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Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) and Da Cheng Qi Tang (Major Order the Qi Decoction) (both seen in *Shang Han Lun* / Treatise on Cold Damage).
Dang Gui Sheng Jiang Yang Rou Tang (Angelica Ginger Mutton Decoction).
Dang Gui (3 liang), Sheng Jiang (5 liang), Yang Rou (1 jin).
Take the above three ingredients, add 8 sheng of water, decoct to obtain 3 sheng. Take 7 ge warm each time, three times a day.
If cold is predominant, increase Sheng Jiang to 1 jin; if pain is severe accompanied by vomiting, add Ju Pi (2 liang) and Bai Zhu (1 liang); if Sheng Jiang is added, also add 5 sheng of water, decoct to obtain 3 sheng 2 ge, and take it.
The song states: Abdominal and hypochondriac pain (the abdomen and hypochondrium are both primarily caused by cold qi, with no clear boundary), unbearable urgency (this indicates insufficient Ying blood internally, causing Yin qi to fail to nourish and resulting in tension). One jin of mutton, five liang of ginger, three liang of Shu Dang Gui. The modern methods using Dou Kou (Cardamom) and Xiang Sha (Amomum and Aucklandia) are laughable as guides for blind physicians.
(Second son Yuan Xi) Commentary: In this formula, Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) moves stagnation in the Blood aspect to relieve pain, and Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) disseminates stagnation in the Qi aspect to relieve pain, which is easily understood by people. The brilliance lies in the large amount of Yang Rou (Mutton). Mutton is a substance with emotion containing Qi and Blood, with a strong fishy odor. After swallowing, it mixes with turbid Yin, and then, aided by Dang Gui's ability to invigorate blood, stagnation in the blood is unblocked; aided by Sheng Jiang's ability to promote Qi movement, stagnation in the Qi is unblocked. When there is free flow, there is no pain, and cold qi has no place to hide. This is what is meant by first venting it out, then attacking it. If the patient doubts the mutton because it is too tonifying, they are confined by vulgar views. There is profound meaning within; those who understand subtle signs should politely decline.

Zhi Shi Shao Yao San (Immature Bitter Orange and Peony Powder).
Zhi Shi (stir-baked until black, but not too much), Shao Yao (equal parts).
Crush the above two ingredients into a powder. Take one fang cun bi (square-inch spoonful) each time, three times a day. It also mainly treats carbuncles and pus. Administer with Barley Porridge.
The song states: Fullness, vexation, inability to sleep, frequent abdominal pain; Zhi Shi slightly burnt, Shao Yao equal in proportion; The method of the Mutton Decoction should be viewed oppositely (That one treats deficiency pain without fullness/vexation; this one treats excess pain with fullness/vexation). Powder mixed with Barley (Porridge) is steady and fresh.
(Elder son Wei) Commentary: Zhi Shi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus) promotes the flow of Qi stagnation, and Shao Yao (Paeoniae Radix Alba/Rubra) promotes the flow of Blood stagnation. Free flow means no pain, which is common knowledge. The brilliance lies in Zhi Shi being charred black, utilizing fire transformation to effectively attack stagnant accumulation. Administering with Barley Porridge harmonizes Liver Qi and nourishes Heart and Spleen; thus, it contains the intention of nourishment within moving stagnation, so it also treats carbuncles and pus.

Xia Yu Xue Tang (Downward Discharge Stasis Decoction).
Da Huang (3 liang), Tao Ren (20 kernels), E Chong (20 pieces, feet removed, roasted).
Powder the above three ingredients. Mix with refined honey to form four pills. Boil one pill in 1 jin of wine, obtain 8 ge, and take it all at once. Stasis will discharge resembling pig liver. (Variations exist among editions.)
The song states: Fixed pain in the umbilicus is caused by stasis; twenty Tao Ren kernels and three liang Da Huang; plus twenty E Chong worms, why would boiling in wine and purging stasis cause harm?
(Second son Yuan Xi) Commentary: For postpartum abdominal pain that does not resolve after taking Zhi Shi and Shao Yao, it is due to heat scorching the blood causing dryness and stasis retention, with pain fixed below the umbilicus. This decoction is appropriate. People know that Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) and Tao Ren (Persicae Semen) push out old material and discharge stasis, while E Chong (Eupolyphaga/Steleophaga) excels at attacking dry stasis. The brilliance lies in Tao Ren alone, which has great efficacy despite appearing ordinary. Since blood has deteriorated into stasis, it cannot circulate without receiving vital energy. Peach trees receive the harmonious Qi of March spring, their flowers are most vivid like blood, and their vital energy resides in the kernel. Its bitter taste can open and drain, so it directly enters the blood to harmonize and scatter it, driving out the old without injuring the new.

Yang Dan Tang is Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) with doubled Gui Zhi and added Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata). Shop editions claim it adds Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), not knowing that *Shang Han Lun · Tai Yang Chapter* already clearly specifies this formula. Sun Simiao and other schools were mistaken.
(Gui Zhi Tang is seen in *Shang Han Lun*.)

Zhu Ye Tang (Bamboo Leaf Decoction).
Zhu Ye (one handful), Ge Gen (3 liang), Fang Feng, Jie Geng, Gui Zhi, Ren Shen, Gan Cao (each 1 liang), Fu Zi (one piece, processed), Sheng Jiang (5 liang), Da Zao (15 pieces, split).
Take the above ten ingredients, add 1 dou of water, decoct to obtain 2.5 sheng. Divide into three warm doses. Cover with blankets to induce slight sweating. If there is stiffness in the head and neck, use one large Fu Zi, break it into bean-sized pieces, decoct with the medicine, and skim off the foam. If there is vomiting, add Ban Xia (0.5 sheng, washed).
The song states: Panting, fever, headache, face red (condition about to become spasmodic. 1 liang); Fang Feng, Jie Geng, Gui Zhi, Gan Cao, Ren Shen used together (each 1 liang). Ge Gen (3 liang), Sheng Jiang (5 liang), one Fu Zi; fifteen Da Zao and one handful of Zhu Ye suffice.
Addition Song: For head and neck stiffness, substitute with large Fu Zi; using large instead of small changes the nature; if it is rebellious Qi, consider adding Ban Xia half a sheng washed seven times.
Cheng Yunlai said: The symptoms have not yet reached opisthotonos, but fever, red face, and headache are gradual signs of wind-spasm. Therefore, Zhu Ye is used to govern wind-spasm, Fang Feng treats internal spasm, Ge Gen treats rigid spasm, Gui Zhi treats flaccid spasm, Sheng Jiang disperses wind pathogen, Jie Geng removes wind-bi. These are acrid agents to disperse. Assisted by Ren Shen to generate fluids and nourish sinews, Fu Zi to tonify Fire to reach Water, combined with Gan Cao to harmonize herbs, and Da Zao to assist the twelve meridians; together with various wind-resolving agents, this is a major formula for postpartum wind-stroke where release includes tonification.

Zhu Pi Da Wan (Bamboo Skin Large Pill).
Sheng Zhu Ru (2 fen), Shi Gao (2 fen), Gui Zhi (1 fen), Bai Wei (1 fen), Gan Cao (7 fen).
Powder the above five ingredients. Mix with jujube flesh to form pills the size of an egg. Take one pill with water, three times during the day and twice at night. If there is heat, double Bai Wei; if there is vexation and panting, add Bai Shi (1 fen).
The song states: Vomiting with vexation and chaos is due to emptiness in the breast (referring to the time of nursing, when Qi deficiency leads to excessive Fire, causing internal disorder and upward rebellion). Two fen Shi Gao and Zhu Ru; one fen Bai Wei and Gui Zhi plus seven fen Gan Cao; taken as jujube pills with water, effect is gradual.
Addition Song: Bai Wei retreats heat with miraculous effect; remember to double it when there is heat. Bai Shi obtains Metal Qi, thick and deep, leaves facing west returning to origin; the kernel inside calms the Heart, add one fen for vexation and panting. (Explanation seen in this treatise.)

Bai Tou Weng Jia Gan Cao E Jiao Tang (Belleriphage Plus Licorice and Donkey-hide Gelatin Decoction) (Decoction seen in *Shang Han Lun*. Add Gan Cao and E Jiao, each 2 liang.) The Master said: For postpartum dysentery with extreme deficiency, this is the primary treatment.
The song states: Bai Tou Weng Decoction was mentioned in previous songs; two liang E Jiao and Gan Cao harmonize; Postpartum dysentery becoming extremely deficient syndrome; Nourishing (E Jiao saves Yin) and relieving urgency (Gan Cao relieves urgency), do not lightly pass over.
(Second son Yuan Xi) Commentary: Whenever postpartum blood loss is excessive, accompanied by dysentery losing body fluids, this is undoubtedly Yin deficiency. Here "extreme deficiency" logically suggests major tonification, but Dang Gui, Xiong, Shao, Di would increase slipperiness leading to prolapse; Ren Shen, Zhu, Gui, Jiang would move Yang leading to rebellion; these are all contraindicated. Note that the word "deficiency" here refers to Yin deficiency, synonymous with Shaoyin syndrome where Yin Qi is about to perish. Shaoyin syndrome uses Da Cheng Qi Tang for urgent purging to save Yin; this syndrome uses Bai Tou Weng Tang with great bitterness to save Yin. This method cannot be fathomed by figures like Xue Lizhai, Zhang Jingyue, Li Shicai who prioritize sweet-warm and forbid bitter-cold. Especially brilliant is adding Gan Cao's sweetness combined with the bitterness of the four ingredients, forming the method of "bitter-sweet transforming into Yin"; moreover, long-term dysentery depletes essence and empties collaterals; receiving E Jiao's moistening combined with the bitterness of the four ingredients to consolidate, the source and stream are cleared, and dysentery stops naturally.

Qian Jin San Huang San (Thousand Gold Three Yellows Powder).
Huang Qin (1 liang), Ku Shen (2 liang), Gan Di Huang (4 liang).
Take the above three ingredients, add 6 sheng of water, decoct to obtain 2 sheng. Take 1 sheng warm. Used for dysentery with worms.

Qian Jin Nei Bu Dang Gui Jian Zhong Tang (Thousand Gold Internal Tonifying Angelica Building Middle Decoction).
Dang Gui (4 liang), Gui Zhi, Sheng Jiang (each 3 liang), Shao Yao (6 liang), Gan Cao (2 liang), Da Zao (12 pieces).
Take the above six ingredients, add 1 dou of water, decoct to obtain 3 sheng. Divide into three warm doses, consume within one day. If very deficient, add Yi Tang (6 liang); after decoction, place on fire to warm until Yi Tang dissolves. If blood loss is excessive, with metrorrhagia or epistaxis not stopping, add Di Huang (6 liang) and E Jiao (2 liang), making eight ingredients; after decoction, add E Jiao. If Dang Gui is unavailable, substitute Chuan Xiong; if Sheng Jiang is unavailable, substitute Gan Jiang.
Disciple asked: Are there feasible methods outside *Jin Gui*?
Answer: If one can read thoroughly and grasp the subtleties, regardless of how myriad postpartum pathologies arise, it is easy to pacify them with one move. If treating each symptom separately, even thousands of formulas may have omissions. Works like *Song Ya Zun Sheng* and *Dong Yi Bao Jian* list details exhaustively, yet ask if they can cure a single symptom? However, the connoisseur grows old, why play ancient tunes alone? Reluctantly yielding to popular trends, I selected twenty-three from various shop-printed books. Though shallow and rough, they do not depart from classics, and are recorded below for reference.

Wang Shuhe said: Regarding postpartum pulse, if Cun Kou is surging, rapid, and irregular, death ensues; if deep, faint, and unceasing upon pressing to the bone, life is preserved. He also said: Deep, small, and slippery pulses indicate survival; solid, large, firm, wiry, and rapid pulses indicate death. Zhu Danxi said: Prenatal pulse should be surging and rapid; if postpartum pulse remains surging and rapid, death ensues. He also said: Prenatal pulse small and fine; postpartum pulse surging and large often results in death. *Ji Chan Sheng Jing* said: For prenatal diseases, the pulse should be solid; for postpartum diseases, the pulse should be empty; prenatal care involves smoothing Qi and calming fetus, postpartum care involves supporting deficiency and resolving stasis; this is the key. *Mai Yao* said: Pulse before delivery must show Li Jing (departing from normal), or deep, fine, and slippery; pain felt at midnight ensures delivery by noon next day. Pulse after new delivery, slow and smooth is auspicious; if solid, large, wiry, rapid, it approaches the ominous sign of no Stomach Qi; or if Cun Kou is choppy, rapid, and irregular, evil symptoms appear immediately; only deep, fine, and unceasing upon pressing is safe, even if severe. *Da Quan* said: Drink a cup of hot child urine after delivery, do not lie down immediately, sit with eyes closed for a moment; when getting into bed, lie supine, not side-lying; keep knees upright, not extended; prop head high on bedhead, lay thick bedding, surround walls to prevent gaps avoiding thief wind; fumigate nose with vinegar or vinegar charcoal, burn lacquer ware frequently, rub hand from heart down to umbilicus to prevent blood dizziness and rebellion. For three days, whether abdominal pain exists or not, take five to seven times child urine mixed with wine. Wine moves blood but should not be drunk excessively, lest it draw blood to limbs causing dizziness. Frequently eat white porridge, gradually eat small amounts of mutton and pig trotters, still avoid speech, emotions, cold/heat, combing hair, washing feet, lasting one hundred days. If Qi and Blood are inherently weak, ignore months/days; otherwise, suffer soreness/pain in hands, feet, waist, legs, named "Bed Labor," hardest to treat. At initial delivery, do not ask gender, lest speech leak Qi, or love/hate move Qi, both causing disease. Do not sleep alone, lest cause deficiency fright; do not scrape tongue, lest damage Heart Qi; do not brush teeth, lest cause blood rebellion; only handle affairs after Qi and Blood stabilize. Violating rules initially minor as autumn hair, becomes illness heavy as mountain, can one not beware?! *Chan Bao Xin Shu* said: Postpartum Qi and Blood suddenly deficient,理应 major tonification, but lochia not finished, tonification fears stagnating blood; only Sheng Hua Tang moves with tonification, generating and transforming, named for its properties/functions. Postpartum blood clumps should dissolve, yet new blood must regenerate; solely using dissolution harms new blood; solely using generation retains old blood. Examining herb properties, Xiong, Dang Gui, Tao Ren excel at attacking old blood and rapidly generating new blood; assisted by Hei Jiang (charred ginger) and Zhi Gan Cao, guiding these three into Lung and Liver to generate blood and benefit Qi; five ingredients form a formula, moving with tonification, truly the holy medicine for postpartum.
(Grandson Xin Dian reported) Commentary: Once maternal sac ruptures, quickly decoct one dose, administer as soon as fetal head touches ground, regardless of miscarriage or term birth; even safe, young, strong women should take one or two doses to dissolve clumps and generate new blood, naturally avoiding blood dizziness. If prenatal constitution weak, presenting critical symptoms postpartum, do not tire of frequent administration, stop when disease recedes; if taken daily as usual, can support nearly perished Qi and Blood. If blood clump pain, add Rou Gui 3 fen, Hong Hua 3 fen, Yi Mu Cao 5 qian. If postpartum labor severe with blood collapse, pale/depleted appearance, add Ren Shen 3-4 qian. If sweating and shortness of breath, double Ren Shen.

*Da Quan* said: Postpartum blood dizziness is caused by failed blood flowing into Liver Meridian, seeing black flowers in eyes, spinning dizziness of head and eyes, inability to rise/sit, coma/unconsciousness, called blood dizziness. This is blood heat taking advantage of deficiency, rebelling upward to overwhelm Heart, causing coma/unconsciousness, Qi closure/near death; drinking child urine is best. Chen Liangfu said: Postpartum stasis blood flooding heart, due to not drinking child urine after delivery, causing deficient Fire flaming upward. Use Lu Jiao (burnt to ash), mix with child urine to swallow, wakes immediately; this substance moves blood extremely effectively. Also use Wu Ling Zhi half raw, half cooked, named Du Xing San; also use Fan Hun Dan, which is Yi Mu Wan. Cui Shi said: After delivery, place hammer or yellow stone in charcoal, burn red-hot, put in vessel, pour vinegar in front of bed to remove blood dizziness, make frequently. Or first apply brewed vinegar to mouth/nose, keep vinegar nearby, quench charcoal to smell smoke. Another method: burn Gan Qi (dry lacquer), let smoke fumigate mother's face, wakes immediately; if no dry lacquer, smoke from old lacquer ware works. Shan Yangxian said: Postpartum cold Qi attacking upward causes heart pain, downward causes abdominal pain. With blood clumps, take Sheng Hua Tang plus Gui Mo; only add Wu Zhu Yu, 3 slices ginger to assist blood; if solely using hot medicines to attack cold, pain hard to stop, blood inevitably increases, harming mother. *Chan Bao Bai Wen* said: Postpartum limb edema is caused by failed blood taking advantage of deficiency to accumulate, flowing along meridians to limbs, lingering deeply, rotting like water, causing yellow face, limb edema. Physicians not recognizing this treat as water qi, using mostly draining water medicines; for extremely deficient person, postpartum already deficient, further deficiencing with medicine is double deficiency, often leading to mania; take Xiao Tiao Jing San, moving blood, swelling dissipates, then heals. Zhu Danxi said: Postpartum swelling must primarily use major Qi and Blood tonification, slightly assist with Cang Zhu, Fu Ling, letting water drain naturally. Xue Lizhai said: If previous symptom is cold water insulting Earth, nourish Spleen/Lung; if Qi deficiency edema, benefit Spleen/Stomach; if water qi edema, tonify Middle Qi. Also said: Postpartum edema with panting/cough, pulse deep/fine/weakless, this is Ming Men Fire decline, Spleen Earth deficiency cold, Ba Wei Wan governs. Wu Mengzhai said: New postpartum cold damage, do not lightly induce sweat. Or injury during delivery causing fever; excessive blood loss causing fever; lochia not leaving causing fever; three-day milk steaming causing fever; labor/diet stagnation causing fever resembling food stagnation; must carefully distinguish, absolutely do not induce sweat. Generally postpartum Great Blood empty, sweating causes transformation: muscle twitching, or depression/coma, or convulsions, or constipation, harm is not light. Any fever, use Si Wu Tang as sovereign, add Chai Hu, Ren Shen, Pao Jiang most effective. Gan Jiang acrid-hot, guides blood herbs into Blood aspect, Qi herbs into Qi aspect, removes evil generates new, has principle of Yang generating Yin, treating heat with heat, deeply conforming to *Nei Jing*. Zhu Danxi said: Postpartum fever, this heat is not excess heat, but Yin deficiency generating internal heat, take major dose of Yin-nourishing medicine. Why must Gan Jiang be used? Answer: Gan Jiang enters Lung to benefit Qi, enters Liver Meridian to guide blood herbs to generate blood; but cannot be used alone, must be used with Yin-nourishing medicine, this is natural wonder of creation. Wang Jiezai said: Woman postpartum Yin deficiency, Yang has no root, floats/scatters externally, thus fever; use Si Wu Tang to tonify blood, use Zhi Gan Jiang bitter-warm to follow-treat, gather floating/scattered Yang back to Yin. Zhao Yangkui said: Postpartum massive blood loss, Yin blood suddenly perishes, must have high fever, named Yin deficiency fever. This "Yin" refers precisely to Qi/Blood Yin; if treating with cooling medicines directly, death ensues, exactly as syndrome resembles Bai Hu, mistakenly taking Bai Hu Tang causes death. At this time, specifically do not use Si Wu Tang, tangible blood cannot be generated suddenly, slight Qi must be urgently protected, use Du Shen Tang or Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang, making intangible generate tangible, wonder of Yang generating Yin, must know. Wu Shuqing said: Postpartum Yin deficiency, blood weakness fever, Si Wu plus Fu Ling, severe heat add Pao Jiang. This formula uses no Qi herbs, indicating Blood deficiency but not Qi deficiency. Adding Fu Ling makes Heaven Qi descend and Yin self-generate, Yin generates then heat self-retreats. Severe heat add stir-fried Gan Jiang, taking lead Yin from Yang, or lead Yang from Yin. Subtle! Subtle! Guo Jizhong said: What causes alternating chills and fever postpartum? Answer: Yin/Yang disharmony and failed blood not scattering both cause alternating chills/fever. How to distinguish? Answer: Occasional stabbing pain is failed blood; only chills/fever without other symptoms is Yin/Yang disharmony. Xue Lizhai said: What humans master is Heart, what Heart masters is Blood, once Heart Blood is deficient, Spirit/Qi does not stay, palpitations/fright originate here, should primarily tonify Blood/Qi. *Chan Bao Bai Wen* said: Postpartum emaciation gradually becomes Bed Labor, all caused by depletion of Blood/Qi during delivery. Must guard起居 (daily routine), regulate diet, nourish/rest for one hundred days, thereby ensuring no disease. If difficult delivery in middle age, regardless of date, must nourish/rest to recover before movement; otherwise, Qi/Blood injured again, emaciation syndrome arises. Xue Lizhai said: Bed Labor, should primarily support/nourish Righteous Qi. Often due to Spleen/Stomach weakness, reduced diet, causing exhaustion of all meridians, should tonify Spleen/Stomach; once diet enters, Essence/Qi transforms/generates, all organs rely on it, disease self-heals. *Chan Ru Ji* said: Postpartum urinary retention, abdomen distended like drum, confused/unconscious, likely due to internal accumulated cold Qi before delivery, causing bladder disease postpartum. Fill navel flat with salt, crush Cong Bai (white part of green onion) to finger-thickness, place on salt, moxa cone on onion cake, feel heat entering abdomen, urination passes instantly, miraculous. Zhu Danxi said: Midwife careless, damaging mother's bladder, causing dripping disease, use pig/sheep bladder decoction with medicine, Ren Shen/Huang Qi as sovereign, Dang Gui/Di Huang as minister, Tao Ren/Chen Pi/Fu Ling as envoy, drink when extremely hungry; let Qi/Blood suddenly grow, bladder self-completes, delay slightly makes success difficult. *Yi Xia Yan* said: Women childbirth, nurse with milk, milk's body resides between meridians and Qi/Blood. Starting from Yin hour at Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, exiting Yunmen Acupoint (point above breast); Yin/Yang continue circulating, traversing twelve meridians, returning to Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian at Chou hour, entering Qimen Acupoint (point below breast); exiting up, entering down, Lung commands Qi, Liver stores Blood, milk resides precisely between them. Xiao Shenzhai said: Woman uses Blood for affairs, upper becomes milk, lower becomes menstruation; Blood transformation originates in Spleen/Stomach, essence/qi of diet circulates, becoming milk/menses. Postpartum Spleen/Stomach Qi vigorous, then Blood vigorous and milk abundant; Spleen/Stomach Qi declines, then Blood decreases and milk scarce, this is Lizhai's key to promoting milk by strengthening Spleen/Stomach and nourishing source. If ignoring Spleen/Stomach to tonify Qi/Blood, merely engaging in milk-promoting agents, is like seeking thousand gold from beggar, impossible. *Da Sheng Pian* said: Promote milk using Huang Qi 1 liang, Dang Gui 5 qian, Bai Zhi, Mu Tong