夫气虚痘症初发,则必身热悠悠,乍热乍凉,懒言神倦,面青 白,饮食减少,
手足时冷时热,呕吐便溏,痘点即见,隐隐不振,淡红皮薄,至三四日陆续不齐,不易
长大,至五六日不易成浆,少食气馁,伤食易泄,至七八日,塌陷灰白,自汗泄泻,腹
胀喘渴,塌痒闷乱,寒战切牙,头温足冷,势所必至,故治虚症初发之际,不宜投升麻
葛根,紫草三豆汤类,而宜从参 饮,温补之法为要。若气粗皮燥,无润色者,亦忌
之,只以四君子减人参,加桔梗,川芎腹皮于补益之中,略佐以升提之法为妙。若点之
出齐,又当重用参 ,及至八九日间,无他凶症,治法如常。如有顶陷灰白不起,或浆
清自汗微渴者,则用大补汤加姜桂主之。若塌陷灰白腹胀泄泻者,则投以木香散,若至
塌痒闷乱,腹胀渴泄喘急头温足冷,寒战切牙者,急进异功散,以救之。然此气虚痘
症,若父母能守禁忌及用药不误,则元气复充,腠理坚固,脾胃强健,饮食如常,而虚
症可以变实矣。亦有因补益太过,反增沉剧者,如浆足之后,而犹重用参 乃有喘急腹
胀之患者,更有误用五苓木香散多,乃有大便秘结之患者,更有过用丁桂辛热之剂,乃
有咽喉肿痛烦燥闭渴之患者,凡此喘急腹胀,大便坚秘,烦燥咽痛等症,虽为实症,
然实是病浅,而用药过深之失也。岂真实哉!亦不宜疏通重施,否则将生之气复虚,
而至脱症又至矣。
In the initial stage of Qi deficiency variola (smallpox), symptoms necessarily include a lingering low-grade fever, alternating hot and cold sensations, reluctance to speak, mental fatigue, cyanotic or pale complexion, reduced appetite, intermittent coldness and warmth in the hands and feet, vomiting, and loose stools. Although the variolae spots appear, they are faint, lacking vigor, with a pale red color and thin skin. By the third or fourth day, the eruptions emerge successively but irregularly, failing to enlarge; by the fifth or sixth day, they fail to fill with pus. Insufficient food intake leads to Qi deficiency, while dietary indiscretion easily causes diarrhea. By the seventh or eighth day, the pustules collapse and turn grayish-white, accompanied by spontaneous sweating, diarrhea, abdominal distension, asthma, thirst, pruritus at the eruption site, chest oppression, restlessness, chills, teeth grinding, warmth of the head, and coldness of the feet. These manifestations are inevitable consequences of the disease progression. Therefore, in treating the initial stage of Qi deficiency variola, formulas such as Shengma Gegen Tang (Cimicifugae et Puerariae Decoction) and Zicao Sandou Tang (Arnebiae et Three Beans Decoction) should not be administered. Instead, the key lies in employing warming and tonifying methods, such as Renshen Yin (Ginseng Drink). If the patient exhibits coarse breathing, dry skin, and a lack of luster, warming tonification is also contraindicated. In such cases, it is advisable to modify Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) by removing Renshen (Radix Ginseng), adding Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), and Fupi (Tangerinae Pericarpium Viride), combining slight lifting methods within the framework of tonification for optimal effect. Once the eruptions have fully appeared, heavy use of Ginseng preparations is warranted. By the eighth or ninth day, if no other ominous symptoms arise, treatment proceeds according to routine. If the pustule tops collapse and remain grayish-white, or if the pus is clear, accompanied by spontaneous sweating and mild thirst, Dabu Tang (Great Tonifying Decoction) added with Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) and Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) should be used. If the pustules collapse, turn grayish-white, and are accompanied by abdominal distension and diarrhea, Muxiang San (Aucklandia Powder) should be administered. If the condition progresses to pruritus at the eruption site, chest oppression, restlessness, abdominal distension, thirst, diarrhea, rapid asthma, warm head with cold feet, chills, and teeth grinding, Yigong San (Yi Gong Powder) must be urgently given to rescue the patient. However, in cases of Qi deficiency variola, if parents observe dietary and lifestyle taboos and ensure correct medication, the Yuanqi (Original Qi) will recover and become abundant, the Couli (interstices) will become firm, the Spleen and Stomach will strengthen, and normal diet will resume, allowing the deficiency syndrome to transform into an excess syndrome. Conversely, excessive tonification may aggravate the condition. For instance, after the pus has sufficiently formed, continued heavy use of Ginseng may lead to rapid asthma and abdominal distension. Overuse of Wuling San (Poria Powder) and Muxiang San may cause constipation. Excessive use of Dinggui (Syzygii Aromatisati Fructus and Cinnamomi Cortex) and other acrid-warm agents may result in sore throat, swelling, irritability, oppression, and thirst. Although symptoms such as rapid asthma, abdominal distension, hard and constipated stool, irritability, and sore throat present as excess syndromes, they are actually due to shallow pathology treated with overly deep or aggressive medication, rather than true excess syndromes. Therefore, strong purgative or draining methods should not be applied; otherwise, the newly recovered Qi will become deficient again, potentially leading to Collapse Syndrome (Tuozheng).