Library

Mr. Zhi Gaizhai of the Imperial Medical Bureau analyzed this in great detail, stating that the generation of smallpox (Tianhua) all belongs to Heart Fire (Xin Huo), which is sufficient to break through the doubts of thousands of years. Thus, it can be seen that ancient prescriptions using decoctions of Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) applied to the infant's mouth to resolve fetal toxins are indeed medicines for purging Heart Fire. However, modern people dislike the extreme bitterness and coldness of Huanglian and mostly dare not use it. Instead, one can use Jinyinhua (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos) and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), approximately the length of a finger joint, crushed, boiled with two units of water until reduced to one unit. Dip cotton into this liquid, wrap it around the finger, and let the infant suckle. It is auspicious if the infant vomits foul matter. If after consuming one unit there is no vomiting, further administration is unnecessary. This can be taken regardless of whether the child's constitution is deficient or excess.

For the first month after birth, an infant's mouth must be washed daily. Use warm water or bitter tea, wrap a finger with green silk, dip it, and stir inside the infant's mouth. If there are white spots on the gums that cannot be washed away, pierce them with fingernails or a silver needle, take mulberry tree juice, filter it clearly, and apply it. This will permanently prevent the risk of convulsions (Jing Feng) and lockjaw (Zuo Kou). However, it must be washed once daily, with careful observation, and without negligence.

Another prescription for opening the mouth: Sheng Gancao (Raw Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) 1 qian, Sigua Zi (Trichosanthis Semen) 1 qian, decocted in water. Feed a few drops first, then open the mouth to breastfeed, which can prevent sores and toxins throughout the body.

Prescription for infant lockjaw (Kou Jin): Use 1 cun of Congbai (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus), split into four pieces, steam with Ru Zhi (Materis Lac), and administer orally for immediate recovery.

Baosheng Yaofa states: When an infant has just been born, if they sleep excessively, do not force-feed milk; naturally, they will grow up with fewer illnesses. Luxin Jing states: During the intense heat of mid-summer, after the nursing mother takes a bath, she should not nurse the infant immediately, to avoid causing stomach toxins or dysentery with red and white discharge in the infant. After breathing settles for a long time, massage the breasts thoroughly for a long while, and only then is it appropriate to nurse.

Xiao'er Jingyao states: For night nursing, the nursing mother must rise and sit up, holding the infant to nurse. Nursing while the infant sleeps is taboo, as fear arises that wind from the mother's nose blowing onto the infant's fontanelle may cause wind diseases. If a pregnant woman nurses, the infant will surely suffer from fetal jaundice (Tai Huang); if a drunk woman nurses, the infant will surely suffer from惊热 (convulsive fever); if a woman who has just eaten her fill nurses, the infant will surely develop wheezing urgency; if an angry woman nurses, the infant will surely develop mania; if a woman who has just vomited nurses, the infant will surely suffer from deficiency and emaciation.

Yangzi Zhenshuo states:
Nursing children requires care and protection; do not be lax in supervision.
Excessive milk ultimately damages the Stomach; retained old milk injures the Spleen.
Thick quilts are not beneficial; light clothing is actually suitable.
In the absence of wind, frequently expose to sunlight; follow the seasons regarding cold and heat.