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Postpartum lochia that fails to cease is generally caused by the injury of meridians and vessels due to exertion during childbirth. Regarding its symptoms: if it is due to disharmony of Liver Qi, resulting in the inability of the Liver to store blood, Xiaoyao San (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) is appropriate. If it is due to deficiency and weakness of Spleen Qi, resulting in the inability of the Spleen to control blood, Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) is appropriate. If it is due to dual deficiency of Qi and Blood, with depletion of meridians and vessels, Bazhen Tang (Eight Treasure Decoction) is appropriate. If it is due to stagnation and accumulation of Stasis Blood, obstructing the generation of new blood and preventing it from returning to the vessels, presenting with abdominal pain that refuses pressure, Guixiong Tang (Angelica and Ligusticum Decoction) should be used, administered together with Shixiao Wan (Pain-Dispel Pill), to first eliminate the stasis.

(Note: Xiaoyao San is found in the chapter on "Stroke-like Syndromes"; Guipi Tang and Bazhen Tang are both found in the chapter on "Deficiency Syndromes".)

Guixiong Tang (also known as Foshou San / Buddha's Hand Powder)
Ingredients: Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma) in equal proportions.
Administration: Take 5 qian per dose, decoct with water, and take with hot wine.
(Note: Shixiao Wan is found in the chapter on "Retained Placenta".)

Various pains in the heart and abdomen after childbirth, if not caused by invasion of Wind-Cold or stagnation of food, are due to coagulation and accumulation of Stasis Blood. However, postpartum deficiency-cold of the Middle Qi often leads to sudden severe pain. One must examine the cause individually and medicate accordingly. The general principles are: for Wind-Cold, there is cold breath from the mouth and nose; for food stagnation, there is acid regurgitation and chest/epigastric fullness and oppression; both are treated primarily with Erxiang San (Two Fragrances Powder). For Stasis Blood, turning the body feels like being pierced by a knife or awl, the area cannot be touched, and the pain is fixed and immovable; this is treated primarily with Shixiao Wan (Pain-Dispel Pill). For deficiency-cold of the Middle Qi, there is cold pain in the abdomen, which subsides slightly upon pressure and feels relieved by warming compresses; this is treated primarily with Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) added with Guixin (Cinnamomi Cortex). If there is pain in the lower abdomen, with Qi rushing upward from below the umbilicus, gathering and dispersing suddenly, this is Zha Qi (a type of Qi stagnation forming a mass), treated primarily with Juzhe Wan (Tangerine Seed Pill). If there is a palpable mass in the painful area of the lower abdomen that cannot be pressed, this is Stasis Blood obstruction, named Erzhen Tong (Placental Pillow Pain); both cases are treated with the aforementioned Shixiao Wan (Pain-Dispel Pill), and once the Stasis Blood moves, the pain stops.

(Erxiang San functions: Disperses Cold, eliminates Food stagnation.)
Ingredients: Sharen (Amomi Fructus), Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix), Heijiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Carbonis), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Zhigancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle) each 1 liang; Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma) 3 liang, stir-fried with Ginger Juice.
Administration: Grind into fine powder, take 2 qian per dose, mixed with Ginger Decoction.
(Note: Shixiao Wan is found in the chapter on "Retained Placenta"; Lizhong Tang is found in the chapter on "Middle Cold"; Juzhe Wan is found in the chapter on "Miscellaneous Diseases: Lower Abdominal Pain".)