庄在田曰∶慢惊之症,缘小儿吐泻得之为最多,或久疟久痢,或痘后,或疹后,或因风
寒饮食积滞过用攻伐伤脾,或秉赋本虚,或误服凉药,或因急惊而用药攻降太甚,或失于调
理,皆可致此症也。其症神昏气喘,或大热不退,眼开惊搐,或乍寒乍热,或三阳晦暗,或
面色淡白青黄,或大小便清白,或口唇虽开裂出血而口中气冷,或泻利冷汗,或完谷不化,
或四肢冰冷,并至腹中气响,喉内痰鸣,角弓反张,目光昏暗。此虚症也,亦危症也。俗名
天吊风、虚风、慢惊风、慢脾风,皆此症也。若再用寒凉,再行消导,或用胆星、抱龙以除
痰,或用天麻、全蝎以驱风,或用知、柏、芩、连以清火,或用巴豆、大黄以去积,杀人如
反掌,实可畏也。若治风而风无可治,治惊而惊亦无可治,此实因脾肾虚寒,孤阳外越,元
气无根,阴寒至极,风之所由动也。治宜先用辛热,再加温补。盖补土所以敌木,治本即所
以治标。凡小儿一经吐泻交作,即是最危之症。若其屡作不止,无论痘后、疹后、病后,不
拘何因,皆当急用参、术以救胃气,姜、桂、杞、熟等药以救肾气。不惟伤食当急救之,即
伤寒、伤暑亦当急救之。盖其先虽有寒暑实邪,一经吐泻,业已全除,脾胃空虚,仓廪空乏
,若不急救,恐虚痰上涌、命在顷刻也。庸医见之,皆误指为热为食,投以清火去积凉药,
立时生变,为之奈何,与其失之寒凉,断难生活,不若失之温补,犹可救疗。此语发明吐泻
惊风之理,最为明透,后之君子,愿无忽诸。今将慢惊辨证胪列于后∶
一慢惊吐泻,脾胃虚寒也。一慢惊身冷,阳气抑遏不出也。服凉药之后往往致此。一慢
惊鼻孔煽动,真阴失守,虚火烁肺也。一慢惊面色青黄及白,气血两虚也。一慢惊口鼻中气
冷,中寒也。一慢惊大小便清白,肾与大肠全无火也。一慢惊昏睡露睛,神气不足也。一慢
惊手足抽搐,血不行于四肢也。一慢惊角弓反张,血虚筋急也。一慢惊乍热乍凉,阴血虚少
,阴阳错乱也。一慢惊出汗如洗,阳虚而表不固也。一慢惊手足螈 ,血不足以养筋也。一
慢惊囟门下陷,虚至极也。一慢惊身虽发热,口唇焦裂出血,却不喜饮冷茶水,进以寒凉,
愈增危笃。以及所吐之乳,所泻之物皆不甚消化,脾胃无火可知,唇之焦墨乃真阴之不足也
明矣。
大凡因发热不退及吐泻而成者,总属阴虚阳越,必成慢惊,并非感冒风寒发热可比,故
不宜发散。治宜培元救本,加姜、桂以引火归元,必先用辛热冲开寒痰,再进温补方为得法
。经验二方列后。
逐寒荡惊汤∶此方药性温暖,专治小儿气体本虚,或久病不愈,或产后、疹后,或误服
寒凉,泄泻呕吐转为慢惊。清热散风,愈治愈危,速宜服此,能开寒痰,宽胸膈,止呕吐,
荡惊邪,所谓回元气于无何有之乡。一二剂后,呕吐渐止,即其验也。认明但系虚寒,即宜
服之,不必疑畏也。胡椒、炮姜、肉桂各一钱、丁香十粒,上四味,研为细末,以灶心土三
两煮水澄极清,煎药大半茶杯,频频灌之,接服后方,定获奇效。
加味理中地黄汤∶此方助气补血,却病回阳,专治小儿精神已亏,气血大坏,形状野狼狈
,瘦弱至极,皆可挽回。如法浓煎,频频与服,参天救本之功,有难以尽述者。熟地五钱,
焦术三钱,党参、当归、炙 、故纸、枣仁(炒研)、枸杞各二钱,炮姜、萸肉、炙草、肉
桂
药汁
如咳嗽不止者,加粟壳一钱,金樱子一钱;如大热不退,加白芍一钱;泄泻不止,加丁
香六分,只服一剂,即去附子,止用丁香七粒。隔二三日只服附子二三分,盖因附子太热,
中病即宜去之也。如用附子太多,则小便闭塞不出,如不用附子,则沉寒脏腑固结不开。如
不用丁香,则泄泻不止。若小儿虚寒至极,附子又不妨用至二三钱,此所谓神而明之,存乎
其人,用者审之。
此方乃救阴固本之要药,治小儿慢惊称为神剂。若小儿吐泻不至日甚,或微见惊搐,胃
中尚可受药,吃乳便利者,并不必服逐寒荡惊汤,只服此药一剂,而风定神清矣。如小儿尚
未成惊,不过昏睡发热不退,或时热时止,或日间安静夜间发热,以及午后发热等症,总属
阴虚,均宜服之。若新病壮实之小儿,眼红口渴者,乃实火之症,方可暂行清解。但果系实
火,必大便闭结,气壮声洪,且喜多饮冷茶水。若吐泻交作,则非实火可知矣。此方补造化
阴阳所不足,实回生起死有神功。倘大虚之后,服一剂无效,必须大剂,多服为妙。
近来所卖之抱龙、牛黄等丸,皆清热化痰之药,急惊最为对症,若慢惊之甚者,下喉即
死。
如乡村制药不及,急取鸡鸭窝(要养鸡鸭数十年者)粪泥下净土一撮(去粪数寸者,不
要
Zhuang Zaitian stated: The syndrome of Slow Convulsion (Man Jing) is most commonly caused by vomiting and diarrhea in infants. It may also result from prolonged malaria or dysentery, occurring after the eruption of smallpox or chickenpox, or due to wind-cold invasion, food stagnation, and excessive use of purgative drugs that damage the Spleen and Stomach. It can also be caused by congenital deficiency, misadministration of cold-natured medicines, excessive downward-draining treatment for Fast Convulsion (Ji Jing), or improper nursing care. All these factors can lead to this syndrome. The symptoms include unconsciousness, panting, persistent high fever, eyes open with convulsions upon fright, alternating chills and fever, dullness of the Yang channels (Taiyang, Yangming, Shaoyang), pale white or greenish-yellow complexion, clear and colorless urine and stool, cracked and bleeding lips but with cold breath, diarrhea accompanied by cold sweat, undigested food in stool, cold limbs, abdominal borborygmus, phlegm rale in the throat, opisthotonos (body arched backward like a bow), and dim vision. This is a deficiency syndrome and also a critical condition. Commonly known as Tiandiao Feng, Xu Feng, Man Jing Feng, or Man Pi Feng, all refer to this same syndrome. If cold-natured medicines are used again, or if digestive-promoting methods are applied, or if Nanxing (Arisaema Cum Bile) and Baolong Wan are used to resolve phlegm, Tianma (Gastrodia Rhizome) and Quanxie (Scorpio) are used to dispel wind, Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), and Lianzi (Coptidis Rhizoma) are used to clear fire, or Badou (Crotonis Fructus) and Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) are used to remove accumulation, death will occur as easily as turning one's palm, which is truly terrifying. If treating wind finds no wind to treat, and treating convulsion finds no convulsion to treat, it is actually because of Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency and cold, floating isolated Yang, Yuan Qi lacking a root, and extreme Yin cold causing the movement of wind. Treatment should first employ pungent-hot herbs, followed by warming and tonifying methods. Tonifying Earth (Spleen/Stomach) controls Wood (Liver); treating the root is treating the branch. Whenever an infant suffers from simultaneous vomiting and diarrhea, it is the most critical condition. If it recurs frequently, regardless of whether it follows smallpox, chickenpox, or other illnesses, and regardless of the cause, Shenqi (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) should be urgently used to rescue Stomach Qi, while Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), Guirui (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Gouqi (Lycii Fructus), and Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata) should be used to rescue Kidney Qi. Not only food stagnation requires urgent rescue, but also Shanghan (Cold Damage) and Shangshu (Summerheat Injury) require urgent rescue. Although there may initially be excess pathogens of cold or summerheat, once vomiting and diarrhea occur, the pathogens are largely expelled, leaving the Spleen and Stomach empty and the granaries depleted. Without urgent rescue, floating phlegm may surge upward, and life may hang in the balance. Quack doctors, seeing this, mistakenly diagnose it as heat or food stagnation, administering cooling and clearing-purgative medicines, leading to immediate complications. What can be done? Rather than erring on the side of cold-natured medicines, making survival difficult, it is better to err on the side of warming and tonifying, which still offers a chance for recovery. This statement elucidates the principles of convulsion due to vomiting and diarrhea most clearly. Future practitioners should not ignore this. The differentiation of Slow Convulsion is listed below:
1. Slow Convulsion with vomiting and diarrhea: Spleen and Stomach deficiency-cold.
2. Slow Convulsion with cold body: Yang Qi suppressed and unable to emerge. Often caused by taking cold medicines.
3. Slow Convulsion with flaring nostrils: True Yin failing to hold fast, deficient fire scorching the Lung.
4. Slow Convulsion with greenish-yellow and white complexion: Deficiency of both Qi and Blood.
5. Slow Convulsion with cold breath from mouth and nose: Middle Jiao cold excess.
6. Slow Convulsion with clear and colorless urine and stool: Complete lack of Fire in the Kidney and Large Intestine.
7. Slow Convulsion with drowsiness and staring eyes: Insufficiency of Shen Qi (Spirit Qi).
8. Slow Convulsion with twitching of hands and feet: Blood failing to circulate to the four limbs.
9. Slow Convulsion with opisthotonos: Blood deficiency causing tendon tension.
10. Slow Convulsion with alternating hot and cold: Insufficient Yin Blood, disorder of Yin and Yang.
11. Slow Convulsion with profuse sweating: Yang deficiency and insecure exterior.
12. Slow Convulsion with clonic spasms of hands and feet: Blood insufficient to nourish the tendons.
13. Slow Convulsion with sunken fontanelle: Extreme deficiency.
14. Slow Convulsion with fever despite burning and cracking lips with bleeding, yet no desire for cold drinks: Administering cold medicines worsens the critical condition. The vomited milk and excreted matter are poorly digested, indicating lack of Fire in the Spleen and Stomach; the blackened lips indicate insufficiency of True Yin.
Generally, cases resulting from persistent fever and vomiting/diarrhea belong to Yin deficiency with floating Yang, inevitably leading to Slow Convulsion. They are not comparable to common colds with wind-cold fever, so dispersing methods are inappropriate. Treatment should focus on nurturing Yuan Qi and saving the root, adding Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) and Guirui (Cinnamomi Ramulus) to guide fire back to its source. One must first use pungent-hot herbs to disperse cold-phlegm, then proceed with warming and tonifying methods. Two empirical formulas are listed below.
Zh Han Dang Jing Tang (Eliminate Cold and Dispel Convulsion Decoction): This formula has warm properties and is specifically for infants with congenital deficiency, prolonged illness, postpartum/post-rash states, or those who took cold medicines incorrectly, leading to slow convulsion from diarrhea and vomiting. Using heat-clearing and wind-dispersing methods will make the condition worse; this formula should be taken quickly. It can open cold-phlegm, widen the chest and diaphragm, stop vomiting, and dispel convulsive pathogens, effectively "returning Yuan Qi to the realm of nothingness." After one or two doses, vomiting gradually stops, which is the verification. Recognizing it as a deficiency-cold syndrome, it should be taken without hesitation. Hu jiao (Piperis Longi Fructus), Paogjiang (Prepared Zingiberis Rhizoma), Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) each 1 qian, Dingxiang (Caryophylli Flos) 10 grains. Grind the above four ingredients into fine powder. Boil 3 liang of Zaoshintu (Furnace Soil) in water until extremely clear, decoct the medicine in half a teacup of this liquid, and administer frequently. Follow with the next formula for miraculous effects.
Jiawei Lizhong Dihuang Tang (Modified Regulate the Middle and Rehmannia Decoction): This formula boosts Qi and nourishes Blood, expels disease, and restores Yang. It is specifically for infants whose spirit is depleted, Qi and Blood are severely damaged, appearing emaciated and wretched, who can still be saved. Decoct strongly according to method and administer frequently. Its merit in rescuing the root is hard to describe fully. Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata) 5 qian, Jiaozhu (Charred Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 3 qian, Dangshen (Codonopsis Radix), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Zhishaoyao (Prepared Paeoniae Radix Alba - *Note: Text says 'Zhi ', likely missing character, context implies tonifying herb*), Guzhi (Psoraleae Fructus), Zaoren (Ziziphi Spinosomi Semen, stir-fried and ground), Gouqi (Lycii Fructus) each 2 qian, Paogjiang (Prepared Zingiberis Rhizoma), Yurou (Corni Fructus), Zhigancao (Prepared Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex), Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata - *implied by later text*).
If cough persists, add Sukewan (Papaveris Pericarpium) 1 qian, Jinyingzi (Chrysanthemi Fructus - *Note: Jinyingzi is Euryales Semen*) 1 qian. If high fever persists, add Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) 1 qian. If diarrhea persists, add Dingxiang (Caryophylli Flos) 6 fen; take only one dose, then remove Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) and use only seven Dingxiang grains. Every two or three days, use only 2-3 fen of Fuzi, because Fuzi is too hot and should be removed once the disease is addressed. Too much Fuzi causes urinary retention; no Fuzi leaves deep cold in the organs unresolved. No Dingxiang leads to persistent diarrhea. If the infant's deficiency-cold is extreme, Fuzi can be used up to 2-3 qian. This illustrates that "divinity lies in the practitioner," so users must exercise caution.
This formula is a key medicine for saving Yin and consolidating the root, called a divine agent for treating infant slow convulsion. If the infant's vomiting and diarrhea do not worsen daily, or show only slight convulsions, can tolerate medicine, nurse normally, and have smooth bowel movements, Zh Han Dang Jing Tang is not necessary; taking just one dose of this formula will calm the wind and clarify the spirit. If the infant has not yet developed convulsion, but has drowsiness and persistent fever, intermittent fever, quiet during day but fever at night, or afternoon fever, all belong to Yin deficiency and are suitable for this formula. For newly ill, robust infants with red eyes and thirst, it is an excess-fire syndrome, and temporary heat-clearing and resolving methods can be used. But true excess-fire presents with constipation, strong voice, and preference for cold drinks. Vomiting and diarrhea together indicate it is not excess-fire. This formula supplements the insufficiency of creation's Yin and Yang, possessing miraculous powers to revive the dying. If ineffective after one dose following extreme deficiency, larger doses and multiple administrations are advisable.
The Baolong Wan and Niuhuang Wan sold recently are heat-clearing and phlegm-resolving medicines, most suitable for Fast Convulsion. For severe Slow Convulsion, they are fatal upon ingestion.
If pharmacy preparation is unavailable in rural areas, urgently take a pinch of pure soil from under the dung mud of chicken or duck nests (from nests used for decades), removing the top few inches of dung...