产后大便不通，由去血过多，大肠干涸，或血虚火燥，以致秘涩，不可计其日期，及饮食数多，用药通之
润之，必待腹满觉胀，自欲去而不能者，乃结在直肠，宜用猪胆导之。若误以为有热，用苦寒之剂通之，反伤
中焦元气，或愈加难通，或通而泻不能止，必成败证。若属血虚火燥，用加味逍遥散，气血俱虚用八珍汤。一
产妇大便不通七日矣，饮食如常，腹中如故，用八珍汤加桃仁、杏仁，至二十一日腹满欲去，用猪胆汁润之，
先去干粪数块，后皆常粪而安。一产妇大便秘涩，诸药不应。苦不可言，令饮人乳而愈，牛乳亦可，大小便不
通者俱宜。陈无择曰∶产后不得利，利者百无一生，去血过多，脏燥，大便闭涩，宜用葱涎调腊茶为丸，复以
腊茶下之必通，大黄决不可用。
丹溪治产后秘结不通、膨满气急、坐卧俱难，用大麦 炒黄为末，酒下一合，神效，又麻子、苏子粥最为
稳妥，用紫苏子、火麻子二味各半合，洗净研极细，用水再研，取汁一盏，分二次煮粥啜下，此粥不惟产后可
服，大抵老人诸虚风秘，皆宜服之。有一媪年八十四，忽而腹痛、头疼、恶心、不食，召医数人，用补脾及清
利头目等，全不入食，此正是老人风秘，脏腑壅滞，聚于胸中，则腹胀恶心，上至于巅，则头痛神不清，令作
此粥，两啜而气泄，先下结粪，后渐得通利，不用药而自愈矣。
桃花散
治产后气滞血涩，大小便秘。
桃仁 葵子 滑石 槟榔（各等分）
上为细末，每服二钱，空心葱白汤调下。
Postpartum constipation is caused by excessive blood loss, leading to dryness of the Large Intestine (大肠), or by Blood Deficiency with Fire Dryness (血虚火燥), resulting in constipation and difficulty in defecation. One should not merely count the days, nor should one use laxatives or moistening agents simply because food intake has increased. It is necessary to wait until the abdomen feels full and distended, and there is an urge to defecate but it cannot be expelled; only then can it be determined that the stool is impacted in the rectum. In such cases, it is appropriate to use Pig Gallbladder Juice (猪胆) for enema-guided evacuation. If mistakenly treated as having Heat (热), using Bitter-Cold (苦寒) purgatives will instead damage the Yuan Qi (元气) of the Middle Jiao (中焦). This may lead to even greater difficulty in defecation, or if defecation occurs, diarrhea may become uncontrollable, inevitably progressing to a critical condition (败证). If the cause is Blood Deficiency with Fire Dryness, Jiawei Xiaoyao San (加味逍遥散, Modified Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) should be used; if both Qi and Blood are deficient, Bazhen Tang (八珍汤, Eight-Treasure Decoction) is indicated.
A postpartum woman suffered from constipation for seven days, yet her diet remained normal and she had no abdominal discomfort. She was administered Bazhen Tang (Eight-Treasure Decoction) supplemented with Tao Ren (Peach Kernel) and Xing Ren (Apricot Kernel). On the twenty-first day, she experienced abdominal fullness and an urge to defecate. A pig gallbladder juice enema was used to moisten the intestines. Several hard fecal masses were expelled first, after which normal bowel movements resumed, and she recovered.
Another postpartum woman suffered from severe constipation and dryness, to which various medications proved ineffective, causing unbearable suffering. The physician prescribed human milk, which cured her; cow's milk is also acceptable. This method is suitable for both urinary and fecal retention. Chen Wuyue stated: "After childbirth, purgatives must not be used lightly; if misused, mortality approaches 100%." Since excessive blood loss leads to dryness of the Zang-Fu organs and constipation, it is appropriate to mix scallion juice with aged tea (腊茶) to form pills, taken with aged tea decoction, which will ensure passage. Da Huang (Rhubarb Root) must absolutely not be used.
Zhu Danxi treated postpartum constipation accompanied by abdominal distension, shortness of breath, and inability to sit or lie comfortably, using roasted barley powder mixed with wine (one he), yielding miraculous results. Furthermore, Hemp Seed Porridge (麻子粥) and Perilla Seed Porridge (苏子粥) are particularly safe and effective. Take equal parts of Zi Su Zi (Perilla Fruit) and Huo Ma Zi (Hemp Seed), wash them, grind them into an extremely fine powder, add water, grind again, and extract one cup of juice. Use this juice to cook porridge and consume it in two doses. This porridge is not only suitable for postpartum women but also generally appropriate for elderly patients suffering from Wind Constipation (风秘) due to various deficiencies. An eighty-four-year-old woman suddenly suffered from abdominal pain, headache, nausea, and anorexia. Several physicians were consulted, and treatments involving Spleen tonification and clearing the head and eyes were attempted, but she could not tolerate any food. This was indeed Wind Constipation in the elderly, characterized by stagnation of the Zang-Fu organs accumulating in the chest, causing abdominal distension and nausea. When the stagnation rises to the vertex, it causes headache and mental cloudiness. The aforementioned porridge was prepared; after two servings, the stagnant Qi dissipated, impacted stool was passed first, followed by gradual normalization of bowel movements, and she recovered without further medication.
Taohua San (Peach Blossom Powder)
Indicated for postpartum Qi Stagnation and Blood Sluggishness, causing constipation of both large and small bowels.
Tao Ren (Peach Kernel), Kui Zi (Abelmoschus Seed), Hua Shi (Talcum), Bing Lang (Areca Seed) (in equal proportions).
Grind the above ingredients into a fine powder. Take two qian per dose, mixed with Scallion White Decoction on an empty stomach.