〔薛〕经曰∶心藏神,有余则笑不休。又曰∶在脏为心,在声为笑,在志为喜。
又,火太过,曰赫曦,赫曦之纪,其病笑谑狂妄。又云∶少阴所至,为喜笑。又云∶
精气并于心则喜。此数者,皆言属心火也,若笑不休,呻而为腹痛,此水乘于火,
阴击于阳,阳伏热生,狂妄谵语不可闻,心之损矣。扁鹊云∶其人唇口赤色者可治,
青黑者死。若肾水亏涸,不胜心火,而喜笑不休者,用六味地黄丸。肝火炽盛,能
生心火,而喜笑不休者,用柴胡清肝散。余兼别证,各从其证而参治之。一小儿喜
笑常作,不安,面赤饮冷,手足并热。先用黄连泻心汤末,二服稍定,又用六味地
黄丸料煎服顿愈,常服此丸则安,月许不服,仍复作,又服,愈矣。一小儿患前
证,面青赤。此肝心二经风热所致也。用柴胡栀子散、六味地黄丸渐愈。又因乳
母大怒发热。先用加味柴胡汤,又用加味逍遥散,母子服之并愈。一小儿年十四
岁,用心过度,饮食失节,患喜笑不休,脉洪大而虚,面色赤而或白。余用补中益
气汤而愈。次秋科举,饮食劳倦,前证复作,或兼谵语,脉洪大,按之微细如
无。用人参一两,姜枣煎服,稍定,又三剂而愈。又因劳役用心,自汗作渴,烦躁
似痫证。先用当归补血汤,二剂顿安,又十全大补汤而寻愈。
Xue Ji stated: The *Neijing* records, "The Heart stores the Shen (Spirit); when in excess, there is incessant laughter." It also states, "In the Zang organs it corresponds to the Heart; in vocalization it is laughter; in emotion it is joy."
Furthermore, excessive Fire is called "He Xi" (Brilliant Radiance). In the era of He Xi, diseases manifest as laughing, jesting, madness, and delirium. It is also said, "When Shaoyin [Kidney/Heart channel qi] arrives, it manifests as joy and laughter." And again, "When Jing Qi (Essence and Qi) merges with the Heart, there is joy." These instances all indicate an affiliation with Heart Fire. However, if laughter is incessant accompanied by groaning and abdominal pain, this indicates Water encroaching upon Fire, Yin striking Yang, causing Yang to be trapped and generating heat/fire, leading to madness, delirious speech that is incomprehensible, which signifies damage to the Heart. Bian Que said: If the patient's lips and mouth are red, the condition is treatable; if blue-black, it is fatal. If Kidney Water is deficient and dried up, failing to control Heart Fire, resulting in incessant laughter, use Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill). If Liver Fire is blazing and generates Heart Fire, resulting in incessant laughter, use Chaihu Qinggan San (Bupleurum Liver-Clearing Powder). For other accompanying syndromes, treatment should be adjusted according to the specific manifestations.
A child frequently laughed and was restless, with a red face, a desire for cold drinks, and hot hands and feet. Initially, Huanglian Xie Xin Tang (Coptis Decoction to Drain the Heart) powder was administered; after two doses, symptoms slightly subsided. Subsequently, Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) decoction was given, resulting in immediate recovery. Regular intake of this pill ensured stability; however, if not taken for about a month, symptoms recurred. Upon re-administration, the child recovered completely.
Another child presented with the aforementioned syndrome, showing a complexion that was greenish-red. This was caused by Wind-Heat affecting the Liver and Heart channels. Chaihu Zhizi San (Bupleurum and Gardenia Powder) and Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) were used, leading to gradual recovery. Later, due to the wet nurse's intense anger and fever, Jiawei Chaihu Tang (Modified Bupleurum Decoction) was initially used, followed by Jiawei Xiaoyao San (Modified Free and Easy Wanderer Powder), both mother and child recovering after taking the medications.
A fourteen-year-old child, suffering from excessive mental exertion and irregular diet, developed incessant laughter. The pulse was large and forceful yet empty upon pressure, and the complexion was red or pale. I treated him with Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Middle-Warmer-Boosting and Qi-Replenishing Decoction), which cured the condition. The following autumn, during imperial examinations, due to dietary irregularities and fatigue, the previous symptoms recurred, sometimes accompanied by delirious speech. The pulse was large but faint and nearly imperceptible upon deep pressure. One liang of Renshen (Ginseng Radix) was decocted with Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) and Dazao (Jujubae Fructus). Symptoms subsided slightly after the first dose, and the child recovered after three additional doses. Later, due to physical labor and mental strain, spontaneous sweating, thirst, and irritability resembling epilepsy occurred. Danggui Buxue Tang (Angelica Sinensis Decoction to Tonify Blood) was administered first; after two doses, calmness returned immediately. Finally, Shiquan Dabu Tang (Ten Substance Great Supplement Decoction) was used, leading to full recovery shortly thereafter.