Traditional Chinese Medicine Parenting: Question 19 - What should be done when a newborn has jaundice?

Answer: To properly address newborn jaundice, it's essential first to understand its causes. To grasp the causes, you must first understand the physiological characteristics of newborns. Once these characteristics are clear, the appropriate treatment methods naturally follow.

Core Characteristics of Newborn Physiology:

Transition in Nutritional Supply: Newborns transition from receiving nutrients via the umbilical cord in the womb (prenatal) to absorbing and supplying nutrients through the spleen and stomach after birth (postnatal).

Characteristics of the Five Organs: Newborns are characterized by two excesses and three deficiencies: the heart and liver are in excess (strong), while the spleen, kidneys, and lungs are deficient (weak).

Jaundice Manifestation: Jaundice is specifically identified by a yellowish hue on the skin. According to the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon), yellow color corresponds to the spleen. This means that yellow nutrients are supposed to enter the spleen. Based on the first characteristic, if the child’s spleen and stomach are weak, they may be unable to absorb these yellow nutrients, causing the yellow color to reverse into the skin, leading to jaundice. From the second characteristic, if the liver Qi is strong, it can overpower the spleen (as wood overcomes earth in the five elements theory), further weakening the spleen and preventing the yellow nutrients from entering.

Treatment: Understanding the cause leads directly to the treatment.

1. Tap the Gallbladder Meridian: Lightly tap or massage the outer side of the child's thighs, from the outer buttocks down to the outer knees. This helps to soothe the liver Qi and prevent it from overpowering the spleen.

2. Rub the Inner Eight Trigrams: Daily, massage the child's left hand in a circular motion following the "Inner Eight Trigrams" to gently strengthen and support the spleen.

                                                           Gallbladder Meridian

By following these two methods, jaundice should dissipate within one to two weeks. 

Subjecting the child to blue light therapy in Western medicine is akin to allowing quacks to impose harsh treatments on your newborn.