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The flavor of Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui, 当归) is sweeter than pungent. Although its warm nature can assist heat, its abundant fluid and moistening properties actually enable it to nourish yin and reduce fever; thus, it should not be regarded merely as a substance that assists heat. Therefore, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) states that it can treat warm malaria (Wen Nue, 温疟), and adds that drinking its decoction is particularly effective. This is indeed because boiling it yields a concentrated liquid, thereby enhancing its moistening efficacy. Although its nature promotes circulation and invigorates blood, when used appropriately, it can also stop bleeding. My friend Mr. Wang suffered from hematuria (blood in urine). He was cured by drinking one liang of Danggui boiled in yellow wine. Later, his symptoms recurred, and taking the original prescription again proved ineffective. He consulted me for treatment, and I instructed him to take fifty seeds of Brayera Semen (Yadanszi, 鸦胆子) with the skin removed, delivered with sugar water, which cured him. Subsequently, the symptoms recurred again, and Yadanszi became ineffective. The condition was finally cured by returning to the method of decocting Danggui with wine.

Furthermore, Fu Qingzhu treated an elderly woman suffering from metrorrhagia (Xue Beng, 血崩) using Huangqi (Astragali Radix) and Danggui, each one liang, along with fourteen leaves of Morus Alba Folium (Sangye, 桑叶), decocted in water to deliver three qian of finely powdered Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Sanqi, 三七). This was highly effective. Additionally, using one liang of Danggui stir-fried with vinegar alone and decocted for oral administration often effectively treats metrorrhagia. Thus, Danggui can be used to invigorate blood or to stop bleeding. Its original name was "Wenwu" (文无), signifying that it enables qi and blood to return to their proper places; hence, it is also named Danggui. Postpartum, the blood vessels are chaotic and accompanied by blood stasis (Yu Xue, 瘀血); therefore, it is considered an excellent medicine for the postpartum period. As for Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong, 川芎), although its aromatic and penetrating nature is stronger than that of Danggui, it excels at ascending clear yang qi (Qingyang Zhi Qi, 清阳之气). For conditions where clear yang sinks and causes alternating chills and fever, Chuanxiong is very effective, and such syndromes are common after childbirth.

A woman surnamed Zhao from my hometown experienced excessive exertion during labor and subsequently developed alternating chills and fever. Her family purchased two doses of Shenghua Tang (Decoction for Generating New Blood) for her, and her illness resolved immediately. This was likely because her exertion during delivery caused the clear yang qi of the upper jiao to sink, leading to postpartum chills and fever. The cure achieved by Shenghua Tang relied entirely on the power of Chuanxiong to lift and raise clear yang. More than ten days later, the chills and fever returned. Her uncle, who knew medicine, visited and diagnosed the condition as postpartum blood stasis complicated by cold invasion. He added large amounts of Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (Ganjiang, 干姜) to blood-invigorating and stasis-resolving herbs. After several doses, the chills and fever worsened significantly. She drank water continuously but could not quench her thirst. It was midsummer, and her body felt hot as if roasted, yet she wrapped herself tightly in thick quilts; any slight movement made her feel cold air invading her skin. When I examined her, her left pulse was deep, fine, and nearly imperceptible, while her right pulse was deep, tight, and rapid. I determined that her clear yang qi of the upper jiao had sunk and was further injured by hot medicines. Previously, Shenghua Tang provided temporary relief through Chuanxiong’s lifting power; however, while Chuanxiong can ascend clear yang, it cannot truly tonify and enrich clear yang qi, which explains why the condition recurred. I prescribed Huangqi (Astragali Radix) and Scrophulariae Radix (Xuanshen, 玄参), each six qian, Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhimu, 知母) eight qian (since it had been a month since delivery, heavy use of cooling herbs was permissible), Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu, 柴胡) and Platycodonis Radix (Jiegeng, 桔梗), each one and a half qian, and Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Shengma, 升麻) one qian. After one dose, the chills and fever ceased. With minor adjustments, she took several more doses and recovered completely. From this, we see that Chuanxiong is also an essential medicine for the postpartum period. The statements of Wu Jutong and Wang Shixiong cannot be accepted as absolute conclusions. Only patients with fever and profuse sweating should avoid its use. Regarding Bao’s formulation of Shenghua Tang, it is generally appropriate. However, limiting the consumption of three doses within four hours involves excessive medication frequency. Adding one liang of Shaoxing wine to each dose makes the nature too hot and may cause intoxication, meaning many patients would not tolerate it. In my practice, when using the original Shenghua Tang formula for postpartum women, I add several qian of Dioscoreae Hypoglauca Rhizoma (Sheng Huai Shanyao, 生怀山药). For those with difficulty defecating, I add several qian of Colla Corii Asini (Ejiao, 阿胶). Administering one dose daily for three consecutive days, then stopping, ensures that postpartum diseases will likely not occur.