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(Women's diseases are primarily focused on regulating menstruation, ensuring safe pregnancy, and postpartum care, which indeed differs significantly from men. The reason for specifically discussing gynecology is to prevent practitioners from mastering this field first. Other miscellaneous diseases are mostly the same as those in men. Here, a volume titled *Taichan Xu Zhi* (Principles of Pregnancy and Childbirth) is collected at the beginning, and two volumes analyzing miscellaneous diseases are placed afterwards, so that readers may know the order and priority of treatment.)

Heaven and Earth originate with husband and wife; Qian and Kun (the Creative and Receptive principles) combine through Yin and Yang. Although there are differences in clarity/turbidity and stillness/movement, the resulting forms and patterns of emulation are similar. Investigating why women's diseases differ from men's, there are several reasons. Ancient formulas state that women's diseases are ten times harder to treat than men's; is this not said profoundly? However, among the so-called "Thirty-Six Diseases," the category of childbirth puerperium is one that men do not have. (This collection compiles pregnancy and childbirth into a separate section named *Taichan Xu Zhi*.) As for other causes such as external contraction of Wind, Cold, Summerheat, and Dampness, or internal accumulation due to Joy, Anger, Worry, Overthinking, dietary irregularities, sexual fatigue, Deficiency-Excess, and Cold-Heat, these are exactly the same as in men, and the general principles of treatment are also identical. One should examine them carefully and not immediately assume differences solely based on gender.

In ancient times, special prescriptions and discussions were written for treating women because of the uniqueness of pregnancy, childbirth, metrorrhagia, and trauma. Moreover, women's diseases are considered ten times more difficult to treat than men's. Generally, women's desires and appetites exceed those of men, and they are susceptible to disease twice as much as men. Additionally, factors such as affectionate attachment, love and hate, jealousy, worry, and resentment adhere firmly, causing their temperament to become blocked and depressed. Consequently, the nature of their illness involves peculiar thoughts and deep-rooted conditions, making it difficult to cure. How much more difficult is it when disease complicates pregnancy? Not only must toxic drugs be avoided, but one must also assess Deficiency and Excess, Cold and Heat to regulate treatment, avoiding reckless administration of decoctions to prevent errors of reinforcing Excess and depleting Deficiency.

If a woman manages her health according to proper principles, Qi and Blood will harmonize, and Wind, Cold, Summerheat, and Dampness cannot cause harm. If labor and injury damage Qi and Blood, then Wind-Cold will invade due to deficiency. It may manifest in the meridians or travel into the abdomen, injuring the interior. With Spleen-Stomach weakness, digestion fails. Since food cannot nourish the body, Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi stagnate, leading to sallow, dry skin and a lusterless face. If Large Intestine Qi is deficient, it transforms into diarrhea; if pathogenic factors flow into the Guanyuan region, it may lead to infertility. Diseases arise variably depending on the site of injury. Medical classics state: All thirty-six types of women's diseases stem from Cold and Heat imbalances in the Zi Zang (Uterus), damage from overwork, accompanied by leukorrhea, originating within the Bao Gong (Womb). Therefore, the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) and Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) serve as the sea of the Twelve Meridians. Women's diseases all present in relation to the Hand-Shaoyin (Heart) and Hand-Taiyang (Small Intestine) meridians, and are diagnosed through these channels.