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The treatment of postpartum diseases, I have seen Zhu Danxi say: "Postpartum patients should be greatly tonified in Qi and Blood; even if there are other miscellaneous syndromes, they should be treated as secondary. All diseases are mostly due to Blood deficiency, and none should be treated with diaphoresis (sweating method)." His meaning is that Qi and Blood depart with the fetus, necessarily belonging to extreme deficiency; therefore, regardless of various syndromes, great tonification should take precedence, while others can be deferred. In my early years, I indeed admired this view, but when I adhered to it, I was often trapped by it. After several cycles of experience, I realized that although his words had merit, they were somewhat too absolute. Currently, what obstetrics follows is nothing but this method. I have witnessed its errors and personally rescued cases, quite a number. Thus, I dare to analyze the following, truly having my own insights, and cannot help but speak; it is not out of a desire to show off or deliberately slander sages. If so, it would only invite ridicule and scolding. Although I am extremely foolish, I certainly would not do such a thing. Readers should deeply contemplate this intent.

Whenever Qi and Blood are lost after childbirth, there are indeed many deficiency syndromes. However, there are also non-deficiency cases, and fully excess cases. For these three types, one must differentiate deficiency and excess according to the syndrome and the individual, treating them by standard methods. One must not stubbornly believe that "postpartum is always deficient" and universally apply great tonification, thereby aiding pathogenic factors. This differentiation must be precise.

Postpartum deficiency syndromes are essentially linked to the person's original Qi; those who are constitutionally weak often suffer from this. Or, those whose Qi and Blood become even weaker after childbirth may also have this. Here, one must observe the pulse based on the individual, and examine the syndrome based on the pulse. If the pulse energy, form/energy, and disease energy are all insufficient, it should be treated as a total deficiency. If form/energy is insufficient but disease energy is sufficient, or if accompanied by Fire pathogen, external pathogen, or food stagnation, this is also deficiency with excess, requiring detailed examination and treatment. The complexities here cannot be fully expressed in words; only the enlightened can comprehend.

Postpartum non-deficiency syndromes generally occur because the person was healthy beforehand, or was young and strong at the time, or has a constitution accustomed to hardship and labor. These people originally lack nothing. When they become pregnant, they add the burden of the fetus to an otherwise healthy abdomen, causing Qi and Blood congestion, leading to distension and vomiting. These are all added "excess" conditions. Once delivery occurs, relief begins, the retained elements are expelled, and the body returns to normal. Among ordinary people's deliveries, such cases are very numerous; where is the deficiency? However, internal injury or external contraction can still cause postpartum illness; one cannot guarantee it never happens. If such pathogens are present, removing them leads to immediate recovery. If one universally applies great tonification, can the body truly endure it? Even though Qi and Blood are temporarily depleted during delivery, relative to the previous congestion, only the substances accompanying the fetus are removed. What leaves departs; what generates regenerates. Within a few days, restoration will surely occur. This is the natural law of bio-generation. Why assume all postpartum states are deficient? For treating such cases, one should treat according to the syndrome. If one stubbornly insists "postpartum must be greatly tonified in Qi and Blood," then real-excess conditions will inevitably remain untreated. Mild conditions will worsen, severe conditions will become critical. From this perspective, establishing theories is indeed difficult, but applying them is no easier either.

Fully excess postpartum syndromes: Such as external contraction of Wind-Cold, with headache, fever, constipation, abdominal fullness, and a tight, rapid, surging, large, and forceful pulse—this is an exterior excess syndrome. Another case involves excessive Fire, manifesting as heat, thirst, restlessness, irritability, constipation, abdominal distension, blackened dry mouth/nose/tongue, intense craving for cold drinks, copious eye discharge, painful red urination, and a surging slippery pulse—this is an interior Heat excess syndrome. Another involves Liver Qi rebellion triggered by depression and anger, with chest and hypochondriac pain/distension, difficulty in defecation, and a string-taut slippery pulse—this is a Qi reversal excess syndrome. Another involves incomplete expulsion of lochia, with blood stasis rushing upward, causing heart/abdominal distension/pain, tenderness upon pressure, difficult defecation but free urination—this is a Blood reversal excess syndrome. Another involves wealthy families providing excessive care, or overusing herbs like Renshen (Ginseng Radix) and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), leading to Qi congestion; or overusing sugar, alcohol, and charcoal fires, leading to interior Heat; or the birth itself was not deficient, but reckless use of great tonics increased the illness—this is an excess syndrome caused by improper nursing/care. Another involves overeating during labor, fearing fatigue, forcing consumption, leading to retention and stagnation—this is an interior injury excess syndrome. The above syndromes are merely key examples to show the general picture. Since there is an exterior pathogen, it must be resolved; since there is Fire pathogen, it must be cleared; since there is interior injury and stagnation, it must be unblocked and digested. Moreover, people vary in strength, births vary in deficiency/excess, diseases vary in true/false, and treatments vary in counteracting/following approaches. They certainly cannot be discussed as if identical. As stated in the *Suwen: Liuyuan Zhengji Dalun* ("Great Treatise on the Six Origins and Correct Ordinances"): "For a pregnant woman, how should toxic drugs be used? It is said: If there is a disease [pathology], the drug attacks the disease without harming [the mother/fetus], thus neither is harmed." This is an eternal, unchanging major principle. Why need further debate? I elaborate here only because people often rigidly adhere to Danxi's words, necessitating a detailed explanation to resolve later generations' confusion. Methods for treating various deficiencies and excesses are detailed in subsequent sections.