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Modified Bazhen Decoction (Eight-Treasure Decoction)

38. Following recent childbirth, blood deficiency and excessive sweating predispose the body to wind-pathogen invasion, leading to the formation of Jing Disease (Spasm disease, characterized by stiffness of the neck and back and convulsions). Symptoms include lockjaw (trismus), stiff neck, and opisthotonos (arching of the back like a bow). The treatment should employ Bazhen Tang (Eight-Treasure Decoction, composed of Ginseng, Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome, Poria, Licorice Root, Angelica Sinensis Radix, Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome, White Peony Root, and Prepared Rehmannia Root) supplemented with Astragalus Root, Aconite Lateralis Radix Praeparata, Cinnamon Twig, and Saposhnikovia Root. If symptoms such as head tremors, shortness of breath, unceasing chills, and involuntary grasping movements of both hands appear, the prognosis is poor and recovery is unlikely.
[Annotation] Postpartum qi and blood are insufficient, causing weakness in the zang-fu organs. Excessive sweating leads to loose couli (pores and interstices), allowing wind-pathogens to invade due to deficiency, thereby forming Jing Disease. The sinews of the three hand-yang meridians converge at the mandible and cheeks; when wind enters these areas, lockjaw occurs. The yin and yang meridians encircle the body; when wind strikes the meridians, the head, neck, shoulders, and back become stiff and rigid, resembling opisthotonos. Conditions arising postpartum are generally manifestations of deficiency. It is appropriate to use Bazhen Tang added with Astragalus Root, Aconite Lateralis Radix Praeparata, and Cinnamon Twig to greatly tonify yin and yang, with a small amount of Saposhnikovia Root to treat the pathogen. If head tremors, panting, unceasing sweating, and grasping at empty air are observed, it indicates the departure of true qi and the retention of pathogenic factors alone, which is a sign of inevitable death; hence, it is said that there is no hope for survival.
Bazhen Tang formula is found in the first volume.

Modified Bazhen Decoction

39. Excessive loss of yin-blood leads to blazing yang-fire, causing the sinews to lose nourishment and resulting in Ji Zhuo (spasms and flaccidity) and convulsions. Accompanying symptoms include fever, aversion to cold, irritability, and thirst. Treatment should not focus on expelling wind; rather, it should tonify both qi and blood simultaneously using Bazhen Tang added with Moutan Cortex, Rehmanniae Radix Recens, and Uncaria Ramulus cum Uncis. If convulsions are weak, accompanied by fixed upward gaze (dai yan), opisthotonos, and unceasing profuse sweating, it constitutes an untreatable condition, indicating imminent death.
[Annotation] Excessive blood loss postpartum causes relative excess of yang-fire. Without blood nourishment, the sinews inevitably suffer from Ji Zhuo and convulsions, presenting with fever, aversion to cold, irritability, and thirst. This should not be treated as a wind-pathogen disorder; instead, one must tonify qi and blood together using Bazhen Tang added with Moutan Cortex, Rehmanniae Radix Recens, and Uncaria Ramulus cum Uncis. If convulsions are weak, with fixed upward gaze, opisthotonos, and unceasing sweating, it is an incurable syndrome, thus implying impending demise.
Bazhen Tang formula is found in the first volume.

Modified Bazhen Decoction, Xinglian Erchen Tang (Pinellia and Citrus Decoction with Arisaema and Coptis), Qizhen San (Seven-Treasure Powder)

40. Postpartum aphasia (inability to speak) must be differentiated into excess and deficiency patterns for treatment. Some cases arise from phlegm-heat invading the heart orifice; others from failed blood (blood stasis) rushing to the heart; still others from dual deficiency of qi and blood leading to mental depression and confusion. Generally, postpartum conditions are predominantly deficiency, with fewer excess cases, so careful differentiation is required. For deficiency, use Bazhen Tang added with Uncaria Ramulus cum Uncis, Acorus Tatarinowii Rhizome, and Polygala Root. For phlegm-heat, use Erchen Tang (Two-Aged Decoction) added with Pinelliae Rhizoma Preparatum (Arisaema cum Bile) and Coptidis Rhizoma. For failed blood rushing to the heart, use Qizhen San, composed of Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome, Rehmanniae Radix Recens, Asarum Root, Saposhnikovia Root, Cinnabaris, Acorus Tatarinowii Rhizome, and Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma.
[Annotation] Postpartum aphasia requires differentiation between excess and deficiency. There are cases of phlegm-heat invading the heart; cases of blood stasis assaulting the heart spirit; and cases of qi and blood dual deficiency causing mental clouding. Broadly speaking, postpartum disorders are mostly deficiency, with few excesses. Deficiency is suitable for Bazhen Tang added with Uncaria Ramulus cum Uncis, Acorus Tatarinowii Rhizome, and Polygala Root; phlegm-heat is suitable for Erchen Tang added with Pinelliae Rhizoma Preparatum and Coptidis Rhizoma; failed blood rushing to the heart is suitable for Qizhen San, consisting of Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome, Rehmanniae Radix Recens, Asarum Root, Saposhnikovia Root, Cinnabaris, Acorus Tatarinowii Rhizome, and Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma.
Bazhen Tang formula is found in the first volume. Erchen Tang formula is found in the third volume.
*Yi Zong Jin Jian* (Golden Mirror of Medicine), Volume 48.