Library

Ming Xionghuang (Realgar), Guiji (Aristolochia debilis, with hairs removed), Dansha (Cinnabar, finely ground and levigated by water, each 5 qian), Yanhusuo (Corydalis Rhizome, 7 qian), Shexiang (Moschus, 1 qian), Chuanxiong (Ligusticum Rhizome, 7 qian), Banxia (Pinellia Tuber, stir-fried with ginger juice, 1 liang).

The above herbs are processed into a fine powder, mixed with honey to form pills the size of wutong seeds. Take 30 pills per dose, on an empty stomach, washed down with warm wine.

Xiaoyao San (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) (See section on Stroke-like syndromes).
Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) (See section on Deficiency and Damage).
Liujunzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) (See section on Stroke-like syndromes).
Anshen Dingzhi Wan (Calming the Spirit and Stabilizing Will Pill) (See section on Insomnia).

When a pregnant woman suffers from unresolved febrile disease, leading to fetal death in utero and inability to expel it, one must examine the mother: if her face is red and tongue blue, the fetus is dead; if her face is blue and tongue red, the mother’s life is also at risk. Ancient formulas generally used Heishen San (Black Divine Powder) to purge and expel, but since this medicine is drying and acrid, it is unsuitable for febrile diseases. Instead, Pingwei San (Stomach-Pacifying Powder) should be used with adding Puxiao (Mirabilite, 5 qian). This is required during mid-winter or for those with deficient-cold constitutions.

Guixin (Cinnamon Bark), Danggui (Angelica Sinensis Root), Shaoyao (Peony Root), Gancao (Licorice Root, honey-fried), Ganjiang (Dried Ginger), Shengdihuang (Rehmannia Root, fresh, each 1 liang), Heidou (Black Soybean, fried and peeled, 2 liang), Fuzi (Aconite Lateralis Radix Praeparata, processed, peeled and navel removed, 5 qian).

Process the above into a fine powder. Take 2 qian per dose, on an empty stomach, mixed with water decocted from Niuxi (Achyranthes Root, 3 qian).
Pingwei San (Stomach-Pacifying Powder) (See section on Stroke-like syndromes).
Another prescription: Puxiao (Mirabilite, 3 qian), Tongzi Xiaonbian (Child’s Urine, one cup), mixed with warm wine and taken orally; expulsion occurs immediately.

During pregnancy, difficulty in urination is caused by heat in the Small Intestine. Ancient formulas used Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) added with Huangqin (Scutellaria Root) and Zexie (Alisma Rhizome) as the main treatment. However, due to the descent of the gestational sac, pressure on the bladder often causes disorder of the bladder ligaments, resulting in scanty or obstructed urination, termed Zhuanbao (Displacement of the Bladder/Pregnancy-related urinary retention). The danger is rapid. The method should be to lift the fetus so that it does not descend, thereby restoring normal urination. Zhu Danxi used Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction), followed by inducing vomiting after ingestion, which was often effective. I used Fuling Shengma Tang (Poria and Cimicifuga Decoction), which also yielded many successes. Both approaches share the intent of lifting the qi. Then why did Zhang Zhongjing use Guifu Bawei Tang (Cinnamon and Aconite Eight-Ingredient Decoction) for Zhuanbao? I say: This is due to deficiency-cold in the Lower Jiao and cold yin affecting the fetal qi. Without yang, yin cannot transform; cold water ceases to flow. With Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig) and Fuzi warming the Mingmen (Gate of Vitality), yang qi circulates freely, ice thaws, and urination resumes. Moreover, the formula contains Fuling (Poria) and Zexie to drain dampness. However, there are cases of hyperactive yang and consuming yin, where solitary yang without yin cannot transform qi; these require tonifying true yin. Ancient formulas used Zishen Wan (Nourish Kidney Pill); I have used Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia) added with Cheqianzi (Plantago Seed) and Niuxi (Achyranthes Root) to achieve recovery. These two conditions, one yin and one yang, one water and one fire, are like ice and charcoal—opposite yet requiring deep investigation. Generally, if the right Chi pulse is vigorous while the left Chi is weak, with a fine, rapid, and forceless pulse, it indicates deficiency of True Water (Kidney Yin); if the left Chi is vigorous while the right Chi is weak, with a void, large, and forceless pulse, it indicates deficiency of True Fire (Kidney Yang). In cases of fire deficiency, the abdomen feels coldly yin, preferring warmth and fearing cold, with scanty, clear urine; in cases of water deficiency, the abdomen feels vexatious heat, preferring coolness and fearing heat, with urine dripping out dark yellow like Phellodendron bark. Pulse and symptoms differ naturally; safety or peril hangs in the balance, so differentiation must be done early. Additionally, during delivery, if the midwife is careless and damages the bladder, causing dribbling and incontinence, I reasoned that if external muscles can be repaired, why not internal organs? Thus, I used a large dose of Bazhen Tang (Eight-Treasure Decoction), added with Ziheche (Placenta Hominis, 3 qian), and decocted the medicine in pig bladder soup for the patient to drink. After several doses, recovery occurred. Early treatment is essential; do not neglect it lightly.
Bawei Tang (Eight-Ingredient Decoction) (See section on Stroke-like syndromes).