窦材治一小儿,因观神戏受惊,时时悲啼,不食如醉,已九十日,危甚。令灸巨阙穴五十壮,即知人事。
曰∶适间心上有如火滚下即好,服镇心丸而愈。
万密斋治一小儿,年五岁,梦中惊哭,抱其母叫怕,此因被惊吓得之。为制一方,用人参、麦冬、茯神、
黄连、枣仁、柏子仁、炙甘草为末,山药粉糊丸,黍米大,每服二十五丸,灯草汤下,未尽剂而安。(此即叶氏所
谓清火兼安神之法。)
龚子才治一小儿五岁,因看会,见装鬼脸被惊吓,两眼黑睛翻向里,白睛翻向外,视物微觉一线,诸医束
手。龚视之曰∶此儿曾经出痘疹否?对曰∶未。曰∶俟出痘疹可治。逾月,痘疹盛行,其儿似有将出之机,因
延治。以棉胭脂水泡出汁,慢火熬成膏,涂儿两眼胞上下,一日涂两次,直至痘疹靥后,其眼复旧。(未曾发明其故。)
吴孚先治一小儿,先天薄弱,胆气甚少。六岁时,在塾中见师以戒方在渠背后责同学生,惊而受病,不时
惊叫,叫必左脚提起,震地一声,五六年矣,百治不效。吴曰∶肝喜惊呼,肝气亏损极矣。然肾为肝母,心为
肝子,用补肝肾并镇心安神之药,五十余剂,丸药三料而愈。
杨士瀛云∶小儿口噤不开,猪乳饮之良。月内胎惊,同朱砂牛乳少许抹口甚妙。此法良家方书未知用,予
传之东宫,吴观察子病此,用之有效。(《本草纲目》。)
冯楚瞻治张氏儿,周岁卧低坑,睡中坠下,毫无伤损,嘻笑如故,但自后右手足瘫软不举,手不能握,足
不能立。脉则洪大,久按无力,知为先天不足,复于睡中惊触,气血不周行之故。与熟地四钱,麦冬一钱五分,
炒白术二钱四分,牛膝二钱,五味子四分,制附子五分,煎小半钟,入人参汁二三分冲服,六剂手足轻强,精
神更倍。
陆养愚治陈云谷子,年十四,四月终自馆中归,偶戏水旁,一人在后曰∶师来也。因惊扑水,头面俱湿,
回家夜间身热头痛,至晨烦躁不安,胡言乱语。及问之,欲言而不能出声。或谓六脉浮紧,此伤寒也,表气郁
冒,致里气不舒,故烦乱,宜大汗之,用五积散,令密屋重覆,汗出透衾。明日手足搐搦,项背强直,气出不
纳,自汗不语,又投抱龙丸、钩藤散不效。脉之,两手浮数而散,关尺沉弱而涩,此因惊恐,肝肾受伤。经曰∶
惊则气乱。胡言乱语,气乱故也。语不能出者,气下故也。初时以平肝镇心之中,少佐以壮气血之品,病当自
愈。乃误以为伤寒,大发其汗,汗多则亡阳,变而为痉,强直搐搦,盖痉症也。经曰∶阳气者,精则养神,柔
则养筋。今阳气竭,血无所附以养筋,故不柔和也。阳气尽浮于外,故气不纳而自汗不语。急用大料参、 为
君,以救垂绝之阳;四物为臣,入天麻以养肝经之血;枣仁、五味为佐,以收耗散之神;甘草、麦冬为使,以
彻浮游之火。二剂顿减,复以朱砂安神丸间服,旬日而安。(汗即血也,汗多则伤阴,肝失所养,故变为痉。
今反以为亡阳,故泥于大汗亡阳之旧说也。)
万密斋治胡凤 子,痘后伤食成疳,肌瘦发穗。一医治之已效,别生一病,似痫非痫,昼则安静,夜则梦
寐,间抱其乳母叫云∶我怕我怕。如人捕之之状。询其由,儿性畏药,医来灌服,必将针火恐吓之。盖恐则伤
肾,又肾藏志,虚则神志不宁而心惊,寤则神栖于心,寐则神栖于肾,脾为往来出入之门户,以补脾为主,安
神次之。补脾肥儿丸,安神丸,调理半月而安。(此恐也,非惊也,附见于此,未尝不可。第不可误认为惊,以
其法蒙混施治耳。)
英山大尹吴清溪子病惊风,皆作风治之不效。曰∶非风也,乃因惊得之。风从肝治,惊从心治,不识病源,
如何有效?乃取至圣保命丹治之,搐止矣。(惊从胆治,子和之论甚明,非从心也。)
马元仪治一童子,读书见其师因恐致病。从朔日起,昏愦不知人事,七日乃苏。群作惊治,延久不瘥。曰∶
此恐也,非惊也。或问惊恐何以别之?曰∶惊从外来,恐从内起,恐则伤肾。肾伤于恐,真水受亏,龙火泛越,
扰乱神明,复遇朔日,谓之重阳,真阴更为之用,至七日而阴气来复,然后龙归窟宅,如风云散而天气清明也。
治而壮水之主,以镇阳光。以六味地黄汤补其真阴,加远志以通神明,肉桂导龙火归源,服此后竟不作。
小儿急惊,因闻大声,或惊而发搐,搐止如故。此热生于心,身热面赤引饮,口中气热,二便黄赤,甚则
发搐。盖热甚生风,阳盛而阴虚也。宜利惊丸除其痰热,不可用巴豆之药。
叶天士曰∶惊则气乱,虽大惊,未可竟以收复神气为主,当察色审症,有痰者清痰安神,有火者清火安神,
不可单用补剂,须活法处治为妙。
Wei Zhixiu recorded: Dou Cai treated a child who, after watching a religious drama, became frightened. The child frequently cried sadly and ate as if intoxicated. The illness had lasted ninety days, and the condition was critical. Dou Cai ordered moxibustion on the Jueque (CV14) acupoint for fifty moxa cones. The child immediately regained consciousness. Dou Cai said, "Just now, I felt heat rolling down from the heart like boiling fire, and then it improved. After taking Zhenxin Wan (Calming the Heart Pill), the child recovered."
Wan Mizhai treated a five-year-old child who cried in fear during sleep and clung to his mother calling out in terror. This was caused by fright. Wan Mizhai prescribed a formula consisting of Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), Fu Shen (Poria with Hostwood), Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Suan Zao Ren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen), Bai Zi Ren (Platycladi Semen), and Zhi Gan Cao (Prepared Licorice Root). These were ground into powder, mixed with Yam starch paste to form pills the size of millet seeds. Each dose consisted of twenty-five pills, taken with a decoction of Jie Cao (Scirpi Radiatis Caulis). The child stabilized before finishing one course of treatment. (This is what Ye Tianshi referred to as clearing heat/fire while calming the spirit.)
Gong Zicai treated a five-year-old child who was frightened by seeing someone wearing a mask at a temple fair. The child's pupils turned inward and sclerae outward, able to perceive only a sliver of light. Other physicians were helpless. Gong Zicai examined the child and asked, "Has this child ever had smallpox?" The family replied, "No." Gong said, "It can be cured when the smallpox erupts." A month later, smallpox was prevalent, and the child showed signs of impending eruption, so he was consulted again. Gong prepared a paste from cotton cochineal soaked in water, simmered slowly over low heat, and applied it to the child's upper and lower eyelids twice daily until the smallpox scabs fell off, restoring the eyes to normal. (The principle behind this was not explained.)
Wu Fuxian treated a child with weak congenital constitution and deficient Gallbladder Qi. At age six, while in school, the child saw the teacher punishing another student with a ruler behind him, leading to fright-induced illness. The child would suddenly cry out in fright, lifting the left foot to strike the ground loudly. This persisted for five or six years despite various treatments. Wu Fuxian said, "The Liver manifests through loud crying; here, Liver Qi is extremely depleted. Since the Kidney is the Mother of the Liver and the Heart is the Child of the Liver, I will use herbs to tonify the Liver and Kidney while calming the Heart and spirit. After more than fifty doses and three courses of pills, the child recovered."
Yang Shiying stated, "For children with trismus (lockjaw), drinking pig milk is effective. For neonatal fetal fright, applying a small amount of Cinnabar mixed with cow's milk to the mouth is excellent. This method is unknown in common medical texts; I passed it on to the Crown Prince. Wu Guancha's son suffered from this condition, and the method proved effective." (From *Bencao Gangmu*)
Feng Chuzhan treated Zhang's son, who was one year old. While sleeping in a low pit, he fell but sustained no injury and continued to laugh and play normally. However, afterward, his right hand and leg became flaccid and paralyzed, unable to grasp or stand. His pulse was surging and large but empty upon deep pressure. Feng diagnosed this as congenital deficiency compounded by fright during sleep, causing stagnation of Qi and Blood. He prescribed Shu Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata) 4 qian, Mai Dong 1.5 qian, Chao Bai Zhu (Stir-fried Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 2.4 qian, Niu Xi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix) 2 qian, Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus) 0.4 qian, and Zhi Fu Zi (Prepared Aconiti Lateralis Radix) 0.5 fen. Decocted to half a cup, mixed with 2-3 fen of Ren Shen juice. After six doses, the limbs became stronger and spirit doubled.
Lu Yangyu treated Chen Yunggu's son, aged fourteen. At the end of April, returning from school, he played near water. Someone behind him shouted, "The teacher is coming!" Startled, he fell into the water, wetting his head and face. That night, he developed fever and headache. By morning, he was restless, confused, and speaking nonsense. When questioned, he wanted to speak but could not produce sound. Some observed floating-tight pulses and diagnosed Taiyang Cold Damage (Shanghan), attributing the restlessness to exterior constraint blocking interior Qi flow, recommending heavy sweating with Wuji San in a sealed room. The next day, he developed convulsions, opisthotonos, inability to inhale deeply, spontaneous sweating, and mutism. Baolong Wan and Gouteng San failed. Pulses were floating-numerous and scattered on both hands, and deep-weak-choppy at Guan and Chi positions. Lu diagnosed Liver-Kidney injury due to fright. The Classics state: "Fright causes Qi chaos." Nonsense speech results from Qi chaos; inability to speak results from Qi sinking. Initially, soothing the Liver and calming the Heart with slight addition of Qi-Blood tonics should have healed him. Mistakenly treating it as Cold Damage and inducing heavy sweating led to Yang collapse, transforming into Jing Syndrome (spasm/stiffness). The Classics state: "Yang Qi nourishes the Spirit when refined, and tendons when soft." Now, with exhausted Yang, Blood lacks attachment to nourish tendons, causing stiffness. Yang floats externally, causing failure to inhale, sweating, and mutism. Urgently, large doses of Ren Shen were used as Sovereign herb to save failing Yang; Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) served as Minister, adding Tian Ma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma) to nourish Liver Blood; Suan Zao Ren and Wu Wei Zi served as Assistant to gather dissipating Spirit; Gan Cao and Mai Dong served as Envoy to clear floating Fire. Two doses brought immediate relief; intermittent use of Zhusha Anshen Wan led to recovery in ten days. (Sweat is blood; excessive sweating injures Yin, depriving the Liver of nourishment, thus causing spasm. Here, it was mistaken for Yang collapse, clinging to the old theory that heavy sweating causes Yang collapse.)
Wan Mizhai treated Hu Feng's son, who developed Gan syndrome (malnutrition/parasitic disorder) from food stagnation after smallpox, resulting in emaciation and sparse hair. One doctor's treatment was effective but induced a new condition resembling epilepsy but not quite. The child was calm by day but dreamt by night, occasionally hugging the wet nurse crying, "I'm afraid, I'm afraid," as if being chased. Inquiry revealed the child feared medicine; doctors used needles and cautery to intimidate him during administration. Fear injures the Kidney. The Kidney stores Zhi (Will); deficiency leads to unsettled spirit and fright. When awake, spirit resides in the Heart; when asleep, in the Kidney. The Spleen is the gateway of entry and exit. Treatment focused on tonifying the Spleen, followed by calming the spirit. Using Bupi Fei'er Wan and Anshen Wan,调理 (regulation) for half a month led to recovery. (This is Fear, not Fright. It is included here for reference, but one must not mistake Fear for Fright and apply inappropriate treatments.)
Wu Qingxi, magistrate of Ying Shan, treated his son for Jing Feng (convulsive disorder). All treatments targeting Wind failed. Wu said, "This is not Wind, but caused by Fright. Wind is treated via the Liver; Fright is treated via the Heart. Without knowing the source, how can there be efficacy?" He used Zhisheng Baoming Dan, stopping the convulsions. (Note: Fright is treated via the Gallbladder; Zhang Zihe's theory is clear, not via the Heart.)
Ma Yuanyi treated a boy whose teacher had become ill from Fear. From the first day of the lunar month, the boy was comatose and unconscious, reviving only after seven days. Others treated him for Fright, but the condition persisted. Ma said, "This is Fear, not Fright." Asked to distinguish them, Ma said, "Fright comes from outside; Fear arises from within. Fear injures the Kidney. Kidney injury from Fear depletes True Water, allowing Dragon Fire to float upward and disturb the Spirit. Meeting the first day of the month (Chong Yang) further depletes True Yin. On the seventh day, Yin Qi returns, allowing Dragon Fire to return to its lair, like clouds dispersing and sky clearing. Treatment should strengthen the Master of Water to suppress excessive Fire. Liuwei Dihuang Tang tonifies True Yin; Yuan Zhi (Polygalae Radix) opens the Spirit; Rou Gui (Cinnamomi Cortex) guides Dragon Fire back to its source. No recurrence occurred."
Pediatric Ji Jing (Acute Fright) occurs due to loud noises or fright inducing convulsions, resolving to normal afterwards. Heat generates in the Heart, presenting with fever, red face, thirst, hot breath, yellow-red urine and stool, and potentially convulsions. Excessive heat generates Wind, characterized by excess Yang and deficient Yin. Li Jing Wan should be used to remove Phlegm-Heat; Ban Dou (Seminarum Crotonis) should not be used.
Ye Tianshi stated, "Fright causes Qi chaos. Even in severe fright, one should not solely focus on recovering Spirit and Qi. One must observe complexion and symptoms. If Phlegm exists, clear Phlegm and calm Spirit; if Fire exists, clear Fire and calm Spirit. Do not use only tonics; flexible treatment is essential."