李太素曰∶崩为急证,漏为缓病。崩必是大怒伤肝,冲动血海,或火盛之极,血热沸腾而然。漏则房劳过
度,伤损冲任二脉,气虚不能约制经血,或其人平素多火,血不能安,故不时漏泄。崩宜理气、降火、升提,
漏宜滋阴、养气、养血,或兼制火。
方约之曰∶血属阴,静则循经荣内,动则错经妄行。故七情过极,则五志亢甚,经血暴下,久而不止,谓
之崩中。治法,初用止血,以塞其流;中用清热凉血,以澄其源;末用补血,以复其旧。若止塞其流,不澄其
源,则滔天之势不能遏。若止澄其源,而不复其旧,则孤阳之浮无以上,不可不审也。
慎斋按∶治崩之法,有消逐污血,有寒凉降火,有收涩固脱,有大升大举,有扶脾健胃,有补气补血,有
温暖下焦,种种不一。方氏三法,分国中末,有倒行逆施之弊。予谓中法当为初法,初法当为末法,末法当为
中法,庶无差治也。
薛立斋曰∶人以脾胃为本,纳五谷,化精微。清者入荣,浊者入卫,阴阳得此,是谓橐龠。人得土以养百
骸,失土则枯四肢。东垣以饮食自伤,医多妄下,清气下陷,浊气不降,乃生 胀。所以胃脘之阳,不能升举
其气,陷入中焦,当用补中汤,使浊气得降,不治自安。若因饱食后致崩漏,是伤脾气,下陷于肾,与相火相
合,湿热下迫所致。宜甘温之剂,调补脾胃,则血自归经。若误用寒凉,损伤胃气,则不能摄血归经。东垣曰∶
凡下血证,须用四君子汤收功,厥有旨哉。此皆从脾胃本源病治,不可不知也。
慎斋按∶以上四条,序治崩漏之大略也。
Li Taisu stated: Benorrhoea (sudden heavy uterine bleeding) is an acute condition, while metrorrhagia (irregular prolonged uterine bleeding) is a chronic disease. Benorrhoea is necessarily caused by severe anger injuring the Liver, stirring up the Sea of Blood (Chong Mai), or extreme excess of fire causing blood heat to boil and surge. Metrorrhagia results from excessive sexual activity damaging the Chong and Ren vessels, where Qi deficiency fails to control menstrual blood, or due to the patient's inherent internal heat causing blood instability, leading to intermittent leakage. Treatment for benorrhoea should focus on regulating Qi, descending fire, and lifting; treatment for metrorrhagia should focus on nourishing Yin, tonifying Qi, and nourishing Blood, possibly combined with controlling fire.
Fang Yuezhi said: Blood belongs to Yin. When quiet, it circulates within the meridians to nourish the interior; when agitated, it flows erratically. Therefore, extreme emotional disturbances cause the Five Zang Spirits to become hyperactive, resulting in sudden profuse menstrual bleeding that persists, known as "Beng Zhong" (Central Collapse). The treatment method involves: initially using hemostasis to stop the flow (treat the branch); secondly using clearing heat and cooling blood to clarify the source (treat the root); and finally using blood tonification to restore the original state (recovery). If one only stops the flow without clarifying the source, the torrential force cannot be contained. If one only clarifies the source without restoring the original state, the floating solitary Yang will have no foundation to ascend, which must be carefully considered.
Shen Zhai commented: Methods for treating benorrhoea include eliminating stasis, using cold/cooling agents to descend fire, astringents to secure collapse, strong lifting methods, strengthening Spleen and Stomach, tonifying Qi and Blood, and warming the Lower Jiao, among others. Fang’s three-stage method (Initial, Middle, Final) has the flaw of reversing the proper order. I propose that the Middle stage should be treated as the Initial stage, the Initial stage as the Final stage, and the Final stage as the Middle stage, thereby avoiding mismanagement.
Xue Lizhai said: Humans rely on the Spleen and Stomach as their foundation, receiving grains and transforming them into essence and fine nutrients. The clear portion enters Ying (Nutritive) Qi, and the turbid portion enters Wei (Defensive) Qi. Through this process, Yin and Yang are generated, functioning like a bellows (Tuoyue). Humans rely on Earth (Spleen/Stomach) to nourish the body; losing it leads to withered limbs. Li Dongyuan argued that self-injury through diet, compounded by physicians' frequent misuse of purgatives, causes Clear Qi to sink and Turbid Qi to fail to descend, leading to distension. Thus, the Yang Qi of the Stomach chamber fails to lift, sinking into the Middle Jiao. One should use Buzhong Yiqi Tang to allow Turbid Qi to descend, ensuring natural recovery. If benorrhoea or metrorrhagia occurs after overeating, it damages Spleen Qi, causing it to sink into the Kidney, combining with Minister Fire to create damp-heat pressing downward. It is appropriate to use sweet-warm formulas to regulate and tonify the Spleen and Stomach, so that blood returns to its vessels. If cold/cooling agents are mistakenly used, damaging Stomach Qi, blood cannot be controlled and returned to the vessels. Li Dongyuan stated: For all lower bleeding conditions, one must conclude treatment with Six Gentlemen Decoction (Sijunzi Tang); this holds profound significance. These approaches treat the disease from the fundamental source of the Spleen and Stomach, which must not be ignored.
Shen Zhai commented: The above four points outline the general principles for treating benorrhoea and metrorrhagia.