产后心痛,为阴血亏损,随火上冲心络,名曰心包络痛,宜归脾汤主之。若寒伤心经,名曰真心痛,则无药可救矣。
凡产后寒气上攻则心痛,下攻则腹痛,兼血块者,宜服生化汤加桂。若独用热药攻寒,其痛虽止而血妄行,反虚产母。
况寒者必挟虚而燥;热者必佐阴药,方能制其僭越也。
产后恶血,或因外感六淫,内伤七情,致令斩然而止,瘀血壅滞,所下不尽,故令腹痛,当审因治也。如产妇期数
内,或饮食如常,忽作腹痛,六脉沉伏,四肢厥冷,此恶血不尽,伤食裹血而脉不起也,不可误认为气血两虚,而用大
补,须兼消导行血之药。
《要略》曰∶产后腹中 痛,当归生姜羊肉汤主之。病痛者,缓缓痛也,属客寒相阻。故以当归通血分之滞,生姜
行气分之寒。君以羊肉者,所谓形不足补以味,况羊肉又能补气, 痛属气弱,故宜之。
寇氏曰∶妇人产当寒月,寒气入产门,脐下胀满,手不得犯,此寒疝也,宜仲景羊肉汤。或产后脐腹忽痛,乃呼吸
之间冷风乘虚而入,宜当归建中汤、四顺理中汤。
产后腹痛,恶露既去而仍痛,四神调补之,不应八珍汤。若痛而恶心,或欲作呕,六君子汤;若痛而泄泻,六君子
汤送四神丸;若胸膈饱闷,或恶食吞酸,或腹痛手不可按,此是饮食所伤,用二陈加白术、山楂,消导之;若食既消而
仍痛,按之不痛,更加头痛,烦热作渴,恶寒欲呕等症,此是中气被伤,宜温补脾胃为主;若发热腹痛,按之痛甚,不
恶食吞酸,此是瘀血停滞,失笑散消之;若只发热,头痛,腹痛,按之却不痛,此是血虚,用四物加炮姜、参、术,以
补之。
Postpartum heart pain is caused by a deficiency of yin blood, with defying fire rushing upward to affect the pericardium collaterals. This condition is named "Pericardium Collateral Pain" (Xinbaoluo Tong). It should be primarily treated with Guipi Tang (Spleen-Restoring Decoction). If cold pathogen damages the Heart Meridian, it is called "True Heart Pain" (Zhenxin Tong), for which there is no curative medicine.
Generally, if postpartum cold qi attacks upward, it causes heart pain; if it attacks downward, it causes abdominal pain. If accompanied by blood stasis clots, Shenghua Tang (Postpartum Recovery Decoction) added with Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig) is suitable. If only hot medicines are used to attack the cold, although the pain may cease, it will cause reckless blood movement, further weakening the parturient woman.
Moreover, cold pathogen must be accompanied by deficiency and dryness; heat pathogen must be assisted by yin-nourishing medicines to restrain its rebellious nature.
Postpartum lochia (Eluo) may stop abruptly due to external contraction of the Six Exogenous Pathogens (Liu Yin) or internal injury from the Seven Emotions (Qi Qing), leading to blood stasis obstruction and incomplete discharge, thus causing abdominal pain. The etiology should be investigated for treatment. For instance, if a parturient within her normal cycle, or with normal diet, suddenly develops abdominal pain, with deep and hidden pulses in all six positions, and cold limbs, this indicates incomplete expulsion of lochia combined with food stagnation trapping blood, causing the pulse to fail to rise. One must not mistakenly diagnose this as dual deficiency of qi and blood and use heavy tonification; instead, one must combine medicines that promote digestion and move blood.
The *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet) states: "For postpartum abdominal pain that is dull and lingering, Danggui Shengyang Rousheng (Angelica Sinensis, Ginger, and Mutton Decoction) is the primary prescription." The term "tong" here refers to slow, lingering pain, belonging to obstruction by exogenous cold. Therefore, Danggui (Angelica Sinensis) is used to unblock stagnation in the blood aspect, and Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger) is used to circulate cold in the qi aspect. Mutton (Yangrou) serves as the sovereign herb because "those deficient in form are supplemented by flavor," and furthermore, mutton can tonify qi. Since this pain belongs to qi weakness, it is appropriate.
Kou Zongshi stated: When women give birth in cold months, cold qi enters the birth canal, causing distension and fullness below the umbilicus that cannot be touched by hand; this is Cold Hernia (Hanshan), and Zhang Zhongjing's Mutton Decoction is suitable. Or, if sudden pain occurs in the umbilical and abdominal region after childbirth, it is because cold wind entered through respiration taking advantage of deficiency. In such cases, Danggui Jianzhong Tang (Angelica Sinensis and Middle-Jianzhong Decoction) or Sishun Lizhong Tang (Four-Compliant Lizhong Decoction) are suitable.
For postpartum abdominal pain, if lochia has been expelled but pain persists, first use Sishen Tiaobu Fang (Four-God Regulating and Tonifying Formula); if ineffective, then use Bazhen Tang (Eight-Treasure Decoction). If pain is accompanied by nausea or a desire to vomit, use Liujunzi Tang (Six-Gentleman Decoction). If pain is accompanied by diarrhea, administer Sishen Wan (Four-God Pill) with Liujunzi Tang. If there is chest and diaphragm fullness, anorexia with acid regurgitation, or abdominal pain where pressure is intolerable, this is injury from food; use Erchen Tang (Two-Aged Decoction) added with Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) and Shanzha (Hawthorn Fruit) to promote digestion and resolve stagnation. If the food has digested but pain persists, and pressing does not aggravate it, accompanied by headache, vexation, heat, thirst, aversion to cold, and desire to vomit, this is damage to middle qi; the primary treatment should be warming and tonifying the spleen and stomach. If there is fever and abdominal pain, with severe pain upon pressure, but without anorexia or acid regurgitation, this is blood stasis stagnation; use Shixiao San (Stop Groaning Powder) to dissipate it. If there is only fever, headache, and abdominal pain, but no pain upon pressure, this is blood deficiency; use Siwu Tang (Four-Substance Decoction) added with Paojiang (Prepared Ginger), Renshen (Ginseng Root), and Baizhu to tonify.