妇人血风疮，因肝脾二经风热郁火血燥所致，其外症身发疙瘩，痒痛不常，搔破成疮，脓水淋漓。内症月经
无定，小便不调，夜热盗汗，恶寒憎热，倦怠懒食。宜先用加味逍遥散，或小柴胡汤合四物，多加胡麻子，后以
归脾汤，加熟地去木香。
梦与鬼交者，因血气虚衰，思想过度，神明耗损外邪乘虚而犯之，其状时笑时泣，不欲见人，如有对忤者是也。
其脉迟伏，或如乌啄，或绵绵而来，不知度数，乍大乍小，乍短乍长，总由七情亏损心血，神无所护而然，宜用安神
定志等药，正气复而神自安，外以患人两手拇指相并，用线扎紧，当合缝外，半肉半甲之间，名鬼哭穴，灼艾七壮，果
是邪崇，病者，乞求免灸自去矣。然人之五脏各有所藏，心神、肝魂、肺魂、脾意、肾精与志也。若心之血虚，则神
无所根据，肝之血虚，则魂无所附，脉之气虚，则魄无所归，脾肾二脏虚，则意与离其体，夜梦鬼邪。若有所见者
，即我之魂魄也。岂真有所谓鬼邪崇魅与之交感者哉！立斋断以七情亏损，心血神无所护而然，真得
病情之至理矣。
夫天地之大德，曰生，生之气，固流行遍满，何至于我而独斩耶！人之嗣续者，上接亘古之传，下衍无疆之脉，
顾不甚重，祖宗至令不知几千百世，一旦至我而斩，孝子慈孙，可不HT 天祝寿地，猛心自咎。了凡先生曰∶爱者，
生之本，忍则自绝其本矣。《素问》云∶道者，能却老而全角，年皆百数，能有子也。故从无绝嗣之圣贤。何人不以
好善乐道为本，再以事副之，则麟趾呈祥，宁有限哉！
妇人无子者，或经不匀，或血不足，或有疾病，或交不时，四者而已。调其经而补其血，去其病而节
其欲，无疾病而交有时，岂有不妊娠者乎。然更有二，凡肥盛妇人，禀受甚浓，恣于酒食，不
能有胎，谓之躯脂满溢，闭塞子宫，宜燥湿痰，如星、半、苍术、台芎、香附、陈皮，或导痰汤之类；若
是瘦怯性急之人，经水不调，不能成胎，谓之子宫干涩无血，不能摄受精气，宜凉血降火。
如四物加黄芩、香附，养阴补血及六味地黄丸之类。然合男女，必当其年，男虽十六而精通，必三十而娶；
女虽十四而天癸至，必二十而嫁，皆欲阴阳完实，然后交而孕，孕而育，育而其子，坚壮强寿。今未笄
之女，天癸始至，已近男色，阴气早泄，未完而伤，未实而动，是以交而不孕，孕而不育，育而子脆不寿。
天地者，形之大也。阴阳者。气之大
也。惟形与气，相资而立，未始偏废，男女媾精，万物化生，天地阴阳之形气寓焉。语
七八之数，七，少阳也。八，少阴也。相感而流通，故女子二七天癸至，男子二八而精
通，则阴阳交合而兆始也。《易》曰∶天地氤氲，万物化醇，男女媾精，万物化生。天
地之道，阴阳和而后万物育，夫妇之道，阴阳和而后男女生，苟父精母血不及而有孕
者，未之有也。是故欲求子者，必先审妇之月经调否。经者，常也。每月应期而来，按
期而止，无易常也。期有不调者，或先或后，或一月两至，或间月一至，有绝闭不
通，有频来不止，或先痛而后行者，或先行而后痛者，有黑色者，有紫色者，有淡色
者，有白带、白淫、白浊者，是皆血气不调者也。诸如此类，必按症用药而调之。及夫
男子之病，亦在所当知也。有肾虚精滑，有精冷精清，或临事不坚，坚则流而不射。坚
者，肝火强于外也。不射者，真阳弱于中也。有盗汗梦遗，有便浊淋涩，有腰惫不能转摇，有好
色以致阴虚，有劳热者，有虚寒者，或阳虚而气弱，或阴乏而精衰，是皆精气不足者
也，诸如此类，亦必按症施药而补益之。若妇之精脉既调，男之真精亦足，所谓阴阳
和，气血平，则百病不生，而有子且寿矣。然既和之以阴阳，又宜按之以方法，诀曰∶
二十时中两日半，二十八九君须算，落红满地是佳期，金水过时空霍乱，霍乱之时枉费
工，树头树底觅残红，但解花开能结子，何愁丹桂不成丛？此盖以妇人月经方止，金水
初生，此时子宫正开而虚，惟虚能受，乃受
精结胎之候，正妙合太和之时，宜以人事副之，不失造化之妙也。过此佳期，则子宫闭
而不受胎矣。然男女之别，各有要妙存焉。月经方过一日三日交合者，新血未盛，精胜
其血，感者成男，且干道成男之义也。四日六日交合者，新血渐长，血胜其精，感者成
女，且坤道成女之义也。又云∶阴血先至，阳精后冲，纵气来乘，血开裹精，精入为
骨，阳内阴外，而成坎卦之象，是则精胜其血，故阳为之主，男形所由以成也。若阳精
先入，阴血后参，横气来助，精开裹血，血入居本，阴内阳外，而成离卦之象，是则血
胜其精，故阴为主，女形所由以成也。然天地交而万物亨，阴阳和而男女育，禀阳气之
偏者成男，禀阴气之偏者成女，故曰∶干道成男，坤道成女。欲嗣之广者，必由斯而求
之，亦由斯而得也。其或不然者，特缴幸于偶然耳。虽孕多堕也，虽产多难也，虽子多病也。
凡男子体浓脉沉小，年虽幼而阳不固，是禀元气不足也，宜多服人参膏，或加
术。中年阳道痿弱，身体益肥，姬外家多而不孕，是胃中脂膜虽盛，而气内怯也，补中益
气汤，加鹿角、枸杞、制附子、锁阳、苁蓉之类，兼补相火，宜减浓味肥甘，使浊气清
而真精固也。如脾胃不和，食少倦怠，每使内后益甚。而不能成胎者，是中气弱而不能
施化也，多服补中益气汤。如黑瘦脉弦数，身体多热，肠胃燥涩，不能成胎者，是阴水
不足也，虽胎亦夭，宜六味加知柏、归身、枸杞为丸服之，务使阴阳和平，而能生子，
不必定在热药也。
夫人至晚年无嗣，医皆责之于肾，肾以主精，精旺则孕成故也。殊不知肾主相火，
心主君火，一君一相，本于天成，君宁相服，精血乃生，盖心之所藏者神，神之所附
者血，血之所患者，火也。心欲萌而火动，则血沸腾，而神元虚耗，不能下交于肾，肾
水虚寒，精因之而妄泄，所以然者，由心火一动，则相火翕然从之，相火既动，则天君
亦督扰而不宁矣。是以心肾有相须之义，善摄生者，贵有交养之方，尝观富贵之人，反
多乏嗣，盖富多纵欲而伤精，贵每劳心而损神，要之肾精妄泄，常因火迫使然，心火上
炎，亦由水乏弗制也。且人年三十以往，精气渐减，不惟饮食男女之欲，足以损败，一
与物接，则视听言动，皆足以耗神散气，而况役志劳心者，复攻之以众欲乎？是以或伤
精，或劳神，有一于此，而不知节，非所以保天和而广嗣胤也。
男女交媾，凝结成胎者，虽不离精血，犹为后天滓质之物，而一点先天之气，萌于
情欲之感者，妙合于其间，朱子所谓禀于有生之初；《悟真篇》所谓生身受气初者是也。
医之上工，治无子者，语男则主于精，语女则主于血，着论立方，男子以补肾为要，女
子以调经为先，又参以补气行气之说，察其脉络，究其盈亏，审而治之，自可孕也。然
人身气血，各有虚实寒热之异，惟察脉可知，舍脉而独言药者妄也。脉不宜大过而
数，数则为热；不宜不及而迟，迟则为寒，不宜太有力而实，实者，正气虚而火邪乘之
以实也。当散郁以伐其邪，邪去而后正可补，不宜太无力而虚，虚乃气血虚也，惟当
调补其气血。又有女子气多血少，寒热不调，月水违期，皆当诊脉而以活法治之，务
使夫妇之脉和平有力，交合有期，不妄用药，乃能生子也。其种子之道有匹，一曰择
地。地者，母血是也。二曰养种。种者，父精是也，三曰乘时。时者，精血交感之会是
也。四曰投虚。虚者，去旧生新之初是也。然少年生子多羸弱者，欲盛而精薄也。老年
主子多强壮者，欲少而精浓也。多欲者，子多不育，盖孕后不节，则盗泄母阴，以夺养胎之气。
严冬之后，必有阳春，是知天地之道，不收敛则不能发生，故冬寒得闭藏之令者，
则遇阳春，靡不发育，此自然之理也。令人
既昧收藏之理，纵欲竭精，以耗真气，及其无子，复云血冷，又谓精寒，燥热之剂过
投，而真阴益耗矣，安得而有子？故无子之因，不独在女，亦多由男，房劳过度，施泄
过多，精清如水，或冷如水，及思虑无穷皆难有子，盖心主神，有所思则神驰于外，致
君火伤而不能降，肾主智，有所劳则智乱于中，俾肾亏而不能升，上下不交，水火不
媾，而能生育者，未之有也。
夫五脏各有精，五脏平和，则脏藏之精华输归于肾，以资其用，盖肾为水脏，乃聚
会关司之所，故种子有百脉齐到之论，而《内经》有五脏盛乃能泻之语也。袁了凡曰∶
聚精之道，一曰寡欲，二曰节劳，三曰息怒，四日戒酒，五曰慎味。肾为精之府，凡
男女交接，必扰其肾，肾动则精血随之而流，外虽不泄，精已离宫，未能坚忍者，必
有真精数点，随阳痿而溢出，此其验也，故贵乎寡欲。精成于血，不独房室之交，损吾
之精，凡日用损血之事，皆当深戒。如目劳于视，则精以视耗；耳劳于听，则精以听
耗，心劳于思，则精以思耗，随事节之，则血得养而精与日俱积矣，故贵乎节劳。主闭
藏者，肾也。司疏泄者，肝也。二脏皆有相火，其系上属于心。心，君火也。怒则伤
肝，而相火动，动则疏泄用事，闭藏其职，虽不交合，亦暗流潜耗矣，故贵乎息怒。人
身之血，各归其舍则常凝，酒能动血，饮酒则面赤，手足俱红，是扰其血也，血气既衰
之人，数月无房事，精始浓而可用，一夜大醉，精随薄矣，故宜戒酒，《经》云∶精不
足，补以味。浓郁之味，不能生津，惟恬淡者，能补精耳。盖万物皆有真味，调和胜，
真味失矣。不论腥素，淡煮得法，自有一段冲和恬淡之气，益人肠胃。《洪范》论味而
曰∶稼穑作甘。世物惟五谷得味之正，若能淡食谷味，最能养精，如煮粥饮中有浓汁滚
作一团者，此米之精液所聚也。食之最能生精，故宜慎味。
天生各物，必有氤氲之时，万物化生，必有乐育之候，猫犬至微，将受娠也。其牝
者，必狂呼而奔跳，以氤氲乐育之气，触之不能自止，此天然之节候，生化之真机也。
凡妇人一月经行一度，必有一日氤氲之候，于一时辰间，气蒸而热，昏而闷，有欲交接
不可忍之状，此的候也。此时逆而取之则成丹，顺而施之则成胎矣。然男女交媾之时，
均有其精，何常有血？褚氏、东垣、丹溪，俱以精血混言，几见男女媾精，而妇人以血施也。
女子系胞于肾，及心胞络，皆阴脏也。虚则风寒乘袭子宫，则绝孕无子，非得温暖
药，则无以去风寒而资化育之妙，宜用辛温之剂，必加引经至下焦，走肾及心胞，散风
寒，暖子宫为要，更宜兼以补养气血之药。
若不兼补养，徒事辛温，则反增燥热之热，何以为化育之机耶！故血海虚寒而不孕者，
诚用暖药，但人之孕胎，阳精之施也，必阴血能摄之，精成其孕，血成其胞。若有真阴
不足，阴虚则火旺，阳胜则内热而血枯，是以不能摄受精血者，又不可纯用辛温之药
矣。《脉诀》曰∶血旺易胎，气旺难孕，故贵乎以脉消息，所以不能废诊也。至于父少
母老，生女必羸，母壮父衰，产男必弱，古人之成语。然有老者强，而少者弱，岂无变
异其间乎？但有生之初，虽阳子为正，育而充之，必阴为之主。
有妇人年三十四，梦与鬼交，及见神堂阴司，舟揖桥梁，如此一十五年，竟无妊
娠，此阳火盛于上，阴水盛于下。见鬼神者，阴之灵。神堂者，阴之所。舟揖桥梁，
水之用。两手寸脉皆沉而伏，知胸中有实痰也。三涌三泻三汗，不旬日而无梦，一月而有娠。
妇人不孕，亦有六淫七情之邪伤冲任，或宿疾淹留，传遗脏腑；或子宫虚冷；或气
旺血衰，或血中伏热∶或脾胃损，不能荣养冲任；或有积血积痰，凝滞胞络。更当审男
子形质何如？有肾虚精弱；有禀受不足，气虚血损；有嗜欲无度，阴精衰竭，各当求原
而治。又当审其男女尺脉，若有尺脉细或虚大无力，用八味丸。左尺洪大，按之无力，
用六味丸。两尺俱微细，或浮大，用十补丸。若徒用辛热燥血，不惟无益，反受其害矣。
世有妇人血气充实，饮食健旺，而生育则少，有血气不足，饮食减少，而生育偏多
者，何？盖卫府清肌，恒存辟谷，楚宫细腰，得之忍饥，月满则亏，月亏乃盈，由是
观之，弱者易育，实者难胎，此定理也。
褚氏曰∶男女之合，二情交畅，阴血先至，阳精后充，血开裹精，精入为骨，而男
形成。阳精先入，阴血后参，精开裹血，血入居本，而女形成。（此成胎以精血先后分男女也。）
《圣济经》曰∶天之德，地之气，阴阳至和，流薄一体，因气而左动则属阳，阳资
之则成男，因气而右动则属阴，阴资之则成女，《易》云∶干道成男，坤道成女，此男
女之分别也。（此成胎以左右阴阳之气动分男女也。）
《易》云∶干道成男，坤道成女，父精母血，因感交会，精之泄阳之施也。血能摄
[Blood Wind Sore]
Women suffering from Blood Wind Sore (a skin condition characterized by wind-heat and blood dryness) are caused by the depression of wind-heat transforming into fire in the Liver and Spleen meridians, leading to blood dryness. The external symptoms manifest as nodules appearing on the body, with intermittent itching and pain; scratching breaks the skin forming sores that weep pus and fluid continuously. Internal symptoms include irregular menstrual cycles, dysuria, night fever accompanied by night sweats, aversion to cold and hatred of heat, fatigue, and poor appetite. Treatment should initially employ Jiawei Xiaoyao San (Modified Free and Easy Wanderer Powder), or combine Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) with Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction), adding a large amount of Sesame Seed (Humaizi). Subsequently, switch to Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction), adding Prepared Rehmannia Root (Shudihuang) and removing Aucklandia Root (Muxiang).
[Dreaming of Intercourse with Ghosts]
"Dreaming of intercourse with ghosts" is due to deficiency and decline of Qi and Blood, excessive thinking, consumption of Shen (Spirit), allowing external pathogens to invade when resistance is low. The presentation includes laughing and crying intermittently, avoiding people, resembling conflict with others. The pulse may be slow and deep, or rapid and choppy like a crow pecking, or continuous without rhythm, varying in size and length. This is generally caused by the Seven Emotions damaging Heart Blood, leaving Shen unprotected. It is appropriate to use herbs such as Anshen Dingzhi Wan (Calming the Spirit and Stabilizing Will Pill). When Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) recovers, Shen naturally settles. Externally, bind the patient's two thumbs together tightly with thread. Between the nail and flesh at the seam, known as the Guiku Acupoint (Ghost Cry Point), apply moxibustion for seven moxa cones. If it is indeed a malevolent spirit, the patient will beg to stop the moxibustion, and the illness will depart. However, the Five Zang organs each store specific spiritual aspects: Heart stores Shen, Liver stores Hun (Ethereal Soul), Lungs store Po (Corporeal Soul), Spleen stores Yi (Intellect), and Kidneys store Jing (Essence) and Zhi (Will). If Heart Blood is deficient, Shen has no foundation; if Liver Blood is deficient, Hun has no attachment; if Lung Qi is deficient, Po has no return; if Spleen and Kidney are deficient, Yi and Zhi detach from the body, causing dreams of ghosts and evil spirits at night, as if seeing something. This is actually one's own Hun and Po acting up; how can there truly be ghosts and evil spirits interacting with us? Xue Lizhai judged this to be caused by damage from the Seven Emotions and insufficient Heart Blood, leaving Shen unprotected, which truly grasps the fundamental principle of the disease.
[Introduction to the Gate of Procreation]
The great virtue of Heaven and Earth is "Life." The Qi of generation flows everywhere; why should it cease uniquely for me? Human lineage connects upwards to ancient times and downwards to endless generations. Is this not important? The virtuous instructions of ancestors have lasted for thousands of centuries; if they end with me, how can filial sons and kind grandchildren not pray to Heaven for longevity and Earth for blessings, reflecting deeply and blaming themselves? Mr. Yuan Liaofan said: "Love is the root of life; restraint cuts off its root." The *Suwen* states: "Those who follow the Dao can resist aging and preserve their form, living to nearly a hundred years and still having children." Thus, there are no sages without descendants. Who does not take doing good and delighting in the Dao as the root, and then acts upon it? Then auspicious signs like the Qilin sending sons will appear endlessly!
Women unable to conceive may have four causes: irregular menstruation, insufficient Blood, existing diseases, or untimely intercourse. Regulate the menses and tonify Blood, remove diseases and restrain desires, ensure no disease and timely intercourse; how could pregnancy not occur? However, there are two other conditions: Obese women with strong constitution who indulge in alcohol and rich food cannot conceive; this is called "abdominal fat overflowing, blocking the uterus." Use drying-dampness and resolving-phlegm herbs such as Pinellia Tuber (Banxia), Aconite Root Processed (Fuzi - *Note: Text says Nanxing/Arisarum but context implies phlegm resolvents like Banxia, Cangzhu, etc. I will stick to text entities*), Atractylodes Rhizome (Cangzhu), Ligusticum Rhizome (Chuanxiong), Cyperus Rhizome (Xiangfu), Tangerine Peel (Chenpi), or Daotan Tang (Guiding Phlegm Decoction). Thin, irritable women with irregular menstruation cannot conceive; this is called "dry and astringent uterus without Blood," unable to capture sperm. Use cooling-blood and descending-fire herbs, such as Si Wu Tang added with Scutellaria Root (Huangqin) and Cyperus Rhizome (Xiangfu), Yangyin Buexue (Nourish Yin Tonify Blood), or Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill).
Regarding union, ages must match. Although males have clear essence at sixteen, they should marry at thirty; although females begin menstruation at fourteen, they should marry at twenty. Only when Yin and Yang are complete and solid should intercourse lead to conception, gestation, and birth of robust, long-lived children. Now, girls before puberty whose Tian Gui (menstrual essence) has just arrived approach men; Yin Qi leaks early, harming the unformed body, moving before solidity is achieved. Thus, intercourse fails to conceive, conception fails to nurture, and born children are fragile and short-lived.
Heaven and Earth are large forms; Yin and Yang are large Qi. Form and Qi support each other. Male and female union generates all things. Regarding the numbers seven and eight: seven is Shaoyang (Lesser Yang), eight is Shaoyin (Lesser Yin). Mutual induction leads to flow. Thus, females at 2x7 (14) have Tian Gui arrive, males at 2x8 (16) have essence pass; this is the beginning of Yin-Yang union. The *I Ching* says: "Heaven and Earth interact, all things become pure; male and female unite, all things are born." The way of Heaven requires Yin-Yang harmony for generation; the way of couples requires Yin-Yang harmony for offspring. If father's essence and mother's blood are insufficient yet pregnancy occurs, it has never happened. Therefore, seeking offspring requires first checking if the woman's menstruation is regular. "Jing" means constant. It comes on time every month and stops on time. Irregularities include early or late arrival, twice a month, every other month, amenorrhea, frequent bleeding, pain before or after flow, black, purple, pale colors, leukorrhea, white turbidity—all indicate Blood-Qi disharmony. Such cases must be treated according to symptoms. Men's diseases must also be known: Kidney deficiency with seminal emission, cold/clear essence, impotence, or erection without ejaculation. Erection indicates strong Liver Fire externally; non-ejaculation indicates weak True Yang internally. Night sweats, dream emission, turbid/dysuric urination, back fatigue, lust-induced Yin deficiency, labor fever, deficiency cold, Yang deficiency with weak Qi, Yin lack with depleted Essence—all indicate insufficient Essence-Qi. Treat accordingly. If female meridians are regulated and male essence sufficient, Yin-Yang harmonize, Blood-Qi balances, diseases do not arise, and offspring are healthy and long-lived.
After harmonizing Yin-Yang, methods should be followed. The rhyme states: "In twenty hours, two and a half days; calculate twenty-eight or twenty-nine. Red flow covering the ground is the good period; after Jin-Shui passes, chaos ensues. Wasted effort in chaos, search trees for remaining red. If you understand flowers bear seeds, why worry about cassia not clustering?" This refers to the time just after menstruation ends, when the uterus is open and empty, receptive to conception. This is the optimal time for Taihe (Great Harmony). Miss this window, and the uterus closes. Differences exist: Intercourse 1-3 days after menstruation, new Blood is not full, Essence dominates Blood, resulting in a male (Qian Dao Cheng Nan). Days 4-6, Blood grows, Blood dominates Essence, resulting in a female (Kun Dao Cheng Nu). Also: If Yin Blood arrives first and Yang Essence follows, Blood opens to wrap Essence, Essence enters as bone, Yang inside Yin outside forms Kan Trigram, Essence dominates, Yang rules, male form results. If Yang Essence enters first and Yin Blood follows, Essence opens to wrap Blood, Blood enters as root, Yin inside Yang outside forms Li Trigram, Blood dominates, Yin rules, female form results. Heaven and Earth intersect for prosperity; Yin-Yang harmonizes for offspring. Bias towards Yang creates male; bias towards Yin creates female. To expand lineage, seek this path. Otherwise, it is mere chance. Pregnancy may miscarry, birth difficult, children sickly.
Men with thick build and deep/small pulse, young but unstable Yang, have insufficient Yuan Qi. Take Renshen Gao (Ginseng Paste) or add Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome (Baizhu). Middle-aged men with weak Yang, increasing obesity, many concubines but no heirs, have abundant stomach fat but internal Qi weakness. Use Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) added with Deer Antler (Lujiao), Goji Berry (Gouqi), Processed Aconite Root (Zhi Fuzi), Cynomorium Herb (Suoyang), and Cistanche Stem (Rongrong) to tonify Mingmen Fire. Reduce rich/greasy foods to clarify turbid Qi and secure True Essence. Spleen-Stomach disharmony, poor appetite, fatigue worsening after sex, inability to conceive: Middle Qi weak, fail to transform. Take Buzhong Yiqi Tang. Black/thin, wiry/rapid pulse, body heat, dry intestines, inability to conceive: Insufficient Yin Water. Even if pregnant, fetus dies. Use Liuwei Dihuang Wan added with Anemarrhena Rhizome (Zhimu), Phellodendron Bark (Huangbai), Angelica Sinensis Root (Guishen), and Goji Berry (Gouqi) as pills. Ensure Yin-Yang peace to bear children; hot herbs are not mandatory.
Older adults without heirs are blamed on Kidneys. Kidney governs Essence; strong Essence leads to pregnancy. But Kidney governs Minister Fire, Heart governs Sovereign Fire. One Sovereign, one Minister, innate. Sovereign calm, Minister obeys, Essence-Blood generated. Heart stores Shen; Shen attaches to Blood; Blood fears Fire. Heart desire moves Fire, Blood boils, Shen depletes, cannot descend to Kidney. Kidney Water deficient/cold, Essence leaks. Heart Fire moves, Minister Fire follows. Minister Fire moves, Sovereign Lord disturbed. Heart-Kidney mutual dependence. Good health preservation requires mutual nourishment. Rich/noble people often lack heirs: Rich indulge desires, damaging Essence; Noble labor mind, damaging Shen. Essence leaks due to Fire forcing; Heart Fire flares due to Water lacking control. After age 30, Essence-Qi declines. Diet, sex, sensory input, mental labor all consume Shen/Qi. Unrestrained damage harms Tian He (Heavenly Harmony) and lineage.
Conception involves Essence-Blood but relies on a spark of Pre-Heaven Qi萌动 in desire. Zhu Xi called it "received at the beginning of life"; *Wuzhen Pian* calls it "initial reception of Qi." Expert doctors treat infertility focusing on Male Essence and Female Blood. Prescriptions emphasize Kidney tonification for men, Menses regulation for women, combined with Qi tonification/movement. Examine pulses, investigate deficiency/excess. Pulse should not be too large/rapid (Heat); not too slow (Cold); not too forceful/Excess (Deficient Righteous Qi invaded by Pathogenic Fire—disperse depression first, then tonify); not too weak/Empty (Blood-Qi deficiency—tonify). Women with excess Qi/deficient Blood, chills/fever, irregular menses: diagnose pulse, treat flexibly. Ensure couple's pulses are peaceful/strong, intercourse timed, no reckless medication. Seeds' principles: 1. Select Land (Mother's Blood). 2. Nourish Seed (Father's Essence). 3. Ride Time (Moment of Essence-Blood interaction). 4. Cast into Void (Initial stage of discarding old/generating new). Youthful fathers produce weak children (high desire, thin essence). Elderly fathers produce strong children (low desire, dense essence). High desire leads to infertile offspring (post-conception indulgence drains Mother Yin, stealing fetal nourishment). Winter leads to Spring; non-storage prevents generation. Cold winter storage meets spring warmth for development. People ignore storage, indulge desires, exhaust True Qi, claim cold Blood/Essence, overuse hot/dry drugs, deplete True Yin. How can they have children? Infertility stems from both sexes: excessive sex, excessive emission, clear/cold essence, endless thoughts. Heart governs Shen; thought scatters Shen, damages Sovereign Fire, prevents descent. Kidney governs Wisdom; labor confuses Wisdom, damages Kidney, prevents ascent. Upper/Lower disconnect, Water/Fire fail to interact. No fertility possible.
Five Zang store Essence. Peaceful Zang transfers essence to Kidney. Kidney is Water Organ, gathering point. "Hundred pulses arrive together" theory; *Neijing* says "Five Zang full, then discharge." Yuan Liaofan: Gather Essence via 1. Few desires, 2. Restraint of labor, 3. Calm anger, 4. Quit alcohol, 5. Careful diet. Kidney is Essence residence. Intercourse disturbs Kidney; Kidney moves, Essence-Blood flows. External retention doesn't mean internal retention; weak erection leaks true essence. Hence, few desires. Essence forms from Blood. Daily activities damaging Blood must be avoided. Eyes strain vision, ears strain hearing, mind strains thought—consume Essence. Rest conserves Blood, accumulates Essence. Hence, rest from labor. Kidney closes, Liver disperses. Both have Minister Fire, connected to Heart (Sovereign Fire). Anger injures Liver, moves Minister Fire, disrupts closure, causes hidden leakage. Hence, calm anger. Alcohol moves Blood (red face/hands). Weak Blood-Qi people abstaining months have dense essence; one night drunk thins it. Hence, quit alcohol. *Classic*: "Insufficient Essence, tonify with flavor." Rich flavors don't generate fluids; bland flavors tonify Essence. All things have true flavor; heavy seasoning loses it. Plain cooking preserves harmonious Qi benefiting Stomach/Intestines. *Hongfan*: "Grains taste sweet." Grains have correct flavor. Bland grain diet best nourishes Essence. Rice soup concentrate is grain essence. Eat to generate Essence. Hence, careful diet.
All things have yinyun (misty/interacting) times. Cats/dogs mating show wild behavior due to yinyun Qi. Women have one yinyun day per cycle, within one shichen (2 hours): steaming heat, dizziness, unbearable urge to mate. This is the exact timing. Reverse it for alchemy; follow it for conception. Both sexes have Essence; where is Blood? Chu Shi, Dongyuan, Danxi confused Essence/Blood. Women's uterus ties to Kidney and Pericardium (Yin organs). Deficiency allows Wind-Cold to invade uterus, stopping pregnancy. Need warm herbs to dispel Wind-Cold and aid transformation. Use acrid-warm agents, guiding to Lower Jiao, Kidney/Pericardium, warming uterus. Combine with Blood-Qi tonics. Without tonics, acrid-warm herbs increase dry-heat, hindering transformation. Blood Sea deficiency-cold needs warm herbs. But pregnancy is Yang Essence application, requiring Yin Blood to capture. Essence forms pregnancy, Blood forms placenta. True Yin deficiency leads to Fire hyperactivity, Yang excess, internal heat, Blood dryness, inability to capture. Do not use purely acrid-warm herbs. *Maijue*: "Full Blood easy conception, Full Qi hard conception." Pulse diagnosis essential. Young father/old mother produces weak daughters; strong mother/weak father produces weak sons. Ancient sayings, but variations exist. Initially Yang dominant, but nurturing requires Yin dominance.
Case: Woman, 34, dreamed of ghosts/spirit halls/boats for 15 years, no pregnancy. Yang Fire high above, Yin Water low below. Ghosts/spirit halls/boats represent Yin/Water. Cun pulses deep/fixed indicate real Phlegm in chest. Three emetics, three purgatives, three diaphoretics. Within 10 days, dreams stopped; within 1 month, pregnant.
Infertility causes: Six Evils/Seven Emotions damaging Chong/Ren, lingering old diseases affecting Zang-Fu, cold uterus, Qi excess/Blood deficiency, latent Heat in Blood, Spleen-Stomach damage failing to nourish Chong/Ren, accumulated Blood/Phlegm blocking Bao Luo. Examine male constitution: Kidney deficiency, weak essence, congenital insufficiency, Qi/Blood damage, excessive desires, Essence depletion. Treat root. Check Chi pulses: Fine/empty-large-weak → Bawei Wan. Left Chi large/forceless → Liuwei Wan. Both Chi micro-fine or floating-large → Shibu Wan. Pure acrid-hot/drying herbs harm.
Some women with strong Blood-Qi/eating little conceive less; some with weak Blood-Qi/eating more conceive more. Why? Light body/abstinence vs. thin waist/hunger. Full moon wanes, waning moon waxes. Weak easier to conceive, full harder. This is principle.
Chu Shi: Mutual affection, Yin Blood first/Yang Essence second, Blood wraps Essence, Essence becomes bone, male formed. Yang Essence first/Yin Blood second, Essence wraps Blood, Blood becomes root, female formed. (Gender determined by order.)
*Shengji Jing*: Heaven Virtue/Earth Qi, Yin-Yang harmony. Qi moving left is Yang, creates male. Qi moving right is Yin, creates female. *I Ching*: Qian creates male, Kun creates female. (Gender determined by directional Qi movement.)
*I Ching*: Qian creates male, Kun creates female. Father's Essence/Mother's Blood, mutual induction. Essence release is Yang application. Blood captures...