魏敬甫之子四岁。一长老摩顶授记。众僧念咒。因而大恐。遂惊搐。痰涎壅塞。目多白睛。项
背强急。喉中有声。一时许方省。后每见衣皂之人。辄发。多服朱、犀、龙、麝镇坠之药。四十余
日。前证仍在。又添行步动作神思如痴。命予治之。诊其脉沉弦而急。黄帝针经云。心脉满大。痫
螈筋挛。又肝脉小急。痫螈筋挛。盖小儿血气未定。神气尚弱。因而惊恐。神无所根据。又动于肝。
肝主筋。故痫螈筋挛。病久气弱小儿。易为虚实。多服镇
坠寒凉之药。复损其气。故行步动作如痴。内经云。暴挛痫眩。足不任身。取天柱穴者是也。天柱
穴乃足太阳之脉所发。阳痫附而行也。又云。癫痫螈 。不知所苦。两跷主之。男阳女阴。洁古老
人云。昼发取阳跷申脉。夜发取阴跷照海。先各灸二七壮。阳跷申脉穴在外踝下容爪甲白肉际陷中。
阴跷照海穴。在足内踝下陷中是也。次与沉香天麻汤。服三剂而痊愈。
【沉香天麻汤】
沉香 川乌(炮。去皮) 益智(各二钱) 甘草(一钱半。炙)
姜屑(一钱半) 独活(四钱) 羌活(五钱) 天麻
黑附子(炮。去皮) 半夏(泡) 防风(各三钱) 当归(一钱半)
上十二味 咀。每服五钱。水二盏。姜三片。煎一盏温服。食前。忌生冷硬物。寒处坐卧。素
问举痛论云。恐则气下。精竭而上焦闭。又曰。从下上者。引而去之。以羌活、独活苦温。味之薄
者阴中之阳。引气上行。又入太阳之经为引用。故以为君。天麻、防风辛温以散之。当归、甘草辛
甘温。以补气血不足。又养胃气。故以为臣。黑附、川乌、益智。大辛温。行阳退阴。又治客寒伤
胃。肾主五液。入脾为涎。以生姜、半夏燥湿化痰。十剂云。重可去怯。以沉香辛温体重。清气去
怯安神。故以为使。气味相合。升阳补胃。恐怯之气。自得而平矣。
Wei Jingfu's son was four years old. An elder touched the top of his head and bestowed a mark (a religious ritual gesture). The monks chanted mantras. Consequently, he became greatly frightened, leading to fright convulsions, phlegm-saliva obstructing the throat, eyes rolling up showing the whites, stiffness and tension in the neck and back, and sounds in the throat. He regained consciousness after about one incense stick's time. Afterwards, every time he saw someone wearing black clothes, the condition would recur. Previously, he had taken heavy sedative drugs such as Cinnabar (Zhusha), Rhinoceros Horn (Xijiao), Dragon Bone (Longgu), and Musk (Shexiang) for more than forty days, but the previous symptoms persisted, and new symptoms appeared: walking movements were accompanied by a dull, foolish expression. He was then asked to treat him. The pulse was deep, wiry, and rapid. The *Huangdi Zhenjing* (Yellow Emperor's Classic of Acupuncture) states: "If the Heart pulse is full and large, it leads to epilepsy, convulsions, and tendon spasms; if the Liver pulse is small and urgent, it also leads to epilepsy, convulsions, and tendon spasms." This is likely because a child's blood and qi are not yet established, and their spirit (Shen) is still weak. Fright causes the spirit to have no foundation, which then disturbs the Liver. The Liver governs the tendons, hence the occurrence of epilepsy, convulsions, and tendon spasms. After the disease has lasted long, the child's Qi is weak, making them prone to both deficiency and excess conditions. The excessive use of heavy, sedative, cold, and cooling medicines further damaged their Qi, resulting in a dull, foolish expression during movement. The *Neijing* states: "Sudden spasms, epilepsy, and dizziness, with feet unable to support the body, should be treated by selecting the Tianzhu (Tian Zhu) acupoint." Tianzhu is where the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian originates, and Yang Epilepsy follows this meridian. It also states: "For epilepsy and convulsions where the patient does not know their suffering, the two Qiao vessels govern it. For males, select the Yang Qiao; for females, the Yin Qiao." Elder Jiegu said: "If attacks occur during the day, select Shenmai (Yang Qiao); if at night, select Zhaohai (Yin Qiao)." First, moxibustion was applied fourteen times to each. The Shenmai acupoint of the Yang Qiao is located in the depression below the lateral malleolus, at the junction of the nail and white flesh. The Zhaohai acupoint of the Yin Qiao is located in the depression below the medial malleolus. Subsequently, Chenxiang Tianma Tang (Agarwood and Gastrodia Decoction) was administered. After three doses, the patient recovered completely.
[Chenxiang Tianma Tang (Agarwood and Gastrodia Decoction)]
Chenxiang (Aquilaria Lignum Resinatum), Chuanwu (Aconiti Radix Praeparata, processed and peeled), Yizhi (Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus) [each 2 qian], Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, honey-fried) [1.5 qian], Jiangxie (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, sliced), Duhuo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix) [4 qian], Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix) [5 qian], Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma), Heifuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, processed and peeled), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma, soaked), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) [each 3 qian], Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) [1.5 qian].
The above twelve herbs are crushed into coarse powder. Each dose consists of 5 qian, boiled with 2 cups of water and 3 slices of fresh ginger until reduced to 1 cup. Take warm before meals. Avoid raw, cold, hard foods, and sitting or lying in cold places. The *Suwen: Juzhong Lun* (Plain Questions: Discussion on Pain) states: "Fear causes Qi to descend, essence becomes depleted, and the Upper Jiao becomes blocked." It also says: "For conditions rising from below, use guiding and dispersing methods." Qianghuo and Duhuo are bitter and warm, with thin flavors, representing Yang within Yin, guiding Qi upward. They enter the Taiyang meridian as guiding herbs, thus serving as the Sovereign (Jun) herb. Tianma and Fangfeng are acrid and warm to disperse pathogens; Danggui and Gancao are acrid, sweet, and warm to tonify insufficient Qi and Blood and nourish Stomach Qi, thus serving as the Minister (Chen) herbs. Heifuzi, Chuanwu, and Yizhi are highly acrid and warm, promoting Yang and retreating Yin, treating external cold injuring the Stomach. The Kidney governs the five fluids, which transform into saliva in the Spleen. Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger) and Banxia dry dampness and resolve phlegm. The *Shiji* (Ten Categories) states: "Heaviness can remove fear." Chenxiang is acrid, warm, and heavy in texture, clearing Qi, removing timidity, and calming the Spirit, thus serving as the Envoy (Shi) herb. The combined flavors ascend Yang and tonify the Stomach, allowing the fearful and timid Qi to naturally settle.