五软者,头软、项软、手软、脚软、肌肉软是也。无故不举头,肾疳之病。项脉软而难收,治虽暂瘥,他年必再发。
手软则手垂四肢无力,亦懒抬眉,若得声圆,还进饮食,乃慢脾风候也,尚堪医治。肌肉软,则肉少皮宽自离,吃食不
长肌肉,可服钱氏桔连丸,莫教泻利频并,却难治疗。脚软者,五岁儿不能行,虚羸脚软细小,不妨荣卫,但服参 等
药,并服钱氏地黄丸,长大自然肌肉充满。又有口软则虚舌退场门,阳盛更须堤防,必须治膈却无妨,唇青气喘则难调治
也。
桔连丸 见第八十一问。
上为细末,别研入麝香五分,用猪胆七个,分药入胆内,浆水煮,候临熟,以针微扎破,以熟为度,取出以粟米粥
和丸如绿豆大,每服至二三十丸,米饮下,量大小与之无时。
地黄丸 见第八问。
五硬则仰头取气,难以动摇,气壅疼痛连胸膈间,脚手心如冰冷而硬,此为风症难治。肚大青筋,急而不宽,用去
积之剂,积气消即安。恐面青心腹硬者,此症性命难保。如风症,只根据中风治之,必有回生之理,小续命汤加减治之尤
良,羌活散等剂皆可用。
小续命汤 治中风不省人事,涎鸣反张,失音厥冷。
麻黄(去节) 人参 黄芩 川芎 芍药 甘草(炙) 杏仁(去皮尖、炒) 汉防己 官桂(去皮各一两半) 防
风(七钱半) 附子(炮、去皮脐、七钱半)
上除附子杏仁外,并捣为粗末,次入二味夹和。每一钱,姜枣煎,食前服。有热去附子,官桂减半。
羌活散 见第二十问。
Wu Ruan (Five Softnesses) refers to five conditions: softness of the head, softness of the neck, softness of the hands, softness of the feet, and softness of the muscles. Inability to lift the head without cause is a symptom of Shen Gan (Kidney Caries). If the neck vessels are soft and difficult to support, although treatment may bring temporary relief, it will inevitably recur in later years.
Hand softness manifests as drooping hands and weakness in the four limbs, along with reluctance to raise the eyebrows. If the voice is clear and the child can eat, this indicates Man Pi Feng (Slow Spleen Wind), which is still treatable. Muscle softness presents with little flesh, loose and flaccid skin, and failure to gain muscle mass despite eating. Qian Shi Jie Lian Wan (Qian's Scutellaria and Coptis Pill) can be administered; one must prevent frequent diarrhea, as that would make treatment difficult. Foot softness refers to a five-year-old child who cannot walk, presenting with emaciation, weak and thin legs. As long as Ying Wei (Defensive and Nutritive Qi) are not compromised, administering herbs such as Renshen (Ginseng Root) and Qian Shi Di Huang Wan (Qian's Rehmannia Pill) will naturally lead to full muscle development upon adulthood. Another condition is Kou Ruan (Mouth Softness), characterized by a flaccid tongue protruding beyond the gums. One must be vigilant against excessive Yang; treating disorders of the Ge (Diaphragm) poses no harm, but if cyanosis of the lips and panting occur, regulation becomes difficult.
Jie Lian Wan is described in Question 81.
Grind the herbs into a fine powder. Separately grind 5 fen of She Xiang (Musk) into seven pig gallbladders, dividing the powder among them. Boil in water until nearly cooked, then prick slightly with a needle. Cook until done, remove, and mix with millet porridge to form pills the size of mung beans. Administer 20–30 pills per dose with rice drink, according to the child's age, at any time.
Di Huang Wan is described in Question 8.
Wu Ying (Five Stiffnesses) manifests as holding the head back to breathe, difficulty moving, Qi stagnation causing pain radiating to the chest and diaphragm, and cold, stiff hands and feet. This belongs to Feng Zheng (Wind Syndrome) and is difficult to treat. A distended abdomen with visible blue veins, tight and uncomfortable, requires Ji Zhi agents (accumulation-dispelling formulas); once the accumulated Qi dissipates, peace returns. If the face is cyanotic and the heart/abdomen hard, life is endangered. For wind syndromes, treating according to Zhong Feng (Stroke) principles offers hope for recovery. Xiao Xu Ming Tang (Minor Continuation of Life Decoction) modified is particularly effective; Qiang Huo San (Notopterygium Powder) and other formulas are also applicable.
Xiao Xu Ming Tang treats stroke with loss of consciousness, phlegm rattling in the throat, opisthotonos, aphonia, and cold extremities.
Ma Huang (Ephedrae Herba, removed nodes) 1.5 liang, Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) 1.5 liang, Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix) 1.5 liang, Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma) 1.5 liang, Shao Yao (Paeoniae Radix) 1.5 liang, Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, honey-fried) 1.5 liang, Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum, peeled, tipped, stir-fried) 1.5 liang, Han Fang Ji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Rhizoma) 1.5 liang, Guan Gui (Cinnamomi Cortex, peeled) 1.5 liang, Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) 7.5 qian, Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, processed, peeled, navel removed) 7.5 qian.
Except for Fu Zi and Xing Ren, crush all ingredients into coarse powder. Mix in the two excluded herbs. Take 1 qian per dose, decoct with Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) and Da Zao (Jujubae Fructus), and administer before meals. If heat signs are present, remove Fu Zi and reduce Guan Gui by half.
Qiang Huo San is described in Question 20.