〔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（指患者神志不清，手在空中摸索衣物或抓取空气的动作），许叔微认为这是肝热所致。肝主司筋脉，若筋脉因血液枯竭而失养，风邪引动内风，就会导致手指出现撮敛（手指蜷缩拘急）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，百中难见一二，医者务必审慎辨别。
王海藏曾治疗一例血脱导致寻衣撮空、摸床、手部挥舞、摇头、言语错乱、神识丧失的患者，其脉象弦浮而虚弱，这是血脱后内部躁动，热势极盛的表现，伴有呼吸粗重、鼻孔干燥，这种情况难以治疗，使用生地黄连汤为主方。
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，小腹部膨胀且坚硬挺直，大便溏泄，气喘咳嗽，整夜烦躁不安，无法入睡，鼻塞，眼睛昏花且胡言乱语，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和鼻孔出血的症状。随后服用两剂六味地黄丸的药料，症状如解脱般缓解，于是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（饮食停滞），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，接着使用补中益气汤、六味地黄丸，间杂使用异功散而痊愈。
还有一个小儿患有膝痈（膝盖部位的痈肿），误触膝盖，出血很多，患上述病症，恶寒面白。这是阳气随着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，改用用人参一两、附子五分，加生姜大枣煎服，症状稍退，再服两剂，症状顿时减退，于是早晨服用异功散，晚上服用八珍汤而安定。
还有一个小儿伤风，发汗治疗后，出现上述病症，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，又服四剂而安定，最后服用十全大补汤而痊愈。
生地黄连汤：治疗血脱，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）。
以上药物，每次服用三钱，水煎服。
[Xue Ji's Commentary] "Xun yi cuo kong" (the symptom where the patient, in a state of confusion, gropes for clothes or grasps at empty air), Xu Shuwei attributed to Liver Heat. The Liver governs the sinews; when the sinews and vessels are depleted of blood and internal wind is stirred, it causes the fingers to curl and contract. It is appropriate to administer Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) consistently, which occasionally yields miraculous results. Qian Zhongyang used Xieqing Wan (Drain Green Pill) to treat excess heat in the Liver channel. However, "xun yi cuo kong" is mostly a sign of collapse in the late stages of disease; cases truly characterized by excess heat account for less than one in a hundred. Physicians must exercise caution in differentiation.
Wang Haicang treated a case of blood depletion presenting with "xun yi cuo kong," bed-groping, hand-waving, head-shaking, confused speech, and loss of spirit. The pulse was wiry, floating, and deficient. This indicated internal restlessness due to blood loss, representing extreme heat, accompanied by coarse breathing and dry nostrils. This condition is difficult to treat; he prescribed Shengdi Huanglian Tang (Rehmannia and Coptis Decoction).
The granddaughter of Vice Minister Wang, aged twelve, had a constitutionally weak Spleen and Stomach. She later developed infantile malnutrition (Gan syndrome) with fever, distension and hardness of the lower abdomen, loose stools, wheezing and cough, restlessness throughout the night, insomnia, nasal congestion, blurred vision, and delirium. Her pulse was large but rootless. He administered Ren Shen (Codonopsis Ginseng Root) 1 liang and Fu Zi (Aconite Lateral Root) 3 fen. The abdominal distension gradually decreased, and the pulse became more contained, yet she still exhibited "xun yi cuo kong" and epistaxis. After taking two doses of the ingredients for Liuwei Dihuang Wan, her symptoms alleviated significantly. Thereafter, she took Dushen Jiangfu Tang (Single Ginseng, Ginger, and Aconite Decoction) during the day and continued with the Liuwei Dihuang Wan ingredients. Her pulse gradually gained a root, and various symptoms improved. Finally, she recovered after using Liujunzi Tang (Six-Gentleman Decoction) and Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction).
Another child suffered from food stagnation, nocturnal fright, and abdominal pain. After taking Xiaoshi Wan (Digestive Pills), he experienced frequent diarrhea and developed "xun yi cuo kong," with a complexion that was greenish-yellow or pale. This resulted from injury to Spleen Earth and weakness of Lung Metal, leading to hyperactive Liver Fire. Initially, Yigong San (Yi Gong Powder) with Shengma (Cimicifuga Rhizome) was used to tonify Spleen Earth, and the ingredients of Liuwei Dihuang Wan were used to nourish Liver Blood. After symptoms slightly stabilized, two doses of each were given, leading to gradual improvement. 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) with 3 fen of Fu Zi was administered for four doses without effect. The dosage was adjusted to Ren Shen 1 liang and Fu Zi 5 fen, decocted with Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger) and Da Zao (Jujube). Symptoms subsided slightly; after two more doses, they markedly decreased. Morning administration of Yigong San and evening administration of Bazhen Tang (Eight-Treasure Decoction) brought stability.
Another child contracted wind-cold. After sweating therapy, he presented with the aforementioned symptoms, aversion to wind, pale face, and cold extremities. Buzhong Yiqi Tang with Wuweizi (Schisandra Fruit) was used. Sweating ceased immediately, and symptoms gradually receded. After four additional doses, he stabilized, and finally recovered after taking Shiquan Dabu Tang.
Shengdi Huanglian Tang: Treats blood depletion, "xun yi cuo kong," head-shaking, and delirious speech.
Chuanxiong Radix Ligustici (Chuanxiong), Shengdi Huang Radix Rehmanniae Preparata (Prepared Rehmannia Root), Danggui Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Dong Quai) (each 7 qian); Chishao Radix Paeoniae Rubra (Red Peony Root), Zhizi Fructus Gardeniae (Gardenia Fruit), Huangqin Radix Scutellariae (Scutellaria Root), Huanglian Rhizoma Coptidis (Coptis Rhizome) (each 3 qian); Fangfeng Radix Saposhnikoviae (Saposhnikovia Root) (1.5 qian).
Take these herbs, use 3 qian per dose, decoct in water, and take orally.