The warm apricot forest·ancient method of fumigation and infant care
The traditional Chinese medicine view on parenting emphasizes that "good doctors can cure diseases before they are sick". For infants and children with symptoms of external infection, runny nose and stuffy nose, the ancient book "Qian Jin Yao Prescription" contains the original fumigation method of "putting a reed tube in the mouth and inhaling to make it clear". The facial steamer used by people today is actually a modern interpretation of the ancient method of "medicinal fumigation" thousands of years ago. The steam rising from boiling water is like morning dew nourishing all things. It can release the blocked lung qi and release the clear yang from the upper orifices. However, this method requires a good sense of proportion, as the "Infant Care Summary" says, "Children's skin is tender and their Qi is not full." The steam should be like a spring breeze blowing on the face, and a distance of more than a foot should be kept to prevent the evil of warmth from harming the child's vagina. The wonderful thing about this method is that with the help of the dense state of the water, the nine acupoints are opened, so that the wind, cold, dampness and turbidity entrenched in the nose aperture can flow out in a liquefied form.
Golden Chamber and Jade Liquid Method·Nasal Suction Device and Pediatric Massage Technique
During the Southern Song Dynasty, the method of "twisting the polyps in the nose" was described in detail in the "General Micro-Discussions on Pediatric Hygiene". Today's nasal aspirators are actually an extension of it. The baby's fontanel is not closed, and the nasal orifice is as small as a bean. If the mucus and tears continue to form nasal scabs, it is just like what "Youke Iron Mirror" said, "The nose is the orifice of the lungs. If it is blocked, the breath will be short of breath." When using a nasal aspirator, you should follow the ancient method of meridian dialectical principle of "pricking the right when there is a left disease, and pricking the left when there is a right disease". First, clear the side with the more serious blockage, and at the same time press the other side of the nose, so as to attract the weather with the help of earth energy. During the operation, the fingering should be as gentle as "a stick of incense", as if the Jiangnan embroiderer is pulling the thread. You must not directly hit the Huanglong or hurt the nose. Doing this not only cleans its surface, but also protects the portal of the lung guard so that evil spirits have a way out.
Warm Ironing Guanqiao Gong·Hot Compress Therapy and Meridians and Acupoints
The hot compress method has existed for a long time. The source is far away and the water flow is long. It has a different tune but the same exquisite effect as the traditional Chinese medicine. They both adopt the principle of "the temperature is suitable to make it smooth, and when it is smooth, there will be no pain." In the Qing Dynasty, Wu Shangxian wrote "Li Yi Parallel Prose" specifically discussing external treatment methods, emphasizing that "the principle of external treatment is the principle of internal treatment." The elders in the family apply a handkerchief with a suitable temperature on the Yingxiang acupuncture points on both sides of the nose. Yingxiang point is the terminal point of the large intestine meridian of Hand Yangming. Just like what is said in "Acupuncture and Moxibustion", "What is the reason why you can't smell the aroma or odor? The two acupuncture points Yingxiang can be used for treatment." Applying warm ironing for three to five minutes can cause the nasal mucosa to be warmed and soothed, allowing Qi and blood to flow without any obstruction, so that the retained mucus will naturally turn into water and flow out. This method is secretly in line with the medical theory of "fire stagnant hair". It relies on gentle heat to penetrate deep into the skin and guide the pathogenic factors to be discharged from the body surface. It is really a good way to care for children at home.
Adjusting the balance in the four seasons·Living environment and the upbringing of babies and children
According to the "Huangdi Neijing": "There are evil evils and evil winds, and there is time and care in choosing to avoid them." It emphasizes that "external evils" are the cause of illness. Children's internal organs are delicate and immature, and their body functions have not yet fully developed. They are particularly sensitive to the alternating changes between cold and warm. Zeng Shirong of the Yuan Dynasty stated in "The Book of Living Young Minds" that "To keep children safe in all seasons, it is often necessary to keep one third of hunger and one third of cold." The "cold" here does not mean suffering from cold, but means that the "room temperature should be maintained constant" so that the child's skin can adapt to the changes in climate between heaven and earth. Keeping the place where you live warm and dry is actually to protect and maintain the Yang Qi and make the Wei Qi strong and tight, just like building a city wall tall and thick, then there will be no gaps for wind and evil to take advantage of. Nowadays, most of the environments where people live are equipped with heating and air conditioning. However, it is more necessary to pay attention to the adjustment of humidity, so that the overall environment can be as warm and moist as jade. Only in this way can the "fence" of protecting the child be firmly protected, and the child's nasal orifice can be kept unobstructed.
Soup with Five Flavors·Ancient Diet Therapy and Herbal Wisdom
The dietary civilization in Chinese culture has always had the saying that "medicine and food come from the same source." For nasal congestion caused by cold evil, there is a drink that can be called a classic, which is brown sugar ginger soup. Ginger, an ingredient, is described in the book "Compendium of Materia Medica", saying that it "disperses when used raw, and neutralizes when used cooked." Its nature is warm and the taste is spicy. It can have the effect of "sweating and relieving the symptoms", and can also warm the lungs and stop coughing. Brown sugar has the effect of warming and nourishing the body. Boil ginger and brown sugar together, and use the power of the combination of their pungent and sweet properties to promote the growth of Yang Qi and help the Yang Qi rise to drive away cold evil. This is the wisdom condensed from the folk experience of "a bowl of ginger soup cures typhoid fever". As for the white radish soup, it looks ordinary on the surface, but it actually implies the principle of "smoothing Qi and resolving phlegm" in "Yinshan Zhengyao". Its nature is relatively cool, and it is good at going down. It can help digestion, eliminate food accumulation, and smooth the Qi movement in the middle burner. Although it does not directly treat runny nose, it can fundamentally solve the problem and prevent the accumulation of food from turning into heat, which in turn aggravates external symptoms.
It’s about steamed oranges, which are a treasure in folk prescriptions. Orange peel is said in the "Compendium of Materia Medica" to "dispel gastrointestinal odor and relieve gastrointestinal irritation". After steaming, the volatile oil contained in the peel is fully released. This thing enters the two meridians of the liver and lungs, which can not only relax the liver qi, but also dissolve phlegm and reconcile the spleen and stomach. It does have a wonderful effect on coughs and runny noses caused by wind and cold binding the body surface and the lung qi not being able to flow smoothly. Let’s talk about the honeysuckle porridge. The light honeysuckle is used to dispel evil spirits, and the light black bean is used to relieve boredom. The combination of the two is a change from the Yinqiao powder in "Febrile Diseases Treatise". Honeysuckle, with its cold nature and sweet taste, has been known as "an excellent variety for clearing away heat and detoxifying" since ancient times. As for light tempeh, it can release stagnant heat. Use them together to make porridge to nourish the body. This can not only help maintain stomach qi, but also clear away the evil qi of warm heat. This is specially designed for cases where wind and heat invade the body surface and cause swelling and pain in the throat.
Taking a comprehensive look at these traditional parenting wisdom, whether it is fumigation, warm ironing for external treatment, or soup for internal use, they all follow the Eastern philosophy of "complying with nature and harmonizing yin and yang". From the breadth and depth shown in "A Thousand Gold Prescriptions" during the Han and Tang dynasties, to the meticulousness shown in pediatric monographs during the Song and Yuan dynasties, to the popularization and application of dietary herbal medicine in the Ming and Qing dynasties, these methods carry the Chinese nation's thousands of years of experience in child care. They are not just simple treatment methods, but also go deep into daily diet and daily life, life aesthetics and humanistic care. The warmth of every trace of steam and the sweetness of every spoonful of soup are full of the tender care of young lives from our ancestors. It is the simplest way to extend life and health that Chinese civilization has accumulated over the long years.
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