Library

For neonatal tetanus (Umbilical Wind) occurring within the first hundred days after birth, medical texts generally use wind-dispelling herbs such as Rhizoma Arisaematis Cum Bile (Nanxing) and Bombyx Batryticatus (Jiangcan), but these are often ineffective. It should be treated as fetal toxin, employing methods to drain fire pathogens from the Yangming channel. "Ma Ya" (Horse Teeth, white granules on infant gums) is also caused by fetal toxin; it can be pricked with a needle and coated with the white sap of a mulberry tree. Mulberry sap is effective for treating infant thrush (Goose Mouth), oral ulcers, and tongue sores. For newborns, the mouth should be checked frequently, and mulberry sap applied often; otherwise, the tongue may become stiff and tight, progressing to "Cuo Kou" (mouth contraction resembling a fish's mouth), which is difficult to treat.

My commentary: Zeng Shixian stated that within the first seven days after birth, if an infant has a distended and hard abdomen, swelling around the umbilicus, inability to open the mouth due to lip contraction, frowning while crying, this is called Umbilical Wind. This may occur because the umbilical cord was cut too short, or because loose binding caused traction, allowing wind pathogens to enter the umbilicus; or because iron tools were used to cut the cord, allowing cold qi to enter internally and transmit to the spleen collaterals, resulting in a stiff tongue, cyanotic lips, slight twitching of hands and feet, inability to suckle milk, a cry resembling a crow's croak, and tidal phlegm sounds in the throat. In such cases, one should immediately pinch open the oral blisters to drain toxic fluids, and apply moxibustion to the center of the umbilicus; recovery is possible. Although there are many treatment methods, none surpass moxibustion. Alternatively, one qian of Rhizoma Arisaematis Cum Bile (Nanxing) mixed with fresh ginger juice and administered orally can be effective.

Infants undergo periodic "Bian Zheng" (Transformation and Steaming). "Bian" refers to abnormal physiological changes, and "Zheng" refers to fever; this process transforms the functions of the five zang organs and nourishes the six fu organs. Only after multiple cycles of Bian Zheng will the qi and blood flourish, and bones and vessels begin to grow.

My commentary: Mr. Qian Zhongyang stated that while in the womb, an infant develops bone qi, and the five zang and six fu organs form but are not fully mature. After birth, bones and vessels grow, and the spiritual intelligence of the zang and fu organs develops from the inside out and from bottom to top. Thus, thirty-two days after birth, the first cycle of Bian Zheng occurs, marking the emergence of distinct intellectual awareness. Humans have 365 bones; excluding 45 small bones in the hands and feet, there are 320 main bones. From birth, bones grow ten segments per day upwards; in ten days, they grow 100 segments. In thirty-two days, totaling 320 segments constitutes one "Bian," also called one "Zheng." The residual qi of the bones enters the brain and gums to form 32 teeth, so the number of teeth should correspond to the days of Bian Zheng. However, some infants have fewer than 32 teeth because their Bian Zheng did not reach the standard; some stop growing at 28 days with 28 teeth, and so on, but never exceeding 32. Upon completing one full cycle (ten cycles), various deficiency-heat conditions arise. After ten such cycles, the minor steaming concludes. This takes 320 days for bone qi to complete formation, resulting in a body that is complete but not yet robust. Therefore, the first cycle at 32 days generates the Kidney, governing Will (Zhi); the second cycle at 64 days generates the Bladder; manifestations include cold ears, as Kidney and Bladder belong to Water, and the number of Water is 1, so the Kidney leads initially. The third cycle at 96 days generates the Heart, governing Joy (Xi); the fourth cycle at 128 days generates the Small Intestine; manifestations include sweating and slight palpitations, as the Heart belongs to Fire, and the number of Fire is 2. The fifth cycle at 160 days generates the Liver, governing Crying (Ku); the sixth cycle at 192 days generates the Gallbladder; manifestations include red eyes upon opening, as the Liver governs Wood, and the number of Wood is 3. The seventh cycle at 224 days generates the Lungs, governing Voice (Sheng); the eighth cycle at 256 days generates the Large Intestine; manifestations include skin heat and sweating, or lack thereof, as the Lungs belong to Metal, and the number of Metal is 4. The ninth cycle at 288 days generates the Spleen, governing Intelligence (Zhi); the tenth cycle at 320 days generates the Stomach; manifestations include refusal to eat, abdominal pain, and vomiting milk. Thereafter, teeth emerge, speech develops, and emotions like joy and anger are understood, hence it is said the body is truly complete. Tai Cang Gong stated that qi enters the limbs and grows small bones; sixty-four days after the ten cycles, meridians grow, and hands and feet receive blood, enabling grasping, standing, and walking. The classic states "Bian and Zheng," referring to the completion of steaming at one year of age. The Master said: For fever without sweating, induce sweating; for severe vomiting, stop it mildly; do not use other treatments. *Quan Ying Fang* states that Bian Zheng increases qi and blood. "Bian" is the transformation of upper qi, and "Zheng" is fever. Mild cases present with body heat, false fright, cold ears, slight sweating, and white blisters on lips, resolving in three days; severe cases present with alternating chills and fever, chaotic pulse, abdominal pain, crying, inability to feed, and immediate vomiting after eating, resolving in five days. Symptoms resemble Cold Damage (Shanghan), but verification is made via white blisters on the lips. Some infants with strong prenatal qi show no fever or fright, or undergo silent Bian Zheng without symptoms. I believe this condition is unavoidable for infants and does not require medication. Ancient formulas using Hei San Zi (Black Powder Pill) or Zi Wan Zi (Purple Pill) are unsuitable, as the viscera cannot withstand them, and they反而 damage qi and blood; caution is advised! I once saw an infant who, during the second cycle of Bian Zheng, had fever and phlegm. Treatment with one pill of Bao Long Wan resulted in death, serving as a warning. Parents' love for their children is intense; upon any illness, they rush to seek doctors. However, physicians who do not investigate the condition may rashly administer drugs. One must realize that etiology is diverse, symptoms are similar, and differentiation is difficult. Moreover, ancients had robust constitutions, and ancient formulas were often harsh; slow administration might be tolerable.