螈者,筋脉拘急也, 者,筋脉弛纵也。《经》云∶肝主筋藏血,肝气为阳为火,
肝血为阴为水,去血过多,阳火炽盛,筋无所养而然,用八珍汤加丹皮、钩藤以生阴
血,则阳火退而诸证愈,不应,用四君子芎归丹皮钩藤补脾土,盖血生于至阴,至阴
者,脾土也,且气有生血之功耳。故小儿吐泻之后,脾胃亏损,亦多患之,乃虚象也。
若肢体恶寒,脉微细者,此为真状。若脉浮大,发热烦渴,此为假象,惟当固本为善。
若无力抽搐,戴眼反折,汗出如珠者,不治。
产后惊悸者,由脏虚,心气不足,阴虚邪热乘心,以致惊不自安,悸动不定,目睛
不转,而不能动,诊其脉动而弱者,惊悸也。惟宜养血,佐以安神,血生则神有所根据也。
产后发狂者,此阴血暴崩,肝虚火炎之极也。宜泽兰、归、地、牛膝、茯神、远志、枣仁加
童便主之。若因败血停滞,用调经散。若因
心血虚损,用柏子仁散,若因肾虚阴火上迫,而为如狂者,宜八味汤加减服之。要知产后
大虚,而继诸病,则当以虚为本,而病为标也。
书以产后口鼻黑气,及见鼻衄,为不可治者,何也?盖五脏之华,皆上注于面,见
色红赤者,阳热之生气也。青黑者,阴寒之绝气也。况口鼻为阳明多血多气之部,而见
阴寒惨杀之气,则胃中阳和之气衰败可知矣。复至鼻衄,则阳亡阴走也。胃绝肺败,
阴阳两亡,故不可治。及产后舌紫黑者,为血先死,不治,盖心主血,少阴气绝,则血不上阴耳。
Chou (convulsion) refers to the contraction and tension of tendons and vessels, while Ji Song (relaxation and flaccidity) refers to the relaxation and slackening of tendons and vessels. The *Classic* states: "The Liver governs the tendons and stores blood. Liver Qi belongs to Yang and Fire, while Liver Blood belongs to Yin and Water." When excessive blood loss occurs, Yang Fire becomes blazing, and the tendons lose their nourishment, resulting in this condition. Use Bazhen Tang (Eight Treasure Decoction, a formula for tonifying both Qi and Blood) added with Mudan Pi (Moutan Cortex) and Gouteng (Uncaria Rhynchophylla) to generate Yin Blood; then Yang Fire will recede and all symptoms will resolve. If there is no response, use Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) combined with Xiong Gui (Chuanxiong Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Mudan Pi, and Gouteng to tonify Spleen Earth. This is because Blood is generated from the Supreme Yin, which is Spleen Earth, and Qi has the function of generating Blood. Therefore, after infants suffer from vomiting and diarrhea, if their Spleen and Stomach are damaged, they often suffer from this condition as well; this is a manifestation of deficiency. If there is aversion to cold in the limbs and a faint, fine pulse, this is true convulsion. If the pulse is floating and large, accompanied by fever, irritability, and thirst, this is a false manifestation; one should only focus on consolidating the root, which is the best approach. If there is weak convulsion, staring upward (Dai Yan), opisthotonos (back arching), and sweating like pearls, it is incurable.
Postpartum Jing Ji (palpitations and fright) arises from visceral deficiency and insufficient Heart Qi. Yin deficiency allows pathogenic heat to invade the Heart, causing fright without peace and palpitations that are restless and unsteady. The eyes cannot move, and the body cannot be moved. Palpating the pulse reveals it to be moving but weak, indicating Jing Ji. Treatment should primarily involve nourishing Blood, assisted by calming the Spirit. When Blood is generated, the Spirit has a foundation.
Postpartum mania results from the sudden massive loss of Yin Blood and extreme Liver deficiency leading to blazing Fire. It is appropriate to treat with Zelan (Lycopus Herba), Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), Niu Xi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Fushen (Poria with Hostwood), Yuanzhi (Polygalae Radix), Zaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen), plus Tong Bian (Child's Urine). If caused by stagnant lochia, use Tiaojing San (Regulate Menses Powder). If caused by Heart Blood deficiency, use Baizi Ren San (Biota Seed Powder). If caused by Kidney deficiency with forcing Yin Fire, presenting as pseudo-mania, use Bawei Tang (Eight-Ingredient Decoction) modified. One must understand that postpartum is a state of great deficiency; subsequent diseases should be treated with deficiency as the root and disease as the branch.
Texts state that black qi appearing around the mouth and nose during the postpartum period, along with Bi Nu (epistaxis/nosebleed), are signs of incurability. Why? The essence of the Five Viscera all ascend to the face. Redness indicates vigorous Yang Heat. Cyan or black indicates the extinction of Yin Cold. Moreover, the mouth and nose are areas where the Yangming channel has abundant Qi and Blood. The appearance of Yin Cold and desolate Qi indicates that the warm Yang Qi in the Stomach has failed. Furthermore, epistaxis signifies the loss of Yang and the escape of Yin. With the exhaustion of Stomach Qi and the failure of Lung Qi, both Yin and Yang are lost; thus, it is incurable. Similarly, a purple-black tongue after childbirth indicates that the Blood has died first, which is also incurable. This is because the Heart governs Blood; when the Qi of the Shaoyin channel exhausts, Blood cannot ascend to nourish the upper orifices.