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Postpartum fever, aversion to cold (Ehan), and headache should not be mistaken for the Taiyang syndrome of Shanghan (Cold Damage). Fever and headache accompanied by alternating chills and fever, or abdominal pain, should not be mistaken for Shaoyang syndrome.

All these conditions arise from deficiency of both Qi and Blood, and disharmony of Yin and Yang, presenting as exogenous-like syndromes. One must absolutely avoid using diaphoretic herbs such as Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang) or Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu), as this would cause further severe depletion of Yin and Blood. Even if it is known that there is a true contraction of Wind-Cold due to underlying deficiency, or ingestion of cold substances, symptoms will subside spontaneously once the Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive) levels are harmonized through appropriate medication.

Prescription: Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis, 4 qian), Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong, 2 qian), Jiang Pi (Pericarpium Zingiberis Recens Cutis, 4 fen), Tao Ren (Semen Persicae, 10 grains), Da Zao (Fructus Jujubae, 2 pieces). Decoct and take warm. Take two doses promptly. If symptoms persist, add Qiang Huo (Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii, 4 fen) and Fang Feng (Radix Saposhnikoviae, 4 fen). If the condition does not improve after taking the medicine, add Cong Bai (Caulis Allii Cepae cum Radice, 4 roots). If vomiting occurs, add Huo Xiang (Herba Pogostemonis, 3 fen) and Sheng Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens, 1 slice).

For women who are constitutionally weak and exhausted during labor, resulting in insufficiency of Qi and Blood, chest and diaphragmatic discomfort, where the Stomach can accept food but the Spleen fails to transform and transport smoothly: If postpartum medications lead to fullness, or if postpartum epigastric distension and bloating occur, this is generally due to misusing digestive-promoting herbs for food stagnation, using qi-regulating dispersants for Qi depression, consuming excessive cold foods causing lochia retention, or using purgatives for constipation caused by Blood deficiency, thereby worsening the bloating. They fail to realize that postpartum Qi and Blood are doubly deficient; after blood clots dissipate, one should strongly tonify Qi and Blood to supplement the Middle Jiao deficiency. Physicians only know that food stagnation requires digestion, Qi depression requires regulation, lochia requires expulsion, and constipation requires purging. When one dose is ineffective, they administer another. Neither patient nor physician realizes that new mothers have taken too many herbs that consume Qi and Blood, increasing fullness and oppression, preventing the ascending and descending of Qi, allowing Heat pathogens to assist the evil, and leading to chronic accumulation and distension over time. Physicians think they have done their utmost, while families blame seasonal pathogens. Some enjoy eating tangerine peel candies or orange segments, which aggravate middle-jiao fullness. How could they know that adding digestive aids to Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang strengthens the Spleen, allowing damaged food to digest naturally, dispersing Qi, and combining with mild purgatives to unblock the bowels and promote lochia flow? I often see cases where misuse of digestive, Qi-consuming, and purgative herbs leads to long-term anorexia; using Chang Sheng Huo Ming Dan saves lives, with hundred percent efficacy. For those whose distension was caused by such misuse, administering strong Qi-tonifying formulas saves eight or nine out of ten. Physicians should not consider my words excessive. I have previously used Ginseng decoction to deliver roasted rice powder, attempting to apply this method to save patients with anorexia, and followed Zhu Danxi’s medical cases to treat postpartum Middle Qi deficiency causing distension, false satiety with belching, and critical distension caused by misuse of Qi-consuming and Qi-regulating herbs.