〔薛〕小儿忽然惊搐目直者,皆肝之风热也,若肝虚生风,则目连札而不搐,及
多欠切牙。若肝经风实,则目直大叫,呵欠项急顿闷。若肝经有热,则目直视不搐,
得心热则搐,气热则外生,气温则内生。其证,手寻衣领及乱捻物、宜用泻青丸。
壮热饮水喘闷,宜用泻白散。凡病之新久,皆能引肝风,风内动则上入于目,故目
为之连札。若热入于目,牵其筋脉,两 俱紧,不能转视,故目直也。亦有饮食停
滞中焦,致清阳不升,浊阴不降,肝木生发之气不得升,致生虚风者,须详审之,
若胸满腹痛,呕吐恶食,轻则消导化痰,重则探吐滞积,更须审其所伤寒物热物。
亦有因感冒吐泻,致使土败木侮而生虚风者,不可遽服惊药,宜用六君子加芍药、
木香、柴胡制肝补脾。若因脾土虚而自病者,用五味异功散。凡饮食停滞,痰涎壅
满而见惊证者,实因脾土虚弱,不能生金,金虚不能平木,故木邪妄动也,宜健脾
消食,其证自愈。若辄用惊风之药,反成其风而益其病也,况脏腑脆嫩,不可投以
峻厉之剂,治者慎之。
〔薛〕小儿睡中惊动,由心肾不足所致,盖心主血与神,肝藏血与魂,肺主气与魄,
肾主精与恐,小儿脏腑脆弱,易为惊恐,恐则气下,惊则心无所根据,神无所归,且
夫人之神气,寤则行于目,寐则栖于肾,今心肾既虚,则不能宁摄精神,故睡中惊
动也,治宜清心安神,用茯苓补心汤加酸枣仁、茯神、五味子。亦有惊吓而作者,
因击动其肝,故魂不安也,治宜镇惊定魂,用安神镇惊丸。若饮食间因惊而停滞者,
用六君子加神曲、浓朴。食既消而惊未定,用茯苓补心汤。若木火太过而心神不宁
者,用导赤散。风热相搏者,用柴胡栀子散。食郁生痰,惊动不安者,用四君以健
脾,神曲、半夏以化痰,山栀、芍药以清热。
[Xue] When a child suddenly experiences convulsions with eyes staring straight ahead, it is due to wind-heat in the Liver channel. If wind is generated due to Liver deficiency, the eyes will twitch without convulsion, accompanied by frequent yawning and teeth grinding. If there is excess wind in the Liver channel, the eyes stare straight, the child cries out loudly, yawns, has neck stiffness, and feels drowsy and stifled. If there is heat in the Liver channel, the eyes stare straight without convulsion; if accompanied by Heart heat, convulsions occur; if there is heat in the Qi level, the pathogen manifests externally; if there is warmth in the Qi level, the pathogen develops internally. The symptoms include grasping at clothing collars and randomly fiddling with objects, for which Xie Qing Wan (Drain the Blue Pill) is indicated. If there is high fever, thirst with drinking, wheezing, and chest oppression, Xie Bai San (Drain the White Powder) is indicated. Whether the disease is new or chronic, it can all draw out Liver wind. When wind moves internally and ascends into the eyes, the eyes twitch. If heat enters the eyes and pulls on the sinews, causing both eyes to become tight and unable to rotate, the eyes stare straight. There are also cases where food stagnation in the Middle Jiao prevents the clear Yang from ascending and the turbid Yin from descending, obstructing the rising of the Liver Wood's generating Qi, thereby generating empty wind; these must be carefully examined. If there is chest fullness, abdominal pain, vomiting, and aversion to food, mild cases are treated with methods to resolve stagnation and transform phlegm, while severe cases require induced vomiting to expel accumulated stagnation. One must further examine whether the ingested items were cold or hot. There are also cases where cold damage, vomiting, and diarrhea cause the Earth (Spleen) to fail and the Wood (Liver) to overact (rebellious control), generating empty wind; in such cases, one should not hastily administer anti-convulsant medicines. Instead, Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) added with Shaoyao (Peony Root), Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix), and Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) should be used to subdue the Liver and tonify the Spleen. If the condition arises solely from Spleen Earth deficiency, Wu Wei Yi Gong San (Five Ingredient Decoction for Extraordinary Merit) is used. In all cases where food stagnation and excessive phlegm-fluids present with signs of fright, the root cause is actually Spleen Earth weakness failing to generate Lung Metal; when Lung Metal is deficient, it cannot restrain Liver Wood, causing the Wood pathogen to move recklessly. It is appropriate to strengthen the Spleen and digest food, after which the syndrome will heal spontaneously. If one indiscriminately uses medicines for treating wind-stroke or infantile convulsions, it may exacerbate the wind and worsen the illness. Moreover, since the Zang-Fu organs are delicate and tender, harsh and drastic agents should not be administered; practitioners must exercise caution.
[Xue] Frightened movements during sleep in children are caused by insufficiency of the Heart and Kidney. The Heart governs Blood and Spirit (Shen); the Liver stores Blood and Hun (Ethereal Soul); the Lungs govern Qi and Po (Corporeal Soul); the Kidneys store Essence and Fear. Children have fragile Zang-Fu organs and are easily frightened. Fear causes Qi to sink downward, while fright leaves the Heart Spirit without support and the Shen without a dwelling. Furthermore, human Shen-Qi circulates through the eyes when awake and resides in the Kidneys when asleep. Now that the Heart and Kidney are deficient, they cannot calm and secure the Spirit, resulting in frightened movements during sleep. Treatment should focus on clearing the Heart and calming the Spirit, using Fu Ling Bu Xin Tang (Poria Tonifying the Heart Decoction) added with Suanzaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen), Fushen (Poria with Hostwood), and Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus). There are also cases caused by fright, where impact disturbs the Liver, causing the Hun to be unsettled; treatment should focus on settling fright and stabilizing the Hun, using An Shen Zhen Jing Wan (Calming the Spirit and Settling Fright Pill). If food stagnation occurs due to fright during eating, Liu Jun Zi Tang added with Shenqu (Massa Medicata Fermentata) and Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) is used. Once the food is digested but the fright remains unsettled, Fu Ling Bu Xin Tang is used. If excessive Wood-Fire causes Heart Spirit unrest, Dao Chi San (Guide Out the Red Powder) is used. If Wind-Heat combats each other, Chai Hu Zhi Zi San (Bupleurum and Gardenia Powder) is used. For food depression generating phlegm and causing frightful restlessness, Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) is used to strengthen the Spleen, Shenqu and Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) to transform phlegm, and Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus) and Shaoyao to clear heat.