凡儿生月内,肚胀腹硬,脐围浮肿,口撮眉攒,牙关不开,名曰脐风撮口证。盖因脐带
剪短,或包缚不紧,以致水湿浸脐,客风乘虚而入,传之于心,蕴蓄其邪,复传脾络,舌强
唇青,手足微搐,喉中痰响,是其候也。服延寿丹少许即愈。如神脱气冷者,不治。
夫脐为根本,风湿防护须严,一有所失,则脐肿不干,每出青黄水,久而作搐,入于经
络,即成风痫,并撮口脐风,皆为恶候。宜以五 子研末掺之。但初生小儿,仅如血泡,不
可用冰射之膏贴之,并忌大寒大热之剂。盖肌肉未坚,脏腑柔脆,难以抵当耳。
夫 者,征也。血凝痰滞,有形可征,故一定而不移。瘕者,假也。由气结聚,无
形成假,故推之而可动,且时有时无,来去靡常,发无定所。至于癖块者,与 相似,
每在两胁,有由疟而得者,谓之疟母;有由气而得者,谓之气癖。窃思三者之证,皆内为喜
、怒、忧、思、悲、恐、惊七情所致。盖人之气血,营卫一身,上下周流,无时或间,苟得充实
顺序,积聚何由而生?一有所伤,则气液水谷,失其运旋,以致稽迟而为积为聚也,故数证
者俱从郁论,病本在于肝脾,而胃与八脉,亦与有责。治之之法,当从诸经,再究其气血之
偏胜,气虚则补中以行气,气滞则开郁以宣通,血衰则养营以通络,血瘀则入络以攻痹。如
或营伤气阻者,须于养营之中,通泄其气;如或络虚则胀,气阻则痛者,须以辛香苦温、和
络通降;又如肝胃两病者,宜泄肝救胃;肝胃脾同病者,则扶土制木;肝脏之气,独郁不宣
者,宜辛香专治于气;血痹络逆失和者,宜辛香专理其血;病由冲任扰及肝胃而逆乱者,仍
从肝胃两经主治,宜疏降温通。凡此皆施治之大要,贵在医者之生心化裁耳。总之用攻法,
宜缓宜曲,不可太峻,太峻则正气受伤;用补法,忌涩忌呆,须当疏利,疏利则积滞可去,
此尤不可不知也。至于古人调治之方,若金铃子散、疏肝导滞汤、益气养营汤、鳖甲煎丸、
旋复葱绛汤等,俱可酌用,须随机应变,不执方而方始为我用矣。
In the first month after birth, if an infant presents with abdominal distension and hardness, edema around the umbilicus, puckering of the mouth, knitting of the brows, and trismus (lockjaw), it is named *Umbilical Wind with Mouth Puckering Syndrome* (Qifeng Cuokou Zheng). This occurs because the umbilical cord was cut too short or bound loosely, allowing dampness to soak into the umbilicus. External wind pathogens enter through this deficiency, transmit to the Heart, where they accumulate and stagnate, then further transmit to the Spleen collaterals. Symptoms include a stiff tongue, cyanotic lips, slight convulsions of the hands and feet, and phlegm rattle in the throat; these are the signs of the condition. Administration of a small amount of Yanshou Dan (Longevity Pill) will lead to recovery. However, if the spirit is scattered and the vital energy is cold, the condition is incurable.
The umbilicus is the root of life; protection against wind-dampness must be strict. Any negligence leads to umbilical swelling that fails to dry, often discharging greenish-yellow fluid. Over time, this may induce convulsions. If the pathogen enters the meridians and collaterals, it forms Wind Epilepsy (Fengxian), along with Mouth Puckering and Umbilical Wind syndromes, all of which are ominous prognoses. It is appropriate to apply powder made from grinding five seeds to the affected area. However, newborn infants have skin as delicate as blood blisters; ointments containing cooling agents like Borneol (Bingpian) should not be applied, nor should formulas with extreme cold or heat properties be used. This is because their muscles are not yet firm, and their Zang-Fu organs are tender and fragile, unable to withstand harsh medicinal properties.
"Zhen" (Zhēn) refers to tangible manifestations. Due to blood stasis and phlegm stagnation, there is a tangible mass with clear signs, thus remaining fixed and immobile. "Jia" (Jiǎ) means false or temporary. Formed by qi knotting and aggregation, it lacks a fixed form, appearing and disappearing intermittently without a constant location, moving when pushed. "Pi Masses" (Pikuai) are similar to Zhen but typically located in the hypochondrium. Some arise from malaria and are called Malaria Mother (Numu); others arise from qi stagnation and are called Qi Pi (Qipi). I ponder that the etiology of these three conditions lies in the internal excess of the Seven Emotions: joy, anger, worry, thought, sadness, fear, and fright. The human body's qi and blood circulate through the Ying and Wei levels, flowing up and down continuously without interruption. If qi and blood are abundant and flow in order, how can accumulations arise? Once damaged, the movement and rotation of qi fluids and grain essence are lost, leading to stagnation and forming Accumulation (Ji) and Gathering (Ju). Therefore, these conditions should all be discussed under the category of Stagnation (Yu). The root pathology lies in the Liver and Spleen, while the Stomach and Extraordinary Vessels also bear responsibility.
Treatment methods should address the various meridians and investigate the imbalance of qi and blood. For qi deficiency, tonify the Middle Jiao to move qi; for qi stagnation, resolve depression to unblock and diffuse; for blood deficiency, nourish Ying blood to unblock collaterals; for blood stasis, enter the collaterals to attack bi-syndrome. If Ying is damaged and qi is obstructed, one must unblock and drain qi while nourishing Ying. If collateral deficiency causes distension and qi obstruction causes pain, use acrid-aromatic and bitter-warm herbs to harmonize collaterals and descend qi. If both Liver and Stomach are diseased, vent the Liver to rescue the Stomach. If Liver, Stomach, and Spleen are simultaneously involved, support Earth (Spleen/Stomach) to control Wood (Liver). If Liver qi alone is depressed and cannot diffuse, use acrid-aromatic herbs specifically to regulate qi. If blood bi and collateral reversal cause disharmony, use acrid-aromatic herbs specifically to regulate blood. If disease arises from Chong and Ren vessels disturbing the Liver and Stomach causing rebellion, treat primarily from the Liver and Stomach meridians using dispersing and warming-unblocking methods. These are the general principles of treatment, relying on the physician's benevolent heart and flexible adaptation.
In summary, when using attacking methods, one should be gentle and indirect, never too harsh, as excessive harshness injures healthy qi. When using tonifying methods, avoid cloying and static substances; one must employ draining and promoting methods so that accumulation and stagnation can be removed. This is crucial to understand. Regarding ancient prescriptions for regulation, such as Jinlingzi San (Corydalis and Golden Bell Seed Powder), Shugan Daozhi Tang (Liver-Soothing and Stagnation-Resolving Decoction), Yiqi Yangying Tang (Qi-Replenishing and Ying-Nourishing Decoction), Biejia Jian Wan (Turtle Shell Reducing Mass Pill), and Xuanfu Congjiang Tang (Inula, Scallion, and Crimson Decoction), these may be selected according to circumstances. One must adapt to changes and not adhere rigidly to fixed formulas, so that the formulas serve the practitioner rather than the other way around.