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Bianzheng (Periodic Growth and Development) refers to the steaming of Yin and Yang, Water and Fire within the Blood and Qi, which leads to the maturation of the physical form. It represents the transformational Qi of the Five Zang organs and is the origin of the Seven Emotions. Generally, starting from birth, a child undergoes one "Bian" (transformation) every thirty-two days. Upon the completion of each Bianzheng, one notices that the child's temperament differs from before. Why is this? It is because the Zang-Fu organs, intentions, and wisdom are growing. What does "thirty-two days for bone growth and spirit enrichment" mean? The human body has three hundred and sixty-five bones, symbolizing the three hundred and sixty-five days of the heavenly cycle, corresponding to the annual period, and dividing into the twelve meridians. Thus, from birth to thirty-two days constitutes the first Bian, generating Gui water, belonging to the Foot Shaoyin Kidney meridian; the Kidney stores Essence and Will. At sixty-four days, the second Bian and first Zheng (steaming) occur, generating Ren water, belonging to the Foot Taiyang Bladder meridian; its manifestation is cold ears and cold buttocks. At ninety-six days, the third Bian occurs, generating Ding fire, belonging to the Hand Shaoyin Heart meridian; the Heart stores Spirit, and its emotion is Joy. At one hundred and twenty-eight days, the fourth Bian and second Zheng occur, generating Bing fire, belonging to the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine meridian; its manifestations are sweating and slight fright. At one hundred and sixty days, the fifth Bian occurs, generating Yi wood, belonging to the Foot Jueyin Liver meridian; the Liver stores Hun (Ethereal Soul), and the manifestation is crying. At one hundred and ninety-two days, the sixth Bian and third Zheng occur, generating Jia wood, belonging to the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder meridian; its manifestations are eyes remaining open and redness. At two hundred and twenty-four days, the seventh Bian occurs, generating Xin metal, belonging to the Hand Taiyin Lung meridian; the Lung stores Po (Corporeal Soul), and the manifestation is vocalization. At two hundred and fifty-six days, the eighth Bian and fourth Zheng occur, generating Geng metal, belonging to the Hand Yangming Large Intestine meridian; its manifestations are skin heat and sweating, or absence of sweating. At two hundred and eighty-eight days, the ninth Bian occurs, generating Ji earth, belonging to the Foot Taiyin Spleen meridian; the Spleen stores Yi (Intellect). By three hundred and twenty days, the tenth Bian and fifth Zheng occur, generating Wu earth, belonging to the Foot Yangming Stomach meridian; its manifestations are refusal to eat, abdominal pain, and vomiting milk. Additionally, the Hand Jueyin Pericardium meridian and the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao (Triple Burner) meridian have no specific shape, so they do not undergo Bian or Zheng. The first ten Bians and five minor Zhengs follow the numbers of Heaven and Earth for generation and development; only then do teeth begin to grow, speech emerges, and emotions like joy and anger are known, thus it is said that the body becomes complete. Taicanggong stated: Qi enters the four limbs, growing the small bones. After the ten Bians, another sixty-four days pass for a major Zheng, totaling three hundred and eighty-four days; at this stage, the meridians of the hands and feet grow. When the hands receive blood, they can grasp; when the feet receive blood, they can walk and stand. The classics state: "Bian and Zheng." This means that after the steaming concludes, more than one year has passed. The Master said: For fever without sweating, induce sweating; for severe vomiting, mildly stop vomiting; do not apply other special treatments. Another sixty-four days later is the second major Zheng, totaling four hundred and forty-eight days; another sixty-four days later is the third major Zheng, totaling five hundred and twelve days; altogether five hundred and seventy-six days. Once Bianzheng is completed, the child becomes an adult. "Bian" refers to the transformation and generation of the Five Zang organs; "Zheng" refers to the steaming and nourishment of the Six Fu organs, thereby achieving adulthood. "Bian" manifests as upper Jiao Qi movement; "Zheng" manifests as body heat. With each Bian and Zheng of a meridian, the temperament changes. Mild cases present with low-grade fever and slight sweating, resembling fright; severe cases present with high fever, chaotic and rapid pulse, vomiting, sweating, irritability, crying, restlessness, and thirst. Mild cases resolve in five days; severe cases in seven to eight days. The signs resemble Taiyang disease (Exterior Syndrome). There are also cases where, during the remainder of Bianzheng, cold pathogen is contracted. However, during Bianzheng, the ears and buttocks are cold, and blisters appear on the upper lip like pearls. If cold pathogen combats this, cold and heat struggle, causing abdominal pain and ceaseless crying day and night. "Bian" means change. Steaming in the Liver causes dizziness and slight redness of the eyes; steaming in the Lung causes sneezing, coughing, and erecting of hair. All Five Zang and Six Fu organs, sinews, vessels, bones, and joints have cyclical corresponding syndromes. The treatment method involves mild releasing agents for harmonious conditions, and mild purgatives for heat-excess conditions; alternatively, it may resolve spontaneously. [Tang] The *Qianjin Fang* treatise on Bianzheng states: A newborn undergoes one Bian at thirty-two days, a second at sixty-four days (Bian and Zheng), three Bians at ninety-six days, four Bians at one hundred and twenty-eight days (Bian and Zheng), five Bians at one hundred and sixty days, six Bians at one hundred and ninety-two days (Bian and Zheng), seven Bians at two hundred and twenty-four days, eight Bians at two hundred and fifty-six days (Bian and Zheng), nine Bians at two hundred and eighty-eight days, and ten Bians at three hundred and twenty days (Bian and Zheng). Accumulating three hundred and twenty days, the minor Zhengs conclude. Then, after sixty-four days, a major Zheng occurs; after another sixty-four days, another major Zheng; and after another one hundred and twenty-eight days, yet another major Zheng. In total, from birth, every thirty-two days is one Bian, every two Bians constitute one Zheng. Ten Bians and five minor Zhengs, plus three major Zhengs, accumulate to five hundred and seventy-six days. When all minor and major Zhengs are complete, the child becomes an adult. The reason for Bianzheng in children is to nourish the Blood and Vessels and transform the Five Zang organs. Hence, after each Bian, the temperament appears different. The signs of Bianzheng: Bian manifests as upper Jiao Qi movement; Zheng manifests as body heat. Bianzheng has mild and severe forms. Mild cases present with body heat and slight fright, cold ears and buttocks, white blisters on the upper lip like fish-eye pearls, and slight sweating. Severe cases present with high fever and chaotic pulse, sweating or no sweating, anorexia, vomiting upon eating, slightly red whites of the eyes, and slightly white irises. It is further stated: White whites indicate severity; red and black indicate mildness. After Bianzheng concludes, the eyes naturally become bright and clear; this is the syndrome. Single Bian is milder; combined Zheng is more intense. Generally, for Zheng, harmony resolves in five days, delay resolves in ten days. Within ten days (five days early or late), the heat subsides. If the heat persists beyond the days, do not recklessly treat or moxa/puncture. [Haizang] stated: Bianzheng totals eighteen times; roughly, the first three hundred and twenty days are ten minor Zhengs, and the subsequent two hundred and fifty-six days are ten major Zhengs. ( , pronounced dian, refers to vomiting without retching.) [Wu] If the body, ears, and buttocks are all hot, this is another disease and should be treated differently. [Xue] The treatment for Bianzheng: for harmonious conditions, use mild releasing agents; for heat-excess conditions, use mild purgatives. Ancient formulas such as Zishuang Wan (Purple Frost Pill), Heisanzi (Black Powder), and Chaihu Tang (Bupleurum Decoction) are applicable. For cold without heat, accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, refusal to nurse, and excessive crying, Danggui San (Angelica Powder) and Tiaoqi San (Regulating Qi Powder) are indicated. The aforementioned syndromes are inevitable in infants; even without medication, they may heal. The aforementioned drugs are harsh; not only will the Zang-Fu organs not withstand them, but they will also damage Qi and Blood. I once saw an infant who, during a Bian episode with fever and phlegm, was given one pill of Baolong Wan (Pill for Embracing the Dragon), resulting in death. Be extremely cautious! Those who do not have fever or fright, with almost no symptoms, undergoing secret Bianzheng, do so because of strong prenatal Qi.

Ziyang Heisan (Purple Sun Black Powder) treats severe fever in pediatric Bianzheng, and also treats fever from Taiyang disease.
Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba, 2.5 qian, remove nodes) Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, 1 qian, cut together, stir-fried until black, powdered) Xingren (Prunus Armeniacae Semen, 2.5 qian, remove skin and tips)
Grind the above ingredients together, lightly roast to retain efficacy, then mix with paste made from ground Xingren. Store in a sealed container. Administer a dose the size of a bean, mixed with breast milk.

Zishuang Wan (Purple Frost Pill) (treats Pi accumulation)

Chaihu Tang (Bupleurum Decoction) treats bone-heat and irritability during Bianzheng, with incessant crying.
Renshen (Ginseng Radix) Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, lightly roasted) Maidong (Ophiopogonis Tuber, removed heart, 2 qian each) Longdancao (Gentianae Radix, wine-roasted until black) Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix, 1 qian each) Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix, 0.5 fen)
Take 1 qian per dose, decoct in water.

Danggui San (Angelica Powder) treats Bianzheng with cold but no heat.
Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, 2 qian) Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix) Guigui (Cinnamomi Cortex, pungent variety) Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, roasted) Renshen (Ginseng Radix, 1 qian each)
Take 1 qian per dose, decoct in ginger and jujube water.

Tiaoqi San (Regulating Qi Powder) treats Bianzheng with vomiting, diarrhea, refusal to nurse, excessive crying, and impending slow convulsion.
Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix) Xiangfuzi (Cyperi Rhizoma) Renshen (Ginseng Radix) Jupi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) Huoxiang (Agastaches Herba) Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, roasted, 1 qian each)
Powder the above. Take 1 qian per dose, decoct in ginger and jujube water. (In *Youke Leicui*, this formula includes 1 qian of processed Houpo.)

Pinghe Yinzi (Harmonizing Decoction) treats infant Bianzheng. Administer one dose every three days starting from the third day post-Bianzheng onset to prevent various diseases; suitable for use within the first hundred days.
Renshen (Ginseng Radix, remove rhizome) Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, roasted, half a qian in winter) Baifuling (Poria, 1 qian, remove skin) Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma, 2 fen, roasted)
Cut the above. Decoct in water. Administer at any time. For those with weak constitution, add Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, 1 qian). Do not use for those who are fat and robust.

Shenxing Gao (Ginseng and Apricot Paste) treats tidal fever in pediatric Bianzheng.
Renshen (Ginseng Radix, remove rhizome) Xingren (Prunus Armeniacae Semen, remove skin and tips) Chuanshengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma, roasted, half a qian each) Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, roasted, 2 qian)
Grind into an extremely fine powder. Before one hundred days of age, administer one zi measure. Mix with decoction of Maidong (Ophiopogonis Tuber, removed heart) and take far from meals.