脾为太阴,位属坤土,喜燥而恶湿。故凡脾胃之气不足者,遇长夏润溽之令,则不能升举清
阳,健运中气,又复少阳相火之时,热伤元气,则肢体怠惰不收,两脚痿弱,嗜卧发热,精
神不足,饮食少思,口中无味,呼吸短乏气促,目中视物 ,小便赤数,大便不调,名曰
注夏。此皆禀赋阴虚,元气不足之症,丹溪《补阴论》言之详矣。育子者,岂可不知冬月养
阳之道乎?治法用补中益气汤去升麻、柴胡加炒黑黄柏主之。若因劳役发热,血虚脉大者,
用当归补血
脾,寒热少食者,柴胡栀子散。胃火作渴者,竹叶石膏汤。小儿多因乳母之气不调,而当戒
怒气,调饮食,适寒温,则可以远病矣。又如今人夏月皆以香薷汤浸冷代茶饮之,殊不知香
薷利水,大损元阳,浓朴克伐,大泻真气,况脾性喜温而恶寒,夏月阴盛于内,冷啜伤脾,
若胃强有火,湿热为病之人,固无大害,其脾胃虚弱,中气不足者,必为腹痛少食,泄泻寒
中之疾矣。此大人亦所当戒者,况小儿乎?慎之,慎之!
治验
一小儿每春夏口干发热,怠惰嗜卧,劳则头痛,服清凉化痰之药,喘泻烦躁不安,服香薷饮
,脉大神思昏愦,余用补中益气汤去升麻、柴胡加五味、麦门、炮姜一剂未愈,又加肉桂五
分即苏,更用六味丸而愈。
一小儿禀脾肾虚弱,注夏发热,二便不调,朝用补中益气汤,夕用地黄丸而愈。后因乳母怒
气,致儿发热惊搐,用柴胡栀子散,母子并服而瘥。
一小儿素有食积,注夏发热,倦怠少食,大便不实。朝用五味异功散少加升麻、柴胡,夕用
四味肥儿丸而寻愈。
一小儿禀赋肾虚,患注夏之疾,因乳母大劳,则发热益甚,用补中益气汤,令母子并服而愈
。后因乳
发搐,用柴胡栀子散、加味逍遥散而痊。
一小儿注夏,食生冷之物,腹中作痛,甚则发搐厥冷,用人参理中丸而愈。
一女子年十四,患注夏,经行之后,发热晡热,烦躁作渴,面赤脉洪大,按之如无,此血脱
发躁,先用当归补血汤四剂;又用八珍汤而安。
柴胡栀子散
当归补血汤(二方见发热)
八珍汤(方见自汗)
补中益气汤(方见虚羸)
地黄丸(方见肾脏)
人参理中汤(方见冷疡)
竹叶石膏汤(方见渴症)
The Spleen belongs to the Taiyin (Greater Yin) channel and corresponds to Kun Earth in the Five Elements; its nature prefers dryness and dislikes dampness. Therefore, for those with insufficient Qi of the Spleen and Stomach, when encountering the humid and muggy climate of late summer, they cannot raise the clear Yang Qi nor fortify the middle Qi. Furthermore, during this time when the Ministerial Fire of Shaoyang (Lesser Yang) is prevalent, heat damages the original Qi, resulting in symptoms such as limb fatigue and flaccidity, weakness in both legs, lethargy with fever, mental insufficiency, poor appetite, tastelessness in the mouth, shortness of breath and rapid breathing, blurred vision, red and frequent urination, and irregular bowel movements. This condition is called "Zhu Xia" (Summer Malaise). These are all syndromes of congenital Yin deficiency and insufficient original Qi, which Zhu Danxi discussed in detail in his *Treatise on Nourishing Yin*. Those who raise children, how can they not know the way of nourishing Yang in winter? The treatment method involves using Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction), removing Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) and Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), and adding stir-fried black Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) as the main prescription. If fever is caused by overwork and blood deficiency with a large pulse, use Danggui Buxue Tang (Dongquiang Blood-Nourishing Decoction); if there is Spleen-Stomach cold-heat alternation and poor appetite, use Chaihu Zhizi San (Bupleurum and Gardenia Powder); if stomach fire causes thirst, use Zhuye Shigao Tang (Bamboo Leaf and Gypsum Decoction). Children often suffer because of the mother's disharmonious Qi; thus, the nursing mother should abstain from anger, regulate her diet, and adapt to temperature changes, thereby avoiding disease. Additionally, nowadays people steep Xiangru Tang (Mosla Decoction) in cold water to drink instead of tea in summer, unaware that Xiangru promotes diuresis and severely damages original Yang, and Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) has a suppressing effect that greatly drains true Qi. Moreover, the Spleen's nature prefers warmth and dislikes cold; in summer, Yin is abundant internally, and cold drinks injure the Spleen. For those with strong Stomach fire or diseases caused by damp-heat, this may indeed cause no major harm, but for those with weak Spleen-Stomach and insufficient middle Qi, it will inevitably lead to abdominal pain, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and other cold-in-the-middle diseases. This is something adults should also beware of, let alone children! Be cautious, be cautious!
Case Records:
A child suffered from dry mouth, fever, lethargy, and excessive sleepiness every spring and summer, with headache upon exertion. After taking cooling and phlegm-resolving medicines, he experienced wheezing, diarrhea, and restlessness. After taking Xiangru Yin (Mosla Infusion), his pulse became large, and his spirit was confused and drowsy. I used Buzhong Yiqi Tang, removing Shengma and Chaihu, and added Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus), Maimendong (Ophiopogonis Radix), and Paojiang (Prepared Ginger). One dose did not cure him; after adding five fen of Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex), he revived. He was then cured using Liuwei Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia).
A child with congenital Spleen and Kidney weakness suffered from Zhu Xia fever and irregular bowel movements. He took Buzhong Yiqi Tang in the morning and Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill) in the evening, and was cured. Later, due to the nursing mother's anger, the child developed fever and convulsions. Chaihu Zhizi San was administered to both mother and child, leading to recovery.
A child with a history of food stagnation suffered from Zhu Xia fever, fatigue, poor appetite, and loose stools. He took Wuyi Yigong San (Five-Agent Formula for Supporting the Righteous) in the morning with small amounts of Shengma and Chaihu, and Siwei Fei'er Wan (Four-Ingredient Pill for Enriching the Child) in the evening, recovering shortly thereafter.
A child with congenital Kidney deficiency suffered from Zhu Xia disease. Due to the nursing mother's severe overwork, the fever intensified. Buzhong Yiqi Tang was prescribed for both mother and child, resulting in recovery. Later, the child developed convulsions (due to maternal factors), and was cured using Chaihu Zhizi San and Jiawei Xiaoyao San (Modified Free and Easy Wanderer Powder).
A child suffering from Zhu Xia ate raw and cold foods, causing abdominal pain. Severe cases involved convulsions and cold limbs. Ren Shen Lizhong Wan (Ginseng Regulate the Middle Pill) was used, and he recovered.
A fourteen-year-old girl suffered from Zhu Xia. After menstruation, she experienced afternoon fever, restlessness, thirst, flushed face, and a large pulse that felt empty upon deep pressure. This was blood depletion causing agitation. She first took four doses of Danggui Buxue Tang; subsequently, Bazhen Tang (Eight-Treasure Decoction) stabilized her condition.
Chaihu Zhizi San (See "Fever")
Danggui Buxue Tang (See "Fever")
Bazhen Tang (See "Spontaneous Sweating")
Buzhong Yiqi Tang (See "Emaciation")
Dihuang Wan (See "Kidney")
Renshen Lizhong Tang (See "Cold Ulcer")
Zhuye Shigao Tang (See "Thirst")