钱氏云∶心之声为言,小儿四五岁不能言者,由妊母卒有惊动,邪乘儿心,致心气不足,故
不能言也。有禀父肾气不足而言迟者;有乳母五火遗热闭塞气道者;有病后津液内亡,会
厌干涸者;亦有脾胃虚弱,清气不升而言迟者。心气不足,用菖蒲丸。肾气不足,用羚羊角
丸。闭塞气道,用加味逍遥散。津液内亡,用七味白术散。脾胃虚弱,用补中益气汤。
治验
一小儿言迟泄泻,声音不亮,杂用分利清热等剂,喉音如哑,饮食少思,朝用地黄丸加五味
子,夕用补中益气汤,其泻渐止。遂专服前丸,两月喉音渐响。
一小儿白睛多,泻后喉喑,口渴兼吐,大便不实,朝夕服地黄丸而痊。后患泻,喉复喑,仍
服前丸而愈。此皆禀赋肾气不足,故用是药。
一小儿五岁不能言,咸以为废人矣,但其形色悉属肺肾不足,遂用六味地黄丸加五味子、鹿
茸,及补中益气汤加五味子。两月余,形气渐健,将半载,能发一二言,至年许,始音声如
常。
菖蒲丸 治心虚语迟。
石菖蒲 丹参(各一钱) 赤石脂(三钱) 人参(半两) 天门冬(去心焙,一钱)
上为末,炼蜜丸,麻子大,食后温水服二三十丸。
羚羊角丸 治行迟。
羚羊角镑 虎胫骨(醋炙黄) 生地黄(焙) 酸枣仁 白茯苓(各五钱) 肉桂 防风 当归 黄 (各
二钱半)
上为末,炼蜜成剂,每服一皂子大,白汤化下。
七味白术散(方见腹痛)
补中益气汤(方见虚羸)
六味地黄丸(方见肾脏)
加味逍遥散(方见内钓)
Qian Yi stated: The voice of the Heart manifests as speech. If a child cannot speak at four or five years of age, it is due to sudden fright experienced by the mother during pregnancy, allowing pathogenic factors to invade the child's Heart, resulting in deficiency of Heart Qi (vital energy of the Heart), thus causing inability to speak. Some cases are due to insufficiency of Kidney Qi (vital energy of the Kidneys) inherited from the father; some are caused by residual heat from the "Five Fires" in the wet nurse blocking the airway; some result from internal depletion of Body Fluids after illness, leading to dryness of the epiglottis; others are due to Spleen and Stomach weakness with failure of Clear Yang to ascend. For deficiency of Heart Qi, use Changpu Wan (Acorus Pill). For insufficiency of Kidney Qi, use Lingyangjiao Wan (Antelope Horn Pill). For blocked airway, use Jiawei Xiaoyao San (Modified Free and Easy Wanderer Powder). For internal depletion of Body Fluids, use Qiwei Baizhu San (Seven-Ingredient Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder). For Spleen and Stomach weakness, use Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction).
Clinical Cases
One child presented with delayed speech and diarrhea, with a hoarse voice. After indiscriminate use of diuretic and heat-clearing agents, the throat sound became mute-like, and appetite decreased. In the morning, Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill) added with Wuweizi (Schisandra Fruit) was administered; in the evening, Buzhong Yiqi Tang was given. The diarrhea gradually ceased. Subsequently, only the former pill was taken, and within two months, the throat sound gradually became clear.
Another child had prominent whites of the eyes, followed by loss of voice after diarrhea, accompanied by thirst and vomiting, with loose stools. Both morning and evening administration of Dihuang Wan led to recovery. Later, upon recurrence of diarrhea and subsequent loss of voice, the same pill cured the condition. These cases were all due to congenital insufficiency of Kidney Qi, hence the use of these medicines.
One child could not speak at five years of age, and was considered incurable by many. However, his physical appearance indicated deficiency of Lung and Kidney. Thus, Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) added with Wuweizi and Lurong (Deer Antler Velvet), along with Buzhong Yiqi Tang added with Wuweizi, was prescribed. After more than two months, his physique and Qi gradually strengthened. By nearly half a year, he could utter one or two words. By about one year of age, his voice returned to normal.
Changpu Wan (Acorus Pill): Treats delayed speech due to Heart deficiency.
Shichangpu (Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii), Danshen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae) (each 1 qian); Chishizhi (Halloysitum Rubrum) (3 qian); Renshen (Radix Ginseng) (0.5 liang); Tianmendong (Herba Asparagi) (decocted heart removed, dried, 1 qian).
Grind into powder, mix with refined honey to form pills the size of hemp seeds. Take 20–30 pills with warm water after meals.
Lingyangjiao Wan (Antelope Horn Pill): Treats delayed walking.
Lingyangjiao (Cornu Saigae Tataricae) sliced; Hu Jing Gu (Os Tigrinum) (vinegar-fried until yellow); Sheng Dihuang (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata) (dried); Suanzaoren (Semen Ziziphi Spinosae); Baifuling (Poria) (each 5 qian); Rougui (Cortex Cinnamomi); Fangfeng (Radix Saposhnikoviae); Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis); Huangqi (Radix Astragali) (each 2.5 qian).
Grind into powder, mix with refined honey to form pills. Take an amount the size of a soap pod, dissolved in plain boiled water.
Qiwei Baizhu San (Seven-Ingredient Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder) (See formula under Abdominal Pain).
Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) (See formula under Emaciation).
Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) (See formula under Kidney Disorders).
Jiawei Xiaoyao San (Modified Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) (See formula under Internal Hook).