Library

Pediatric malarial disease (diseases caused by mountainous miasma) is often due to the wet nurse not shielding the child from cold and heat, feeding the child raw and cold foods, or roasted and fried items, leading to the accumulation of phlegm-dampness in the child's body. Moreover, compared to adults, children are referred to as the "mute department" because they cannot describe their symptoms, making differentiation difficult. Physicians must carefully examine: listen to the child's voice, observe the complexion, inspect movements and behavior, check the tiger-mouth fingerprint, and refer to three key signs. After deliberating on the treatment method and assessing severity, medication can be administered. If there is high fever without chills, silence, and even when pressing heavily on Hegu LI4, there is still no response, only hand movement; if silent even when fever is mild, this indicates severe malarial disease, which is incurable. If there is high fever with a red face, black tongue, red eyes, red lips, frequent desire to hold onto bowl edges (indicating extreme thirst), vomiting and diarrhea, curled-up or prone sleeping position, and cold fingertips/toes, this indicates deficiency with excess pathogen (deficient healthy qi and excess evil); cold fingers/toes indicate cold in the stomach; sleeping with eyes partially open indicates spleen deficiency; constant screaming or crying while bending the waist indicates abdominal pain; if the tiger-mouth pulse extends through all three segments, Fuzi Lizhong Tang (Aconite Decoction for Regulating the Middle) should be used, continuing until symptoms subside. If there is high fever with a red face, black tongue, red eyes, red lips, frequent suckling, no vomiting, constipation, dark urine, warm fingertips/toes, sleeping with eyes closed, supine position with constant screaming, and the tiger-mouth pulse extending through all three segments, there are no deficiency-cold signs. The Zhengqi Hejie (Harmonizing Healthy Qi) method should be used, referring to the treatment principles for heat-type malaria. If chills precede fever, or fever precedes chills, or it occurs every other day, or daily, this is cold malaria. Treatment should follow the previously described diagnostic methods. Only then can one be called a master of pediatrics.

When the general population is prone to malarial diseases, careful maintenance is essential. After rising and washing in the morning, first take Pingwei San (Calm the Stomach Powder) or Buhuanjin Zhengqi San (Golden-Not-Swapped Upright Qi Powder). After a quarter-hour, consume a small amount of porridge. Eat breakfast during Si hour (9-11 AM) and dinner during Shen hour (3-5 PM). At night, take Lipi Xiaoshi Wan (Spleen-Regulating Digestion Pill). Drinking a little medicinal wine is acceptable, but intoxication should be avoided. If weather is erratic, adjust clothing according to temperature changes within the day. Avoiding raw/cold foods strengthens the spleen and stomach naturally; reducing greasy food keeps the chest and diaphragm comfortable; avoiding intense anger preserves heavenly harmony; restraining sexual desires consolidates true qi. With such regulation, safety is guaranteed. In autumn and winter, if excessive heat occurs, use descending and sedating herbs such as Yangzheng Dan (Nourish Righteousness Pill), Heixi Dan (Black Tin Pill), Suzi Jiangqi Tang (Perilla Seed Descending Qi Decoction), Michuan Jiangqi Tang (Secretly Transmitted Descending Qi Decoction), or Chenxiang Jiangqi Tang (Agarwood Descending Qi Decoction), selecting as appropriate.