umbilical wind within seven days. If purely external, why only her children? This proves internal cause. Men with deficient Mingmen true yang have thin, choppy, spiritless Right Chi pulse; their sons inevitably get umbilical wind. I have observed this accurately. External causes manifest on days 3-5, affecting Six Fu organs, thus curable. Internal causes manifest on days 6-7, affecting Five Zang organs, thus hard to cure. Xia Yuzhu's prevention method says yellow eyes on days 3-7 indicate umbilical wind. But robust infants may have red-yellow faces naturally, which is auspicious; mistaking this is harmful. Better to check if nursing mothers feel small lumps in breasts. While common, not definitive (80-90% inaccurate). True signs are frequent sneezing, excessive crying, and loose mouth during suckling. Treat urgently. No fixed method exists. Acupuncture at Shaoshang (LU11) to bleed, followed by Baisha Lingdan applied to nostrils to induce sneezing, can save critical cases. This method works even when herbs fail. I reveal it because misuse causes harm. Pediatricians often speak of "cutting" or "intercepting" wind. Intercepting implies blocking. Without opening the meridian at Shaoshang first, you merely lock the door against thieves. Wind pathogens are agile and formless; they must be dispersed, not blocked. Zhang Zhongjing used sweating, vomiting, and purging to expel pathogens, never interception. Blocking pathogens traps them, causing chaos. Pathogens enter via Three Yang meridians and must exit via Three Yang.

Baisha Lingdan Formula
Treats pediatric acute convulsive wind, sudden fright, phlegm-fire obstruction, extremity reversal, umbilical wind/puckered mouth, goose-mouth/wooden tongue, wind-cold cholera, vomiting/diarrhea, abdominal/head pain, heatstroke, unconsciousness, strabismus/upward gaze, convulsions. Opens orifices, calms wind, stops pain fastest. Secret formula. Take 4 li.

Shengbanxia (2 liang) Shengbeimu (1.5 liang) Xininiuhen (0.45 liang) Zhenpengsha (5 qian) Yuancunxiang (0.45 liang) Meibingpian (0.45 liang) Yuanchansu (5 qian)

Grind finely, sift, store in sealed bottle.

Another formula for puckered mouth, umbilical wind, locked belly: Chensha Jiangcan San.

Chensha Jiangcan San Formula
Chensha (Water-sedimented, 5 qian) Zhenjiangcan (1 qian, fried) Tianzhuhuang (5 fen) Bangzhenzhu (3 fen) Zhenmuxiang (1 fen)

Grind finely, store sealed. Apply small amount mixed with honey to infant's mouth.

Another formula for fever, umbilical wind, puckered mouth: Longdan Tang.

Longdan Tang Formula
Longdancao (5 fen) Gouteng (1 qian) Beichaihu (5 fen) Pianjianghuang (5 fen) Jingchishaoyao (1 qian)
Zhigancao (3 fen) Kujiegeng (1 qian) Bai fuling (5 fen) Chuandahuang (1 fen, baked in paper) Dazao (1 piece)

Decoct in water, take warm.

Another simple formula for puckered mouth: Niuhuang (1 fen) ground, mixed with bamboo sap, dripped into mouth.

Another simple formula for puckered mouth: Shanziji (3 scales from tail, fried in sheep fat until yellow) + Xieshao (1 scorpion tip). Grind finely. Mix with breast milk, apply to nipple, let infant suck. Wrap tightly; sweat indicates cure.

Another formula for fetal toxin, locked belly, locked jaw: Baosheng Tang.

Baosheng Tang Formula
Beifangfeng (7 fen) Chenzhike (5 fen) Xiaojuhong (4 fen) Bai fuling (3 fen) Jingjiesui (3 fen) Yuanzhi (4 fen)
Zhinanxing (5 fen) Kujiegeng (2 fen) Zhigancao (2 fen)

Add Dengxin (rush pith) as guide, decoct in water.

Another formula for umbilical swelling/protrusion: Erdou San.

Erdou San Formula
Hongfandou (1 qian) Dandouchi (1 qian) Tiannanxing (1 liang) Xianbailian (1 qian)

Grind finely. Mix with juice from Tian Bajiao (wild banana) and sesame oil. Apply around umbilicus. Cures when urination normalizes.

Another formula for umbilical wet sores: Longgu San.

Longgu San Formula
Shilonggu (Baked, 1 qian) Zhenqingfen (5 fen) Chuanhuanglian (1 qian) Kubaijian (1 qian)

Grind to powder, apply dry.

Another formula for umbilical wet sores: Burn red wool fabric to ash, apply powder.