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The *Furen Liangfang* (Excellent Prescriptions for Women) states: For women's blood-division disease (Xuefen Bing, a condition involving menstrual disorders and edema), drugs such as Duoming Dan (Life-Restoring Pill) and Heishen San (Black Divine Powder) are essential medications. This syndrome of blood division often occurs after minor or major childbirth. The only difference is that edema of the feet during pregnancy is distinct; postpartum cases are all caused by敗血 (Baixue, retained blood/stasis), so treatment should seek solutions from the blood aspect.

The *Furen Liangfang* states: Initially due to the cessation of menstruation, followed by edema of the four limbs and obstruction of urination, where blood transforms into water, it is named blood division (Xuefen). Although the pill Jiaoren Wan (Pepper Kernel Pill) is potent and purgative, it is rarely used. If one fears it and refuses to take it, there is a risk of harming the body while attempting to nurture health. I have treated weak patients with it without error.

Commentary in *Jiyin Gangmu*: Since blood has transformed into water, promoting diuresis should be prioritized, yet methods to move blood, warm blood, open stagnation, and break qi stagnation are indispensable. However, only potent, fierce, and aggressive substances will suffice, hence they are assisted by highly toxic drugs.

Shenzhai’s Note: The above four points outline the general principles for medicating blood division. Blood division arises from amenorrhea in women, inevitably caused by the invasion of Six Evils (Liu Yin, pathogenic factors like wind, cold, dampness, etc.) externally and Seven Emotions (Qi Qing, emotional disturbances) internally, leading to deficiency and decline of Spleen and Stomach, which fail to transport and transform essence. Consequently, blood becomes congested and stagnant, and Qi fails to transform. The method should involve tonifying the Spleen and strengthening the Stomach, nurturing Qi and Blood, supplemented by formulas that warm meridians and move blood. Jiaoren Wan contains Banmao (Mylabris), Pixin (Arsenic and Realgar), Gansui (Kansui Root), Yuanhua (Genkwa Flower), Heiqiu (Black Morning Glory Seed), and Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis)—a group of highly toxic drugs used to attack the pathogen, the disasters of which are incalculable. *Daquan* claims that treating weak patients has never resulted in error; what kind of statement is this?

The *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet) states: When a woman feels as if there were a roasted meat slice stuck in her throat, Banxia Houpo Tang (Pinellia and Magnolia Bark Decoction) is indicated.

Xu Zhongke says: This clause refers to what is called cold damaging the meridians, causing凝坚 (Ningjian, coagulation and hardness) in the upper part. "Zhi luan" (roasted meat slice) resembles dried meat. As stated in *Qianjin Fang*, when the throat feels adherent, as if there were roasted meat, unable to spit it out or swallow it down, resembling a roasted meat slice, these words are very clear and precise. This disease does not involve the intestines and stomach, so it does not hinder diet or excretion. It does not involve exterior pathogens, so there is no bone pain or aversion to cold with fever. It is Qi injured by accumulated cold, failing to harmonize with Blood; the Qi within Blood overflows and floats to the throat, condensing with dampness and difficult to disperse. Women whose blood division is affected by cold often accumulate cold and qi stagnation, making them prone to this disease; men also occasionally suffer from it. The medication used is Banxia Houpo Tang, which is Erchen Tang (Two-Aged Decoction) minus Chenpi (Tangerine Peel) and Gancao (Licorice), plus Houpo (Magnolia Bark), Zisu (Perilla Leaf), and Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger). Banxia descends rebellious Qi, and Houpo disperses nodules, thus serving as the principal agent. Shengjiang and Fuling (Poria) disseminate stagnation at the highest level and descend dampness. Zisu (Perilla Leaf) is pungent in flavor and aromatic in qi, purple in color and warm in nature; it can enter the Yin to harmonize Blood, and guide Qi back into Blood. In summer, when heat damages Heart Yin, it can resolve summerheat stagnation. Applied to the "roasted meat slice" sensation, it harmonizes Qi and Blood, preventing further floating upward.

Discussion: I treated Wang Xiaoyi, who suffered from frequent choking sensations in the throat, unable to cough up phlegm. Administration of Banxia Houpo Tang led to immediate recovery. However, it recurred repeatedly. Upon detailed inquiry, he reported seeing halos like colored circles under lamplight at night, along with soreness in the spine. The patient was robust. Knowing that he had contracted cold in early summer, resulting in insufficient Yin Qi, while the Liver developed constrained heat, severe cases involved slight movement of congealed cold, carrying Kidney Qi upward, causing throat obstruction. Therefore, I added large doses of Gouqi (Goji Berry), Juhua (Chrysanthemum), Danpi (Moutan Cortex), and Rougui (Cinnamon Bark) to this formula. The halos gradually disappeared, and the throat healed. Thus, it is said that men also occasionally suffer from this, which proves true.