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Dried Shu Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata), Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Du Huo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix), Wu Zhu Yu (Evodiae Fructus) (rinsed with water), Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Preparatum) (prepared by stir-frying), Shao Yao (Paeoniae Radix), Gui Xin (Cinnamomi Cortex), Zhi Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Preparatum) (prepared by honey-frying), Xiao Cao (Lycopii Herba) (each one tael).
Xi Xin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma) (half a tael).
Crush the above herbs into a coarse powder. For each dose, take half a tael, add three large bowls of water, and decoct until one bowl remains. Remove the dregs and take while slightly warm.
Comment: Postpartum heart pain is not a common disease of the lying-in period, though it may occasionally occur. The "Nine Kinds of Pain" are not necessarily blood stasis pain. If it were blood stasis pain, how could Yan Mi Tang use Shu Di Huang? Shu Di Huang is cloying and impedes blood circulation; how can it relieve pain? This formula originally comes from *Qian Jin Fang*, which uses Sheng Gan Di Huang (Dried Raw Rehmanniae Radix). One sheng of Wu Zhu Yu equals five taels; Gan Jiang is three taels; Xi Xin treats chronic cold in the lower jiao; the original formula dosage is one tael, but here it is reduced to half a tael. Formulating odd or even combinations depends on measuring the depth of the disease; there are inherent standards, and one must not arbitrarily add or subtract ingredients. However, using Yan Mi Tang to treat blood stasis pain is less effective than using Shi Xiao San.

Treats severe heart and abdominal pain that feels like death, unresponsive to various medicines; taking this formula brings immediate relief.
Wu Ling Zhi (Trogopteri Dung) and Pu Huang (Typhae Pollen) (lightly stir-fried, equal parts).
Grind into powder. First, mix two qian of powder with strong vinegar, boil into a paste, add one bowl of water, and decoct until seven-tenths remain. Take hot before meals.
Chapter 19 states: What if postpartum heat oppression and qi rebellion transform into Hong Jiao Jiao (Jiaqi/Foot Qi)? Answer: Postpartum bed rest causes blood deficiency generating internal heat. Combined with excessive cooling during spring and summer, and stepping on ground moisture causing dampness to invade via the feet, it attaches and becomes Hong Jiao Jiao. Symptoms include heat oppression, convulsions, palpitations, irritability, vomiting, and rebellious qi. These are its signs. Taking Xiao Xu Ming Tang for two to three doses will surely cure it. If physicians mistakenly use drugs to purge failed blood, the loss of blood will exacerbate the disease.
Xiao Xu Ming Tang see Stroke Chapter.
Comment: Hong Jiao Jiao is indeed a common disease, but it is unheard of for postpartum conditions to transform into it. Often, reading *Qian Jin Fang* reveals statements about many puerperal women suffering from this disease, leading to such diagnoses. This is where literary phrasing harms medical meaning, which is lamentable. If it were truly heat oppression and qi rebellion, why prescribe Xu Ming Tang? This medicine primarily treats Shaoyang channel wind-stroke, not all channels of Hong Jiao Jiao. One must regulate according to the yin-yang and meridians discussed in Hong Jiao Jiao formulas. This involves specialized knowledge and is not easy to discuss lightly. Since it is not a critical postpartum disease, further citation is omitted.
Chapter 20 states: Why does excessive sweating after childbirth lead to Jing Bing (Spasm/Opisthotonos)? Answer: Postpartum blood deficiency leads to loose interstices (cou li), causing excessive sweating. When attacked by wind pathogen, it transforms into Jing Bing. Jing Bing refers to locked jaw, stiff and straight back, resembling epilepsy, head shaking, horse-like neighing, body opisthotonos, occurring ten times in a short while, with breath nearly stopping. One must quickly pry open the mouth and administer Xiao Xu Ming Tang. If delayed, sweating will be profuse like rain, and if hands cannot keep up wiping it, it is incurable.
Xiao Xu Ming Tang see Stroke Chapter.
Comment: It is hard to believe that postpartum excessive sweating transforming into Jing Bing should be treated with Xu Ming Tang. Given the profuse sweating, how can one administer Ma Huang (Ephedrae Herba), Guan Gui (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Fang Ji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix), Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix) and similar dispersing or bitter-cold herbs? Da Dou Zi Tang (Purple Soybean Decoction) is better. Da Sheng San from *Tai Yi Ju Fang* is also a good medicine.
Da Dou Zi Tang see Vertigo Chapter.
Chapter 21 states: What if excessive lochia discharge leads to extreme deficiency generating wind? Answer: Women rely on Ying Blood. Excessive blood loss during childbirth leaves Qi without mastery. Symptoms include cyanotic lips, cold flesh, sweating, closed eyes, and coma, with life hanging in the balance. This is merely wind generated by extreme deficiency. In such cases, urgently administer Ji Wei Shang Dan. Treating with wind-dispelling drugs would be a mistake.