〔薛〕小儿忽然惊搐目直者,皆肝之风热也,若肝虚生风,则目连札而不搐,及
多欠切牙。若肝经风实,则目直大叫,呵欠项急顿闷。若肝经有热,则目直视不搐,
得心热则搐,气热则外生,气温则内生。其证,手寻衣领及乱捻物、宜用泻青丸。
壮热饮水喘闷,宜用泻白散。凡病之新久,皆能引肝风,风内动则上入于目,故目
为之连札。若热入于目,牵其筋脉,两 俱紧,不能转视,故目直也。亦有饮食停
滞中焦,致清阳不升,浊阴不降,肝木生发之气不得升,致生虚风者,须详审之,
若胸满腹痛,呕吐恶食,轻则消导化痰,重则探吐滞积,更须审其所伤寒物热物。
亦有因感冒吐泻,致使土败木侮而生虚风者,不可遽服惊药,宜用六君子加芍药、
木香、柴胡制肝补脾。若因脾土虚而自病者,用五味异功散。凡饮食停滞,痰涎壅
满而见惊证者,实因脾土虚弱,不能生金,金虚不能平木,故木邪妄动也,宜健脾
消食,其证自愈。若辄用惊风之药,反成其风而益其病也,况脏腑脆嫩,不可投以
峻厉之剂,治者慎之。
〔薛〕小儿睡中惊动,由心肾不足所致,盖心主血与神,肝藏血与魂,肺主气与魄,
肾主精与恐,小儿脏腑脆弱,易为惊恐,恐则气下,惊则心无所根据,神无所归,且
夫人之神气,寤则行于目,寐则栖于肾,今心肾既虚,则不能宁摄精神,故睡中惊
动也,治宜清心安神,用茯苓补心汤加酸枣仁、茯神、五味子。亦有惊吓而作者,
因击动其肝,故魂不安也,治宜镇惊定魂,用安神镇惊丸。若饮食间因惊而停滞者,
用六君子加神曲、浓朴。食既消而惊未定,用茯苓补心汤。若木火太过而心神不宁
者,用导赤散。风热相搏者,用柴胡栀子散。食郁生痰,惊动不安者,用四君以健
脾,神曲、半夏以化痰,山栀、芍药以清热。
[Xue Ji] When infants suddenly experience convulsions and upward deviation of the eyes, it is due to wind-heat in the Liver channel. If wind arises from Liver deficiency, the eyes will twitch frequently without convulsion, accompanied by frequent yawning and teeth grinding. If there is excess wind in the Liver channel, the eyes remain fixed, with loud crying, yawning, neck stiffness, and a sensation of head heaviness and oppression. If there is heat in the Liver channel, the eyes are fixed but do not convulse; if Heart heat is present, convulsions occur; if Qi-level heat is present, the pathogen manifests externally; if Qi-level warmth/heat is present, the pathogen penetrates internally. The symptoms include grasping at clothing collars and randomly rubbing objects; Xieqing Wan (Drain the Green Pill) is indicated. For high fever, thirst, wheezing, and chest oppression, Xiebai San (Drain the White Powder) is indicated. Any disease, whether new or chronic, can stir up Liver wind. When wind moves internally and ascends into the eyes, the eyes twitch continuously. If heat enters the eyes and pulls on the sinews, causing both eyes to become tight and unable to rotate, the eyes remain fixed. There are also cases where food stagnation in the Middle Jiao prevents the clear Yang from ascending and the turbid Yin from descending, thereby obstructing the ascending nature of Liver Wood and generating empty wind; these must be carefully examined. If chest fullness, abdominal pain, vomiting, and anorexia are present, mild cases are treated with digestion-promoting and phlegm-resolving methods, while severe cases require emesis to expel stagnation. One must further ascertain whether the ingested food was cold or hot in nature. In some cases, cold damage, vomiting, or diarrhea causes the failure of Spleen Earth and the counter-rebellion of Liver Wood, generating empty wind; in such instances, one should not hastily administer anticonvulsant medicines. Instead, Liujunzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) added with Shaoyao (Peony Root), Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix), and Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) should be used to subdue the Liver and tonify the Spleen. If the condition arises solely from Spleen Earth deficiency, Wuyi Yigong San (Five Agents I-Gong Powder) is indicated. Whenever food stagnation and excessive phlegm-fluids manifest as convulsive signs, the root cause is actually Spleen Earth weakness failing to generate Lung Metal; when Lung Metal is deficient, it cannot control Liver Wood, leading to wild movement of Liver Wood evil. Tonifying the Spleen and promoting digestion will lead to spontaneous resolution. Indiscriminate use of anticonvulsant drugs may exacerbate the wind and worsen the illness. Moreover, since the Zang-Fu organs are delicate, harsh and potent agents should not be administered; practitioners must exercise caution.
[Xue Ji] Startling movements during sleep in infants are caused by insufficiency of the Heart and Kidney. The Heart governs Blood and Spirit (Shen); the Liver stores Blood and Hun (Ethereal Soul); the Lungs govern Qi and Po (Corporeal Soul); the Kidneys store Essence and govern Fear. Infants have fragile Zang-Fu organs and are susceptible to fright and fear. Fear causes Qi to sink downward; fright leaves the Heart spirit without foundation and the Shen without a dwelling. Furthermore, human Shen Qi circulates through the eyes when awake and resides in the Kidneys when asleep. Since the Heart and Kidney are now deficient, they cannot calm and secure the Spirit, resulting in startling movements during sleep. Treatment should focus on clearing the Heart and calming the Spirit, using Fuling Buxin Tang (Poria Nourishing the Heart Decoction) added with Suanzaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen), Fushen (Poria with Hostwood), and Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus). Cases arising from fright involve disturbance of the Liver, causing Hun instability; treatment should focus on settling fright and stabilizing the Hun, using Anshen Zhenjing Wan (Calming the Spirit and Settling Fright Pill). If fright during eating causes food stagnation, Liujunzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) added with Shenqu (Massa Medicata Fermentata) and Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) is indicated. If the food has digested but the fright remains unsettled, Fuling Buxin Tang (Poria Nourishing the Heart Decoction) is used. If excessive Wood-Fire disturbs the Heart Spirit, Daochi San (Directing Red Powder) is indicated. If Wind-Heat contend with each other, Chaihu Zhizi San (Bupleurum and Gardenia Powder) is indicated. If food depression generates phlegm, causing restlessness and startling, Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) is used to strengthen the Spleen, Shenqu (Massa Medicata Fermentata) and Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) to resolve phlegm, and Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus) and Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix) to clear heat.