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The classics state: Those aged six and above are called children (Xiao'er), those aged eighteen and above are called youths (Shaonian), those aged twenty and above are called adults in their prime (Zhuangnian), and those aged fifty and above are called the elderly (Laonian).
For those under six years old, the classics do not record details; therefore, illnesses in nursing infants are difficult to treat because there is no established theoretical basis to follow.
In the middle ancient period, shamanic physicians compiled the *Luxin Jing* (Suture Classic) for children to predict longevity and judge the prognosis of diseases, which was passed down by the world, marking the beginning of pediatric prescriptions.
By the Jin and Song dynasties, these teachings were largely propagated by the Su family, transmitted with verified efficacy, and spread among the people.

When a child is first born, the skin and muscles are not yet fully formed; they should not be kept too warm, as excessive warmth causes the sinews and bones to become lax and weak.
They should be exposed to wind and sunlight regularly. If completely shielded from wind and sun, the skin and muscles will become brittle and soft, making them prone to injury and damage.
Clothing should be lined with old cotton wadding, not new cotton.
On mild, windless days, the mother should hold the child and play with them in the sunlight. Frequent exposure to wind and sun will cause the blood to coagulate and the Qi to become firm, resulting in dense and tough muscles capable of withstanding cold and wind, thereby preventing disease.
If always kept inside curtains, heavily clothed and warmed, it is like plants in the shade—soft, fragile, and unable to withstand cold and wind.
Furthermore, clothing should be thin. The method of wearing thin clothes should be practiced starting from autumn; one should not suddenly reduce clothing in spring and summer, as this invites wind-cold.
Practicing from autumn allows gradual adaptation to cold, thus building tolerance.
In winter, only two thin padded jackets and a double-layered skirt are needed. This is not out of indifference to their coldness, but because it is truly beneficial.
Overindulgence in keeping them warm is actually harmful.
Care must also be taken to prevent sweating, as sweating leads to deficiency and susceptibility to wind-cold.
This caution applies to both day and night, whether awake or asleep.

Regarding breastfeeding and supplementary food, phlegm and accumulation (Tanpi) cannot be entirely avoided; breastfeeding and feeding should be regulated.
If the infant slightly refuses milk, care should still be taken.
Generally, if the infant cannot take milk or food, purgation (Xia) should be employed, which ultimately prevents febrile diseases.

Moreover, newborns have vigorous vital energy and lack deficiency-fatigue conditions. For minor ailments, purgation is required; the loss incurred is negligible.
Once recovered, this brings profound benefit.
If purgation is not applied promptly, minor issues develop into major diseases, which become difficult to treat.
Purgation in winter is hard to manage, but necessary when illness exists.
After purgation in summer, the abdomen may feel slightly distended; thus, breastfeeding should be moderated and care taken for several days.
Feeding should also be regulated, ensuring consistent quantities.
As the child grows, supplementary food intake should increase accordingly.
A decrease in intake indicates slight internal disharmony.
Medication should be administered immediately, stopping supplementary food and relying solely on breastfeeding. Severe cases may take ten-plus days, mild cases five to six days, before returning to normal.
If the child refuses all supplementary food and drinks only milk, it indicates severe accumulation (Pi), requiring purgation.
Purgation is essential; without it, febrile diseases may arise, or vomiting and epilepsy (Xian) may occur, or diarrhea may result. These serious outcomes stem from delayed purgation, making treatment difficult.
Treating early, when the child is not depleted, ensures rapid recovery from various diseases.

Children suffer less from epilepsy because during pregnancy, the mother’s frequent labor and movement strengthen her Qi and enrich fetal nourishment.
Conversely, excessive sexual activity depletes Qi and Blood, weakening fetal nourishment, resulting in a fragile child prone to illness and epilepsy.

Children must wear hats and neck guards to keep dry, and use chrysanthemum pillows.
During breastfeeding in three seasons, the mother should massage the Fengchi (GB20) acupoint at the back of the neck. If high fever occurs, moxibustion or warming therapy should be applied to induce slight sweating.
If slight sweating does not resolve the condition, moxa should be applied to both Fengchi points and the bilateral sides of the 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th thoracic vertebrae, two moxa cones per point, totaling ten cones.
For a one-year-old, seven cones are used. For older children, the number can be adjusted up to thirty cones, with special emphasis on Fengchi, where up to one hundred cones may be used for children over seven.
Pediatric care must strictly protect the Fengchi point. As the proverb says: "Raising children requires careful protection of Fengchi."
Fengchi is located at the edges of the tendons in the neck. Treatment is indicated only when disease is present.
For mild illnesses, avoid unnecessary acupuncture and moxibustion, and do not readily use emetic or purgative methods, as acupuncture damages meridians and emetics/purgatives disturb the Zang-Fu organs.
Instead, bathe the child in heat-clearing decoctions, apply heat-clearing powder, massage with heat-clearing red ointment, and apply umbilical paste.
Keep the child in cool places, allow washing with fresh water regularly.

For healthy newborns, reverse moxibustion (Ni Zhenjiu) should be strictly avoided.
Reverse moxibustion causes pain and disturbs the Five Pulses, potentially inducing epilepsy due to fright.
In the Heluo region, the cold climate makes children prone to spasms (Jing).
Local custom involves reverse moxibustion on the third day after birth for prevention, and moxibustion on the cheeks to prevent trismus (lockjaw).
Trismus presents with tight sublingual vessels and tense masseter muscles. Due to the cold climate, bloodletting from the tongue and cheek moxibustion are performed.
Such diseases are absent in the warmer Jiangdong region.
Although ancient texts record reverse moxibustion, modern practitioners often ignore north-south climatic differences and apply it indiscriminately, harming many children.
Therefore, rural children, left to nature, often avoid premature death.

It is also stated: Purgation must absolutely not be used for children in spring and summer.
This is because children's Zang-Fu Qi is weak and easily shifts between deficiency and excess. Purgation further depletes the Lower Jiao, generates heat in the Upper Jiao, increases phlegm, and creates disease.
Unless specifically indicated by illness, purgation should not be used.