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Answer: A woman's menstruation is governed by four meridians. The first are the Chong (Penetrating) and Ren (Conception) vessels. The second are the Hand Taiyang (Small Intestine) and Hand Shaoyin (Heart) meridians. Among these, the Chong vessel serves as the Sea of Blood, while the Ren vessel governs the uterus; their mutual support enables conception. The Hand Taiyang meridian belongs to the Small Intestine, a Fu organ that governs the exterior, which is associated with Yang. The Hand Shaoyin meridian belongs to the Heart, a Zang organ that governs the interior, which is associated with Yin. These two meridians transform into breast milk in the upper body and into menstruation in the lower body. If labor and fatigue damage Qi and Blood, leading to bodily weakness and susceptibility to Wind-Cold pathogens, the Wind-Cold may lodge in the meridians and contend with Qi and Blood. When blood encounters cold, it becomes stagnant and obstructed, resulting in unsmooth menstruation.

Yangrong Tang (Nourishing Prosperity Decoction) treats deficiency of the Blood Sea in women, characterized by palpitations, mental restlessness, frequent fright and palpitation, or deficiency heat, along with irregular menstrual cycles.
Ingredients: Baishao (Radix Paeoniae Alba), Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), Shudi (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata), Qingpi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride), Jianghuang (Rhizoma Curcumae Longae), Chuanjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis), Danpi (Cortex Moutan), Haitongpi (Cortex Erythrinae), Wujia pi (Cortex Acanthopanacis), Baizhi (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae).
Preparation: Grind the above herbs into coarse powder. Take 5 qian per dose, add 1.5 cups of water, 5 slices of fresh ginger, and one smoked plum. Decoct until 1 cup remains, strain, and take warm. Administer at any time. Swallow this medicine with 70 pills of Zi Guiyuan (see Question 49 for the formula).

Answer: Meridians circulate Qi and Blood, connect Yin and Yang, and nourish the entire body. When Qi and Blood are abundant and Yin and Yang are harmonious, the physical form remains balanced. However, if there is an external lack of Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) nourishment and an internal deficiency of Ying Qi (Nutritive Blood) irrigation, resulting in insufficient Qi and Blood, body pain may precede the onset of menstruation. Alternatively, Wind-Cold pathogens may lodge in the uterine collaterals, damaging the Chong and Ren vessels, as well as the Hand Taiyang and Hand Taiyin meridians. Thus, when menstruation is about to descend, Qi and Blood contend with Wind-Cold, causing lower back pain during the pre-menstrual phase.

Chentong Yinzi (Pain-Relieving Drink Powder) treats deficiency-cold of the meridians accompanied by body pain.
Ingredients: Hugu (Os Tigris, Tiger Bone, 5 zhu), Fuling (Poria), Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae), Bencao (Radix Ligustici Chuanxiong), Fangfeng (Radix Saposhnikoviae), Baizhi (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae, each 2 zhu), Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), Baishao (Radix Paeoniae Alba), Xuduan (Radix Dipsaci), Wuzhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizoma), Fuzi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata, each 3 zhu).
Preparation: Grind into coarse powder. Take 5 qian per dose, add 2 cups of water, 5 slices of fresh ginger, and 2 dates. Decoct until 1 cup remains, strain, and take warm. Administer at any time.

Wenjing Tang (Warm the Meridians Decoction) treats Wind-Cold lodging and contending in the meridians, causing abdominal pain.
Ingredients: Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), Baishao (Radix Paeoniae Alba), Guigui (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Danpi (Cortex Moutan), Ezhu (Rhizoma Curcumae Zedoariae, each half liang), Renshen (Radix Ginseng), Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae), Niuxi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae, each 1 liang).
Preparation: Grind into coarse powder. Take 5 qian per dose, add 2 cups of water, decoct to 8/10 strength, and take before meals.

Moyao Chutong San (Myrrh Pain-Relieving Powder) expels Cold pathogens and treats abdominal pain.
Ingredients: Peng Ezhu (Rhizoma Curcumae Zedoariae, processed, 1 liang), Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis, roasted), Yanshusu (Rhizoma Corydalis), Wulingzhi (Trogopterus Dung), Rougui (Cortex Cinnamomi), Liangjiang (Rhizoma Alpiniae Officinarum, stir-fried), Puhuang (Pollen Typhae, stir-fried, each 7.5 qian), Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae), Moyao (Myrrha, each half liang).
Preparation: Grind into fine powder. Take 3 qian per dose, mix with warm wine and ingest.

Master Yang stated that women invariably experience abdominal pain prior to menstruation. He recommended taking Zhuangqiawei Wan (Qi-Stabilizing Asafoetida Pills) and Daisheng San (Great Sages' Powder) taken with wine. After several doses, the condition resolves, and pain ceases during menstruation.
Zhuangqiawei Wan and Daisheng San (see Song Dynasty Bureau Formulas, Women's Section).
Ingredients: Huixiang (Foeniculum Vulgare Fruit, stir-fried until fragrant), Chenpi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, white pith removed), Qingpi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride, white pith removed), Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), Dingxiang (Flos Caryophyllati, skin stir-fried), Peng Ezhu (Rhizoma Curcumae Zedoariae, processed), Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae), Suosaren (Fructus Amomi Rotundus), Rougui (Cortex Cinnamomi, rough bark removed), Baizhi (Radix Angelicae Dahuricae, processed, each half liang), Shengjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens, 4 liang sliced, pickled with half liang salt overnight, then stir-fried until black), Hujiao (Piperis Longi Fructus, 2.5 qian), Awei (Asafetida, 2.5 qian, soaked in vinegar overnight, cooked with flour into a paste).
Preparation: Use the Asafetida paste to bind the powder into pills the size of chicken beans. For every jin (approx. 600g) of medicinal powder, use 7 qian of Zhusha (Cinnabar) as a coating. Take one pill regularly, chew thoroughly, and swallow with vinegar water, tea, or wine as desired.

Zixue Tang (Nourishing Blood Decoction) treats deficiency of Blood with Wind invasion, resulting in scanty and sluggish menstruation, blocked meridians, numbness in the four limbs, generalized muscle pain, fatigue, and impending consumption diseases (Laozai).
Ingredients: Mabiancao (Herba Verbenaes Officinalis), Jingjiesui (Spica Schizonepetae, each 4 liang), Danpi (Cortex Moutan, 1 liang), Chishao (Radix Paeoniae Rubra), Zhiqiao (Fructus Aurantii), Rougui (Cortex Cinnamomi), Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong, each 2 liang).
Preparation: Grind into coarse powder. Take 4 qian per dose, add one smoked plum, decoct in water, and take before meals.

Hupo San (Amber Powder) treats menstrual obstruction and epigastric/abdominal pain, as well as postpartum lochia retention. It addresses blood rushing upward to the heart, causing coma, unconsciousness, weak respiration, and near-death states.
Ingredients: Jingsanleng (Rhizoma Sparganii, boiled), Ezhu (Rhizoma Curcumae Zedoariae, boiled), Chishaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Rubra, boiled), Liuji nu (Herba Siegesbeckiae, boiled), Mudanpi (Cortex Moutan, boiled), Guigui (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Juhua (Flos Chrysanthemi), Puhuang (Pollen Typhae), Shudi (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata), Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis, each 1 liang).
Preparation: First, boil the first five ingredients with half a sheng of black soybeans, half a jin of sliced fresh ginger, and four sheng of rice vinegar until soft like tofu. Dry them, then grind together with the remaining five ingredients into powder. Take 2 qian per dose, mix with warm wine and ingest.