万密斋治汪前川子,年四岁,七月病惊搐,医以拿法掐止之。八月连发二次,仍用掐法,九月又发。万曰∶
痰聚成惊,惊久成痫,幼科拿法,即古之按摩法也。病在荣卫者可用之,使荣卫之气行,亦发散之意。病在脏
腑,则不能去矣。久则痰塞心窍,不亟治,必成痼疾,古所谓五痫者,自此得之。因立方以黄连泻心中之邪热
为君;枳实、半夏去胸中之积痰为臣;朱砂、寒水石之坠以安其神为佐;甘遂逐上焦之痰饮,麝香以利窍为使。
神曲作糊,丸如龙眼大,每服一丸,用 猪心,铜刀批开,纳丸其中缚煮,待心熟取丸,和心服之,并饮其汤,
名曰断痫丸,服猪心五个乃愈。
陈氏子二岁病惊风,失治成痫,每月一发。来求药,万用六子散末,分三色∶(巧于点染。)一色青黛相和,名
安魂散,(青入肝,肝脏魂。)寅卯时(属木。)竹叶煎汤下;一色朱砂相和,名宁神散,(赤入心,心藏神。)
巳午时(属火。)灯心汤下;一色入轻粉少许,名定魄散,(白入肺,肺藏魄。)申酉时(属金。)薄荷汤下。调
理半年而安。大凡痫病初得之者,十疗八九。如过二三年后者,不可治矣。时医有用吐法者,有用滚痰丸下之者,
徒损胃气,百无一效。有以寿星丸治之者,一杯之水,岂能减车薪之火哉。
万婿李中庵,九岁时得痫病,尝昏仆,口眼俱合,手足不动,喉无痰声,但僵卧如醉人,知其为心病也。
乃用东垣安神丸去地黄,加茯神、远志、石菖蒲以通其心窍,南星、珍珠末、铁华粉以坠其痰。汤浸蒸饼,丸
如黍米大,(凡用镇坠药及治上焦病者,丸皆宜细。)灯心汤下,调治一年而愈。
万之季男,七八岁时得痫病,发则面先青惨,目定,口中有痰,如嚼物状,昏仆一食顷乃苏。因教其母,
但见面青目定时,即以鹅翎探吐其痰,(亦是一法。)如法而行,前后吐痰二升许,痫竟不发。如此调理,三年而安。
大抵痫病皆痰也,虽有五兽之名,(猪、羊、鸡、犬、牛是也,巢氏之说,后人多非之。)各随其脏,详见钱氏
方中。凡气实者控涎丹,气虚者断痫丸,愈后以琥珀抱龙丸调之,未有不安者。但年深者,不可治也。(《三因方》
控涎用甘遂、大戟、
白芥子等分,末煮糊丸。)
薛立斋治一小儿患惊痫,吐痰困倦,半饷而苏,诸药不效,年至十三而频发。用肥浓紫河车,生研烂,入
人参、当归末捣丸桐子大。每服三十五丸,日进三五服,乳化下,一月渐愈,又佐以八珍汤全愈。(雄按∶紫
河车可以羊肾代之。)
一儿七岁患惊痫,令其恣食人乳,后发渐疏而轻。至十四复发,用乳不效,亦用河车丸数具而愈,常用
加减八味丸而安。后至二十三岁后发,而手足厥冷,仍用前法,佐以八味丸,十全大补汤而痊。又治数小儿,
皆以补中益气汤,六君子汤,六味、八味等丸,相间用之,皆得全愈。
冯楚瞻治汪氏儿九岁,因惊痫,屡发抽掣,语言不清,势甚危笃。脉之坚弦,久按无力。询其由,痘疹后
跣足行走,忽脚面浮肿,疑为草露之毒,服清凉解毒数剂,渐肿至腿。又服五子、五皮饮数剂,忽一日僵仆卒
倒,乃成惊痫之疾。曰∶此痘后气血大虚,所以脚肿。误服清凉,乃肿至腿。复加渗利削伐,至虚火上乘。无
故卒倒,犹大人中风症也。惟宜峻补气血,佐以舒筋活络之药,乃用当归、白术、白芍、煨天麻、熟地、茯苓、
牛膝、银花、秦艽、熟附子之类。三四帖后,其势稍缓,以前方冲人参汤,调理二月而安。
万密斋治一儿,四岁,病惊痰涌,针其涌泉穴而醒,自后不发。谓曰∶未服豁痰之药,恐发痫也。不信。
未半年似痰迷,饮食便溺皆不知,时复昏倒,果成痫矣。问其发时能自知乎?曰∶目昏即发,乃与钱氏安神丸
加胆草服之。教其父曰∶病将发时,急掐两手合谷。如此调理,一月而安。
一小儿十岁,久得痫疾。诊之,两目浑白,无有睛光,语言謇涩,举动痴迷。辞不可治,另延医治之,竟
无成功。
黄州守万鲁庵子病痫,见其容貌俊伟,性格聪明,谓曰∶可治。乃与琥珀抱龙丸方,使自制服之。
Wan Mizhai treated the son of Wang Qianchuan, who was four years old. In July, he suffered from convulsions and spasms due to fright. The physician used the "na" method (pinching and grasping technique) to stop the symptoms. In August, it relapsed twice, still using the pinching method, and in September, it occurred again. Wan said: "Phlegm accumulation leads to fright; long-standing fright transforms into epilepsy. The pediatric 'na' method is essentially ancient massage therapy. It can be used when the disease is in the Ying and Wei (nutritive and defensive qi), promoting their circulation, which also has a dispersing effect. However, if the disease is in the Zang-Fu organs, this method cannot eliminate the pathogen. Over time, phlegm blocks the orifices of the Heart. If not treated urgently, it will inevitably become a chronic illness. This is how the so-called five types of epilepsy originated." Therefore, he prescribed a formula with Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) as the sovereign drug to clear evil heat from the Heart; Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus) and Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) as minister drugs to remove accumulated phlegm in the chest; Zhusha (Cinnabaris) and Hanshuishi (Halloysitum Rubrum) as assistant drugs to settle the spirit through heavy sedation; Gansui (Kansui Radix) to expel phlegm-fluids from the Upper Jiao, and Shexiang (Moschus) as the guide drug to open the orifices. Shenqu (Meditated Mass) was used to make a paste, forming pills the size of a longan fruit. Each dose consisted of one pill, placed inside a pig heart sliced open with a copper knife, tied, and boiled until the heart was cooked. The pill was then taken along with the pig heart meat, and the broth was drunk. This formula was named "Duanxian Wan" (Epilepsy-Cutoff Pill). After consuming five pig hearts, the patient recovered.
The son of the Chen family suffered from fright-wind at age two, which, due to mismanagement, developed into epilepsy, occurring once a month. Seeking treatment, Wan used the powder of Liuzi San (Six-Seed Powder), divided into three colors: One color mixed with Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis), named "Anhun San" (Soul-Anchoring Powder) (Green enters the Liver, which stores the Hun); administered at Yin-Mao hours (Wood element) with Zhu Ye (Bambusae Folium) decoction. Another color mixed with Zhusha (Cinnabaris), named "Ningshen San" (Spirit-Calming Powder) (Red enters the Heart, which stores the Shen); administered at Si-Wu hours (Fire element) with Dengxin Cao (Junci Medulla) decoction. A third color with a small amount of Qingfen (Calomelas), named "Dingpo San" (Po-Settling Powder) (White enters the Lung, which stores the Po); administered at Shen-You hours (Metal element) with Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba) decoction. After half a year of regulation, the condition stabilized. Generally, for newly acquired epilepsy, eight or nine out of ten cases can be cured. However, if it has persisted for more than two or three years, it is incurable. Some contemporary physicians used emetic methods or purged with Gun Tan Wan (Rolling Phlegm Pill), merely damaging Stomach Qi with no efficacy. Others used Shouxing Wan (Longevity Star Pill), but a cup of water cannot extinguish the fire of a cartload of firewood.
Li Zhong'an, Wan's son-in-law, contracted epilepsy at age nine. He would faint and fall, with eyes and mouth closed, limbs immobile, no phlegm sound in the throat, lying stiffly like a drunken person. Wan diagnosed this as a Heart disease. He used Dongyuan Anshen Wan (Dongyuan Spirit-Calming Pill), removing Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), adding Fushen (Poria with Hostwood), Yuanzhi (Polygalae Radix), and Shichangpu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma) to open the Heart orifices, and Tianxing (Arisomatis Rhizoma), Zhenzhumo (Pearl Powder), and Tiehua Fen (Iron Flower Powder) to descend phlegm. Steamed dough cakes soaked in decoction were used to form pills the size of millet grains (For sedative/descending drugs and diseases of the Upper Jiao, pills should be small). Administered with Dengxin Cao decoction, the patient recovered after one year of regulation.
Wan's youngest son contracted epilepsy at seven or eight years old. Upon onset, his face first turned cyanotic and grim, eyes fixed, with phlegm in the mouth resembling chewing motions, followed by fainting for a meal's duration before recovering. Wan instructed his mother: whenever she saw the face turn green and eyes fixate, use a goose feather to induce vomiting to expel phlegm. Following this method, approximately two sheng of phlegm were expelled over time, and the epilepsy ceased. With such regulation, the child remained stable for three years. Epilepsy is generally caused by phlegm. Although there are names based on five animals (pig, sheep, chicken, dog, cow, according to Chao Shi, though later scholars often criticized this), they correspond to different Zang organs, detailed in Qian Yi's formulas. For excess Qi patterns, Kongyan Dan (Controlling Phlegm-Elixir) is used; for deficient Qi patterns, Duanxian Wan is used. After recovery, Hupo Baolong Wan (Amber Embracing Dragon Pill) is used for regulation, ensuring stability. However, long-standing cases are incurable. (Kongyan Dan in *San Yin Fang* uses equal parts of Gansui, Daye, and Baijiezi, powdered and bound with cooked paste.)
Xue Lizhai treated a child with fright-epilepsy, characterized by expectoration of phlegm, fatigue, and recovery after half an hour. Various medicines failed. By age thirteen, attacks became frequent. He used thick, fresh Ziheche (Placenta Humana), ground raw, mixed with Renshen (Ginseng Radix) and Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) powders, formed into pills the size of paulownia seeds. Each dose was 35 pills, taken 3-5 times daily, dissolved in breast milk. Gradual improvement occurred within a month, and complete recovery was achieved with the addition of Bazhen Tang (Eight-Treasure Decoction). (Xu Lingtai notes: Ziheche can be substituted with Yangshen [Sheep Kidney].)
Another seven-year-old child with fright-epilepsy was allowed to consume human breast milk freely. Subsequent attacks became less frequent and milder. At fourteen, it relapsed. Breast milk was ineffective, but several doses of Heche Wan (Placenta Pill) cured him. He remained stable using Jiaban Bawei Wan (Modified Eight-Ingredient Pill). Later, at twenty-three, it relapsed with cold extremities. The previous method was repeated, supplemented with Bawei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill) and Shiquan Dabu Tang (Ten Significant Tonifying Decoction), leading to full recovery. Several other children were treated similarly, alternating between Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction), Liujunzi Tang (Six-Gentlemen Decoction), Liuwei Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill), and Bawei Wan, all achieving complete recovery.
Feng Chuzhan treated a nine-year-old boy of the Wang family. Due to fright-epilepsy, he suffered recurrent spasms and unclear speech, with a critical condition. The pulse was firm and wiry, weak upon prolonged pressure. Inquiry revealed that after smallpox, the child walked barefoot, suddenly developing edema on the dorsum of the foot. Suspecting toxicity from grass dew, cool-clearing detoxifying herbs were given for several doses, causing swelling to spread to the legs. Then, Wuzi San (Five-Seed Powder) and Wupi Yin (Five-Skin Decoction) were given. Suddenly, the child fell stiffly, resulting in fright-epilepsy. Feng said: "This is severe deficiency of Qi and Blood after smallpox, causing leg edema. Mistaken use of cool-clearing herbs worsened the swelling. Further use of diuretic and draining agents led to deficient fire rising. Sudden collapse resembles stroke in adults. Only vigorous tonification of Qi and Blood, assisted by herbs to relax sinews and activate collaterals, is appropriate." He prescribed Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Wei Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma prepared with ginger), Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), Fuling (Poria), Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Yinhua (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos), Qinjiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix), and Shu Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata). After three to four doses, the condition eased. The same formula with Renshen decoction was used for regulation, stabilizing the patient after two months.
Wan Mizhai treated a four-year-old child with surging phlegm due to fright. Needling Yongquan (KI1) awakened him, and he did not relapse immediately. Wan stated: "Without using phlegm-resolving drugs, epilepsy may develop." The family disbelieved. Within half a year, the child appeared phlegm-confused, unaware of eating, drinking, urination, or defecation, frequently fainting, indeed developing epilepsy. Asked if he was aware during attacks, the answer was: "Blurred vision precedes the attack." Wan prescribed Qian Shi Anshen Wan (Qian's Spirit-Calming Pill) plus Longdancao (Gentianae Radix). He instructed the father: "When an attack is imminent, urgently pinch Hegu (LI4) on both hands." With such regulation, the child stabilized in one month.
A ten-year-old child had long-standing epilepsy. Examination showed cloudy white eyes without luster, slurred speech, and confused movements. Wan declared it incurable. Other physicians failed to succeed.
Wan Lu'an, Prefect of Huangzhou, had a son with epilepsy. Observing his handsome appearance and intelligent nature, Wan said: "It is treatable." He provided the formula for Hupo Baolong Wan (Amber Embracing Dragon Pill) for self-preparation and administration.