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(This syndrome is a case of convulsions and spasms.)

Commentary: This syndrome arises because parents, fearing their children may catch cold, overdress them or cover them too heavily, or keep the heated kang in winter rooms excessively warm. This causes infants to sweat daily. Excessive sweating depletes blood (Yin-blood), following the same principle as postpartum hemorrhage leading to spasms. The Liver governs blood storage; it nourishes itself with blood. When blood is sufficient, tendons are flexible; when blood is deficient, tendons become rigid. Hence, this is termed "self-disease of the Zang organ" (pathology originating within the specific organ system). However, this type of spasm is actually the root cause for spasms induced by the Six Exogenous Pathogens (Wind, Cold, Summerheat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire). Depletion of blood due to sweating constitutes a self-disease of the Zang, while excessive sweating also damages the defensive Yang (Wei Qi) that protects the exterior, making one susceptible to invasion by the Six Exogenous Pathogens. It relies entirely on enlightened physicians to thoroughly understand this principle and advise parents beforehand not to over-warm children to the point of excessive sweating and blood depletion, thereby secretly preventing countless diseases. This is known as "treating disease before it arises" (Preventive Treatment). The method for treating self-disease of the Zang focuses primarily on nourishing Yin and softening the Liver, identical to the treatment for postpartum blood-loss-induced spasms, where "sufficient blood extinguishes internal wind." Selectable formulas include Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill), Maizhong Huoxue Tang (Decoction for Reviving the Pulse), Sanjia Fumai Tang (Pulse-Reviving Decoction with Three Shells), Da Dingfeng Zhu (Great Wind-Calming Pearl) and Xiao Dingfeng Zhu (Small Wind-Calming Pearl), as well as Zhuanxi Gao (Zhuanxi Paste). Zhuanxi Gao is taken after spasms cease, four to five qian daily in two doses, as a measure to tonify Yin and manage recovery. Cases of spasms caused by erroneous sweating due to the Six Exogenous Pathogens follow this same principle. In rescuing patients with Warm Diseases or Warm-Heat Diseases who suffered from erroneous sweating, one must first preserve Yin, unlike in Cold Damage (Shanghan) cases where protecting Yang is urgent. This is because Cold diseases involve deficiency of Yang, whereas Warm diseases involve deficiency of Yin.

Regarding why infants are prone to spasms: First, their skin and muscles are thin, and their Zang-Fu organs are delicate, leading to the fastest progression of disease transmission. Second, contemporary physicians often fail to understand the mechanism by which the Six Qi (Six Exogenous Pathogens) affect humans; upon seeing any external contraction regardless of the pathogen, they immediately administer diaphoretic (sweat-inducing) methods. After spasms occur, they heavily employ bitter-cold herbs. Even among strong men and women aged twenty to thirty, deaths resulting from erroneous sweating leading to spasms are innumerable! Among infants with fragile constitutions, such cases are even more frequent. I dare not claim confidence in my medical skills, but having closely studied this condition for nearly thirty years, I feel I have thoroughly comprehended its principles. I have stated: If the nature of the Six Qi is understood, spasms will surely decrease. I venture to submit this to enlightened scholars for discussion on methods to save the world.