产后月水不通者,不必药也。妇人冲任之脉,为经络之海,皆起胞内,手太阳手太阴二经,上为乳
汁,下为月水。若产后去血过多,乳汁常有不通,若乳子半岁、一岁之内,月经不行,此尤常候。若半岁
左右便行,是必少壮血盛之人也。若产后一二年月经不通,无他疾苦,亦不必服通经之药,盖此或劳伤
荣卫,冲任脉虚,气血衰少耳。但服健脾胃及滋补气血之药,自然通行。若强通之,是犹揠苗者也。
产妇冲任血旺,脾胃气壮,饮食调匀,则乳足而浓,以生化之源旺也。若脾胃气
弱,饮食少进,冲任素亏,则乳少而薄,所乳之子,亦怯弱而多病,其乳以浓白光彩,
入盏中上而莹然如玉为上,黄色清薄为下,不可哺儿。乳母宜择肥瘦适中,无病经调,
善食者佳。太肥则多痰,太瘦则多火,儿饮其乳,亦复如是。如一儿昏睡,竟日不醒,
举家惊惶,求医投药罔效,一高医诊之曰∶此儿中酒,得毋乳母曾痛饮乎?询之果然,
停药而醒,可见其利害相关明矣。然时珍
曰∶人乳无定性,随饮食性气而变,故饮食调摄,乳母不可不慎也。若乳汁不行有二,
有气血盛而壅闭不行,有气血虚而燥涩不行,虚者补之,如十全八珍之类是也。盛者
疏之,如麦冬、栝蒌仁、天花粉、人参、葵子、猪胰、木通、漏芦、猪蹄之类,煮食是
也。其有乳汁自出者。若胃气虚而不能敛摄津液者,宜补胃气以敛之。若气血大虚,气
不卫外,血不荣里,而为妄泄者,宜调补荣卫以止之。若未产而乳自出,谓之乳泣,生
子多不育。若产妇劳役,乳汁涌下,此阳气虚而厥也,独参汤主之。
In cases of amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) after childbirth, medication is not necessary. The Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) and Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) of women are the sea of meridians and collaterals, both originating from within the Bao Gong (Uterus). The Hand-Taiyang and Hand-Taiyin meridians transform into Ru Zhi (Breast Milk) upwards and Yue Shui (Menstrual Blood) downwards. If excessive blood loss occurs postpartum, breast milk may often be obstructed; if menstruation does not occur within six months to one year of nursing, this is a common occurrence. If menstruation resumes around six months, it indicates a person who is young, vigorous, and has abundant blood and Qi. If menstruation remains absent for one or two years postpartum without other discomforts, there is no need to take medicines that promote menstruation, as this may be due to fatigue damaging Ying Wei (Defensive and Nutritious Qi), leading to deficiency of the Chong and Ren vessels and a decline in blood and Qi. Simply taking herbs that strengthen the Spleen and Stomach and tonify blood and Qi will naturally restore flow. Forcing menstruation would be akin to pulling shoots to help them grow.
If a postpartum woman has abundant blood and Qi in the Chong and Ren vessels, strong Qi in the Spleen and Stomach, and balanced diet, her breast milk will be sufficient and thick because the source of bio-transformation is robust. If Spleen and Stomach Qi is weak, food intake is low, and the Chong and Ren vessels are inherently deficient, the breast milk will be scanty and thin, and the nursed infant will also be frail and prone to illness. High-quality breast milk should be thick, white, and lustrous, appearing clear and jade-like when poured into a cup; yellow, thin, and watery milk is inferior and unsuitable for nursing. A lactating mother should ideally be chosen for having a moderate body type, being free from disease, having regular menstruation, and having a good appetite. Being too fat leads to excessive Phlegm, while being too thin leads to internal Fire; if an infant drinks such milk, similar conditions may arise. For instance, once an infant fell into a deep sleep and did not wake all day, causing family panic. Medical treatment was ineffective until a skilled physician diagnosed: "This infant has alcohol intoxication; did the lactating mother drink heavily?" Upon inquiry, this was confirmed. After stopping the medication (and presumably adjusting the mother's diet), the infant woke up, clearly demonstrating the significant interconnection. However, Li Shizhen stated: "Human breast milk has no fixed nature; it changes according to the properties of food and drink consumed. Therefore, dietary regulation requires utmost caution by the lactating mother."
There are two types of breast milk obstruction: one where abundant blood and Qi cause stagnation and blockage, preventing flow; and another where deficient blood and Qi cause dryness and涩滞 (astringency/stasis), preventing flow. For deficiency, tonification is used, such as with Shi Quan Da Bu Tang (Ten Significant Great Tonifying Decoction) or Ba Zhen Tang (Eight Treasures Decoction). For excess, unblocking is used, such as consuming cooked Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Gua Lou Ren (Trichosanthis Semen), Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthis Radix), Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Kui Zi (Abutilonis Fructus), Zhu Yi (Porcinis Pancreas), Mu Tong (Akebiae Caulis), Lou Lu (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), and Zhu Ti (Suis Corium), prepared as food. Regarding spontaneous leakage of breast milk: if caused by weak Stomach Qi failing to consolidate fluids, tonifying Stomach Qi to consolidate is appropriate. If caused by severe deficiency of blood and Qi, where Qi fails to protect the exterior and Blood fails to nourish the interior, leading to reckless discharge, regulating and tonifying Ying and Wei is appropriate to stop it. If breast milk leaks before delivery, it is called Ru Qi (Weeping Breast), and children born under such circumstances often fail to survive. If a postpartum woman experiences gushing breast milk due to overwork, this is a Jue syndrome (reversal condition) caused by Yang Qi deficiency, treated primarily with Du Shen Tang (Single Ginseng Decoction).