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The preface of *Chanbao Fang* (Prescriptions for Childbirth) states: In general, treating diseases requires first determining the primary focus; for men, one regulates Qi (vital energy), and for women, one regulates Blood. Qi and Blood are the spirit (Shen) of human beings. However, women take Blood as their fundamental basis. If they can be cautious in regulation and care, then Qi and Blood will circulate freely, their spirit will naturally be clear, menstruation will occur on schedule, and congealed Blood will lead to pregnancy. If the Spleen and Stomach are weak, food is not digested, Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) energies are insufficient, leading to irregular menstruation, dry and lusterless skin, alternating chills and fever, and abdominal pain, then conception becomes difficult. Or, if metrorrhagia (bing) and leukorrhea (dai) occur, with Blood failing to flow smoothly, it may form Zha masses (abdominal masses).

Commentary citing Lizhai's view: If a woman has long-standing deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach, resulting in deficiency of both Qi and Blood, and amenorrhea, one should regulate Stomach Qi and nourish the source of transformation, so that menstruation will descend naturally. Or, if suffering from Zhongxiao syndrome (middle jiao consumption characterized by excessive hunger) with heat in the Stomach, where body fluids fail to circulate, leading to dryness of the Sea of Blood, one should clear Stomach heat and tonify the Spleen, so that menstruation will resume spontaneously. The Classics state: The Stomach is the source of Wei Qi (Defensive Energy), and the Spleen is the root of Ying Qi (Nutritive Energy). The *Zhenjing* (Needle Classic) says: Ying Qi arises from the Middle Jiao, and Wei Qi arises from the Lower Jiao [Note: Textual variant]. For insufficiency of Wei Qi, add pungent flavors; for insufficiency of Ying Qi, tonify with sweet flavors. When pungent and sweet flavors combine, the Spleen and Stomach become robust, and Ying and Wei Qi are generated, thus making both Qi and Blood abundant. Additionally, if mental overwork causes deficient fire to move recklessly, leading to irregular menstruation, one should calm the Mind, tonify Blood, and drain fire; this is Dongyuan's therapeutic method.

The discussion in *Jisheng Fang* states: The Classics say that all diseases arise from Qi dysfunction. The so-called "Seven Qi" refers to Joy, Anger, Worry, Thought, Sorrow, Fear, and Fright. There is also mention of "Nine Qi," which adds Cold and Heat syndromes to the Seven Emotions. Diseases caused by Qi affect both men and women, but the harm is particularly severe in women. This is because Blood follows Qi in circulation; when Qi becomes stagnant, Blood and Qi merge. This may result in irregular menstruation and epigastric/abdominal pain; or pain occurring prior to menstruation; or prolonged, dripping menstruation with abdominal pain after onset; or pain radiating from the waist and hypochondrium to the back, stabbing sensations up and down, vomiting, inability to eat, and in severe cases, convulsions of hands and feet resembling Jingxian (convulsive epilepsy); or alternating chills and fever, or formation of Zha masses, emaciation. Not only does this prevent conception, but if left untreated for a long time, it often transforms into Zhai disease (consumptive disease/tuberculosis).

Commentary: Women's natures are often biased and narrow-minded; concubines and married daughters out of their natal homes find their ambitions unfulfilled, causing depression and anger to rise at any time. Therefore, ancient sages stated that women's Qi is more prominent than Blood, and one should deplete Qi and benefit Blood. Once this theory was advocated, the world followed it, exclusively using acrid-dispersing and stagnation-resolving agents as a shortcut. They did not realize that Yang serves Yin, and Blood pairs with Qi. Thus, if Qi is hot, the body is hot; if Qi is cold, the body is cold; if Qi descends, it descends; if Qi ascends, it ascends; if Qi stagnates, it stagnates; if Qi moves, it moves. Their substance is inherently linked like knots, and their function is not different. Only if depressive fire is indeed abundant in Blood can one open stagnation and move blood. If Qi is chaotic, regulate it; if Qi is cold, warm it; if Qi is deficient, tonify it. Men and women are the same: when Yang generates, Yin grows naturally; when Qi declines, Blood dries up. How can one exclusively use methods that deplete Qi?