节斋曰,产后脾胃大虚,多有饮食过度,伤滞发热者,误作血虚,则不效,故遇
产后发热,须问若何饮食,有无伤积饱闷,恶食泄泻等证,只作伤食治之。若发热而饮
食调者,方用补血正法,但节斋所论,仅言候而不言脉,且仅言伤食标症之实,而不论
产后气血之虚,故立斋曰∶前证若胸膈饱闷,暖腐恶食,吞酸吐泻发热,此为饮食停
滞,宜四君子加浓朴、楂、曲。若胸膈闷满,食少发热,或食难消化,此脾气虚弱,
宜四君子加炮姜。若用峻厉之剂,复伤元气,则误矣。
产后亡血多汗,阴阳两虚。极危症也。《经》曰∶阳气者,精则养神,柔刚养筋。
产后既亡血,而又汗多,乃为亡阳,盖汗本血液属阴,阴亡阳亦随之而走。故曰亡阳,
其用药与他证不同,轻则参、 、白术,麻黄根、防风、桂枝,重则参、附。
《金医》曰∶产妇郁冒,其脉微弱,但头汗出所以然者。血虚而厥,厥而必冒,冒
家欲解,必大汗出。以血虚下厥,孤阳上出,故头汗出,所以产妇喜汗出者、亡阴血
虚,阳气独盛,故当汗出,阴阳乃复。然产
妇郁冒,虚多邪少,故脉微弱,中气虚也。一身之阴阳不和,故身无汗,但头汗出者,
何也?血虚下厥,则下之阴气尽,而阳为孤阳,则上出而头汗矣。仍喜其汗出而解者
何?产妇血去过多而亡阴,自阴较之,阳为独盛,所以喜其汗,损阳就阴,则阴阳平,
故曰乃复。
Jiezai stated that after childbirth, the Spleen and Stomach are severely deficient. There are many cases where excessive food intake leads to food stagnation and fever. If this is mistakenly treated as Blood deficiency, it will be ineffective. Therefore, when encountering postpartum fever, one must inquire about dietary habits, checking for signs of food retention such as abdominal fullness and distension, anorexia, or diarrhea, and treat it solely as food stagnation. Only if the fever subsides with dietary regulation should the standard method of tonifying Blood be employed. However, Jiezai's discussion only mentions inquiry (Wang) but not pulse diagnosis (Mai), and only addresses the excess symptoms of food stagnation as a branch manifestation, without discussing the underlying deficiency of Qi and Blood in the postpartum state. Therefore, Lizhai stated: In the aforementioned conditions, if there is chest and epigastric fullness, belching with a rotten odor, aversion to food, acid regurgitation, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever, this indicates food stagnation. It is appropriate to use Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) added with Hou Po (Magnolia Bark), Shan Zha (Hawthorn Fruit), and Qu (Medicated Leaven). If there is chest and epigastric stuffiness, poor appetite with fever, or difficulty digesting food, this indicates Spleen Qi deficiency. It is appropriate to use Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) added with Pao Jiang (Prepared Ginger). Using harsh and drastic agents would further damage the Yuan Qi (Original Qi), which would be a mistake.
Postpartum hemorrhage accompanied by profuse sweating constitutes a dual deficiency of Yin and Yang. This is an extremely critical condition. The *Classic* states: "Yang Qi, when refined, nourishes the Shen (Spirit); when soft and firm, it nourishes the tendons." After childbirth, since Blood has been lost, and sweating is excessive, this leads to the loss of Yang. Sweat originates from Blood and belongs to Yin; when Yin is depleted, Yang follows and dissipates. Thus, it is termed the loss of Yang. The medication used differs from other syndromes. For mild cases, Ren Shen (Ginseng Root), [missing character in original text], Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), Huang Qi (Astragalus Root - inferred contextually though missing in text), Ma Huang Gen (Ephedra Root), Fang Feng (Saposhnikovia Root), and Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig) are used. For severe cases, Ren Shen (Ginseng Root) and Fu Zi (Aconite Lateral Root) are used.
The *Jin Gui Yao Lue* states: "When a puerpera suffers from Yu Mao (Depression and Vertigo), her pulse is faint, and only the head sweats. The reason is that Blood deficiency leads to Jue (Reversal/Cold extremities), and Jue inevitably leads to Mao (Vertigo/Clouding of consciousness). For a patient with Mao to resolve, there must be profuse sweating over the whole body. Due to Blood deficiency causing lower Jue, the isolated Yang rises outward, hence only the head sweats. Therefore, a puerpera welcomes sweating because the loss of Yin Blood leads to relative excess of Yang. When sweating occurs, Yin and Yang are restored. However, in postpartum Yu Mao, deficiency is predominant and pathogenic factors are few, so the pulse is faint, indicating deficiency of Middle Qi. The Yin and Yang of the entire body are disharmonious, so the body does not sweat, but only the head sweats. Why? Blood deficiency causes lower Jue, depleting the Yin Qi below, while Yang becomes isolated and rises upward, causing head sweating. Why is recovery welcomed through sweating? Because the puerpera has lost excessive Blood during childbirth, resulting in Yin depletion. Compared to Yin, Yang is relatively excessive. Therefore, she welcomes sweating, which damages the excess Yang to align with Yin, thereby restoring balance between Yin and Yang. Hence it is said that 'Yin and Yang are then restored.'"