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Chao Yuanfang stated: When a child suffers from *Ke Wu* (Guest Invasion), it is because the child's Shen Qi (Spiritual Energy) is weak. Suddenly, encountering extraordinary objects or people they have never seen can touch them. These external factors clash with the child's Shen Qi, causing illness, which is called *Ke Wu*, also known as *Zhong Ke* (Middle Guest) or *Zhong Ren* (Hitting Person). The symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea of green, yellow, or white substances, separation of food and fluids, abdominal pain with the body arching backward and twisting, facial color changing unpredictably through five hues, and symptoms resembling epilepsy but without upward deviation of the eyes. The pulse is wiry, rapid, and hurried; this is *Ke Wu*. If treatment is delayed, it becomes difficult to cure later. If the wet nurse has drunk excessively to intoxication, or nurses the child after sexual exertion while panting, the condition is most severe and can kill the infant. (If the pulse is urgent and rapid, it is appropriate to administer Long Dan Tang [Gentian Decoction] to purge, adding Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Angelicae Sinensis Radix in amounts equal to that of Gentiana Scabra Root.)

The *Qian Jin Fang* discusses why infants suffer from *Ke Wu*: it is caused by outsiders arriving whose breath clashes with the child, hence named *Zhong Ren*, which is *Ke Wu*. Even family members, or those in other rooms or households, including wet nurses and parents, if returning from outside where their clothes have been exposed to coarse, evil, violent qi of ghosts and spirits, or the odor of cattle and horses, all constitute a clash. Nursing while panting from labor or when breast milk qi is unsettled all count as *Ke Wu*. In children's clothing made of silk, cotton, or wadding, there must be no human hair, nor in shoes. White clothes with green belts, or blue clothes with white belts, all cause *Zhong Wu*. Any unusual person or object coming from outside can also frighten the child and cause disease. To prevent this, when strangers or strange objects enter the house, the child should be kept away and not allowed to see them. If not avoided, burning cow dung to create smoke and placing it at the door is beneficial. Children can suffer from *Ke Wu* at any time, but why do all children fall ill in early autumn? Do all children suffer *Ke Wu*? Infants get less sick in spring and winter but more in autumn and summer because in these seasons, the child's Yang Qi is on the exterior, and blood vessels are tender and weak. In late spring/early summer and early autumn, sudden cold occurs in the morning and evening. The child's tender exterior easily suffers from sudden cold, damaging Yang Qi. Constricted Yang leads to high fever; cold stomach leads to dysentery. Thus, in late summer and early autumn, children often have high fever and dysentery, which may not all be due to *Ke Wu*. Regarding pediatric treatment, in late summer and early autumn, one should observe if the weather is cool or if there is sudden cold. Children are prone to high fever and dysentery under such conditions. One must not use purgatives first; instead, one should first detoxify, then purge. For children suffering from *Ke Wu*, urgently examine the area around the uvula in the mouth. There should be swollen, wiry nodules, green-black in color, size of hemp seeds or beans, appearing red, white, or green. In such cases, quickly puncture with a needle to drain, or break with fingernails and wipe away blood with cotton-wrapped hairpins. Symptoms of *Ke Wu* in infants include vomiting and diarrhea of green, yellow, red, or white juices, abdominal pain, body arching and lying on side, panting resembling epilepsy, but eyes do not deviate upward, sleep is scant, face changes colors, and pulse is wiry and urgent. If untreated for too long, it becomes hard to cure. A prescription for this uses several heaping measures of Fermented Soybean (*Douchi*), moistened with water, pounded until ripe, formed into pills the size of chicken eggs. Rub these pills on the fontanelle and soles of feet 5-6 times each, then rub the heart area and above/below the navel in circles. After a short while, break open the pill; fine hairs should be found inside. Throw the pill into the road, and the pain will stop.

Zhenzhu San (Pearl Powder): Treats *Ke Wu*, wind-stroke from fright, ghostly affections, pathogenic heat from phlegm due to fright, restless mind, unstable spirit, constant palpitations, startle during sleep, teeth grinding, heat in palms/soles/chest, sweating with panting, red face with white tongue, yawning with irritability and thirst, dark/scanty urination, or vomiting/diarrhea of yellow froth. Regular use expels evil and calms the spirit.
Ingredients: Pearl (*Zhenzhu*), Cuttlefish Bone (*Haipiaoxiao*), Talcum (*Huashi*) (each 1 qian); Poria (*Baifuling*), Ginseng (*Renshen*), Aconite Root Prepared (*Baifuzi*), Licorice Root Honey-fried (*Gancao*), Scorpion (*Quanxie*), Musk (*Shexiang*), Borneol (*Naozi*) (separately ground, each 5 qian); Raw Pearl (*Shengzhu*) (separately ground, 1 qian); Gold Leaf (*Jinbo*) (30 pieces); Silver Leaf (*Yinbo*) (20 pieces).
Preparation: Grind all ingredients into fine powder and mix evenly. Take 0.5 qian, decoct Juncus Effusus Caulis (*Dengxincao*) and Ophiopogon Japonicus Radix (*Maidong*), add a little honey, and take orally. Dose once at noon and once before bed.

Tan Shi Shu Sheng treats *Ke Wu*:
Suddenly crying continuously without rest, whole body high fever, pulse like a hook, startled crying blaming gods and ghosts, *Ke Wu* hurts the heart, unable to control oneself. Rhinoceros Horn (*Xijiao*) and Realgar (*Xionghuang*) pounded together, Peach Talisman (*Taofu*) decocted in water to check consistency, Ginseng (*Renshen*), Poria (*Fuling*), Plantago Seed (*Cheqianzi*). Pill form, take three doses, do not worry.

Anshen Wan (Calming Spirit Pill):
Raw Rhinoceros Horn Powder (*Shengxi Mo*) (0.5 qian), Realgar (*Xionghuang*) (ground), Ginseng (*Renshen*), Poria (*Fuling*), Plantago Seed (*Cheqianzi*) (each 1 fen).
Preparation: Grind into powder. Take 1 liang of Peach Bark Inner Layer (*Tao Baipi*) and 1 liang of Peach Talisman (*Taofu*). Decoct these two in 3 sheng of water until reduced to 1 sheng. Strain, then boil down to a paste. Mix with the previous powders to form pills the size of sesame seeds. Take 3 pills per dose, washed down with Peony Decoction (*Shaoyao Tang*).

Another Prescription: Child choking qi beating heart continuously, panting with much sorrow and gastric saliva, only this disease should be treated early, because *Ke Wu* qi causes frying/torment. Looking at the symptoms, medical effect is hard to achieve. Quickly take Zhenzhu San 0.5 qian, Borneol (*Longnao*), Raw Rhinoceros Horn (*Shengxi*), Cyperus Rhizome (*Xiangfuzi*). After the child eats, body will be safe.
Zhenzhu San: Pearl Powder (*Zhenzhu Mo*) (4 qian), Raw Rhinoceros Horn Powder (*Shengxi Mo*) (2 qian), Cyperus Rhizome Powder (*Xiangfuzi Mo*) (1 qian), Borneol (*Longnao*) (half zi).
Preparation: Grind together. Take 1 zi per dose, mixed with Peach Kernel Decoction (*Taoren Tang*). Wet nurse should avoid raw/cold, greasy foods, and all toxic substances for half a month.

[Zhang Huan] Pixie Gao (Evil-Expelling Ointment): Infants' blood and qi are not yet solid, all have weak Shen Qi. Except for routine care by parents and wet nurses, do not let children see strangers, or carry them to other rooms/households, nor see cattle, horses, or beasts. Parents or family members returning from outside, even late at night, should not be seen by the child, lest they bring coarse, evil, violent qi from ghosts/spirits. If attacked by this qi, the child vomits and diarrhes green, yellow, red, white, separating food and fluids, resembling epilepsy but eyes do not deviate upward, pulse not wiry/urgent, named *Ke Wu*. (Weaned children who suddenly suffer from evil attacks should also take this medicine, waking up immediately.)
Ingredients: Liquidambar Fructus (*Jiangxiang*) (chopped), Commiphora Myrrha Resin (*Baijiaoxiang*), Aquilaria Wood (*Chenxiang*), Tiger Skull (*Hutougu*) (lightly fried), Podophyllum Rhizome (*Guijiu*) (de-haired), Gentiana Scabra Root (*Caolongdan*), Ginseng (*Renshen*), Poria (*Baifuling*).
Preparation: Each ingredient 0.5 liang, pound and sieve into fine powder. Add 0.5 liang Realgar (*Xionghuang*) ground with water, finely研 (pulverized via levigation). Then grind 1 qian Musk (*Shexiang*). Mix all uniformly, blend with refined honey to form pills the size of a chicken head. Take 1 pill per dose, dissolve in Frankincense Decoction (*Ruxiang Tang*). Additionally, make pills the size of marbles, store in green silk bags, attach to child's clothes, and frequently burn Shenmiao incense in the sleeping area.

[Tian] Treatment for *Ke Wu* leading to fright-clash: Use 2 liang of loess from the hearth (*Zaohuangtu*), one egg white (shell removed). Mix both with a little water. First bathe the child in Peach and Willow Branch Decoction (*Taoliuzhi Tang*), then apply this medicine to the five centers (palms, soles, chest) and top of the head. (Chen Wuyue's method uses equal parts loess and earthworm feces, applied similarly.)

Treatment for sudden *Ke Wu* with locked jaw inability to speak: Equal parts Asarum (*Xixin*) and Cinnamon Twig (*Guixin*), place in mouth, effective.

He Yuan Ji Yong Jing treats pediatric *Ke Wu*: Pound Calamus Rhizome (*Changpu*) juice and place in mouth. Or use fresh Mugwort Juice (*Aiye*) placed in mouth. Or use 3-4 drops of whetstone water, excellent. Or use good ink, pound and sieve, mix with water, warm dose of half a qian-bi.