Library

*Jilüe* states: The Kidney system of the mother is connected to the fetus; this is the mother's Zhenqi (True Qi), which the offspring relies upon. After conception, one should maintain a calm and tranquil state so that Qi and Blood remain peaceful and harmonious. Internally, one must avoid excessive stimulation by the Seven Emotions (Joy, Anger, Worry, Pensiveness, Sorrow, Fear, Fright); externally, one must avoid strong flavors of the Five Flavors (Sour, Bitter, Sweet, Pungent, Salty). Foods that are extremely cold or hot are strictly prohibited, preventing mist, dew, wind, and pathogenic factors from finding an opportunity to invade. Sexual intercourse should also be avoided to prevent stirring up desire. One must carefully regulate diet; for instance, eating rabbit meat may cause cleft lip in the child, eating dog meat may result in a silent child, and eating miscellaneous fish may cause skin sores and tinea. Being startled may lead to epilepsy, insufficient Kidney Qi may result in Jiechu (cranial fontanelle delay/cranioschisis) [as the Heart stores the Spirit and the Kidney governs bone, hence this explanation], disharmonious Spleen Qi may cause emaciation, and deficient Heart Qi may lead to mental insufficiency. Since the fetus derives its Qi from the mother, caution is essential. If there are no symptoms such as fetal pain, fetal restlessness, diarrhea, dysentery, or injury from external Wind-Cold pathogens, medication should not be taken lightly. If medication is unavoidable, one must assess the severity of the disease and the potency of the herbs, avoiding the use of too many ingredients simultaneously (using a large number of herbs during pregnancy is taboo, thus limiting prescriptions is indeed a profound truth).

However, if the father is young and the mother old, the daughter born will likely be frail; if the mother is robust and the father weak, the son born will likely be feeble. This is due to biased or deficient conception Qi, requiring tonification. To tonify a frail girl, nourish Blood and strengthen bones; to tonify a weak boy, strengthen the Spleen and moderate sexual activity. A frail girl should marry promptly, while a weak boy should wait until he is robust before marrying. Ancients discussed having children in old age, stating that men should not exceed the age of 64 (8x8 years) and women should not exceed 49 (7x7 years). This indicates that Qi and Blood in humans have their fixed limits; how could they escape the ultimate laws of Yin and Yang?

Zhu Danxi said: During pregnancy, one should clear heat and nourish Blood. If a pregnant woman experiences fetal restlessness due to Fire forcing movement, with rebellious Qi causing wheezing and urgency, she can take powdered Tiaoqin (a type of Scutellariae Radix, Huangqin) and Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma) mixed with water [Tiaoqin that sinks in water is superior]. Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) acts on the Upper and Middle Jiao, descending Fire, ensuring continuous vitality and endless reproduction. Chongweizi (Leonuri Fructus) regulates Blood circulation and Qi movement, possessing the subtle effect of tonifying Yin. It is named Yimucao (Motherwort) because it has tonifying properties within its moving action. Thus it is said: "During pregnancy, there should be no stagnation; after birth, there should be no deficiency" (for difficult labor, it can be decocted into a paste). Tiaoqin and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) are the holy medicines for calming the fetus. Laypeople consider Huangqin too cold and do not use it, instead using warm-hot herbs to nourish the fetus. They fail to realize that pregnancy requires clearing heat and nourishing Blood, allowing Blood to follow the meridians without reckless flow, thereby nourishing the fetus. Cravings for specific foods indicate deficiency in a single Zang organ; for example, craving sour foods indicates Liver deficiency failing to nourish the fetus. In the eighth or ninth month of pregnancy, Qi-moving methods are necessary, using herbs such as Zhike (Aurantii Fructus) and Sugeng (Perillae Caulis).