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The term "Wu Chu" (Misdiagnosed Convulsion) refers to the spasm syndrome caused by Shanghan disease. Stiffness of the head and neck, opisthotonos (back arching), and upward deviation of the eyes belong to the Taiyang channel; downward gaze, trismus (lockjaw) with inability to speak, traction of the limbs, and flexion of elbows and knees belong to the Yangming channel; oblique gaze to the left or right, and convulsions of the limbs to the left or right, belong to the Shaoyang channel. These are actually exterior syndromes of the Three Yang channels; how can they be confusedly termed Jing Feng (Wind Agitation/Convulsion)? The spasm is caused by mismanagement, hence it is now renamed Wu Chu. However, spasm is divided into Gang Jing (Stiff Spasm) and Rou Jing (Soft Spasm), and their treatments differ. Rou Jing is listed first, followed by Gang Jing. The causes leading to spasm and the formulas for treating spasm are detailed under the section on Wu Chu, making the syndromes and treatments orderly and well-founded. Those who understand should not consider my words as baseless.

(Exterior Wind with sweating constitutes Rou Jing, due to the soft nature of Wind.)
The Classics state: In a Taiyang disease with fever and sweating, if there is no aversion to cold, it is named Rou Jing. At the onset, symptoms include fever, spontaneous sweating, hot breath, yawning with a sense of stuffiness, trembling of the hands and feet, and in severe cases, opisthotonos. This is caused by Wind pathogen damaging the Wei Qi, leading to disharmony between Ying and Wei. Children with weak constitutions are most prone to this syndrome because their pores are not dense, leading to frequent and irregular sweating, which allows Wind pathogen to easily invade. Pediatric practitioners often see excessive sweating and lethargy in children and casually label it as Man Jing Feng (Slow Wind).

Commentary: The condition described here, where Wind pathogen damages Wei Qi, is originally a mild syndrome. If treated early with methods to release the muscle layer and harmonize Ying and Wei, the medicine will take effect immediately. Mistaking it for Man Jing Feng and recklessly administering tonifying agents would lead to disastrous consequences (This is the example cited by previous physicians where Man Jing Feng fails to respond to warming and tonifying therapies, transforming into Ji Jing Feng [Fast Wind]).

(Shanghan without sweating constitutes Gang Jing, due to the stiff nature of Cold.)
The Classics state: Taiyang Wind strike, when compounded by Cold-Dampness, transforms into spasm. Generally, Wind strike involves sweating. Ignorant people fail to realize this and overdress the child, causing profuse sweating. The sweat wets the clothing and swaddling clothes; prolonged dampness generates Cold, which infiltrates the joints, thus termed "compounded Cold-Dampness." Internal closure by Cold-Dampness leads to an absence of sweating, which is named Gang Jing. Symptoms at onset include aversion to Wind and Cold, fever, headache, and a tendency to cuddle close to the mother's embrace. Since infants cannot speak, parents may not initially notice the aversion to Cold despite the fever, nor the headache despite the lethargy. Physicians seeing only fever often indiscriminately diagnose Jing Feng, ignoring the exterior-interior aspects of Shanghan. They rely solely on sedative, cooling, and purgative treatments, suppressing the exterior pathogen and preventing its expulsion. This inevitably leads to the pathogen spreading to the Three Yang channels (Taiyang transmitting to Yangming, Yangming to Shaoyang). Consequently, symptoms such as feverish body with cold feet, stiff neck, heat throughout the head and body, red face and eyes, solitary head shaking, sudden trismus, opisthotonos, limb convulsions, and oblique eye gaze appear. This represents the complete spasm of the Three Yang channels, corresponding to the "Four Syndromes and Eight Signs" known in pediatrics. At this stage, one should strictly follow the channel pathways to administer medication, resolving the pathogens of the Three Yang channels, and the illness will resolve rapidly. If this approach is abandoned, the pathogen will enter the Three Yin channels from the Three Yang, presenting with fever, abdominal pain, curled limbs, ability to bend but not extend, becoming a critical and dangerous Yin Spasm syndrome. Yet, it is still called Man Jing Feng, and reckless use of Wind-dispelling herbs will lead to imminent death. Alas! (This corresponds to the case cited by previous physicians where Ji Jing Feng fails to respond to cooling and purgative therapies, or results from excessive vomiting and purging, transforming into Man Jing Feng.)

Commentary: Does Shanghan transform into spasm on the very first day? No, this is caused by physician error. The pathogen enters via the Taiyang channel. The Taiyang meridian ascends to the head, runs down the back, and reaches the feet. When the meridian is affected by pathogen, Ying and Wei circulation becomes sluggish, causing pain and stiffness in the head, neck, back, and feet. Pediatricians, seeing this, erroneously diagnose it as Jing Feng and apply sedative treatments, trapping the pathogen and inducing spasm. Failing to recognize this as iatrogenic error, they attribute it to an inherent childhood condition. This is the "error within an error." I have observed cases in early summer during the Ming Dynasty where children died of convulsions or remained unconscious for three to five days, all cured by administering Tianbao Caiwei Tang. His son, Yu Zhu, widely disseminated this formula, yet no school elaborated on its principles, leaving later generations unable to grasp its meaning. I shall briefly elucidate: Tianbao Caiwei Tang is a combination of Baidu San (Decoction to Rescue from Toxins), Bu Huan Jin Zhengqi San (Decoction to Preserve Metal and Regulate Righteous Qi), and Shengma Gegen Tang (Kudzu Root and Ligusticum Decoction). Its actions are as follows: Qiang Huo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix) and Du Huo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix) target the Taiyang channel to dispel Cold and release the exterior; Cang Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Qian Hu (Peucedani Radix), Sheng Ma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), Ge Gen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Hou Po (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), and Fu Ling (Poria) target the Yangming channel to resolve Dampness and release the muscle layer; Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma) and Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix) enter the Shaoyang channel to harmonize the interior and exterior; Jie Geng (Platycodonis Radix), Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), Zhi Ke (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), Huo Xiang (Agastaches Herba), and Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) enter the Taiyin channel to harmonize Ying and expel fluid retention. One might ask: Since these are primarily exterior-resolving herbs for the Three Yang channels, why do they involve the Taiyin channel? The answer is that children rely entirely on the Spleen and Lung to govern the distribution of medicinal properties. This formula actually supports the Middle Qi to push out the pathogen; it does not guide the pathogen inward. Although it contains seventeen ingredients, none are heavy minerals or harsh drugs like San Huang Si Shen, yet it achieves life from death. Is this not proof that dispersing and resolving herbs can revive the dying? The previous deaths were due to mistaking Shanghan for Jing Feng and failing to disperse the pathogen, leading to pathogen closure. The current survival is merely correcting the previous omission, not possessing any miraculous secret. However, this treatment is still considered a last resort. If treated early according to the channels, such critical danger would be avoided. It is like a hunter setting four nets, hoping to catch just one prey. But if one follows my compiled method: upon seeing fever and lethargy in a child, immediately distinguish between sweating and non-sweating. For those with sweating, resolve the muscle-layer pathogen; for those without sweating, open the Ying and Wei to guide the pathogen outward. The mental state will naturally clear, and what need is there for闭塞昏迷 (obstruction and coma) transformations?