谚云妇病不易治,盖以幽居情郁疑。执拗不喜望闻问,讳疾忌医术莫施。
【注】寇宗 曰∶宁治十男子,莫治一妇人。谓妇人之病多不易治也。盖以妇人幽居
情郁,忧恚爱憎多疑,所怀不遂,性执偏拗,诊时又不令医师观形、望色、闻声、问病。富
贵之家,居奥室之中,处帏慢之内,且复以帕蒙手,既不能行望色之神,又不能尽切脉
之巧。未免详问,问之觉繁,反谓医学不精,往往并药不信。不知问非易事,非精于医者,
必不能问也。夫望,闻、问、切四者,欲去其三,即是神医,亦无由施其术也。此古今
之通患,谓之曰妇人不易治,不诚然哉!
未诊妇人女子病,先问经期与妊娠,不详误药非细事,疑似难明昧所因。
【注】未诊妇人女子病,必先问经期与有无妊娠。若不详细审问,倘用药误触之,则
所关匪细,多变生他证;疑似难明,岂不昧其病之所因哉!
三和汤
当归 川芎 大黄 朴硝 白芍 地黄 黄芩 栀子 连翘 薄荷 甘草(各等分)
上锉,每服八钱,水煎服。
六味地黄汤
熟地(八钱) 山萸肉 山药(各四钱) 丹皮 泽泻 茯苓(各三钱)
上清水煎服。
劫劳散
白芍(六两) 黄 (炙,四两) 甘草(炙) 人参(去芦) 当归(去芦,酒洗) 熟地(洗净,
焙干) 五味子 阿胶(炒珠,各一两)
上 咀,每服三钱。水一盏,生姜七片,枣三枚,煎至九分,温服,无时,日三。
芩心丸
用黄芩心枝条者三两(米泔浸七日。炙干,又浸又炙,如此七次。)
上为末,醋丸如桐子大。每服七十丸,空心温酒送下,日进二服。
益阴煎
生地(三钱) 知母 黄柏(各二钱) 龟版(醋炙,四钱) 缩砂仁 甘草(炙,各一钱)
上锉,水煎服。
大黄 虫丸
大黄 赤芍 生地 桃仁 杏仁 干漆 甘草 虫 虻虫 蛭虫 蛴螬 黄芩(各等分)
上末,炼蜜丸。每服丸数,量虚实增减。
泽兰叶汤
泽兰叶(三两) 当归 白芍(各一两) 甘草(五钱)
上为粗末,每服五钱。水二盏,煎一盏,温服。
柏子仁丸
柏子仁(炒,另研) 牛膝(酒洗) 卷柏(各五钱) 泽兰叶 续断(各二两) 熟地(酒浸半日,石臼
内杵成膏,三两五钱)
上为细末,炼蜜丸如桐子大,空心米饮下三十丸。
The proverb states that women's diseases are difficult to treat, largely due to their secluded living conditions, emotional depression, and suspicion. If the physician is obstinate and dislikes employing the four diagnostic methods—inspection (Wang), auscultation and olfaction (Wen), inquiry (Wen), and palpation (Qie)—and the patient conceals illness and fears medical treatment, the medical art cannot be applied.
[Note] Kou Zongshi said: "I would rather treat ten men than one woman." This implies that women's diseases are generally difficult to treat. This is because women live in seclusion, suffer from emotional depression, have many worries, resentments, loves, hates, and suspicions; when their desires are unfulfilled, their nature becomes stubborn and biased. During consultation, they do not allow physicians to observe their physical form, inspect their complexion, listen to their voice, or inquire about their illness. Families of wealth reside in deep chambers, behind curtains, and often cover their wrists with handkerchiefs, making it impossible to utilize the subtlety of inspection and the skill of pulse palpation. If detailed inquiry is omitted, and the process of asking is deemed tedious, the patient may consider the physician medically incompetent and often refuse to believe in the medicine. One must understand that inquiry is not an easy task; only a physician proficient in medicine can conduct effective inquiries. Of the four methods—inspection, auscultation/olfaction, inquiry, and palpation—if three are removed, even a divine physician would have no way to apply their skills. This is a common malady throughout history, hence it is called "women's diseases are difficult to treat," which is indeed true!
Before diagnosing diseases in women, one must first inquire about the menstrual cycle and pregnancy status. Failure to ask in detail and administering incorrect medication is no minor matter; it may lead to other complications. When symptoms are ambiguous and difficult to clarify, how can one fail to understand the cause of the disease?
Sanhe Decoction (Three-Harmony Decoction)
Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), Puxiao (Natrii Sulfas), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) (equal parts).
Cut the herbs finely. Take 8 qian per dose, decoct in water, and take orally.
Liuwei Dihuang Tang (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill)
Shudi (Prepared Rehmanniae Radix) (8 qian), Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus), Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) (4 qian each), Danpi (Moutan Cortex), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Fuling (Poria) (3 qian each).
Decoct in clear water and take orally.
Jielao San (Labor-Expelling Powder)
Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) (6 liang), Huangqi (Astragali Radix) (roasted, 4 liang), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) (roasted), Renshen (Ginseng Radix) (remove rhizome), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) (remove rhizome, wash with wine), Shudi (Prepared Rehmanniae Radix) (wash clean, bake dry), Wuweizi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus), Ejiao (Asini Corii Colla) (stir-fried until bubbling like pearls, 1 liang each).
Cut into small pieces. Take 3 qian per dose. Add one lamp of water, seven slices of fresh ginger, and three dates. Decoct until reduced to nine-tenths. Take warm, at any time, three times daily.
Qinxin Wan (Huangqin Heart Pill)
Use branches of Huangqin Xin (Scutellariae Radix heart) (3 liang). Soak in rice washing water for seven days. Roast dry, then soak again and roast again, repeating this process seven times.
Grind into fine powder. Form pills with vinegar, size of Torreya seeds. Take 70 pills per dose, swallow with warm wine on an empty stomach, twice daily.
Yiyin Jian (Benefit-Yin Decoction)
Shengdi (Raw Rehmanniae Radix) (3 qian), Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) (2 qian each), Guiban (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum) (vinegar-roasted, 4 qian), Suosharen (Amomi Fructus Rotundus), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) (roasted, 1 qian each).
Cut finely, decoct in water, and take orally.
Dahuang Zhechong Wan (Rhubarb and Ground Beetle Pill)
Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), Chishao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), Shengdi (Raw Rehmanniae Radix), Taoren (Persicae Semen), Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum), Ganxi (Drynariae Rhizoma? Note: Usually refers to Drynaria or similar resinous substance, here likely Gan Xi as per text), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Zhechong (Eupolyphaga Seu Steleophaga), Mengchong (Ollulanus), Shizhong (Hirudo), Qicao (Otiorhynchus larva), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) (equal parts).
Grind into powder. Mix with refined honey to make pills. The number of pills per dose should be increased or decreased according to deficiency or excess.
Zelan Ye Tang (Zealan Leaf Decoction)
Zelan Ye (Lycopi Herba) (3 liang), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) (1 liang each), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) (5 qian).
Make into coarse powder. Take 5 qian per dose. Add two lamps of water, decoct until reduced to one lamp. Take warm.
Baiziren Wan (Biota Seed Pill)
Baiziren (Biota Semen) (stir-fried, ground separately), Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix) (washed with wine), Juanbai (Serpylli Herba) (5 qian each), Zelan Ye (Lycopi Herba), Xuduan (Dipsaci Radix) (2 liang each), Shudi (Prepared Rehmanniae Radix) (soaked in wine for half a day, pounded into paste in a stone mortar, 3 liang 5 qian).
Grind into fine powder. Mix with refined honey to make pills the size of Torreya seeds. Take 30 pills with rice drink on an empty stomach.