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The *Daquan* (Complete Good Prescriptions for Women) states: Whenever headache and fever occur after childbirth, they should not immediately be treated as external contraction of cold-heat pathogens (common cold). Such cases are mostly due to blood deficiency or stagnation of foul blood (stasis), and it is appropriate to use mild and harmonizing formulas, which will surely be effective, such as Yulu San (Jade Dew Powder) or Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) with added Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix). If one directly uses formulas like Xiaochaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) or Zhuyeshigao Tang (Leaf and Gypsum Decoction), there are many cases that cannot be cured.

Wu Mengzhai stated: For postpartum patients suffering from Taiyang disease (cold damage), sweating methods should not be used lightly. Fevers during childbirth can arise from physical exertion, excessive blood loss, retention of lochia, milk stasis around the third day, or early labor combined with food stagnation. These conditions resemble Taiyang disease, but careful differentiation is essential; sweating must absolutely be avoided. Generally, after childbirth, the blood volume is severely depleted. Inducing sweating may lead to twitching of sinews and muscles, dizziness and fainting, convulsions, or constipation, causing serious harm. For any fever, it is best to use Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) as the principal formula, adding Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), and Paojiang (Prepared Ginger). Dried ginger is acrid and hot; it guides blood-invigorating herbs into the blood level and qi-regulating herbs into the qi level, while also expelling foul blood and generating new blood, following the principle of "Yang generating Yin." Using heat to treat heat deeply aligns with the principles of the *Neijing* (Inner Canon).

Shen Zhai commented: The above three passages describe postpartum fevers caused by external pathogenic factors. Postpartum fever resembles Taiyang disease; even if an external cause exists, dispersing and releasing exterior methods (sweating) are contraindicated. The primary approach should be nourishing blood, assisted by agents that disperse wind-cold. Examples include Shenghua Tang (Generation of Life Decoction) or Xionggui Tang (Cyathula and Angelica Decoction), with increased doses of Chuanxiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome) and Congbai (Scallion White). Regarding the various types of fever discussed by Mr. Wu, treatment should be differentiated according to the specific cause. If lochia is not yet exhausted and abdominal pain persists, but the patient’s constitution is robust and the pulse is forceful, with no signs of deficiency within five to seven days, the use of Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) should be considered cautiously. If signs of deficiency are present, combining Taoren (Prunus Persica Seed) with Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) is appropriate.

The *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet) states: After childbirth, if the disease has resolved and the patient can eat, but fever recurs after seven or eight days, this indicates stomach excess (food retention), and Da Chengqi Tang (Major Order the Qi Decoction) should be administered.

Xu Zhongke noted: This passage discusses a excess condition arising after severe deficiency; thus, it should be treated by addressing the excess. It states that if the disease has resolved and the patient can eat, it implies that the qi of the meridians and zang-fu organs has stabilized, leaving no doubt regarding postpartum-specific diseases. When fever recurs on the seventh or eighth day without aversion to cold and without exterior syndrome signs, it clearly indicates recurrence due to dietary indiscretion, hence termed "stomach excess." Da Chengqi Tang (Major Order the Qi Decoction) is used to vigorously purge the excess, fearing that delay would lead to further depletion of healthy qi.