单养贤曰∶产后发喘气促,此第一危证
也。世每以痰火实证治之,讹以传讹,当以人参生化汤加减。人多疑参能助喘不用,致不救者多矣。加芎、归
在内,万无有失。有用参加陈皮监制,反致耗散,切不可信。
慎斋按∶以上四条,序产后有发喘之证也。产后发喘,有虚实之分。败血入肺,污血感寒,此属于实也。参
苏饮、夺命丹、血竭散,下之而愈。若去血过多,荣血暴竭,卫气无主,孤阳上浮,此血脱而气不归元也。非
大剂人参生脉散,与生化汤加桂、附莫疗。误以风痰污血为治,是速之毙矣。观立斋治产后喘急,谓脾肺气弱,
用六君子。中气虚寒,用补中汤加姜、桂。更有阳气虚脱,喘促自汗,手足俱冷,以参附汤大剂服之。论诚知
本也。
《产宝百问》曰∶产后四肢浮肿,由败血乘虚停积,循经流入四肢,留淫日深,腐坏如水,故令面黄,四
肢浮肿。医人不识,便作水气治之。凡治水,多用导水药。极虚人产后既虚,又以药虚之,是谓重虚,多致夭
枉,服小调经散,血行肿消则愈。
陈无择曰∶产后浮肿多端,有自怀妊肿至产后不退。亦有产后失于将理,外感寒暑风湿,内则喜怒忧惊,
血与气搏,留滞经络,气分血分,不可不辨,当随脉证治之,宜得其情。小调经散治血分固效,但力浅难凭,
不若吴茱汤、枳术汤、夺魂散、大调经散、皆要药也。
Dan Yangxian stated: Postpartum asthma with rapid breathing is the most critical syndrome. The world often treats it as an excess syndrome of phlegm-fire, passing on errors from generation to generation; it should be treated with modifications of Rensheng Huasheng Decoction (Ginseng and Blood-Generating Decoction). Many people suspect that Ren Shen (Ginseng) can exacerbate asthma and thus do not use it, leading to many untreatable cases. Including Xiong Gui (Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome and Angelica Sinensis Radix) in the formula ensures no mistakes. Using Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel) to restrain Ren Shen (Ginseng) instead causes dispersion of vital energy; this must not be believed.
Shenzhai commented: The above four items describe the syndrome of postpartum asthma. Postpartum asthma has distinctions between deficiency and excess syndromes. If敗血 (stagnant blood) enters the lungs, or污血 (filthy blood) contracts cold, this belongs to excess syndromes. It can be cured by purging with Shensu Yin (Ginseng and Perilla Leaf Decoction), Xueming Dan (Life-Taking Pill), or Xuejie San (Dragon's Blood Powder). If excessive blood loss occurs, causing sudden exhaustion of Ying Blood (Nutritive Blood), and Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) loses its master, with lone Yang floating upward, this is a case of blood depletion where Qi fails to return to its origin. Only large doses of Rensheng Maimai San (Ginseng and Pulse-Nourishing Powder) combined with Huasheng Tang (Blood-Generating Decoction) added with Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig) and Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root) can treat it. Mistakenly treating it as wind-phlegm or filthy blood accelerates death. Observing Lizhai (Xue Ji)'s treatment of postpartum urgent asthma, he stated that if Spleen and Lung Qi are weak, Liujunzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) should be used; if Middle Qi is deficient and cold, Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) added with Jiang (Dried Ginger) and Gui (Cinnamon) should be used. Furthermore, in cases of Yang Qi deficiency and collapse, with urgent asthma, spontaneous sweating, and cold hands and feet, large doses of Shenfu Tang (Ginseng and Aconite Decoction) should be administered. This discussion indeed grasps the root cause.
"Baobao Baiwen" (Hundred Questions on Obstetric Treasures) states: Postpartum edema of the four limbs is caused by stagnant blood taking advantage of deficiency to accumulate, flowing along the meridians into the limbs, lingering for a long time, becoming corrupt and spreading like water, thus causing yellow complexion and edema of the four limbs. Physicians who do not recognize this condition treat it as Shuiqi (Water Qi/Edema). Treatments for Shuiqi (Water Qi/Edema) mostly use drugs that guide out water (diuretics). For extremely deficient postpartum women, who are already deficient, using such drugs further depletes them, which is called "double deficiency," often leading to premature death. One should administer Xiaotiaojing San (Small Menstrual Regulating Powder); when blood circulation resumes, the swelling subsides, and recovery occurs.
Chen Wuyue stated: Postpartum edema has various causes. Some women experience edema starting during pregnancy that does not resolve after childbirth. Others fail to care for themselves properly after childbirth, contracting external Cold, Heat, Summerheat, and Damp-Wind pathogens, while internally suffering from emotional disturbances such as anger, joy, worry, and fright. This causes Blood and Qi to contend and stagnate in the collaterals. The differentiation between Qi aspect and Blood aspect cannot be neglected; treatment should follow the pulse and symptoms to ascertain the true nature of the disease. Xiaotiaojing San (Small Menstrual Regulating Powder) is effective for Blood aspect edema, but its power is shallow and unreliable. It is inferior to Wu Zhu Yu Tang (Evodia Decoction), Zhizhu Tang (Aurantium and Atractylodes Macrocephala Decoction), Duohun San (Soul-Seizing Powder), and Datiaojing San (Large Menstrual Regulating Powder), all of which are essential medicines.