儿科之病,惊、疳、吐、泻为多,四者又相为终始。大约因疳而成吐,因吐而
成泻,因泻而成惊。故小儿口内流涎,乃疳之兆也。起首即治疳,而吐泻之症不作,
又何致惊症之生也。惟其失治疳症,而胃气受伤矣。小儿纯阳,原无损于阴气。伤胃
气者伤阳气也,阳伤阴亦伤矣。伤阴者,伤脾气也。人生后天以脾胃之气为主,脾
胃两伤,无气以养心,而惊之症起矣。是惊乃虚病,而非有外风之入也。然则吐、
泻、惊俱脾胃之虚寒,而疳乃脾胃之实热也。不知小儿因多食水果,以致口热而成
疳。口热似乎阳旺也,然而阳极则变为阴矣。故疳症既久而作吐,正阳变为阴之验
也。可见惊、疳、吐、泻俱是虚症,补脾胃而四病皆易愈也。世医分惊为风,分疳
为热,分吐、泻为寒,亦未深知小儿之症耳。孰知单治脾胃之虚,而四症不必治而
自愈也。方用活儿丹∶
人参(三钱) 白术(一钱) 甘草(一分) 茯苓(二钱) 陈皮(一分) 巴戟天(一钱)
白芍(一钱) 柴胡(二分) 当归(五分) 山楂(五分) 神曲(三分) 水煎服。一剂而惊、疳、吐、
泻无不即安,二剂全愈,三剂不再发也。
此方健脾开胃,又能平肝,使肝亦无郁滞之患,自能疏通土气,变克土之肝反
为益土之肝矣。脾胃无非生气,而吐泻自止,何至四肢无养,变成角弓反张之急慢
惊风哉。
小儿生疳,上下牙床尽肿,口角凉涎,咳嗽不已,咽喉肿痛,人以为疳症脾
热也,谁知是胃火之上升乎。夫既是胃火,宜用泄火之药,泻火而不效者,以火过
于盛,将阳变为阴矣。故用降火之药以泻火而火不降,转至困惫者,正《内经》所
谓壮火食气也。盖少火宜泻,而壮火宜补。不补胃以治火,反泻火以损胃,安得而
不加困惫哉。治之法,补其胃气之虚,少加息火之味,则疳症不治而自愈矣。方用
平肝汤∶
茯苓(三钱) 白术(一钱) 陈皮(二分) 神曲(五分) 麦冬(二钱) 元参(二钱)
桔梗(一钱) 苏叶(三分) 人参(三分) 枳壳(二分) 黄芩(三分) 水煎服。一剂轻,二剂又轻,三剂而疳
症愈,不必四剂也。
此方补胃以散火而火自平者,以火出于土之中也。土健而火藏,土衰而火现,
故补其土而火藏于下,又何至上升于口颊之间乎。况方中有解火之味在于补之内,
则土引火而自归,火亦随土而自息矣。
小儿生疳之后,饮茶水则吐,后则不饮茶水而亦吐,困弱之极,人以为热吐也,
谁知是热变为寒而吐乎。夫疳症本热也,疳久则寒者,以胃土之伤,土衰则火旺,
火旺则土亦衰,土益衰而前火之旺自减,火土两衰,安得不寒乎。况小儿最喜者,
生冷也。土衰又加生冷,自然作吐矣。故止吐以健胃为主,单用止吐之药,吾未见
其能止也。即偶止吐于一时,未必不动吐于后日,惟健胃以止吐,则胃强而吐不再
发也。方用六君子汤加味用之。
人参(一钱) 白术(二钱) 茯苓(二钱) 甘草(一片) 半夏(五分) 神曲(三分)
陈皮(三分) 白豆蔻(一粒) 水煎服。一剂即止吐,二剂全愈。
此方健胃以止呕,治大人尚有成功,况小儿乎。小儿呕吐,世人视为轻症,往
往不以为意,变成大病而不可救。以胃气之伤不能生养夫四肢,而角弓反张之病现,
乃阴虚而成之也。今以此方扶其胃气,胃健而饮食能受,既无呕吐之伤,自有灌注
之益,又何至有惊风之病哉。
小儿大吐之后,忽然大泻,虽吐止而泻不肯止,倦怠之极,人以为吐变泻则其
气顺矣,谁知其气愈逆乎。夫吐乃伤胃,而泻乃伤脾也。气顺宜吐止而愈矣,今吐
止而大泻,乃胃传于脾矣。由腑而入脏,是由表而入里也,较吐更甚。盖吐症补胃
而可愈,而泻症宜兼补脾。虽脾胃有同治之法,补胃自必补脾,但吐后作泻,则补
脾必须补胃也。方用生脾助胃汤∶
人参(三钱) 白术(三钱) 甘草(三分) 肉桂(一钱) 茯苓(五钱) 神曲(五分)
附子(一片) 水煎服。
一剂而泻止,二剂全愈。倘服之不应,不必治之矣。
此方治小儿之泻,效验如向,百人中可救九十,彼不应者,乃阴阳两绝之人也,
非药之过耳。世人见参、附加 毒,不敢浪用。医生用之,亦辄抵毁,自陷于死亡,
哀哉。
小儿上吐下泻,眼目上视,死亡顷刻,其状宛似慢惊风,人以为惊风之症也,
谁知是脾胃之气将绝乎。小儿至此,亦人鬼之关也。若作慢风治之,用牛黄等丸,
下喉即死矣。夫脾胃之气将绝,是阴阳之气欲脱也,非急救其气,何能再活。救气
之药,舍人参无第二味也。世间之药,无过人参,至四、五钱以救婴儿之吐泻,无
论近人无此胆气,即古人亦无此方法,毋怪婴儿之多亡也。予逢异人,训予救小儿
垂危之症,惟有多用人参,可变危为安。铎试之,无不奇效。盖小儿脾胃虚寒,以
致上吐下泻,正至危之症也,宜多用人参以救之。方用安儿至宝汤∶
人参(五钱) 白术(五钱) 茯苓(三钱) 巴戟天(三钱) 附子(一钱) 麦芽(一钱)
枳壳(三分) 槟榔(三钱) 车前子(二钱) 白豆蔻(三钱) 扁豆(二钱) 萝卜子(一钱)
水煎服。一剂即吐止,再剂泻即止,三剂全愈。
此方全在用参、附之多,所以能夺命于将危,以人参能回阳于既绝,附子能续
阴于已亡也。然非群药佐之,则阴阳不能厘清浊,而积秽亦不能祛除耳。故用参、
术以补气,少少祛除,自能奏功。否则,乌可已伤而再伤,已绝而重绝乎。世人但
尚祛除,全不识补中用攻之法,所以劳而无功也。
小儿吐泻之后,角弓反张,时而惊悸牵搐,人以为惊风之病也,谁知非风也,
乃肝克脾胃之土而土气欲绝耳。此时万不可治风,一治风以定惊,则立刻亡矣。盖
既经吐泻则阴阳两亡,所存者几微之气耳。不急救脾胃以续气,反散风邪以损其气,
欲不趋于阴得乎。且脾胃欲绝,补脾胃之土,而不补命门、心包之火,则土寒而阳
不可以遽回,阴不可以骤长。故必须补火以生土,补土以止惊。方用续气汤∶
人参(一两) 白术(一两) 巴戟天(五钱) 肉桂(一钱) 生枣仁(三钱) 远志(二钱)
茯苓(五钱) 干姜(三分) 附子(三分) 半夏(一钱) 水煎服。一剂安,二剂更安,
三剂全愈。
此方以十岁为准,每岁减二分。毋论慢惊、急惊,以此方投之,无不立效。盖
急慢惊风俱是虚症,非急为风而慢为虚也。世人以惊为风误矣。不作风治则十人九
活,一作风治则十人十死,以虚而兼风治则十人八死,以大虚治,而绝不治风,则
十人十活也。喻嘉言谓惊风二字乃前人凿空之谈,劝行医者绝口不道其言,虽过于
愤激,然亦深悯小儿之误死于非命,不得不大声以救之也。但喻嘉言所立之方,尚
兼风治,犹未洞悉底里,不若直补土以救惊,补火以生土也。
小儿惊症有慢惊、急惊之分,世以急惊属之风,慢惊属之虚,以此区别治疗,
生者颇多,似乎其说之不可易矣。谁知似是而非,亦杀人之说也。盖小儿从无有惊
风之症,此岐天师之所未定,而雷公之所不论者也。惊风二字,乃未世之医创言以
杀小儿者也。自此言出,杀小儿不啻数百万矣。小儿何尝有风,一作风治,千人千
死,嗟乎!天心仁爱,何为使小儿不识不知,任其夭荡耶。铎授异人之教,救小儿
惊症,绝不治风,无论急惊、慢惊,以人参汤调服,立刻奏功。不敢自秘,罄书竹
简,以听世人公用。
人参(三两) 白术(半斤) 茯苓(三钱) 半夏(一两) 广木香(三钱) 柴胡(一两)
槟榔(五钱) 荆芥(炒黑,五钱) 白芍(三两) 山楂(一两) 枳壳(一两) 麦芽(五钱)
神曲(一两) 甘草(一两) 干姜(一两) 麦冬(去心,一两) 石菖蒲(五钱) 薄荷叶(五钱)
各为细末,蜜丸如龙眼大。凡遇急慢惊症,用一丸,以人参三钱煎汤泡开送下,无不全活。
方名保赤定惊丹。轻者一丸,重则二丸,无有不愈者也。泡开必须用人参煎汤,
多多益善。若不用人参,效验不能十分之捷,然亦可免死亡之兆也。愿世人共佩吾
言,万勿执惊症为风症,忍为杀人之医也。
Pediatric diseases are predominantly characterized by fright (Jing), malnutrition (Gan), vomiting, and diarrhea. These four conditions are interconnected in a cyclical manner. Generally, Gan leads to vomiting, vomiting leads to diarrhea, and diarrhea leads to fright. Therefore, drooling in children is a sign of Gan. If Gan is treated at the onset, vomiting and diarrhea will not occur, and consequently, fright will not arise. However, failure to treat Gan damages the Stomach Qi. Children possess a "pure Yang" constitution and do not inherently injure Yin. Damaging Stomach Qi is damaging Yang; when Yang is injured, Yin is also affected. Injuring Yin actually involves injuring Spleen Qi. Postnatal life relies primarily on Spleen and Stomach Qi. When both are damaged, there is insufficient Qi to nourish the Heart, leading to fright. Thus, fright is a deficiency syndrome, not caused by external Wind pathogen invasion. Consequently, vomiting, diarrhea, and fright are all deficiency-cold syndromes of the Spleen and Stomach, whereas Gan is an excess-heat syndrome of the Spleen and Stomach. It is unknown that children develop Gan due to excessive consumption of fruits, causing heat in the mouth. Although oral heat seems like abundant Yang, extreme Yang transforms into Yin. Therefore, vomiting occurring after prolonged Gan is evidence of Yang transforming into Yin. This shows that fright, Gan, vomiting, and diarrhea are all deficiency syndromes; tonifying the Spleen and Stomach makes all four diseases easy to cure. Conventional physicians classify fright as Wind, Gan as Heat, and vomiting/diarrhea as Cold, demonstrating a lack of deep understanding of pediatric diseases. Who knows that by solely treating the deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach, these four symptoms can heal without specific treatment for each. The formula used is Huo'er Dan: Ren Shen (Sanqian), Bai Zhu (Yiqian), Gan Cao (Yifen), Fu Ling (Erqian), Chen Pi (Yifen), Ba Ji Tian (Yiqian), Bai Shao (Yiqian), Chai Hu (Erfen), Dang Gui (Wufen), Shan Zha (Wufen), Shen Qu (Sfen). Decoct with water and take orally. After one dose, fright, Gan, vomiting, and diarrhea will stabilize immediately; after two doses, full recovery occurs; after three doses, recurrence is prevented.
This formula strengthens the Spleen and opens the appetite, while also soothing the Liver, preventing Liver stagnation. This naturally unblocks Earth Qi, transforming the Liver from a factor that overacts on Earth to one that benefits Earth. With vibrant Qi in the Spleen and Stomach, vomiting and diarrhea cease naturally, preventing the limbs from losing nourishment and developing opisthotonos in acute or chronic fright.
When children suffer from Gan, both upper and lower gums swell completely, cool saliva flows from the corners of the mouth, coughing persists, and the throat becomes swollen and painful. People attribute this to Spleen heat from Gan, but it is actually rising Stomach Fire. Since it is Stomach Fire, purgative herbs should be used. However, purging fire fails because the fire is too vigorous, having already transformed Yang into Yin. Using fire-descending herbs to purge fire fails to descend it, instead worsening exhaustion. This aligns with the *Neijing* concept of "Zhuang Huo Shi Qi" (vigorous fire consumes Qi). Generally, Shao Huo (mild fire) should be purged, while Zhuang Huo (vigorous fire) should be tonified. Not tonifying the Stomach to treat fire, but using purgatives that damage the Stomach, inevitably leads to greater exhaustion. The treatment method is to tonify the deficiency of Stomach Qi and slightly add kidney-warming ingredients, allowing Gan to heal spontaneously. The formula used is Pinggan Tang: Fu Ling (Sanqian), Bai Zhu (Yiqian), Chen Pi (Erfen), Shen Qu (Wufen), Mai Dong (Erqian), Yuan Shen (Erqian), Jie Geng (Yiqian), Su Ye (Sfen), Ren Shen (Sfen), Zhi Qiao (Erfen), Huang Qin (Sfen). Decoct with water and take orally. Symptoms lighten after one dose, further after two, and Gan heals after three doses, requiring no fourth dose.
This formula supplements the Stomach to disperse fire, which calms itself because fire resides within Earth. Strong Earth hides fire; weak Earth reveals fire. Thus, tonifying Earth hides fire below, preventing it from rising to the cheeks and mouth. Moreover, the fire-resolving ingredients in the formula work within the context of tonification, allowing Earth to guide fire back to its source, where it extinguishes with the Earth.
After children develop Gan, drinking tea causes vomiting; later, even without drinking tea, vomiting occurs, leaving them extremely weak. People assume this is heat-induced vomiting, but it is actually vomiting caused by heat transforming into cold. Gan is originally a heat syndrome; becoming cold after a long duration is due to injury to Stomach Earth. Weak Earth leads to apparent Fire hyperactivity; Fire hyperactivity further weakens Earth. As Earth declines, the previous Fire hyperactivity diminishes. With both Fire and Earth depleted, coldness prevails. Additionally, children prefer raw and cold foods. Weak Earth combined with raw/cold intake naturally causes vomiting. Therefore, stopping vomiting requires strengthening the Stomach. Using only anti-emetics rarely succeeds. Even if temporary relief is achieved, vomiting may recur. Only by strengthening the Stomach can vomiting be stopped permanently, as strong Stomach Qi prevents recurrence. The formula used is Liu Jun Zi Tang with modifications: Ren Shen (Yiqian), Bai Zhu (Erqian), Fu Ling (Erqian), Gan Cao (Y pian), Ban Xia (Wufen), Shen Qu (Sfen), Chen Pi (Sfen), Bai Dou Kou (Y li). Decoct with water and take orally. Vomiting stops after one dose; full recovery occurs after two doses.
This formula strengthens the Stomach to stop vomiting, effective even in adults, let alone children. Pediatric vomiting is often dismissed as minor, leading to severe, incurable conditions. Injury to Stomach Qi fails to nourish the limbs, resulting in opisthotonos due to Yin deficiency. This formula supports Stomach Qi; a strong Stomach accepts food, avoiding vomiting damage and gaining nutritional benefit, thus preventing fright.
After severe vomiting in children, sudden severe diarrhea occurs. Although vomiting stops, diarrhea persists, causing extreme fatigue. People think vomiting turning into diarrhea means Qi is smooth, but Qi is actually more rebellious. Vomiting injures the Stomach; diarrhea injures the Spleen. Qi smoothing should follow vomiting cessation. Persistent diarrhea after vomiting indicates Stomach disease transmitting to the Spleen. From Fu organs to Zang organs, from exterior to interior, this is worse than vomiting. While vomiting heals with Stomach tonification, diarrhea requires concurrent Spleen tonification. Although Spleen and Stomach are often treated together, post-vomiting diarrhea necessitates tonifying the Spleen while ensuring Stomach support. The formula used is Shengpi Zhugui Tang: Ren Shen (Sanqian), Bai Zhu (Sanqian), Gan Cao (Sfen), Rou Gui (Yiqian), Fu Ling (Wuqian), Shen Qu (Wufen), Fu Zi (Y pian). Decoct with water and take orally. Diarrhea stops after one dose; full recovery after two. If ineffective, treatment should cease.
This formula is highly effective for pediatric diarrhea, saving 90 out of 100 cases. Failures occur in patients with complete Yin-Yang depletion, not due to the medicine. People fear the toxicity of Ren Shen and Fu Zi and hesitate to use them. Physicians who use them face criticism, leading to patient death, which is tragic.
Children presenting with simultaneous severe vomiting and diarrhea, upward gaze of the eyes, and imminent death, resemble chronic fright. People diagnose fright, but it is actually impending collapse of Spleen and Stomach Qi. This is a critical threshold between life and death. Treating as chronic wind with Niuhuang pills results in immediate death. Impending collapse of Spleen/Stomach Qi indicates impending Yin-Yang separation. Without urgent Qi rescue, survival is impossible. For rescuing Qi, nothing surpasses Ren Shen. Doses of 4-5 qian for infants are unheard of among commoners or ancient texts, explaining high infant mortality. I met an expert who taught me that heavy use of Ren Shen saves critical pediatric cases. My trials confirmed miraculous efficacy. Pediatric Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold causing vomiting/diarrhea is critical; heavy Ren Shen is required. The formula used is An'er Zhibao Tang: Ren Shen (Wuqian), Bai Zhu (Wuqian), Fu Ling (Sanqian), Ba Ji Tian (Sanqian), Fu Zi (Yiqian), Mai Ya (Yiqian), Zhi Qiao (Sfen), Bing Lang (Sanqian), Che Qian Zi (Erqian), Bai Dou Kou (Sanqian), Bian Dou (Erqian), Luo Bo Zi (Yiqian). Decoct with water and take orally. Vomiting stops after one dose; diarrhea stops after the second; full recovery after three.
The efficacy lies in the large doses of Ren Shen and Fu Zi, rescuing life from crisis. Ren Shen restores Yang after collapse; Fu Zi reconnects Yin after loss. Without auxiliary herbs, Yin-Yang cannot separate clear from turbid, and waste cannot be expelled. Ren Shen and Bai Zhu tonify Qi, while small amounts remove turbidity, achieving success. Otherwise, harming the already injured and severing the already cut-off Qi is fatal. People favor expulsion over tonification-with-expulsion, leading to futile efforts.
After vomiting and diarrhea, children exhibit opisthotonos, palpitations, and convulsions. People diagnose fright, but it is not Wind. It is Liver Wood overacting on Spleen-Stomach Earth, causing Earth Qi to collapse. Treating Wind at this stage guarantees death. Vomiting/diarrhea deplete Yin and Yang, leaving only trace Qi. Urgent Spleen-Stomach tonification is needed to sustain Qi; dispersing Wind depletes it further, leading to death. If Spleen-Stomach collapses, tonifying Earth without warming Mingmen and Pericardium Fire leaves Earth cold, preventing rapid Yang return and Yin growth. Thus, warming Fire to generate Earth and tonifying Earth to stop fright is essential. The formula used is Xuqi Tang: Ren Shen (Yi liang), Bai Zhu (Yi liang), Ba Ji Tian (Wu qian), Rou Gui (Yiqian), Sheng Zao Ren (Sanqian), Yuan Zhi (Erqian), Fu Ling (Wuqian), Gan Jiang (Sfen), Fu Zi (Sfen), Ban Xia (Yiqian). Decoct with water and take orally. Stability after one dose; improved after two; full recovery after three.
Dosage is based on a ten-year-old, reducing by 2 fen per year of age. Effective for both acute and chronic fright. Both are deficiency syndromes; acute is not Wind and chronic is not merely deficiency. Misdiagnosing fright as Wind is erroneous. Not treating as Wind saves 9/10; treating as Wind kills 10/10; treating deficiency with Wind dispersal kills 8/10; treating pure deficiency without Wind therapy saves 10/10. Yu Jiayan claimed "fright-wind" is a fabrication and advised against the term. While passionate, his concern for misdiagnosed deaths was valid. However, his formulas still addressed Wind, lacking depth. Directly tonifying Earth to save fright and warming Fire to generate Earth is superior.
Pediatric fright is divided into acute and chronic. Acute is attributed to Wind, chronic to deficiency. This distinction saves many lives, seeming irrefutable. Yet it is misleading and deadly. Children do not have "fright-wind"; this concept was undefined by Qibo and Lei Gong. "Fright-wind" was invented by later physicians to harm children, killing millions. Children have no Wind; treating as Wind kills everyone. Heaven’s benevolence allows children to live unknowingly. Following expert advice, I treat pediatric fright without addressing Wind. Whether acute or chronic, administering Ren Shen decoction yields immediate results. I publish this openly. Formula: Baochi Dingjing Dan. Ren Shen (San liang), Bai Zhu (Ban jin), Fu Ling (Sanqian), Ban Xia (Yi liang), Guang Mu Xiang (Sanqian), Chai Hu (Yi liang), Bing Lang (Wu qian), Jing Jie (charred, Wu qian), Bai Shao (San liang), Shan Zha (Yi liang), Zhi Qiao (Yi liang), Mai Ya (Wu qian), Shen Qu (Yi liang), Gan Cao (Yi liang), Gan Jiang (Yi liang), Mai Dong (dehearted, Yi liang), Shi Chang Pu (Wu qian), Bo He Ye (Wu qian). Grind to fine powder, form honey pills like longan seeds. For acute/chronic fright, dissolve one pill in Ren Shen decoction (3 qian). All survive. Light cases: one pill; severe cases: two pills. Must use generous Ren Shen decoction. Without Ren Shen, efficacy is slower but still prevents death. I urge世人 to abandon the Wind theory for fright and avoid being killers.