产后气血两亏,宜于温补,但初产者,恶血未行,先宜导滞,以防上奔。新产妇人喜中风,产后土
虚能停食,产后燥结多血阻,此三者是为实证,宜于清补相兼。如无此三证,气虚者补气,血虚者补血,
寒者温之,热者凉之,随其所利而行之,此产后之大法也。予尝用大剂人参、姜、附,救产后虚脱之危
证,用芍药以利热燥之留停,又何尝忌人参之补,姜、附之热?而芍药亦未尝酸敛也。
《阳明篇》曰∶伤寒六七日,目中不了了,睛不和,无表里证,大便难,身微热者,此为实也,急下
之,宜大承气汤。阳明病,发热汗多者,急下之,宜大承气汤。发汗不解,腹满痛者,急下之,宜大承气
汤。《少阴篇》曰∶少阴病,得之二三日,口燥咽干
者,急下之,宜大承气汤。少阴病,自利清水,色纯青,心下必痛,口干燥者,急下之,宜大承气汤。少
阴病,六七日,腹胀,不大便者,急下之,宜大承气汤。夫寒伤六经,止阳明、少阴之有急下证者,盖阳
明秉悍热之气,少阴有君火之化,在阳明而燥热太甚,缓则阴气绝矣,在少阴而火气猛烈,勿戢将自
焚矣,非肠胃之实满也。若实在肠胃者,虽十日不更衣,无所苦也。如此六证,若究省不到,不敢急下,
故病此者,鲜有能生之。且予尝闻之曰∶痞、满、燥、实、坚,五证皆备,然后可下。噫!当急下者,
全不在此五字。
Postpartum Qi and Blood are both deficient, making warm tonification (Wen Bu) appropriate. However, for those who have just given birth, if lochia (postpartum discharge of blood and mucus) has not yet flowed, one should first employ methods to guide out stagnation, to prevent upward rushing of blood. New mothers are prone to wind-stroke (Zhong Feng), postpartum Spleen deficiency can lead to food retention, and postpartum dryness and constipation are often caused by blood obstruction; these three conditions constitute excess syndromes, suitable for a combination of clearing and tonifying. If none of these three syndromes are present, tonify Qi where Qi is deficient, nourish Blood where Blood is deficient, apply warmth to cold patterns, and apply cooling to heat patterns, acting according to what is beneficial for the patient; this is the general principle for postpartum treatment. I have once used large doses of Renshen (Ginseng Root), Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger Rhizome), and Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Lateral Root) to rescue critical cases of postpartum collapse; I have used Shaoyao (Peony Root) to benefit from resolving heat-dryness retention. How could I ever forbid the tonifying nature of Renshen or the hot nature of Shengjiang and Fuzi? Moreover, Shaoyao does not necessarily possess sour-astringent properties in this context.
The Yangming Chapter states: In Taiyang disease lasting six or seven days, if the eyes fail to see clearly and the pupils are unresponsive, without exterior or interior signs, with difficulty in defecation and slight fever, this is an excess syndrome; urgent purgation is required, using Dachengqi Tang (Major Order the Qi Decoction). In Yangming disease, if there is fever and profuse sweating, urgent purgation is required, using Dachengqi Tang. If after sweating the disease persists and abdominal fullness and pain occur, urgent purgation is required, using Dachengqi Tang. The Shaoyin Chapter states: In Shaoyin disease, if two or three days after onset, dry mouth and parched throat occur, urgent purgation is required, using Dachengqi Tang. In Shaoyin disease, if spontaneous diarrhea of clear water occurs, the color being purely green, with inevitable pain in the epigastrium and dry mouth, urgent purgation is required, using Dachengqi Tang. In Shaoyin disease, if six or seven days later, abdominal fullness and constipation occur, urgent purgation is required, using Dachengqi Tang. When cold pathogen injures the Six Channels, only Yangming and Shaoyin have urgent purgation indications. This is because Yangming possesses fierce and hot Qi, while Shaoyin undergoes transformation via Ministerial Fire. In Yangming, if dry-heat is excessive, delay will lead to the exhaustion of Yin Qi; in Shaoyin, if Fire Qi is fierce, failure to restrain it will lead to self-incineration. This is not due to solid accumulation in the intestines and stomach. If there were truly solid accumulation in the intestines and stomach, even if one did not defecate for ten days, there would be no distress. Regarding these six syndromes, if they are not thoroughly examined and one dares not perform urgent purgation, then few patients suffering from these conditions will survive. Furthermore, I have often heard it said that only when all five signs—Pi (Stifling Fullness), Man (Distension), Zao (Dryness), Shi (Solidity), and Jian (Hardness)—are present can purgation be administered. Alas! Cases requiring urgent purgation do not solely depend on these five characters.