Measles

A transmissible disease affecting mostly children characterized by eruption of papules the shape of sesame seeds and attributed to pestilential qì. The disease is located in the spleen and lung channelsand can affect other bowels and viscera. Measles is characterized at onset by heat effusion, cough, and copious tearing, and white speckles inside the mouth. After three days of heat effusion, papules appear behind the ears, on the neck, and face, and spread to the limbs. Eruption is complete when the papules reach the legs. During the first millennium, measles was poorly distinguished from other diseases characterized by eruptions. In the Sòng dynasty, both measles and smallpox were popularly called 麻子 má zǐ (lit. semame seeds), but Pang An-Shi distinguished a mild form from a severe form. The distinction was consolidated in the Míng, when the term 痲疹 má zhěn came to be used to denote mild eruptive diseases.

Medicinal therapy: In the initial heat effusion stage, treat by diffusing the lung and outthrusting papules with formulas such as Toxin-Diffusing Exterior-Effusing Decoction (宣毒发表汤 xuān dú fā biǎo tāng) or Lonicera and Forsythia Powder (银翘散 yín qiào sǎn). After eruption, treat by clearing heat and resolving toxin with arnebia/lithospermum (Arnebiae/Lithospermi Radix, 紫草 zǐ cǎo), saffron (Croci Stigma, 藏红花 zàng hóng huā), forsythia (Forsythiae Fructus, 连翘 lián qiào), lonicera (Lonicerae Flos, 金银花 jīn yín huā), coptis (Coptidis Rhizoma, 黄连 huáng lián), Zhejiang fritillaria (Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus, 浙贝母 zhè bèi mǔ), loquat leaf (Eriobotryae Folium, 枇杷叶 pí pá yè), isatis root (Isatidis Radix, 板蓝根 bǎn lán gēn), lophatherum (Lophatheri Herba, 淡竹叶 dàn zhú yè), trifoliate akebia (Akebiae Trifoliatae Caulis, 木通 mù tōng), and licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix, 甘草 gān cǎo). In the recovery stage, when the papules begin to disappear, it can be treated by the method of engendering liquid and nourishing yīn combined with that of clearing residual toxin with variations of Adenophora/Glehnia and Ophiopogon Decoction (沙参麦冬汤 shā shēn mài dōng tāng).

See favorable measles pattern; unfavorable measles pattern; critical measles pattern; measles block pattern; measles toxin entering provisioning; measles toxin falling into the lung; loss of voice in measles; white-face sand.

Etymology

Chin 麻 má, sesame; 疹 zhěn, papules, rash.