产后血崩者,因所下过多,血气大虚,未得平复,或因劳役,或因惊恐而致也。宜
补心脾以统之。若小腹满痛不已,为脉实大紧数者,此肝阴已竭,肝气随败矣,难治。
若小腹胀满,按之而痛者,此内有瘀血,未可遽止,否则必致淋漓。
产后便难者,由肠胃无血也。大肠为传导之官,变化出焉。产后津液耗损,胃中枯
燥,而精微不及下输,是以糟粕壅滞,故令便难,由气血过多,内亡津液也,然大肠主
津,小肠主液,其大肠小肠,更必受胃之阳气,乃能行津液于上焦,今产后大虚,胃中
原气已亏,二肠津液并损,故便难者,此其
宜也,惟宜调中养血,切不可单用麻仁、枳壳,徒耗肠胃中生养之气也。
产后小便淋秘之证,《三因》云∶产前当安胎,产后当去血,此二语最为吃紧。如
产前淋,或由气虚不化,当用参 补气安
胎,不可过用渗利。产后淋,或由污血阻滞,当以瞿麦、蒲黄为要药。若血虚热郁,
当用六味丸、逍遥散补阴养血,滋其化源,佐以导血药可也。更有收生不谨,以致损胞
而得淋沥者。丹溪曰∶有徐氏妇壮年患此。因思肌肉破伤,在外者且可补完,虽在内恐亦可
治,诊其脉虚甚,因悟凡难产之人,多是气虚,既产之后,血气尤虚,应用峻补,以参术膏煎,
以猪羊胞汤,极饥时饮之,一月而安,令气血骤长,其胞可完,稍缓亦难成功也。
Postpartum metrorrhagia (profuse uterine bleeding after childbirth) is caused by excessive blood loss during delivery, leading to severe deficiency of Qi and Blood, with the body failing to return to a stable state. It may be triggered by overexertion or fright. The treatment should tonify the Heart and Spleen to control the blood. If there is persistent fullness and pain in the lower abdomen accompanied by a pulse that is Excess, Large, Tight, and Rapid, this indicates exhaustion of Liver Yin and failure of Liver Qi, which is difficult to treat. If the lower abdomen is distended and painful upon pressure, it indicates the presence of intra-abdominal Blood Stasis; at this stage, one must not hastily stop the bleeding, otherwise it will inevitably lead to prolonged, dripping discharge.
Postpartum difficulty in defecation is due to the intestines lacking Blood nourishment. The Large Intestine is the official organ responsible for conduction, where waste undergoes transformation and exits. Postpartum consumption of Body Fluids leads to dryness in the Stomach, preventing the downward transmission of refined nutrients, causing stagnation of fecal matter and thus difficulty in defecation. This results from excessive loss of Qi and Blood and the subsequent depletion of internal Body Fluids. However, the Large Intestine governs Body Fluids, and the Small Intestine governs Liquids; both rely on the Yang Qi of the Stomach to transport fluids to the Upper Jiao. Now, following childbirth, the body is severely deficient, and the original Qi of the Stomach is depleted, causing simultaneous damage to the fluids of both intestines. Therefore, difficulty in defecation is expected. Treatment should focus on regulating the Middle Jiao and nourishing Blood; one must absolutely avoid using solely Semen Cannabis (Hemp Seed) and Fructus Aurantii Immaturus (Immature Bitter Orange), as this would merely deplete the generating Qi within the intestines and stomach.
Regarding postpartum strangury and urinary retention, *San Yin Fang* states: "During pregnancy, one should calm the fetus; after childbirth, one should eliminate blood." These two statements are most critical. If strangury occurs during pregnancy, it may be due to Qi deficiency failing to transform fluids; one should use Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Ginseng) to tonify Qi and calm the fetus, avoiding excessive use of diuretic herbs. If strangury occurs postpartum, it may be due to obstruction by foul blood; Epilobii Herba (Epilobium) and Polygoni Multiflori Caulis (Polygonum multiflorum stem, often used as Puhuang/Flos Typhae in this context for hemostasis/stasis) should be the primary herbs. If there is Blood deficiency with Heat constraint, Liuwei Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) and Xiaoyao San (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) should be used to tonify Yin and nourish Blood, nourishing the source of transformation, assisted by herbs that guide out blood stasis. Furthermore, some cases arise from careless midwifery causing injury to the uterus, resulting in dripping urine. Zhu Danxi said: A Mrs. Xu suffered from this condition in her prime. He reasoned that if external muscle tears can be repaired, internal injuries might also be treatable. Upon finding her pulse extremely deficient, he realized that those with difficult labor are mostly Qi deficient, and postpartum Qi and Blood are even more depleted. Thus, strong tonification is required. He prescribed Shen-Shu Gao (Ginseng and Atractylodes Paste) decocted with Pig or Sheep Uterus Decoction, to be drunk when extremely hungry. After one month, she stabilized, allowing Qi and Blood to grow rapidly so the uterus could heal; delaying treatment would make success difficult.