Library

Chuanxiong (1.5 qian) Danggui (3 qian) Zhi Gancao (Honey-fried Licorice Root, 0.5 qian) Renshen (2 qian) Huangqi (Astragalus Root, 1.5 qian) Rougui (Cinnamon Bark, 0.4 qian)
Matixiang (2 qian)

Fresh Conger Eel Onion (a handful) is mashed. It is stir-fried until cooked and formed into a cake to apply to the swollen area. Two or three layers of thick cloth are placed over it. It is then warmed with an iron using low heat.
Liuzhu (Flowing Abscess: a type of yin abscess characterized by diffuse swelling without a distinct head and unchanged skin color) presenting as diffuse swelling with slight pain indicates insufficiency of both physical constitution (Xing Qi) and pathogenic qi (Bing Qi), making it the most difficult to treat. If pus has already formed, or has not yet formed, or if the ulcer fails to heal after rupture, this is due to deficiency of Qi and Blood.
It is appropriate to administer Renshen Tang (Ginseng Decoction). If symptoms include aversion to cold and fear of chill, indicating Qi deficiency, Shiquan Dabu Tang (Complete Great Tonifying Decoction) is appropriate. If internal heat occurs around the Shen hour (3-5 PM), Siwu Tang (Four Substance Decoction) added with Renshen, Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome), and Danpi (Moutan Cortex) is appropriate. If vomiting and regurgitation occur, indicating Stomach Qi deficiency, Liujunzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) added with Paojiang (Prepared Ginger) is appropriate. If appetite is poor and the body feels fatigued, indicating Spleen Qi deficiency, Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Decoction to Supplement the Middle and Augment the Qi) with doubled Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizome) is appropriate. If the four limbs are cold and urination is frequent, indicating Kidney Qi deficiency,
Buzhong Yiqi Tang added with Yizhiren (Biotae Semen) is appropriate.

Sores appearing in the female genitalia are known as Du Fu Chuang (Jealous Woman's Ulcer). They may present with pain or itching resembling the sensation of insects crawling, with profuse discharge of thick pus, leading to severe erosion of the vulva. This condition arises from mental distress and depression involving the Heart and Kidney, combined with Kidney Qi weakness, resulting in stagnation of Qi and Blood. The Classic states: "All pain and sores belong to the Heart." Treatment should focus on tonifying the Heart and nourishing the Stomach. External treatment involves fumigation and washing with medicinal decoctions.

Danggui, Chuanxiong, Shaoyao (White Peony Root), Diyu (Sanguisorbae Radix), Gancao (Licorice Root) (equal parts)
Boil five sheng of water down to two sheng. Remove the dregs and use the liquid for fumigation and washing. Perform this three times during the day and once at night.

Pig Lard (10 jin) and Water (one bucket) are boiled until very thoroughly cooked. Use the broth to soak the sores; replace with hot broth when it cools. Healing can be achieved within three to five applications.

Toad (Xama) and Rabbit Feces (Tushisi) (equal parts) are ground into powder and applied to the sores, which is also effective.
([Wu's Note] Rabbit feces, also known as Wangyuesha (Moon-gazing Sand), is an important herb for washing eyes.)

My father-in-law, Chen Zhengfu, Prefect, was a descendant of Mr. Xiuyuan from Minzhong. He was renowned for his medical skills since childhood, having received instruction from him, allowing me to grasp only superficial knowledge. Medical books are as numerous as cattle and horses filling the house; I selected only the best ones to study. Having examined the teachings of Qibo and Huangdi, I found that healing practices specialized in acupuncture and moxibustion. Yi Fangyin was the first to transmit the methods of herbal decoctions. Since Zhang Zhongjing in the Han Dynasty, medicine began to be categorized, and gynecology and pediatrics emerged as specialized fields. However, these physicians were motivated by a desire to govern the state and benefit the people, acting with altruism, unlike modern profit-seekers who privately hoard good prescriptions and behave like market hawkers. Consequently, people have come to look down upon medicine, causing it to fall into disrepute. In the winter of the Yihai year of Guangxu, Mr. Wu Youyun presented a secret gynecological manuscript from Zhulinsi Temple kept in his family collection, intending to have it printed for widespread dissemination. It was shown to me by Mr. Weng Shiru, who requested my revision. Upon detailed reading, I found that various pregnancy and childbirth conditions were comprehensively listed without omission. The formulas provided adhere to the "Kingly Way" (gentle and balanced approaches) and are not bizarre. However, as this text was not authored by a single person, I dare not forcibly connect disjointed parts (like extending a duck's legs to match a crane's). Moreover, errors in the manuscript make punctuation difficult to determine, and the order of decoctions and pills is confused, with inconsistent dosages. These matters are significant; a tiny error leads to great deviation. Therefore, I made minor revisions, supplemented deficiencies, corrected lengths, adjusted dosages, and arranged the roles of sovereign, minister, assistant, and envoy, so that the secret prescription could be considered complete. If householders obtain this book and supplement it with compilations such as *Dasheng* and *Fuyou*, then in remote areas, diagnosing and prescribing will be far superior to entrusting one's life to incompetent doctors. I know that once the book is completed, prenatal care will be well-understood, and postnatal treatments will abound. A long-hidden classic will finally be widely circulated. Is this not a cause for celebration for the people? After completing the revision, I record the origin of this work.
In the spring of the first month of the Bingxu year of Guangxu. Cao Binggang of Hetang Hall, Renhe, wrote the preface at Epao Studio.