Library

Xin Jian (Mirror of the Heart) states: Ancient medical texts record that when a newborn infant first lands after birth, they are administered Calomel (Mercurous Chloride), Cinnabar (Zhusha), White Honey, and Coptis Rhizome (Huanglian) to expel fetal toxins. People today generally follow this practice, unaware that modern people's constitutional endowment and nurturing methods differ from those of the ancients. These medicines are drugs that damage the Spleen and destroy Yang Qi. If given to infants, they will inevitably lead to various abnormal syndromes later in life. It is only appropriate to decoct Fermented Soybean (Douchi) into a thick liquid and give the infant three or five mouthfuls; the toxins will naturally be expelled, and it can also help nourish Spleen Qi and digest milk and food. However, the methods of the ancients should not ultimately be buried. Many people today use them with effect, or at least not as severely as described in Xin Jian. The following lists these methods in order.

Zhang Huan says: On the first day after an infant is born, once the umbilical cord is cut and the swaddling clothes are arranged, observe the infant's complexion and form. If the face is ruddy and red, and the crying sound is loud and brisk, the Calomel method is suitable. After a while, if umbilical residue and feces are discharged, it is a good sign. Next, use the Licorice Root method, then the Cinnabar-Honey method. Temporarily, one must again observe the complexion and form. If the face is mostly cyan-white and the crying sound is not loud, there is no need to administer medicine; instead, proceed to the Calculus Bovis method. Ancient prescriptions also include the Coptis Rhizome method, Chinese Chive Juice method, and Pig Milk method. One should choose the appropriate method based on whether the infant presents with cold-heat deficiency or excess.

Licorice Root Method: Use good quality Yuanzhou Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), approximately the length of one middle finger joint, crush it, add two clam-shell measures of water, and decoct until reduced to one clam-shell measure. Wrap cotton around a finger, dip it in the juice, and let the infant suckle. If foul fluid is vomited, it is auspicious. If one clam-shell measure is taken without vomiting, there is no need to take more. Regardless of whether the infant is deficient or excess, cold or hot, this must be administered. (The Emergency Handbook for Prescriptions of Five Thousand Gold Pieces records: Administer again after vomiting; after two doses stop vomiting, ensure one he measure is fully consumed.) Xue Shi finely cuts a small amount of Licorice Root beforehand, wraps it in cotton during labor, keeps it warm by covering a cup of boiling water, and upon delivery, uses soft cotton wrapped around a finger dipped in Licorice Root juice to wipe the infant's mouth, followed by the Coptis Rhizome method and the Cinnabar-Honey method.

Coptis Rhizome Method: The Collected Proven Formulas state that foul fluid remaining in the chest and diaphragm of a newborn causes obstruction, easily leading to accumulated heat, convulsions, epilepsy, sores, and boils. Use several pieces of good quality plump Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian), pound them, wrap them in cotton like a nipple shape, soak them in hot water until the juice turns yellow, squeeze out one or two drops into the infant's mouth, and the foul fluid will naturally discharge, making milk and food palatable. If not finished, use empty cotton to soak Coptis Rhizoma separately, then alternate with Cinnabar-Honey. Hai Zang's formula uses one qian of purified Coptidis Rhizoma and one cup of water, decocted in advance. When the infant is born but has not yet cried, administer immediately to remove foul matter and umbilical stool from the abdomen, and simultaneously resolve accumulated heat-toxin in the womb, ensuring no sores develop throughout life, and also preventing Umbilical Wind and other diseases.

Chinese Chive Juice Method: The Materia Medica states: For a newborn, administering juice from Chinese Chive roots causes the expulsion of foul water. The Holy Benefit Formulas state: After the Licorice Root method, soak Chinese Chive seeds in warm water, apply the juice to the infant's lips, reapply when dry, stop after several times, and do not allow ingestion.

Cinnabar-Honey Method: Take a size of a large soybean of good quality Cinnabar, grind finely, process by water flotation, mix with one clam-shell measure of refined red honey, adjusting consistency to form a paste. Each time, take a bean-sized amount, dissolve in breast milk, and drip into the infant's mouth frequently. Within three days, limit to three grains. Temporarily observe the complexion and form; if the face is mostly cyan-white and the cry is weak, do not administer.

Calculus Bovis Method: The Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold states: After the Cinnabar-Honey method, administer Calculus Bovis (Niuhuang). This not only benefits the Liver and Gallbladder, clears heat, stabilizes the spirit, stops惊 (fright), and wards off evil qi, but also eliminates hundred diseases. Zhang Huan's method uses one piece of genuine Calculus Bovis, mixed with refined honey into a paste. Each dose is bean-sized, dissolved in milk, and dripped into the mouth frequently. Those with false fullness in complexion/form should not take much. If the infant has fetal heat or a yellowish body, it is suitable to take more.

Calomel Method: Zhang Huan's prescription: For infants with ruddy-red complexions and loud, brisk cries, use half a qian of Calomel, allowing the infant to suckle slowly. After a while, if umbilical residue and feces are discharged, it is auspicious. Bao Jian uses Silver Powder to smear the upper and lower lips and both cheeks, then feeds Cinnabar-Honey.

Pig Milk Method: From birth to within one month, it is excellent to frequently drip pig milk into the infant's mouth. When a piglet is nursing, lift its hind legs away from the udder and squeeze quickly to obtain the milk.

Umbilical Cord Method: Use the umbilical cord dropped by the infant itself, bake it dry on tiles, grind into powder, add Cinnabar, Coptis Rhizome, and Licorice Root, each five fen of powder, mix evenly with honey. Apply to the mother's nipples in three to five doses, waiting for the infant to swallow, ensuring all is swallowed within one day and night. The next day, all toxic substances are excreted through stool. In later years, not only will smallpox/variol be sparse, some may not even develop it. Wait until the umbilical cord falls off, then administer immediately; the period between six and seven days is optimal. The Cinnabar must be ground to an extremely fine powder and processed by floating in Licorice Root decoction; it is harmless to consume. This formula detoxifies and nourishes. The umbilical cord is the "He Che" (Placenta) of initial life, connected to the Mother's Mingmen (Gate of Life), governed by the two Kidneys. Thus, it uses Kidney to tonify Kidney. Once the Kidney is sufficient, it resists pathogenic factors, preventing future syndromes of blackening returning to the Kidney, and fontanelle non-closure. Protecting one child protects another child; this is truly the best method for preserving life.

Clothing Storage Method (i.e., Placenta): Cui Shi says: Wash the infant's placenta with clear water, avoiding sand, soil, or grass contamination. Wash again with clear wine, place a copper coin inside the placenta, put it in a new bottle, wrap the bottle mouth with green cotton, seal tightly, and place in a convenient spot for three days. Then, according to the auspicious lunar date, bury it three chi deep in the ground at a sunny, high, and dry location, piling earth one chi seven cun high on the bottle, tamping firmly, to ensure the infant lives long and is intelligent. If not handled carefully, if eaten by pigs or dogs, it causes madness. If eaten by insects or ants, it causes malignant sores. If eaten by dogs or birds, it leads to death in battle. Near shrines or temples, it causes hallucinations. Near deep dirty pools, it causes drowning. Near old stoves, it causes fright and vigilance. Near wells, it causes deafness and blindness. Discarded on roads or alleys, it leads to infertility. Facing the door, it causes voice loss and deafness. Flowing down water currents, it causes amblyopia. Discarded in fire, it causes rotting sores. Buried in tree trunks, it causes strangulation. These taboos must be observed carefully. Bury on days of Tian De (Heavenly Virtue) and Yue Kong (Monthly Emptiness) (In the first month, Tian De is at Ding, Yue Kong is at Bing and Ren; see official almanacs for details). If encountering Fan Zhi (Reverse Branch) days, hang it outside the house on the Fu De (Virtue and Fortune) altar facing sunny and dry areas. After a month passes, bury according to the method; this is auspicious. Born on Jia/Yi days, bury on Bing/Ding days. Born on Bing/Ding days, bury on Wu/Ji days. Born on Wu/Ji days, bury on Geng/Xin days. Born on Geng/Xin days, bury on Ren/Gui days; this is auspicious.

Head Shaving Method: The Collected Proven Formulas state: A child's first head shaving does not require selecting a specific day; it is done on the full-month day, as per custom. The mother leaves her confinement room on the full-month day along with the child. Since fetal hair is considered impure and might offend the Kitchen God causing the child unease, the head must be shaved on this day before leaving. Whenever shaving the head, do so in a warm, wind-sheltered place. After shaving, crush three almonds (skin and tip removed), grind with three mint leaves, add three or four drops of raw sesame oil, mix with Nifen (Bismuth Subcarbonate), and rub onto the head to ward off wind-pathogens, preventing sores, scabies, and heat-toxins. This method is also suitable for subsequent children.