Tugging and slackening

Also convulsions; tugging wind. Alternating tensing and relaxation of the sinews, often observed in externally contracted febrile disease, epilepsy, and lockjaw. Tugging means a tensing and contraction, whereas slackening is a relaxation. Tugging and slackening together denote alternating contraction and relaxation of the sinews. In febrile disease, it is attributable to exuberant heat damaging yīn with wind and fire exacerbating each other, and to congestion of phlegm-fire. In summer, externally contracted febrile disease with fatigued cumbersome limbs and copious sweating, it is a sign of damage to qì. In epilepsy and lockjaw, it is usually attributable to wind phlegm or phlegm heat. Tugging and slackening can also occur intermittently in spleen-stomach vacuity with vomiting and diarrhea, or in liver vacuity cold with rib-side pain and clouded or flowery vision. It is sometimes observed after blood loss.

Biomedical correspondence: clonic spasm.

Etymology

Chin 瘈 jì (qì, chì), tug, jerk; 疭 (zòng, relax).