Library

Prepared Rehmanniae Radix (Ba Liang), Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Si Liang), Corni Fructus (Si Liang), Poria, Moutan Cortex, Alisma Rhizoma (each San Liang), Lycii Fructus, Cuscutae Semen (each Si Liang), Schisandrae Fructus, Plantaginis Semen, Rubi Fructus (each Er Liang). Dendrobii Caulis (Liu Liang), decocted into paste, mixed with refined honey to form pills. Take four Qian each morning with warm water.

Bawei Wan (See the section on Stroke-like Syndromes).
Shibu Wan (Pills made from Shiquan Dabu Decoction, See the section on Deficiency and Damage).
Yimu Shengjin Dan (See the section on Irregular Menstruation).

The *Book of Changes* states: The way of Heaven forms males, the way of Earth forms females. When the firmness of Heaven is in operation, one who obtains the purity of Yang Qi will have more sons; when the softness of Earth is in operation, one who obtains the completeness of Yin will have more daughters. This is a fixed principle. For men, maintaining a pure mind and few desires, and nurturing their vigorous constitution, results in conceiving sons. Regarding the method for determining conception time based on days after menstruation ceases: conception occurring one or two days after cessation leads to a male child, while conception occurring three, four, or five days later leads to a female child. Indeed, during the first one or two days, Yin Qi is just depleted, so Yang Qi prevails, thus producing a male. During three to five days, Yin Blood has returned, so Yang Qi does not prevail, thus producing a female. This reflects the nature of Heaven and Earth, and the substance and function of Firmness and Softness. Currently, medical practitioners record various methods for changing a female fetus to a male, such as binding with leather, wearing Realgar, secretly hiding rooster feathers under the mat, or secretly hiding an axe under the bed with the blade facing down. These various methods are sometimes effective and sometimes not. For those that are effective, how can we know they are not merely lucky coincidences? Ultimately, it is more reasonable to focus on understanding the fundamental origin.

The Classics state that for pregnant women, there are symptoms of illness but no pathogenic pulse. "Symptoms of illness" refers to amenorrhea. "No pathogenic pulse" means the pulse remains normal without interruption. The Classics also say: If the pulse at the Hand Shaoyin position beats strongly, it indicates pregnancy. Shaoyin refers to the Heart, which governs blood vessels. When the Heart pulse is vigorous, blood is abundant, serving as a sign of pregnancy. The Classics further state: "Yin pulses beat strongly, distinct from Yang," which signifies pregnancy. This means the pulses at both Chi positions (尺部) are vigorous and markedly different from the pulses at both Cun positions (寸部), which also indicates pregnancy. Among the above three signs, possessing any one constitutes a pregnancy pulse. Analyzing them separately and synthesizing them comprehensively leaves no room for concealment regarding pregnancy pulses. Some ask: Why are smooth and sparrow-pecking pulses also considered pregnancy pulses? The answer is: Smoothness indicates abundant blood; sparrow-pecking indicates obstruction of meridians and collaterals, causing the pulse to be rapid with intermittent pauses, which occurs several months into pregnancy. Those unaware may mistakenly diagnose this as a pathological pulse, which would be laughable. Others ask: How can one distinguish between male and female fetuses via pulse diagnosis? The answer is: The left Cun position corresponds to Taiyang; if the pulse is floating and large, it indicates a male fetus. The right Cun position corresponds to Taiyin; if the pulse is deep and solid, it indicates a female fetus. If both Cun positions are floating and large, it suggests twins of male gender. If both Cun positions are deep and solid, it suggests twins of female gender. Generally, for pregnancy pulses, wiry, tight, slippery, and smooth characteristics are favorable (Shun), while deep, fine, weak, and thready characteristics are unfavorable (Ni).