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Humans refer to this condition as "Slow Convulsion" (Man Jing), but I alone call it "Slow Syndrome" (Man Zheng). This syndrome often develops after a severe illness, or because quack physicians, seeing the illness appear cured, fail to guard against its recurrence. Alternatively, initial errors in sweating (Fa Han), purging (Xia), or vomiting/diarrhea lasting long periods lead to extreme deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach, thus forming the Slow Syndrome. Although the characters "Slow" (Man) and "Gentle/Sluggish" (Huan) are used in contrast to "Urgent/Acute" (Ji), the reason this syndrome forms is due to the negligence and slowness of parents. They may ignore continuous sweating, or ignore persistent vomiting and diarrhea, resulting in prolonged sweating depleting Yang Qi (Yang energy), prolonged vomiting damaging Stomach Qi, and prolonged diarrhea severing Spleen Qi, leading to a difficult-to-cure disease; hence it is called "Slow Syndrome." What "convulsion" is there in Slow Syndrome? Those who call Slow Syndrome "Convulsion" are quacks. Seeing the child's eyes rolling back, limbs twitching, and fists clenched—shapes resembling convulsions—they name it "Convulsion." Treating it as such, whether by pushing/massage (Tui Na) or moxibustion/fire therapy, is like throwing stones into a well where a child has already fallen. The essence of Slow Syndrome is Spleen Deficiency (Pi Xu). The eyelids belong to the Spleen; when the Spleen fails, the eyelids cannot close tightly, so the eyes remain open during sleep (Sleeping with Eyes Open). When deficiency reaches an extreme, the Spleen loses Yuan Qi (Primal Qi), causing the eyes to lack spirit and be often drowsy. When the Spleen fails, dry saliva loses its control, stagnating in the throat and producing a sound like sawing. Hands and feet are governed by the Spleen and Stomach; when they fail, the four limbs become cold. Extreme deficiency generates cold, leading to green-colored diarrhea and clear, profuse urination. From this, one knows it is a Slow Spleen Wind syndrome. If treated for Convulsion, there is no Convulsion to resolve; if wind is dispelled, there is no Wind pathogen to remove; if phlegm is eliminated, there is no Phlegm turbidity to clear; if heat is cleared, there is no Heat pathogen to dissipate. There is only dry phlegm and deficient heat fluctuating within the Spleen. Treatment should employ Gu Zhen Tang (Solidify the True Decoction) added with Tian Ma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma) and Gou Teng (Uncariae Ramulus cum Uncis), or Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) added with Pao Jiang (Prepared Ginger), or Li Zhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) added with Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata).

Whenever a child enters the stage of Slow Syndrome, only six or seven out of ten can be saved. At this stage, the Lung, Heart, and Spleen organs are all deficient, and the Stomach and Large Intestine fu-organs are all failing. If deficiency exists but life force is not severed, survival is possible even over a long period; however, if Stomach Qi is exhausted, survival is impossible. Even if strong medicines are forced upon the patient to achieve temporary survival, living for one or two days is not true recovery. Yet, without this false survival, the efficacy of the medicine cannot be demonstrated. I have seen many cases: those who accept treatment readily tend to survive; those who hesitate often die despite medication; those who firmly refuse treatment will die even if medicine is given. There is no other secret; one need only observe the "Precious Color" (Bao Se - healthy luster) on the face and probe for signs of vitality in the Stomach area, and life and death will be clear as day.

My youngest daughter, in the winter of the Ren Yin year, coincided with the passing of my father. Due to improper care, her cold diarrhea developed into Slow Syndrome. My nephew had the same syndrome, but his hot diarrhea developed into Slow Syndrome. My brother-in-law heard that Monk Yuan Bo was proficient in this field and summoned him for treatment. The monk demanded high fees daily; the pills were the size of mung beans, costing three qian of silver per pill. After multiple doses, the condition worsened. My daughter’s eyes remained closed for about ten days. Asking the wet nurse, I learned she was still breastfeeding, and the Precious Color remained on her face. I used Gu Zhen Tang added with 5 fen of Fu Zi. After three doses, her eyes opened briefly then closed again. I surmised the medicinal power had not yet reached the target, so I continued administration for ten consecutive doses, and she recovered. The nephew’s Slow Syndrome was similar in nature but opposite in thermal character (hot vs. cold); knowing it was incurable, I advised against aggressive treatment. My brother-in-law accused me of bias due to kinship, claiming I was stingy with Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) and Fu Zi, leading to a rift with my sister. Monk Yuan Bo saw my nephew’s robust appearance and confidently promised recovery. I rebuked him angrily, saying, "Do you consider robustness a sign of survival? Have you not considered that heat causes Qi to appear vigorous? Moreover, in hot diarrhea, using Ren Shen when Lung Heat is present damages the Lung. Without it, there is no cure for Slow Syndrome. You might think to clear Lung Heat first then use Ren Shen, but clearing heat would instantly sever Spleen Qi. It cannot be cleared, nor can it be tonified. How can there be survival?" The monk fell silent and left. Three days later, the nephew died. This case proves that although both are named Slow Syndrome, their thermal natures are diametrically opposed, a distinction that must not be overlooked. Hot Slow Syndrome is rare but worthy of study by medical practitioners.