王节斋曰∶妇人产后阴虚,阳无所根据,浮散于外,故发热。用四物汤补血,以炙干姜之苦温从治,收其浮
散,以归于阴也。
薛立斋曰∶新产妇人,阴血暴亡,阳无所附而外热,四物加炮姜,补阴以配阳。若误服寒凉克伐之剂而外
热,此为寒气格阳于外,四君子加姜、桂,不应,急加附子。若肌肤发热,面赤,大渴引饮,此血脱发燥也,
当归补血汤。
赵养葵曰∶产后大失血,阴血暴亡,必大发热,名阴虚发热。此阴字,正谓气血之阴。若以凉药正治必毙,
正所谓证象白虎,误服白虎必死。此时偏不用四物,有形之物,不能速化几希之气。急用独参汤,或当归补血
汤,使无形生出有形来。阳生阴长之妙,不可不知也。
薛立斋曰∶产后虚烦发热,乃阳随阴散,气血俱虚,故恶寒发热。若误作火证,投以凉剂,祸在反掌。
武叔卿曰∶丹溪治产后发热,以芎、归、四君子加黄 。不用芍、地者,以新产后用血脱益气之法,不宜
敛降凉血,以伐生气也。热甚者,加干姜。若产后阴血弱发热,四物加茯苓,热甚加炮姜。此方全不用气药,
是血虚气不虚也。加茯苓者,使大气降而阴自生,阴生则热自退。热甚加炒干姜者,不从阳引阴,亦可从阴引
阳,微乎微乎。
慎斋按∶以上七条,序产后有发热之证也。产后发热,有风寒,有伤食,有瘀血,有
蒸乳而外,大抵属阴血虚,而阳浮外。故当以辛温从治,戒用寒凉。若肝虚血燥,则宜补血。逍遥散清火,
亦宜慎用。阴血大脱,又当益气,毋用补血。此又用药之权衡也。
Wang Jiezhai stated: In postpartum women, Yin deficiency causes Yang to lose its foundation and float/scatter on the exterior, resulting in fever. Treatment should employ Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) to nourish Blood, combined with the bitter-warm nature of Zhi Ganjiang (Honey-fried Dried Ginger) for "conforming treatment" (treating according to the apparent syndrome), to gather the floating Yang and return it to Yin.
Xue Lizhai stated: For a woman who has just given birth, sudden loss of Yin-Blood leaves Yang without attachment, causing external heat. Siwu Tang plus Paojiang (Charred Ginger) can be used to tonify Yin to anchor Yang. If external heat persists after mistakenly administering cold/clearing and draining agents, this indicates Cold rejecting Yang to the exterior; Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) plus Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger) and Rougui (Cinnamon Bark) should be used. If ineffective, Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root) must be added urgently. If there is heat in the skin and muscles, redness of the face, and extreme thirst with excessive drinking, this is dryness due to blood loss; Danggui Buxue Tang (Dongquai Decoction for Tonifying Blood) is indicated.
Zhao Yangkui stated: After massive postpartum hemorrhage, sudden depletion of Yin-Blood inevitably leads to high fever, termed Yin-deficiency fever. The term "Yin" here refers specifically to the Yin aspect of Qi and Blood. Using cold medicines for direct treatment will certainly cause death. This is what is meant by "syndrome resembling Baihu [White Tiger]"; mistakenly administering Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) will result in death. At this stage, even Siwu Tang should not be used, as substantial substances cannot quickly transform the nearly exhausted insubstantial Qi. Urgently use Dushen Tang (Single Ginseng Decoction) or Danggui Buxue Tang, allowing the insubstantial to generate the substantial. The subtlety of "Yang generation leading to Yin growth" must be understood.
Xue Lizhai stated: Postpartum empty vexation and fever occur because Yang scatters along with Yin, leaving both Qi and Blood deficient, thus presenting with aversion to cold and fever. If mistakenly treated as a Fire syndrome and administered cold formulas, disaster will strike instantly.
Wu Shuqing stated: Zhu Danxi treated postpartum fever using Xiong (Chuanxiong Rhizome), Gui (Danggui Radix), Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction), plus Huangqi (Astragalus Root). Shaoyao (Peony Root) and Dihuang (Rehmannia Root) were omitted because the method of "tonifying Qi for Blood collapse" is appropriate for the immediate postpartum period; one should avoid astringent, descending, or cooling-blood herbs that might damage the vital Qi. If the heat is severe, Ganjiang (Dried Ginger) is added. If fever arises from weak postpartum Yin-Blood, Siwu Tang plus Fuling (Poria) is used; if heat is severe, Paojiang (Charred Ginger) is added. This formula uses no Qi-tonifying herbs, indicating Blood deficiency without Qi deficiency. Adding Fuling allows the Great Qi to descend, thereby generating Yin; once Yin is generated, the heat recedes. Adding fried Ganjiang for severe heat implies that if one does not guide Yin from Yang, one may guide Yang from Yin—the principle is extremely subtle.
Shenzhen commented: The above seven passages outline the syndrome of postpartum fever. Causes include Wind-Cold, food stagnation, blood stasis, and milk engorgement ("steaming breast"), but generally, it belongs to Yin-Blood deficiency with floating Yang on the exterior. Therefore, warm-acrid herbs for conforming treatment should be used, and cold/clearing herbs must be avoided. If Liver deficiency and Blood dryness are present, Blood tonification is suitable. Xiaoyao San (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder), which clears Heat, should also be used cautiously. If there is massive Yin-Blood collapse, Qi tonification is required rather than simple Blood tonification. This represents the weighing of therapeutic strategies.