（无病而先针灸曰逆）
小儿新生，无病不可逆针灸之，如逆针灸，则忍痛动其五脏，因善成痫。河洛关中，土
地多寒，儿喜成 ，其生儿三日，多逆灸以防之。吴蜀地温，无此疾也。古方既传之，今
人不分南北灸之，多害小儿也。所以田舍小儿，任其自然，得无横夭也。
怀娠
怀娠之后，必须饮食有常，起居自若，使神全气和，则胎常安，生子必伟。最忌食热毒
等物，庶生儿免有脐突疮痈。
初诞
婴儿在胎，必借胎液以滋养之。初离母体，口有液毒，啼声未出，急用软绵裹大人指，
拭儿口中恶汁，得免痘疮之患。或有时气侵染，只出肤疮，易为调理。
回气（俗谓草迷）
初生气欲绝，不能啼者，必是难产。或冒寒所致，急以绵絮包裹抱怀中，未可断脐，且
将胞衣置炭火炉中烧之，仍作大纸捻，蘸清油点着于脐带上，往来遍燎之。盖脐带得火气，
由脐入腹，更以热醋汤洗脐带，须臾气回，啼声如常，方可浴洗毕，断脐带。
便结
小儿初生，大小便不通，腹胀欲绝者，急令大人以温水漱了口，吸咂儿前后心，并脐下
手足心，共七处，每处咂三五次，每次要漱口，以红赤为度，须臾自通。
浴儿
浴儿用猪胆一枚，投汤中，免生疮疥。浴时看汤冷热，无令儿惊而成疾也。
断脐
断脐不可用刀剪，须隔单衣咬断，后将暖气呵七遍，缠结所留脐带，令至儿足附上，当
留六寸，长则伤肌，短则中寒，令儿肚中不调，或成内吊。若先断后浴，恐水入脐中，令儿
腹痛。断讫，连脐带中多有虫者，宜急剔去，不然，虫自入腹成疾。断脐之后，宜用热艾浓
裹，包用白绵。若浴儿将水入脐中，或尿在裙包之内，湿气伤脐；或解脱裙包，为风冷邪气
所侵，皆令儿脐肿，多啼不乳，即成脐风。
脐风
儿初生六七日，患脐风，百无一活。用青绢包大人指，蘸温水于儿上下牙根上，将如粟
米大红泡子，拭破即愈。
剃头
小儿月满剃头，须就温暖避风处。剃后以杏仁三枚，去皮尖研碎，入薄荷三叶同研，却
入生麻油三四滴，腻粉拌和头上拭，以避风伤，免生疮疥热毒。
护养
小儿脾胃嫩弱，父母或以口物饲之，不能克化，必致成疾。小儿于天气和暖，宜抱出日
中嬉戏，频见风日，则血凝、气刚、肉坚，可耐风寒，不致疾病。
抱小儿勿泣，恐泪入儿眼，令眼枯。
小儿夜啼，用灯心烧灰，涂乳上与吃，即止。
小儿腹胀，用韭菜根捣汁和猪脂煎服。
小儿头疮，用生芝麻口中嚼烂，涂之，切忌不可搽药。
小儿患秋痢，与枣食之良，或与柿饼子食。
小儿宜以菊花为枕，则清头目。
小儿入夏，令缝囊盛杏仁七个去皮尖，佩之，闻雷声不俱。
小儿一期之内，衣服宜以故帛、故绵为之。用新太暖，令肌内缓弱，蒸热成病。不可裹
足复顶，致阳气不出，多发热。
小儿不宜食肉太早，伤及脾胃，免致虫积、疳积，鸡肉能生蛔虫，宜忌之，非三岁以上
忍三分寒，吃七分饱，多揉肚，少洗澡。
小儿不可令就瓢及瓶饮水，语言多讷。
小儿勿
(Pre-acupuncture without illness is termed "Ni")
For newborn infants who are not ill, acupuncture and moxibustion should not be performed prophylactically. If this principle is violated and treatment is administered, the infant will endure pain and their Zang organs will be disturbed, predisposing them to epilepsy (Xian).
In the Heluo and Guanzhong regions, where the soil and climate are predominantly cold, infants are prone to convulsive disorders; thus, preventive moxibustion is commonly practiced on the third day of life to avert such conditions. In the Wu and Shu regions, where the climate is warm, this disease does not occur. Although ancient texts record this practice, modern people apply it indiscriminately regardless of north or south, often harming infants. Therefore, rural children raised naturally are less likely to suffer premature death.
Pregnancy
After conception, one must maintain regular dietary habits and natural daily routines, ensuring spiritual wholeness and harmonious Qi, so that the fetus remains secure and the child born will be robust. It is most taboo to consume foods with hot toxicity, thereby preventing the infant from developing umbilical protrusion, ulcers, or carbuncles.
At Birth
While in the womb, the infant relies on amniotic fluid for nourishment. Upon leaving the maternal body, there may be toxic fluids in the mouth. Before the first cry, use soft cotton wrapped around an adult's finger to wipe away the foul secretions from the infant's mouth, thereby avoiding future risks of smallpox or chickenpox. If exposed to seasonal epidemic pathogens, only skin eruptions may appear, which are easy to manage.
Restoring Qi (Colloquially known as "Grass Fainting")
If an infant is born with faint breath and cannot cry, it is due to difficult labor or exposure to cold. Immediately wrap the infant in cotton and hold them close. Do not cut the umbilical cord yet. Instead, burn the placenta in a charcoal stove. Then, make a large paper torch, dip it in clear oil, light it, and repeatedly cauterize the umbilical cord. The fire's heat enters the abdomen via the cord. Subsequently, wash the cord with hot vinegar water. After a moment, the infant's breath returns, and they cry normally. Only then can bathing be completed, followed by cutting the umbilical cord.
Constipation
If a newborn has difficulty passing stool and urine, with severe abdominal distension, immediately have an adult rinse their mouth with warm water and perform suction (Ba) on seven areas: the anterior chest, posterior back, below the navel, and the palms and soles of both hands and feet. Suck each area three to five times, rinsing the mouth after each session, until the skin turns red. The blockage will resolve shortly.
Bathing
Add one pig gallbladder to the bathwater to prevent the infant from developing sores and scabies. Monitor the water temperature carefully to avoid startling the infant, which could lead to illness.
Cutting the Umbilical Cord
Do not use knives or scissors to cut the cord; instead, bite through it while wearing a single layer of clothing. Afterwards, breathe warm air into the stump seven times. Tie the remaining cord, extending it to the infant's ankle, leaving about six cun. If too long, it damages the muscle; if too short, it invites cold, causing abdominal dysfunction or internal torsion ("Nei Diao"). Cutting before bathing risks water entering the umbilicus, causing abdominal pain. If worms are found in the cord stump, remove them immediately to prevent them from entering the abdomen and causing disease. After cutting, wrap the stump densely with hot mugwort and cover with white cotton. If water enters the umbilicus during bathing, or urine soaks the swaddling clothes, dampness damages the navel. If the swaddling is loosened, wind-cold pathogens may invade, causing umbilical swelling, excessive crying, refusal to nurse, leading to Neonatal Tetanus (Qi Feng).
Neonatal Tetanus (Qi Feng)
Infants aged six to seven days suffering from Neonatal Tetanus rarely survive. Wrap an adult's finger in blue silk, dip it in warm water, and wipe the infant's upper and lower gum roots. Break any red blisters the size of millet grains; healing follows.
Shaving Hair
Shave the infant's hair at one month old in a warm, wind-free place. After shaving, crush three almonds (peeled and de-husked), grind them with three mint leaves, add three to four drops of sesame oil, mix with calamine powder, and apply to the scalp to ward off wind injury and prevent sores, scabies, and heat toxins.
Care and Nurturing
An infant's spleen and stomach are tender and weak. Parents should not chew food to feed the child, as indigestion will cause illness. On warm days, carry the infant outdoors to play in the sun and expose them frequently to wind and sunlight. This strengthens blood, consolidates Qi, and firms muscles, enabling tolerance to wind and cold and preventing disease.
Do not cry while holding the infant, fearing tears may enter their eyes and cause dryness.
For night crying, burn rush pith (Deng Xin) to ash, mix with milk, and feed to the infant to stop crying.
For abdominal distension, crush leek roots, extract juice, mix with lard, and decoct for administration.
For head sores, chew raw sesame seeds thoroughly and apply topically; strictly avoid applying medicinal ointments.
For autumnal dysentery, dates are beneficial, or persimmon cakes may be given.
Use chrysanthemum pillows for infants to clear the head and eyes.
In summer, sew a pouch containing seven peeled almond kernels for the infant to wear; hearing thunder will not cause fear.
Within the first year, clothes should be made from old fabric and old cotton. New materials are too warm, causing loose muscles and heat-related illness. Avoid tight wrapping that traps Yang Qi, which leads to fever.
Infants should not eat meat too early to protect the spleen and stomach, preventing worm accumulation and malnutrition (Gan syndrome). Chicken promotes roundworm growth and should be avoided. Under three years old, infants should endure slight cold, eat until 70% full, have their bellies massaged frequently, and bathe less often.
Infants should not drink directly from gourd scoops or bottles, as this may lead to speech impediments.
Infants should not...