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The *Qianjin Fang* (Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) states: When wrapping the umbilicus, white silk must be rubbed until soft, cut into a square of four cun, with half an inch of thick new cotton sandwiched between layers of silk of equal thickness. The binding should be neither too tight nor too loose; if too tight, it will cause the infant to vomit. It should not be untied lightly. If it must be untied, doors and windows should be closed, curtains lowered, and in winter, fire should be used to keep the interior warm. Warm powder should then be applied to the area. If the umbilicus does not dry, burnt red silk may be applied.

Another prescription: Calcined Alum (Bai Fan) 5 qian, Fossilized Bone (Long Gu) 1 qian, Lead Oxide (Huang Dan) 1 qian, and a small amount of Moschus (She Xiang), ground into fine powder, applied externally.
Alternatively, burnt hair ash can be applied. Some say applying Phellodendri Cortex (Huang Bai) powder is excellent.

Zhang Huan states: After the umbilical cord is severed, the infant should be wrapped and protected with thick cloth. If the nurse is careless, or if bathwater enters, or if the diaper is soiled with urine and not changed promptly, dampness invades. Or if exposed to wind while being viewed, within seven days this disease may occur, causing umbilical swelling, excessive crying, and inability to suckle, thus forming Umbilical Wind Disease (Qi Feng).

For umbilical swelling, treatment depends on severity. For severe cases, moxibustion should be performed twenty to thirty times. For mild cases, characterized by excessive discharge and crying, Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Dang Gui) powder mixed with White Lead Powder (Hu Fen) should be applied, and hot cotton wadding should be frequently used for hot compresses.

Within seven days after birth, if the face is red, breathing is rapid, and the cry is silent, it is called "Sucking Mouth Umbilical Wind" (Zuo Kou Qi Feng). Small bubbles like millet grains appear on the gums. Immediately dip a finger wrapped in green soft silk or cotton in warm water and gently break the bubbles. The mouth will open immediately without need for medication.

Four straight Silkworms (Jiang Can), stir-fried, with silk mouths removed, ground into powder, mixed with honey, and applied to the inner lips, will cure it.

Miao Zhongchun says: In the condition of sucking mouth, there is invariably heat in the stool. Raw Rhinoceros Horn (Xi Jiao) and real Antelope Horn (Ling Yang Jiao) should be ground and mixed with honey juice for drinking, which is effective. In emergencies, Rheum Palmatum Radix et Rhizoma (Da Huang) 2 qian and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gan Cao) 2 qian are decocted and administered.

Scallion White (Cong Bai), one cun long, split into four pieces, steamed with milk, and instilled orally.

In the north, newborns are often not bathed. Upon birth, they are merely wiped clean with old cotton wadding until they are three or four years old and have had smallpox, or only the genital and anal areas are wiped with water. Thus, northerners are sturdier than southerners, not solely due to climatic differences. If bathing is desired, take five liang of Motherwort Herba (Yi Mu Cao), chop finely, boil, and bathe the infant in the warm liquid. This prevents sores and scabies and dispels cold-dampness and wind-dampness.

The *Chan Jia Yao Jue* (Essentials for Childbirth) states: When bathing a newborn, a small amount of salt should be added to the water. After washing and drying, about one qian of Calomelas (Ni Fen) ground fine should be massaged over the entire body and both flanks, followed by swaddling. This protects against wind and disperses various pathogenic qi. Currently, in the north, bathing is delayed until the third day. Unswaddling infants who have already been bound often leads to colds and convulsions. Although "washing on the third day" is an ancient ritual, prevention requires flexibility. Following the previous method of bathing immediately after birth is indeed safer.

The *Bao Sheng Yao Fang* (Essential Prescriptions for Preserving Life) states: When a newborn is born and no bath water is ready, wrap them in cotton wadding and keep them warm in an adult's arms. After bathing, continue this practice. Even in summer, remove the wadding gradually, as the infant has just left the womb and should not be exposed to cold air. Boil water in advance and store it in a steamer (Zeng) to keep it hot for immediate use, avoiding contact with raw water, so the infant will not develop sores.