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After childbirth, the joints and apertures of the body are relaxed and open, and the blood vessels and flow are dispersed. If Qi is weak, blood stagnates and fails to circulate between the meridians, skin, and muscles, leading to stiffness in the bone joints and tension in the sinews and vessels. Consequently, there is an inability to turn or bend the waist and back, immobility of the hands and feet, fever, and headache. If this condition is mistakenly treated as Taiyang Cold Damage (Shanghan) with sweating methods, it will cause excessive sweating, twitching of the sinews and vessels, coldness of the hands and feet, and give rise to other pathological changes. It is appropriate to administer Chentong San (Urgent Pain-Relieving Powder).

Chentong San (Urgent Pain-Relieving Powder)
Treats generalized body pain, fever, and headache caused by Qi deficiency and blood stagnation after childbirth.
Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix (Niuxi) (soaked in wine, 1 qian)
Licorice Root (Gancao) (roasted, 1 qian)
Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus (Xiebai) (1 qian)
Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui) (1.5 qian)
Cinnamomi Cortex (Guixin) (1.5 qian)
Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu) (1.5 qian)
Astragali Radix (Huangqi) (1.5 qian)
Angelicae Pubescentis Radix (Duhuo) (1.5 qian)
Take 5–7 qian of the above herbs, add two zhong of water, decoct to one zhong, and take hot on an empty stomach.

Cangzhu Siwu Geban Tang (Half-Dose Cangzhu and Four Substances Decoction):
Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) (0.5 liang)
Atractylodis Rhizoma (Cangzhu) (0.5 liang)
Add two zhong of water, decoct to one zhong, and take warm. It is even better if taken together with Huoxue Dan (Blood-Invigorating Pill).

Huoxue Dan (Blood-Invigorating Pill)
Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Shudi) (3 liang)
Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui)
Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu)
Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao)
Dipsaci Radix (Xuduan)
Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen) (each 1 liang)
Grind the above herbs into fine powder, mix with wine paste to make pills the size of sophora seeds, taking 100 pills per dose.

Xue Lizhai stated: For postpartum body pain, if pressing with the hand exacerbates the pain, it indicates Blood Stagnation; use Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) combined with Paojiang (Roasted Ginger), Honghua (Carthami Flos), Taoren (Persic Semen), and Zelan (Leonuri Herba) to tonify and dissipate stasis. If pressing slightly relieves the pain, it indicates Blood Deficiency; use Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) combined with Paojiang (Roasted Ginger), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), and Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) to tonify and nourish.

A puerpera presented with body pain, fever, anorexia, irritability, insomnia, and night sweats. After administering dispersing and blood-invigorating herbs, she frequently experienced delirium and confusion. Her six pulses were surging and large yet felt empty upon pressure ("like nothing"). Using Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) plus Paojiang (Roasted Ginger) and Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), her symptoms decreased significantly after one dose. After two more doses, her sleep and appetite improved markedly. However, due to residual stiffness and pain in the back, she was managed with Bazhen San (Eight Treasures Powder) and Dabu Tang (Great Tonifying Decoction) for regulation and recovery.

Another puerpera suffered from generalized pain in the body, head, and neck, aversion to cold, and muscular rigidity, with a floating and tight pulse. This indicated a Wind-Cold pattern. She was treated with Wuji San (Five Accumulations Powder); after one dose, sweating occurred, and she recovered. Subsequently, she experienced fatigue and low-grade fever, indicating that the pathogenic factor had departed but the True Qi was deficient. She was cured using Bazhen Tang (Eight Treasures Decoction) for regulation and tonification.