凭脉为的治病。而至胎前，其看症也，历历录录；其用药也离离奇奇。黄芩，安胎者也；乌头，伤胎者也。
而胎当其寒结，黄芩转为伤胎之鸩血，乌头又为安胎之灵丹（明党、焦术、砂仁、附片、建姜、秦归、炙草
）。焦术，安胎者也；芒硝，伤胎者也。而胎当热结，焦术反为伤胎之砒霜，芒硝又为安胎之妙品（芒硝五钱
、滚水澄去滓，调蜜服）。当此两命相关，以安为伤，以伤为安，而用之裕如者，夫亦曰权脉之迟结数促耳！
胆从脉出，而胆斯大；智从脉生，而智斯圆。无药不可以安胎，无药不可以伤胎，有何一定之方？有何一定之
药也乎？彼《本草》之注禁服，不过为初学导之先路。夫胎症，其显者也。由胎症而推，脉清而用得其当，信
石蜈蚣，无非参苓 术；脉溷而用失其当，参苓 术，无非信石蜈蚣。拘成见者，赵括读父书而丧师，荆公
用周礼而乱宋；知变化者，孔明添灶而退兵，楚王破釜而取胜。古今来，英雄成败，止争此一心之妙用，又何
恤乎人言。
百脉空虚，瘀血留滞，二语足以括尽产后诸病。其用药也，补则足以填虚空，温则足以散瘀滞。温补二字，
在产后极为稳当。而见之于脉，则未可以一格拘也。有迟涩者，有沉细者，有洪数者，有弦紧者。迟涩沉细，
可温可补，若洪数弦紧，顾可漫无区别，而一于温之补之乎？抑知瘀血填塞隧道，血脉为之沸腾，虚寒之体，
转化为实热之脉，倘凭脉以疗病，则为发为泄，为汗为凉。病症百端，药饵肆应，非不经营惨淡，竭力弥缝，
乃一病未已，一病旋生，卒至温补难施，不可救药，岂非专凭脉者，阶之厉耶？余家世传《月科》一卷之书，
得之本邑王定所。不诊脉，但问症。细阅书中，实是肚腹大胀大痛者，先治之以去瘀之本（桃仁、归尾、胡索
、灵脂、干姜、川芎、荆芥穗、酒调服）。其于症之虚寒者，固不外肉桂、干姜（茯苓、炙草、当归、川芎、
焦白术、肉桂、蜜黄 、干姜）；即症之大热者，亦不离肉桂、干姜。百试百验，世无产难之妇。远近求药者，
日踵其门。传至于余，参究脉理，思欲突过前人。乃凭脉罔效，凭书辄效。而后知产后凭脉，其理犹浅；不
凭脉，其理方深。世之家藏秘本，粗视之，了无意义，而用之多效者，大半类此。
Accurate treatment of diseases relies on pulse diagnosis. However, during the prenatal period, symptoms are numerous and complex; medications used appear erratic and unusual. Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) is a herb for calming the fetus; Wutou (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata) is a herb that harms the fetus.
Yet, when the fetus is affected by cold accumulation, Huangqin turns into a poison harming the fetus, while Wutou becomes a miraculous elixir for calming the fetus (Mingdangshen [Codonopsis Radix], Jiaozhu [Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma Stir-fried with Bran], Sharen [Amomi Fructus], Fupian [Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata], Jianjiang [Zingiberis Rhizoma], Guiji [Angelicae Sinensis Radix], Zhigancao [Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Preparated with Honey]).
Jiaozhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma Stir-fried with Bran) is a herb for calming the fetus; Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas) is a herb that harms the fetus. Yet, when the fetus is affected by heat accumulation, Jiaozhu turns into arsenic harming the fetus, while Mangxiao becomes a wonderful product for calming the fetus (Mangxiao 5 qian, clarified in boiling water to remove dregs, mixed with honey for administration).
In this critical situation where life hangs in the balance, where calming the fetus is seen as harming it, and harming it is seen as calming it, those who can apply treatments with ease do so by weighing the pulse characteristics of Chi (slow), Jie (intermittent), Shu (rapid), and Cu (hurried)!
Courage arises from understanding the pulse, making one bold; wisdom is born from perceiving the pulse, making one comprehensive. There is no herb that cannot calm the fetus, nor any herb that cannot harm the fetus. What fixed formulas exist? What fixed herbs are there? The contraindications noted in Bencao materia medica serve merely as a preliminary guide for beginners.
Prenatal symptoms are manifest. By inferring from these symptoms, if the pulse is clear and medication is appropriate, even Xinshi (Realgar) and Wugong (Scolopendra) act like Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Fuling (Poria), and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma); if the pulse is turbid and medication is inappropriate, even Renshen, Fuling, and Baizhu act like Xinshi and Wugong. Those constrained by preconceived notions, like Zhao Kuo studying his father's military books leading to army destruction, or Wang Anshi using the Zhou Li causing chaos in Song; those who understand change, like Zhuge Liang adding stove fires to retreat troops, or King Xiangyu breaking cauldrons to achieve victory. Throughout history, the success or failure of heroes depends solely on the subtle application of the mind, why worry about others' words?
Empty hundred vessels, stagnant blood stasis—these two phrases suffice to encompass all postpartum diseases. Regarding medication, tonification suffices to fill emptiness, warming suffices to dissipate stasis. The terms "warming" and "tonifying" are extremely safe and appropriate for postpartum conditions.
However, reflected in the pulse, one cannot be confined to a single pattern. There are Chi (slow) and Se (choppy) pulses, Chen (deep) and Xi (fine) pulses, Hong (surging) and Shu (rapid) pulses, Xian (taut) and Jin (tight) pulses. Chi, Se, Chen, and Xi pulses can be warmed and tonified; but for Hong, Shu, Xian, and Jin pulses, how can one indiscriminately apply only warming and tonifying methods?
Moreover, one must know that when blood stasis blocks the meridians and collaterals, the blood vessels boil over, and a constitution originally deficient and cold transforms into a pulse of excess heat. If treating based on such a pulse, one would employ dispersing, purging, sweating, and cooling methods. With hundreds of disease manifestations and肆应 (arbitrary response) of medicines, although efforts are made painstakingly to patch things up, one disease does not resolve before another arises, eventually rendering warming and tonifying methods ineffective and the condition incurable. Is this not precisely the disaster caused by relying solely on pulse diagnosis?
My family has passed down a volume titled Yueke (Obstetrics), obtained from Wang Ding of our county. It does not diagnose via pulse, but only asks about symptoms. Carefully reviewing the book, for cases of severe abdominal distension and pain, it first treats the root of blood stasis (Taoren [Prunus Persica Seed], Guiwei [Angelicae Sinensis Radix Tail], Huxiao [Curcumae Longae Rhizoma], Lingzhi [Trogopterori Faeces], Ganjiang [Zingiberis Rhizoma], Chuanxiong [Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome], Jingjiesui [Schizonepetae Spica], taken with wine).
For symptoms of deficiency and cold, naturally Cuirougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) and Ganjiang are indispensable (Fuling [Poria], Zhigancao [Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Preparated with Honey], Danggui [Angelicae Sinensis Radix], Chuanxiong [Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome], Jiaobaizhu [Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma Stir-fried with Bran], Cuirougui [Cinnamomi Cortex], Mi Huangqi [Astragali Radix Prepared with Honey], Ganjiang [Zingiberis Rhizoma]); even for symptoms of extreme heat, Cuirougui and Ganjiang are still essential. Tested a hundred times with hundred successes, there are no women suffering from difficult labor in the world. People seeking medicine from near and far flock to the door daily.
When it reached me, I studied pulse theory, thinking to surpass predecessors. Yet relying on pulse yielded no effect, while relying on the book yielded results. Only then did I realize that for postpartum conditions, relying on pulse is superficial; not relying on pulse reveals deeper principles. Secret manuals kept by families in the world, appearing meaningless at first glance but proving highly effective in use, are mostly like this.