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(Also known as Shutai San [Bundling Fetus Powder]. From Zhu Danxi.)

When a woman is eight or nine months pregnant, taking dozens of doses facilitates the delivery of a vigorous infant (The *Book of Songs* states: "Fulfilling the full month, birth occurs as easily as that of a lamb." 'Da' refers to a young sheep, whose birth is smooth).

Ingredients: Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis, washed with wine), Shaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Alba, stir-fried with wine), Renshen (Radix Ginseng), Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, stir-fried with earth), Chenpi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae), Zisu (Folium Perillae, 1 qian), Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata, honey-fried, 2 qian), Dafupi (Fructus Petiveriae, 3 qian). Add five leaves of green onion and seven seeds of Huangyangnao (Huangyang wood treats difficult labor). Alternatively, add Zhike (Fructus Aurantii) and Sharen (Fructus Amomi); or in spring, add Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong).

This formula consists of herbs belonging to the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. Danggui and Shaoyao nourish blood; Renshen and Baizhu tonify qi; Dafupi, Chenpi, Zisu, and green onion leaves vent stagnation. When qi and blood are neither deficient nor stagnant, there will be no retention or difficulty during parturition (Zhu Danxi said: "Difficult labor often arises from depression or excessive comfort...").

My clan's younger sister suffered greatly from dystocia; whenever she conceived, the fetus was lost. I pitied her deeply. Observing that she was obese yet diligent in needlework, I deduced that prolonged sitting caused stagnation of qi and blood, and the fetus could not move freely due to the mother's qi deficiency. It was necessary to tonify the mother's qi so that the fetus would become robust and delivery easy. I prescribed Zijie Yin (Perilla Decoction) from *Daquan Liangfang* supplemented with qi-tonifying herbs for her to take during the fifth to sixth months of pregnancy. After dozens of doses, she delivered a healthy male infant smoothly. Consequently, I modified this formula according to her constitution and the seasonal changes, finding it universally effective, and thus named it Dasheng San [Reaching Life Powder].

In the past, Princess Huyang suffered from dystocia. A practitioner presented Shoutai Yin [Thin Fetus Decoction], consisting of four liang of stir-fried Zhike and two liang of honey-fried Gancao, taken daily at one qian after the fifth month. Zhang Jiegai modified it into Zhizhu Wan [Atractylodes and Aurantium Pill], naming it Shutai Wan [Bundling Fetus Pill]. Kou Zongshi pointed out that this approach was incorrect. Generally, the fetus relies on qi and blood for nourishment; when qi and blood are substantial, birth is facilitated. The princess had excessive nourishment, resulting in excess qi, making this formula suitable for her. However, indiscriminate application would cause great harm. Note: Shoutai Yin is also known as Zhike San [Aurantium Powder], treating dystocia due to fetal obesity, taken near term. Zhang added Xiangfu (Rhizoma Cyperi) to promote qi movement and widen the diaphragm, taken with ginger decoction. Scholar Xu stated: "Generally, pregnancy management focuses on suppressing yang and assisting yin. There are many such formulas, but one should avoid chaotic combinations. Zhike San suppresses yang, while Siwu Tang [Four Substances Decoction] nourishes yin. However, Zhike San is slightly cold, so it should be assisted by Neibu Wan [Internal Tonification Pill], which consists of one liang of Danggui and two liang of Dihuang prepared as pills)."