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Lei Zhenjun said: The ancients said that the arrival of epidemics is without fixed patterns. This does not mean that there are no methods for treating epidemics, but rather that the causes leading to epidemics are without fixed patterns. However, there are indeed patterns. Since the arrival of epidemics has patterns, how can it be said that there are no methods for treating them? Generally, the occurrence of epidemics is mostly due to human activities mutually influencing each other, while the Qi dynamics of heaven and earth happen to resonate with them. Thus, when Qi mechanisms invade one another, and Earthly Qi responds accordingly, combining with the toxic vapors of Heaven and Earth, an epidemic forms. If it invades a village, the people in that village fall ill; if it brews in a city, the people in that city fall ill; if it spreads over a thousand li, the people over a thousand li fall ill. It may even lead to successive deaths, affecting entire families and regions, which is deeply lamentable. Such diseases must be saved by talisman water (Fushui), yet talisman water will never be widely transmitted in the world. Therefore, I now prescribe another method: take one piece of Guanzhong (Bai Zhi / Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), soak it in a water vat, add a small amount of Bai Fan (Alumen), and have people drink from it daily. Then, the disease of epidemic will not arise. This is a truly miraculous method.

Zhang Zhenren said: A wonderful prescription. This is a method for preemptively preventing epidemics.

Tianshi said: In pediatrics, once the essentials are grasped, there are no difficult cases to treat. I now transmit a method so that children for ten thousand generations may attain benevolence and longevity. The method lies in first observing the complexion, then examining the pulse. When a child is ill, certain colors must appear bright. One distinguishes this at the Zhongzheng Jingming acupoint located between the nose and eyes. Red color indicates Heart Heat (Xin Re); red veins appearing horizontally or vertically on the Shangen (root of the nose) all indicate Heart Heat. Purple color indicates severe Heart Heat and also Lung Heat. Green color indicates Liver Wind (Gan Feng); green veins appearing vertically indicate Liver Heat; green veins appearing horizontally also indicate Liver Heat. Vertical indicates Wind moving upward; horizontal indicates Wind moving downward. Black color indicates severe Wind and Cold in the Kidney. White color indicates Phlegm in the Lung. Yellow color indicates Spleen-Stomach Deficiency causing diarrhea; yellow veins appearing on the Shangen, whether horizontal or vertical, always indicate Spleen-Stomach disorders. There are only these few colors, no others, so one glance reveals the child's illness. Adults examine the pulse at the Cun, Guan, and Chi positions; why should children be different? However, for children, there is no need to count the exact number of beats, only to observe whether the pulse is rapid or not. Extremely rapid indicates Heat; not rapid indicates Cold. Among rapid pulses, floating indicates Wind, deep indicates Cold, moderate indicates Dampness, choppy indicates Pathogenic factors, and slippery indicates Phlegm. That is all. The complex classifications of Seven Exterior and Eight Interior pulses need not be studied. If one knows my secret, there is no need to read the Pulse Rhymes. Pulses with pauses indicate pain; the rest need not be discussed. Children's symptoms generally involve vomiting and diarrhea, cold limbs, Wind-Cold, Summer-Heat, and Heat. Other conditions like pox-rashes and aphonia are mentioned, but I have no other diseases to discuss. Whether it is heartache or abdominal pain, presence of masses, or carbuncles and furuncles, they can be known at a glance. However, among children's illnesses, nine-tenths are Deficiency, and only one-tenth is Excess. Therefore, medication should prioritize tonification. I now establish three prescriptions to treat various pediatric conditions universally.

First Prescription: Renshen (Ginseng Radix) 3 fen, Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 5 fen, Fuling (Poria) 1 qian, Gancao (Licorice Root) 1 fen, Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) 2 fen, Shenqu (Massa Medicata Fermentata) 3 fen, Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) 1 fen. This is a modification of Liujunzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction), universally treating weak Spleen-Stomach in children with miraculous effect. For food stagnation from meat, add 5 Shan Zha (Crataegi Fructus); for rice, add 5 fen Mai Ya (Hordei Germinatus); for wheat/noodles, add 3 fen Luobo Zi (Raphani Semen). For vomiting, add 1 Baixi Kou (Amomi Fructus Rotundus), remove Gancao, add 3 slices of Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens). For diarrhea, add 3 fen Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) and 5 fen Zhuling (Polyporus).

Second Prescription treats exterior infections. Whether Wind-Cold injury, cough, fever or no fever, headache, nasal congestion, excessive phlegm, palpitations, or opisthotonos, this prescription treats them all with miraculous effect. Use Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) 7 fen, Gancao 3 fen, Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix) 5 fen, Banxia 3 fen, Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) 3 fen, Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) 2 qian, Baizhu 2 qian, Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) 5 fen, Chenpi 2 fen, Fuling 5 fen. Decoct in water and take. For headache, add 3 fen Manjingzi (Vittaginis Fructus). For heartache where pressing makes it worse, it is Excess Fire; add 1 qian Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus). Where pressing does not hurt, it is Deficiency Fire; add 8 fen Gancao, 5 fen Guanzhong (Compositae Herba), 3 fen Guangmuxiang (Aucklandiae Radix), 1 fen Ruxiang (Olibanum). For hypochondriac pain, add 3 qian Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix). For abdominal pain, if pressing increases pain, it is Food Stagnation; add 1 qian Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma). If pressing does not hurt, it is Cold, not Food Stagnation; add 3 fen Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) and 3 fen Ganjiang. For unceasing sweating, add 1 leaf of Sangye (Mori Folium). For painful, red, and swollen eyes, it is Fire; add 3 fen Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) and 1 fen Baijili (Tribuli Fructus). For sore throat, add 3 fen Shandougen (Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix).

Third Prescription treats Deficiency-Cold conditions, such as night fever with sweating, night crying and insomnia, palpitations, chronic cough, delayed walking and speaking, tortoise back and dog belly, and conditions approaching consumption (Lao Zhai). Use Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata) 3 qian, Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus) 2 qian, Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix) 2 qian, Bei Wuwei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus) 5 fen, Yuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix) 2 qian, Baizhu 2 qian, Fuling 1 qian, Yiren (Coicis Semen) 3 qian, Danpi (Moutan Cortex) 1 qian, Shashen (Glehniae Radix) 2 qian, Digupi (Lycii Cortex) 2 qian. Decoct in water and take. If accompanied by exterior infection, add a little Chaihu 5 fen, Baishao 3 qian, Baijiezi (Brassicae Semen) 1 qian. There is nothing else to modify.