Question
May I ask what “nieg jih” means? Does a regular hospital have treatment methods for children with kuei-ji?
Answer
Kuei-ji refers to a disease in children where the spleen and stomach are weak, leading to abnormal digestion and a condition characterized by emaciation. Clinical manifestations include emaciation, dry skin on the scalp, sparse, yellowish hair, sunken cheeks, dry nasal septum and lips, ulcerated eyelids, protruding back, jaundice, biting nails and teeth, thirst, and an unusual craving for certain foods. Ancients believed that kuei-ji was caused by overeating fatty and sweet foods or considered it to be “dried up” due to the spleen and stomach’s fluid being depleted. Some argue that it is due to “insect movement that leads to erosion.” The spleen and stomach are the foundation of postnatal life, the source of blood and qi production, and children’s spleen and stomach are tender and often insufficient. They are easily injured by milk and food, dampness, and other pathogens. Damage to the spleen and stomach leads to the depletion of fluids and a decline in blood and qi, causing all organs to be malnourished. Therefore