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Wang Shishan stated: Xu Zhicai and Chao Yuanfang proposed methods for medicinally nourishing the fetus over ten months of pregnancy. One should examine month by month which meridians are involved, as well as the deficiency or excess of Qi and Blood, and then use herbs corresponding to those meridians. For deficiency, tonify it; for stagnation, unblock it; for heat, cool it; for cold, warm it. Sweating (diaphoresis), purgation, and promoting urination must not be used. This is because the fetal origin relies on Qi and Blood for nourishment. If sweating is induced, Yang Qi is lost and Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) is damaged; if purgation is used, Yin fluids are lost and Blood is damaged; if urination is promoted, Essence and Body Fluids are damaged. Therefore, these three methods are all contraindicated. Generally, diseases during pregnancy should primarily focus on nourishing Blood, strengthening the Spleen, clearing Heat, and regulating Qi.

Shenzhai commented: The theory of nourishing the fetus by meridians according to specific months originated from Chao Yuanfang's *Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun* (Treatise on the Pathogenesis and Symptoms of All Diseases). Chao was a famous physician of the Sui Dynasty; Zhang Zihe lamented his erroneous creation of disease categories. Thus, it is said that the branching of medical schools began with Chao, and the flaws in *Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun* also began with him. Regarding conception, it starts at the Mingmen (Gate of Life) and Zihu (Sub-house/Uterus). The Qi and Blood of the twelve meridians of the body gather together to nourish the fetal origin. How could there be a principle where one specific meridian nourishes the fetus in a specific month? Chen Liangfu later forced this theory upon the Five Elements distributed across four seasons, formulating methods for calming the fetus, which was extremely illogical. Furthermore, Xu Zhicai, following the errors of Chao Yuanfang and Chen Liangfu, assigned specific symptoms appearing in specific months over ten months, prescribing specific herbs and formulas for treatment, listed item by item. However, pathogenic factors in pregnant women during gestation are myriad and variable. How can it be limited to certain symptoms appearing only in certain months, rigidly using specific formulas for treatment? This is not only inflexible and dogmatic but also akin to the absurd tales of Qidong—wild, unreasonable, and unverifiable. Therefore, the theories of Chao and Chen were retained, while Xu’s ten points were deleted to correct the error of passing down mistakes found in *Fu Ren Liang Fang* (Good Prescriptions for Women). Wang Shishan saw the truth clearly and further expounded upon it. Why is this?

Wang Shishan stated: In pregnancy, one must clear Heat and regulate Blood, ensuring Blood circulates within the meridians to nourish the fetus. Therefore, Zhu Danxi used Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) as the sacred medicines for calming the fetus. The formation of the fetus depends on the accumulation and gathering of the mother's Qi and Blood for nourishment. Once Qi and Blood gather, they are prone to stagnation. Hence, ancient sages often used Huangqin to clear Heat and Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma) to resolve stagnation.