〔薛〕寻衣撮空，许叔微谓之肝热。夫肝主筋，筋脉血枯而风引之，故手指为之
撮敛也，宜确服六味地黄丸，间有回生之功。钱仲阳用泻青丸，此治肝经实热，盖
寻衣撮空，皆病后之败证耳，求其实热，则百无一二矣，治者审之。王海藏治血脱
寻衣撮空摸床，手扬摇头，错语失神，脉弦浮而虚，血脱内躁，热之极也，气粗鼻
干，此为难治，用生地黄连汤主之。王少参孙女年十二岁，脾胃素弱，后成疳症发
热，小腹膨胀坚直，大便溏泻，气喘咳嗽，彻夜烦躁，不睡鼻塞，眼暗谵语，其脉
大而无根。用人参一两，附子三分，腹胀渐减，脉渐敛，然犹寻衣撮空，鼻孔出血。
用六味地黄丸料二服如脱，乃昼服独参姜附汤，及服地黄丸料，脉渐有根，诸证渐
愈，又用六君子、补中益气汤而痊。一小儿停食，夜惊腹痛，服消食丸，泻数
次，寻衣撮空，面青黄或色白。此脾土受伤、肺金休囚，肝火旺而然耳。先用异功
散加升麻以补脾土，用六味地黄丸料以滋肝血，稍定，各二剂渐愈，却用补中益气
汤、六味地黄丸、间以异功散而痊。一小儿膝痈，误触其膝，出血甚多，患前证，
恶寒面白。此阳随阴散而虚寒，用十全大补汤加附子三分，四剂未应，用人参一两，
附子五分，姜枣煎服稍退，又二剂，顿退，乃朝用异功散，夕用八珍汤而安。一小
儿伤风，表汗后，患前证，恶风面白手足冷。用补中益气汤加五味子，汗顿止而诸
证渐退，又用四剂而安，乃服十全大补汤而愈。
生地黄连汤 治血脱，寻衣撮空，摇头妄语。
川芎 生地黄 当归（各七钱） 赤芍药 栀子 黄芩 黄连（各三钱） 防风（一钱五分）
上，每服三钱，水煎服。
【薛己按语】“寻衣撮空”（患者在神志不清时，手指在空中摸索衣物或抓取虚空的动作），许叔微认为这是肝热所致。肝脏主管筋脉，若筋脉中的血液枯竭，风邪引动内风，就会导致手指出现撮敛（收缩抓握）的症状，适宜确服用六味地黄丸，偶尔有起死回生的功效。钱仲阳使用泻青丸，这是治疗肝经实热的方法；然而，“寻衣撮空”大多是疾病后期的虚败证候，其中属于实热的情况，百中无一二，医者应当审慎辨别。
王海藏曾治疗一例因失血导致“寻衣撮空”、摸床、手扬头摇、胡言乱语、神志丧失的患者，其脉象弦浮而虚弱，这是血脱导致的内部躁动，是热极的表现，伴有呼吸粗重、鼻干等症状，这属于难治之症，使用生地黄连汤为主方治疗。
王少参的孙女十二岁，脾胃素来虚弱，后来患上疳症并伴有发热，小腹膨胀坚硬挺直，大便溏泻，气喘咳嗽，彻夜烦躁不睡，鼻塞，眼睛昏暗且胡言乱语，脉象大而无根。使用人参一两、附子三分，腹胀逐渐减轻，脉象逐渐收敛，但仍然出现“寻衣撮空”，鼻孔出血。随后服用两剂六味地黄丸的药料后症状缓解，白天服用独参姜附汤，同时服用六味地黄丸药料，脉象逐渐有了根基，各种症状逐渐痊愈，之后又使用六君子汤、补中益气汤而康复。
另一个小儿因停食（饮食积滞），夜间惊悸腹痛，服用消食丸后腹泻多次，出现“寻衣撮空”，面色青黄或苍白。这是脾土受伤、肺金休囚（功能减弱），肝火旺盛所致。先用异功散加升麻以补益脾土，用六味地黄丸药料以滋养肝血，症状稍定，各服两剂后逐渐好转，后来改用补中益气汤、六味地黄丸，间杂使用异功散而痊愈。
另一个小儿患有膝部痈肿，误触膝盖，出血很多，出现前述症状，恶寒面白。这是阳气随阴血消散而导致的虚寒证，使用十全大补汤加附子三分，服用四剂未见效果，改用人参一两、附子五分，加生姜大枣煎服，症状稍退，又服两剂，症状顿减，于是早晨服用异功散，晚上服用八珍汤而安定。
另一个小儿伤风，发汗解表后，出现前述症状，恶风面白，手足冰冷。使用补中益气汤加五味子，汗液立即停止，各种症状逐渐消退，又服四剂而安宁，最后服用十全大补汤而痊愈。
生地黄连汤：治疗血脱引起的“寻衣撮空”、摇头妄语。
川芎、生地黄、当归（各七钱）、赤芍药、栀子、黄芩、黄连（各三钱）、防风（一钱五分）。
以上药材，每次服用三钱，水煎服。
[Commentary by Xue Ji] "Seeking clothes and grasping at empty air" (a symptom where the patient, in a state of confusion, gropes for clothes or grasps at the void with their fingers), Xu Shuwei attributed it to Liver Heat. The Liver governs the sinews; when the blood in the sinews is depleted and internal wind is stirred, the fingers undergo contraction and grasping. It is appropriate to administer Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) consistently, which occasionally has the power to revive the dying. Qian Zhongyang used Xieqing Wan (Drain the Blue Pill), which treats excess heat in the Liver channel. However, "seeking clothes and grasping at empty air" are mostly signs of collapse after severe illness; cases of true excess heat account for only one or two out of a hundred. Physicians must exercise caution in differentiation.
Wang Haizang treated a case of "seeking clothes and grasping at empty air," bed-groping, waving hands, shaking the head, delirious speech, and loss of spirit due to blood depletion. The pulse was wiry, floating, and deficient. This indicated internal restlessness due to blood loss, representing extreme heat, accompanied by coarse breathing and dry nose. This is considered difficult to treat, so Shengdi Huanglian Tang (Rehmannia and Coptis Decoction) was used as the primary formula.
The granddaughter of Vice Minister Wang, aged twelve, had always weak Spleen and Stomach. Later, she developed infantile malnutrition (Gan syndrome) with fever, distension and hardness of the lower abdomen, loose stools, wheezing and coughing, all-night irritability and insomnia, nasal congestion, dim vision, and delirium. Her pulse was large but rootless. One tael of Renshen (Ginseng Radix) and three fen of Fuzi (Aconite Lateral Root) were administered; abdominal distension gradually decreased, and the pulse became more contained. However, she still exhibited "seeking clothes and grasping at empty air" and epistaxis. After taking two doses of the ingredients for Liuwei Dihuang Wan, symptoms alleviated. She then took Dushen Jiangfu Tang (Single Ginseng Ginger-Aconite Decoction) during the day and continued with the Liuwei Dihuang Wan ingredients. The pulse gradually gained a root, and various symptoms improved. Finally, Yigong San (Yi-Gong Powder) and Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) were used, leading to recovery.
Another child suffered from food stagnation, night frights, and abdominal pain. After taking Xiaoshi Wan (Digestive Pills), he had multiple diarrheal episodes and exhibited "seeking clothes and grasping at empty air," with a complexion that was greenish-yellow or pale. This resulted from injury to the Spleen Earth and weakness of the Lung Metal, combined with hyperactive Liver Fire. Initially, Yigong San augmented with Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) was used to tonify Spleen Earth, and the ingredients for Liuwei Dihuang Wan were used to nourish Liver Blood. Symptoms stabilized slightly; after two doses of each, gradual improvement occurred. Subsequently, Buzhong Yiqi Tang and Liuwei Dihuang Wan were used, interspersed with Yigong San, resulting in recovery.
Another child had a knee abscess. Accidental trauma to the knee caused significant bleeding, leading to the aforementioned symptoms, aversion to cold, and a pale face. This indicated deficiency-cold due to Yang dissipating with Yin/Blood. Shiquan Dabu Tang (Perfect Golden Great Tonifying Decoction) augmented with three fen of Fuzi was used. After four doses without effect, the dosage was adjusted to one tael of Renshen and five fen of Fuzi, decocted with Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) and Dazao (Jujubae Fructus). Symptoms subsided slightly. After two more doses, symptoms dropped significantly. Then, Yigong San was taken in the morning and Bazhen Tang (Eight-Treasure Decoction) in the evening, leading to stability.
Another child contracted wind-cold. After sweating therapy, the aforementioned symptoms appeared: aversion to wind, pale face, and cold extremities. Buzhong Yiqi Tang augmented with Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus) was used. Sweating stopped immediately, and symptoms gradually receded. After four more doses, the condition stabilized, and finally, Shiquan Dabu Tang was administered for full recovery.
Shengdi Huanglian Tang: Treats blood depletion manifesting as "seeking clothes and grasping at empty air," head shaking, and delirious speech.
Chuanxiong Rhizome (Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Shengdihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) (each 7 qian); Chishao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) (each 3 qian); Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) (1.5 qian).
Take these herbs, use 3 qian per dose, decoct in water, and take orally.