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Ancient practitioners sometimes treated cases of infants with diarrhea and dysentery, characterized by yellow and sour-smelling feces, as Stomach Heat (Wei Re). This is a significant error. When food enters the stomach and transforms into feces, it invariably becomes yellow and smelly; how can one diagnose heat solely based on yellow color and sour odor? Verification using adult feces shows that when Stomach Qi is strong and feces are solid, the color must be deep yellow and dark, representing the true color of full Yang. If the color is purely yellow without darkness and the feces appear tender, it indicates insufficient fire power in the Stomach. If the color is pale yellow, it approaches white. A color approaching white is half-yellow; half-yellow fecal color indicates partially digested grain and food; a sour and fishy fecal odor also indicates partially digested grain and food. From partially digested food, one can discern the strength or weakness of Stomach fire power. If one waits until feces turn green or white and lose their odor before diagnosing cold, the detection is too late. Therefore, by observing the depth of fecal color and the intensity of fecal odor, one can distinguish the state of harmonious Yang Qi in the Stomach. The wise perceive what has not yet occurred, let alone what is obvious. Thus, I say: treating yellow, sour-smelling feces as Fire (Huo) is a major mistake. Regarding urine color, in cases of diarrhea and dysentery, since clear and turbid fluids are not separated, urination is necessarily obstructed. When urination is obstructed, its color changes; even clear urine may occur, but yellow urine accounts for eight or nine out of ten cases. This is because diarrhea causes Yin loss; Yin loss leads to failure of Qi transformation; failure of Qi transformation leads to fluid depletion. Fluid depletion results in yellow, non-clear urine, which is a natural principle. Unless there are symptoms of stranguria (Lin Zheng), heat, pain, and astringency, diagnosing and treating yellow urine merely as Fire is also a major mistake.

Infant regurgitation of milk varies in cold and heat, but cold patterns are more common than heat, and deficiency patterns are more common than excess. Generally, this stems from weak Stomach function. By observing the Yin and Yang of physical appearance, complexion, pulse, and symptoms, deficiency/excess and cold/heat can be distinguished. For heat patterns, mild clearing is appropriate; for cold patterns, warming and tonification are essential. Medications for nursing infants need not be numerous; selecting two, three, or four key herbs can achieve excellent results, such as Shenyin (Ginseng and Ginger Drink) or Wuwei Yigong San (Five-Ingredient Powder for Supporting Vitality). These represent the key formulas. If an infant overfeeds and milk overflows, this is normal; once milk flow ceases, no treatment is needed. If the mother is ill and affects the child, or if other symptoms arise, the mother should be treated concurrently, following the methods of Xue Ji.

Xue Ji stated: If the aforementioned condition arises from the infant being startled, or from the mother's anger causing the infant to vomit and have green stools, Yigong San (Isolated Efficacy Powder) should be used. If the mother consumes rich flavors causing hot milk, Dongyuan Qingwei San (Dongyuan's Clear Stomach Powder) should be used. If the mother drinks alcohol causing hot milk, Gegua Jie Cheng Tang (Pueraria Flower Decoction to Resolve Intoxication) should be used, with the infant taking one or two spoonfuls. If the mother drinks distilled spirits causing hot milk, or if both mother and infant exhibit redness or confusion, cold rice vinegar should be consumed (three to five cups for the mother); drinking more is acceptable, and the infant takes one or two spoonfuls. If the mother consumes raw/cold foods causing cold milk, the mother should take Renshen Yangwei Tang (Ginseng Decoction to Nourish the Stomach), and the infant should take Tiaozhong Wan (Regulate Middle Pill). If the mother's stagnation turns to heat causing hot milk, the mother should take Da'an Wan (Great Peace Pill), and the infant should take Wuwei Yigong San. If the mother's depression and anger injure the Liver and Spleen causing hot milk, Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) and Xiaoyao San (Free Wanderer Powder) should be used. If the mother has Spleen deficiency and blood weakness causing hot milk, Liujunzi Tang (Six-Gentleman Decoction) plus Shaoyao (Peony Root) and Danggui (Angelica Sinensis) should be used. If the mother has Qi and Blood deficiency causing hot milk, both mother and infant should take Bazhen Tang (Eight-Treasure Decoction). If the mother experiences fever after exertion causing hot milk, both mother and infant should take Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Decoction to Supplement the Middle and Augment Qi). If anger stirs Liver Fire causing hot milk, Wuwei Yigong San plus Chaihu (Bupleurum Root) and Zhizi (Gardenia Fruit) should be used. If vomiting involves phlegm-saliva and white-green water, it indicates Wood encroaching on Earth (Spleen), a deficiency-cold pattern; Liujunzi Tang plus Chaihu and Muxiang (Aucklandia Root) should be used. Generally, vomiting milk and green stools indicate Shock (Jing), requiring methods to calm the Liver and tonify the Spleen. Vomiting and green-white stools indicate Cold, requiring methods to warm and tonify the Spleen and Earth. Among these conditions, hot fingertips indicate Excess, while cold fingertips indicate Deficiency; this is also a diagnostic method.