观王节齐曰∶小儿无补肾法。盖小儿禀父精而生，男至十六而肾始充满，既满之后，妄
用亏损，则可用药补之。若受胎之时，禀之不足则无可补，禀之原足，又何待于补耶？呜呼
，此言之谬，谬亦甚矣！夫二五之精，妙合而凝，精合而形始成，此形即精也，精即形也，
治精即所以治形，治形即所以治精也。第时有国中，则精有衰盛，故小儿于初生之时，形体
虽成而精气未裕，所以女必十四，男必十六，而后天癸至。天癸既至，精之将盛也。天癸
未至，精之未盛也。兹以其未盛而遽谓其无精也可乎？且精以至阴之液，本于十二脏之生化
，不过藏之于肾，原非独出于肾也。观《上古天真论》曰∶肾者主水，受五脏六腑之精而藏
之。此精之所源，其不止于肾也可知矣。王节斋止知在肾而不知在五脏。若谓肾精未泄不必
补肾，则五脏之精，其有禀赋之亏，人事之伤者。岂因其未泄而总皆不必补耶？夫小儿之精
气未盛，后天之阴不足也；父母之多欲水亏，先天之阴不足也。阴虚不知治本，又何藉于人
为以调其元、赞其化乎？此本原之理，有当深察者如此。
再以小儿之病气论之。凡小儿之病最多者，惟惊风之属。而惊风之作，则必见反张戴眼
，斜视抽搐等证。此其为故，总由筋急而然。盖血不养筋，所以筋急。真阴亏损，所以血虚
，此非水衰之明验乎？夫肾主五液，而谓血不属肾，吾不信也。肝肾之病同一治，今筋病如
此，而欲舍肾水以滋肝木，吾亦不信也。且太阳、少阴相为表里，其经行于脊背而为目之上
网，今以反折戴眼之证偏多见于小儿，而谓非水脏阴虚之病，吾更不信也。矧以阳邪亢极，
阴竭则危，脏气受伤，肾穷则死，此天根生息之基，尤于小儿为最切。然则小儿之病，其所
关于肾气者非眇，而顾可谓小儿无补肾法耶？决不信！决不信！
Wang Jieqi once stated: "There is no method for tonifying the Kidney in children." He believed that children are born from the essence of their father. Males do not have fully充盈 (filled) Kidney Qi until age sixteen. After it is full, if it is recklessly depleted, then medicinal tonification can be used. If, at the time of conception, the endowment was insufficient, there is nothing to tonify; if the original endowment was sufficient, why wait to tonify? Alas, this statement is erroneous, and extremely so!
The essence of Yin and Yang (the Two Fives) combines wondrously to condense into a fetus. When essence combines, form begins to take shape; this form is essentially essence, and essence is essentially form. Treating essence is treating form, and treating form is treating essence. However, due to seasonal variations, human essence has states of decline and prosperity. Therefore, although a newborn's physical form is complete, their essence and Qi are not yet abundant. Thus, girls must reach age fourteen and boys age sixteen before Tian Gui (Heavenly Water, referring to sexual maturity substances) arrives. Once Tian Gui arrives, essence is about to become prosperous; before Tian Gui arrives, essence is not yet prosperous. Can we now, because essence is not yet prosperous, claim that they lack essence?
Furthermore, essence is fluid of extreme Yin, originating from the metabolic functions of the Twelve Zang-Fu organs, merely stored in the Kidneys; it does not originate solely from the Kidneys. As stated in the *Shanggu Tianzhen Lun* (Treatise on the Heavenly Truth of Antiquity): "The Kidneys govern water and receive and store the essence of the Five Zang and Six Fu organs." From this, it is known that the source of this essence is not limited only to the Kidneys. Wang Jieqi only knew it related to the Kidneys but did not know it related to the Five Zang organs. If one argues that since Kidney essence has not been discharged, there is no need to tonify the Kidney, then regarding the essence of the Five Zang organs, if there are deficiencies from congenital endowment or injuries from daily life/labor, should they all be considered unnecessary to tonify simply because they have not been discharged?
The child's essence and Qi are not yet prosperous due to insufficiency of acquired Yin; the parents' excessive desire leading to Kidney Water deficiency results in the child's insufficiency of innate Yin. Not knowing how to treat the root of Yin deficiency, how can one rely on human intervention to regulate Yuan Qi (Original Qi) and assist transformation? This is the principle of the origin, which requires deep examination as described above.
Let us further discuss diseases and Qi in children. The most common diseases in children belong to the category of Jing Feng (Wind Tremor/Convulsion). When Jing Feng occurs, symptoms such as opisthotonos (arching back), upward staring eyes, oblique gaze, and convulsions inevitably appear. The cause of these symptoms is generally due to tendon tension. Because blood fails to nourish the tendons, tendon tension occurs. True Yin deficiency leads to blood deficiency; is this not clear evidence of Water (Kidney Yin) decline?
The Kidneys govern the five fluids. To say that blood does not belong to the Kidneys, I do not believe. The diseases of the Liver and Kidneys share the same treatment approach. Now that tendon disease is so severe, to wish to abandon Kidney Water to nourish Liver Wood, I also do not believe. Moreover, the Taiyang (Greater Yang) and Shaoyin (Lesser Yin) meridians are exterior-interior pairs. Their channels run along the spine and back and ascend to the upper net of the eyes. Since symptoms like opisthotonos and upward staring eyes are predominantly seen in children, to claim this is not a disease of Water Organ (Kidney) Yin deficiency, I even less believe.
Furthermore, when Yang pathogens reach extreme levels, Yin exhaustion becomes critical; when Zang-Fu Qi is injured, Kidney exhaustion leads to death. This is the foundation of life's generation and sustenance, particularly crucial for children. Therefore, the diseases of children concern Kidney Qi significantly; how can one say there is no method for tonifying the Kidney in children? I firmly do not believe it! I firmly do not believe it!