节斋曰,产后脾胃大虚,多有饮食过度,伤滞发热者,误作血虚,则不效,故遇
产后发热,须问若何饮食,有无伤积饱闷,恶食泄泻等证,只作伤食治之。若发热而饮
食调者,方用补血正法,但节斋所论,仅言候而不言脉,且仅言伤食标症之实,而不论
产后气血之虚,故立斋曰∶前证若胸膈饱闷,暖腐恶食,吞酸吐泻发热,此为饮食停
滞,宜四君子加浓朴、楂、曲。若胸膈闷满,食少发热,或食难消化,此脾气虚弱,
宜四君子加炮姜。若用峻厉之剂,复伤元气,则误矣。
产后亡血多汗,阴阳两虚。极危症也。《经》曰∶阳气者,精则养神,柔刚养筋。
产后既亡血,而又汗多,乃为亡阳,盖汗本血液属阴,阴亡阳亦随之而走。故曰亡阳,
其用药与他证不同,轻则参、 、白术,麻黄根、防风、桂枝,重则参、附。
《金医》曰∶产妇郁冒,其脉微弱,但头汗出所以然者。血虚而厥,厥而必冒,冒
家欲解,必大汗出。以血虚下厥,孤阳上出,故头汗出,所以产妇喜汗出者、亡阴血
虚,阳气独盛,故当汗出,阴阳乃复。然产
妇郁冒,虚多邪少,故脉微弱,中气虚也。一身之阴阳不和,故身无汗,但头汗出者,
何也?血虚下厥,则下之阴气尽,而阳为孤阳,则上出而头汗矣。仍喜其汗出而解者
何?产妇血去过多而亡阴,自阴较之,阳为独盛,所以喜其汗,损阳就阴,则阴阳平,
故曰乃复。
Jiezai stated that postpartum spleen and stomach functions are severely deficient. There are often cases of fever caused by excessive food intake leading to food stagnation. If mistakenly treated as blood deficiency, the treatment will be ineffective. Therefore, when encountering postpartum fever, one must inquire about dietary habits, checking for signs such as food accumulation, fullness, distension, anorexia, or diarrhea, and treat it solely as food stagnation. Only if the fever subsides with dietary regulation should the standard method of tonifying blood be employed. However, Jiezai's discussion only mentions inquiry (inspection) but omits pulse diagnosis, and only addresses the excess symptoms of food stagnation as a branch manifestation, without discussing the underlying deficiency of qi and blood in the postpartum state. Therefore, Lizhai stated: Regarding the aforementioned conditions, if there is fullness and oppression in the chest and diaphragm, belching with a putrid odor, aversion to food, acid regurgitation, vomiting, diarrhea accompanied by fever, this indicates food stagnation. It is appropriate to use Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) augmented with Houpo (Magnolia Bark), Shanzha (Hawthorn Fruit), and Shenqu (Medicated Leaven). If there is chest and diaphragmatic oppression, reduced appetite with fever, or difficulty digesting food, this indicates spleen qi deficiency. It is appropriate to use Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) augmented with Paojiang (Prepared Ginger). Using harsh and drastic agents would further damage the primordial qi, which would be an error.
Postpartum hemorrhage accompanied by profuse sweating leads to dual deficiency of yin and yang. This is an extremely critical condition. The *Classic of Internal Medicine* (*Huangdi Neijing*) states: "Yang qi, when refined, nourishes the spirit; when soft and firm, it nourishes the sinews." Since postpartum women have already lost blood and now suffer from profuse sweating, this constitutes loss of yang. Sweat originates from blood and belongs to yin; when yin is depleted, yang follows and dissipates. Thus, it is termed loss of yang, and its medication differs from other conditions. For mild cases, Renshen (Ginseng Root), [text missing, likely Huangqi], Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome), Mahuanggen (Ephedra Root), Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia Root), and Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig) are used. For severe cases, Renshen (Ginseng Root) and Fuzi (Aconite Lateralis Radix Preparata) are used.
The *Jin Gui Yao Lue* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet) states: "In postpartum women suffering from Yu Mao (depression and dizziness), the pulse is faint, and only the head sweats. The reason is that blood deficiency leads to jue (reversal/cold extremities), and jue inevitably leads to mao (dizziness/obscuration). For the condition of mao to resolve, there must be profuse sweating over the whole body. Due to blood deficiency causing lower jue, isolated yang floats upward, hence the head sweat. Therefore, postpartum women welcome sweating because the loss of yin blood leads to blood deficiency and solitary excess of yang; thus, sweating allows yin and yang to restore balance. However, in postpartum Yu Mao, deficiency is predominant while pathogenic factors are few, so the pulse is faint, indicating deficiency of middle qi. The yin and yang of the entire body are disharmonious, hence no body sweat, only head sweat. Why? Blood deficiency causes lower jue, depleting the yin qi below, leaving yang as isolated yang floating upward, resulting in head sweat. Why is it still welcomed that resolution occurs through sweating? Because postpartum women lose excessive blood and deplete yin; compared to yin, yang is solitary and excessive. Therefore, they welcome sweating to reduce yang and align with yin, achieving yin-yang equilibrium, hence it is said that 'yin and yang are restored.'"