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To serve one's parents, one must not be ignorant of medicine; this is especially crucial for the elderly. However, medical treatment is merely an auxiliary measure! The root lies in winning one's parents' hearts. If parents' minds are often crossed and their wishes thwarted, diseases arise from this. Frequently making parents joyful is not only fulfilling filial piety but also effectively treating potential illnesses before they manifest (treating Wei Bing / 未病). Secondly, one should regulate their diet. Even if poverty-stricken, one must restrain oneself to provide abundantly for parents, earning a living through labor to support them, always exerting utmost effort in the present moment, rather than postponing it to later days. One must ensure food is fine and clean, not focusing on richness or fatness. Cold, raw, sticky, difficult-to-digest, fried, roasted, hard, tough foods, as well as improperly cooked items, must all be avoided. Thirdly, one should inspect their daily life and起居 (qǐ jū / daily routine and residence); walking, standing, sitting, and lying down should all make them feel comfortable and at ease. Their resting place should be high and dry, quiet, private, and windless, warm in winter and cool in summer. Clothes must be frequently washed and baked, vessels frequently wiped clean. Toys and other items that suit their feelings should cater to their desires without exception. They should not be allowed to travel in cold, heat, strong winds, heavy rain, haze, fog, dark early mornings, dusk, dangerous paths, or long distances. All trivial matters that could annoy them should not be let them hear. In case of unexpected disasters, one must first remain calm oneself, comfort parents' hearts, and prevent them from being terrified. If illness occurs, seek out a renowned physician; do not rely on divination, lest one suffer from the errors of mediocre practitioners. Herbal decoctions must be personally supervised and prepared according to proper methods; do not entrust them to others. If elderly people have excessive desires, one must gently restrain them, not indulging their emotions or exacerbating faults, but constantly advising them with Daoist principles of preserving health through tranquility (Xuan Shou / 玄守). As for the Zen Buddhist doctrine of leaving the secular world, one should encourage and urge them morning and night to achieve enlightenment. Seize the fleeting remaining years to thoroughly comprehend the supreme great matter (understanding birth and death). How can this be compared to mere material support and medical care? Nevertheless, as parents, one should also love oneself and empathize with children's intentions. Especially in old age, one should know when to stop and be content, repent past faults, diligently perform good deeds, and plan for spiritual return (Zhai Gui / 斋归). Alas! The final outcome of life requires constant vigilance every moment. Strive for it!

(Attachment: Song Against Infanticide of Girls)
The Classics state: Those who nourish seedlings must surely strengthen their roots; those who cut the lower parts will cause the upper parts to wither. An infant's strength, weakness, safety, and danger throughout life depend entirely on their parents; how can one not be cautious? During the ten months of pregnancy, if one respects prenatal education (Tai Jiao / 胎教), the child will likely be virtuous and long-lived, with mild smallpox and few diseases. If parents indulge their desires without caution, consume rich flavors, mutton/beef, fried/roasted foods, ginger, pepper, and other heat-toxic substances, or take fertility-enhancing yang-heat herbs, it may result in the child suffering from convulsions (Jing Feng / 惊风), severe smallpox, fetal toxins, and other syndromes. At birth, procedures such as wiping the mouth, cutting the umbilical cord, and bathing must strictly follow proper methods. The wet nurse's diet and lifestyle require extreme caution. If she craves rich, heat-toxic foods, the infant will suffer from accumulated heat; if she eats cold/raw foods or contracts wind-cold, the infant drinking cold milk will experience vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain; if the mother is angry, it causes infant fright. After a long pause in breastfeeding, slightly squeeze out the initial milk before allowing the infant to suckle. If the mother has excessive sexual desire, the quality and taste of her milk will change. Pregnancy while breastfeeding may cause the child to become yellow and emaciated. Infant "transformation and evaporation" (Bian Zheng / 变蒸) fever is actually the process of growing bones and tendons, strengthening viscera, and generating intelligence; it usually resolves within a few days. It requires only nursing care, not medication. Infant fright disorders may arise from rubbing the infant's chest, shaking their body, teasing them into laughter, or prolonged play, leading to fatigue, dizziness, wheezing, and intestinal pain; followed by crying, causing sudden waking during sleep. Throwing infants up and down, though they may force a smile, causes unbearable terror, shocking their spirit and damaging their viscera. Beating innocent infants is even more abhorrent and should be a major prohibition. Infant milk and food should be moderate, not excessive; clothing should not be too warm. In early winter, when it is not yet very cold, thin old cotton batting suffices; wrapping them early in new thick cotton causes fire to scorch Lung Metal (Fei Jin / 肺金), generating wind and phlegm, leading to lung-wind phlegm wheezing, convulsions, and other syndromes. Do not offer milk or food while the infant is crying or just stopped crying; do not introduce meat before the appropriate time; even after the appropriate time, avoid indulging in heavy meats, cold/raw foods, fried/roasted items, greasy foods, sweets, and hard-to-digest foods. The Classics say: Eating much fat causes internal heat; eating much sweetness causes abdominal fullness and distension. This is correct. For those with weak Spleen Qi (Pi Qi / 脾气), stagnation leads to vomiting, diarrhea, malaria, dysentery, and malnutrition parasites (Gan Chong / 疳虫). Chewing food to feed infants is also prohibited, as it easily causes malnutrition accumulation and parasites. Additionally, when infants sleep under covers, they should wear light single garments to avoid overheating; sleeping with the head exposed near the pillow is better than covering the face with blankets. Exposing infants to sunlight and gentle breeze, and allowing them to sit and stand on the ground occasionally, strengthens bones and muscles. Constantly holding or swaddling them in closed rooms is harmful. Gently wiping the infant's forehead and chest/back when undressing helps close pores and prevent wind invasion. Wet nurses, nannies, and maidservants must be carefully selected for their honesty and prudence. Protecting infants involves not only physical care but also safeguarding their mental nature. Do not indulge their desires or tolerate their anger; teach them benevolence, honesty, dignity, and integrity; do not guide them toward cunning or deceit. Teach them compassion and charity; do not guide them toward cruelty, killing, arrogance, or stinginess. Do not use caged insects or birds for entertainment; do not let them hear obscene songs or vulgar language. From ages three or four, guard against bad habits; do not show leniency due to their youth. By ages seven or eight, when entering school, frequently tell them of the good words and deeds of ancestors and masters, and the essential teachings of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, so they may memorize them. As they grow slightly older, guard against the influence of friends, which can alter their nature and carve away their true simplicity; this is the primary precaution. Then, study books and learn rituals and laws, verifying previous teachings everywhere, ensuring practical benefits for body and mind. The ancients said: Educate the bride upon her arrival; educate the child in infancy. A person's moral character, goodness or evil, high or low status, depends entirely on childhood. Is it merely about protection and medical care?