(按此一条,螈痉兼有,其因于寒湿者,则兼太阳寒水气,其泄泻太甚,下多亡阴者,木气来乘,则螈矣)
按中湿即痉者少,盖湿性柔而下行,不似风刚而上升也。其间有兼风之痉,《名医类案》中有
一条云∶“小儿吐 欲作痫者,五苓散最妙”;本论湿温上焦篇,有三仁汤一法;邪入心包,用清宫
汤去莲心、麦冬,加银花赤小豆皮一法;用紫雪丹一法;银翘马勃散一法;千金苇茎汤加滑石、杏仁
一法;而寒湿例中,有形似伤寒,舌白不渴,经络拘急,桂枝姜附汤一法,凡此非必皆现痉病而后治。
盖既感外邪,久则致痉,于其未痉之先,知系感受何邪,以法治之,而痉病之源绝矣,岂不愈于见痉
治痉哉!若儿科能于六淫之邪,见几于早,吾知小儿之痉病必少。湿久致痉者多,盖湿为浊邪,最善
弥漫三焦,上蔽清窍,内蒙膻中,学人当于前中焦下焦篇中求之。由疟痢而致痉者,见其所伤之偏
阴偏阳而补救之,于疟痢门中求之。
燥气化火,消烁津液,亦能致痉,其治略似风温,学人当于本论前三焦篇秋燥门中求之。但正
秋之时,有伏暑内发,新凉外加之证,燥者宜辛凉甘润,有伏暑则兼湿矣,兼湿则宜苦辛淡,甚则苦
辛寒矣,不可不细加察焉。燥气化寒,胁痛呕吐,法用苦温,佐以甘辛。
(Note: In this clause, convulsions and spasms occur simultaneously. If the etiology is cold-dampness, it involves the Cold-Water Qi of the Taiyang (Greater Yang) channel; if diarrhea is excessively severe, leading to a massive loss of Yin fluids, the Wood Qi [Liver] will invade due to deficiency, resulting in convulsions.)
Generally, spasms caused solely by dampness are rare, because the nature of dampness is soft and descends, unlike wind which is rigid and ascends. Among these, there are cases where wind is combined with dampness to cause spasms. *Famous Medical Cases* records one case stating: "For infants suffering from vomiting and impending epilepsy, Wu Ling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria) is most effective"; in the Upper Jiao chapter on Damp-Warmth of this treatise, there is a method using San Ren Tang (Three-Seed Decoction); when pathogenic factors enter the Pericardium, there is a method using Qing Gong Tang (Palace-Clearing Decoction) with Nelumbinis Plumula (Sacred Lotus Plumule) and Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong) removed, plus Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (Jinyinhua) and Phaseoli Semen Rubrum (Chixiaodou) added; there is a method using Zi Xue Dan (Purple Snow Pill); there is a method using Yin Qiao Ma Bo San (Honeysuckle, Toadflax, and Alkanna Powder); there is a method using Qianjin Wei Jing Tang (Qianjin Reed Rhizome Decoction) plus Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu) and Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Xingren) added [Note: Original text says Huashi and Xingren, corrected to standard WHO terms for context but keeping original ingredients]: Coeli Fructus (Huashi) and Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Xingren); and in examples of Cold-Dampness, where symptoms resemble Taiyang disease, with a white tongue coating and no thirst, and stiffness/tension of the collaterals, there is a method using Guizhi Jiang Fu Tang (Cinnamon Twig, Ginger, and Aconite Decoction). All these methods do not necessarily require waiting for spasm symptoms to manifest before treatment. Essentially, once external pathogens have invaded, prolonged illness can lead to spasms. Before spasms occur, identifying the specific pathogen involved and treating accordingly cuts off the source of the spasm disease. Is this not superior to treating only after spasms appear? If pediatricians could detect the signs early regarding the Six Excesses (Six Pathogenic Factors), I believe infantile spasms would be significantly reduced. Spasms caused by long-standing dampness are common, as dampness is turbid pathogenic factor that easily diffuses throughout the Three Jiaos (Triple Burners), obscuring the clear orifices above and disturbing the Chest Center (Shanzhong) within. Students should seek relevant discussions in the Middle and Lower Jiao chapters of this treatise. For spasms resulting from malaria and dysentery, one should observe whether the injury leans toward Yin or Yang and provide remedial treatment, seeking methods within the sections on malaria and dysentery.
Dryness transforming into Fire, consuming and scorcing Body Fluids, can also cause spasms. Its treatment is slightly similar to Wind-Warmth. Students should seek methods in the Autumn Dryness section of the first three Jiao chapters of this treatise. However, during early autumn, there are conditions where latent Summerheat erupts internally while fresh Coolness attacks externally. For Dryness, acrid-cool and sweet-moistening methods are appropriate; if latent Summerheat is present, it combines with Dampness. When combined with Dampness, bitter-acrid and diaphoretic/diuretic methods are appropriate; in severe cases, bitter-acrid-cold methods are used. This requires careful examination. When Dryness transforms into Cold, presenting with hypochondriac pain and vomiting, the treatment method uses bitter-warm agents, assisted by sweet-acrid agents.