NCCAOM Foundations Practice Exam

The appropriate treatment principle involves a multifaceted approach aimed at addressing the symptoms and underlying issues presented by the high fever, tremors, and convulsions in a 9-month-old baby after ruling out meningitis. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the presence of a high fever can indicate an excess heat condition, while tremors and convulsions often suggest the presence of internal wind, usually arising from a deficiency of yin or blood.

In this case, the focus on cooling the blood addresses the high fever—reducing the excess heat helps stabilize the child's condition. Nourishing yin is also crucial since a deficiency in yin can lead to the generation of internal wind, and given the baby’s young age, they may have a naturally lower reserve of yin energy. Subduing wind is directly aimed at controlling the convulsions and tremors that arise from this excess wind condition.

This treatment principle of cooling blood, nourishing yin, and subduing wind appropriately addresses both the high fever and the neurologic symptoms, making it suitable for the situation presented.