典藏书目

After birth, the infant undergoes a transformation every 32 days and a "steaming" process every 64 days. The "transformation" refers to the changes in the Five Zang Organs (Zang organs); the "steaming" refers to the nourishment of the Six Fu Organs (Fu organs). This process generates blood and Qi, thereby producing Spirit (Shen) and enhancing intelligence. It concludes after 576 days.

During the "steaming" and "transformation" periods, fever is inevitable. The presentation resembles Wind-Stroke or Convulsions (Jing Feng), with cold ears and sacrum, and white blisters on the upper lip inside the mouth, sized like fish eyes or millet grains. During this period, the color of the lips and tongue remains normal. Although the fever may vary in severity, the Spirit is not lost, and the breath is not foul or aggressive. Mild cases resolve in 3–4 days, and severe cases in 6–7 days. One should not administer medicine recklessly but allow it to heal spontaneously.

In Spleen Excess Heat patterns, the nose is necessarily red and dry, the lips are red, dry, and cracked, the gums behind the teeth are swollen, red, and purplish, and the stool is necessarily dark yellow. Alternatively, there may be body heat with anorexia, mental fatigue, heat-type vomiting, or heat-type diarrhea. Treatment uses Wulonggan (Furnace Earth, 5 qian) and Shushi Gao (Calcined Gypsum, 1 qian), which leads to spontaneous recovery.

Spleen Deficiency patterns inherently lack excess heat; any heat present is due to deficiency. Initially caused by Spleen Deficiency compounded by dietary injury, the manifestations include slight body heat, slightly red nose with slight sweating, thirst with pale lips, and weak breath. Palpation of the abdomen reveals no heat radiating from the hands. Symptoms may include indigestion after eating, aversion to food despite seeing it, diarrhea, or vomiting. These are all symptoms of Deficiency Heat. Treatment should focus on tonifying the Spleen, using Liujunzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) with Huoxiang (Patchouli).

If abdominal swelling arises from Spleen Deficiency or dietary injury, tapping the abdomen produces a drum-like sound, and palpation feels soft like cotton. Do not use purgatives or draining agents. Instead, use Liujunzi Tang with Houpo (Magnolia Bark); if accompanied by leg edema, add Dafupi (Areca Peel). If the abdominal swelling does not resonate when tapped and feels hard as iron upon palpation, with visible blue veins on the surface, it is classified under "Abdominal Distension with Blue Veins." If all four limbs are swollen, it is classified under "Swelling" (Zhong Zhang). If Spleen Deficiency causes abdominal swelling, the use of purgatives results in mortality in ten out of ten cases. Continuous administration of Liujunzi Tang for ten doses will cause the swelling to subside naturally.

Spleen Dampness arises because the weak Spleen cannot control Water, leading to Water insulting Earth. Manifestations include a dull, lusterless complexion, dark and non-red lips, phlegm that moves easily but fails to transform, diarrhea immediately following minor dietary indiscretion with clear watery stools, or low-grade body heat. This constitutes the Spleen Dampness pattern. Treatment uses Cangzhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome), Chenpi (Tangerine Peel), Fuling (Poria), Banxia (Pinellia Tuber), and Gancao (Licorice Root). If Spleen Earth is injured by food stagnation generating phlegm, treatment uses Xiaodao Erchen Tang (Digestive Two-Aged Phlegm Decoction) with Paojiang (Prepared Ginger).