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Within seven days before and after childbirth, fever may occur with various manifestations. Besides fever caused by food stagnation, which has been discussed in the section on Food Stagnation, there are cases where fever, aversion to cold, and headache resemble Taiyang disease (disease syndrome of the Taiyang channel), or alternating chills and fever, headache, and hypochondriac pain resemble Shaoyang disease (disease syndrome of the Shaoyang channel). All these are due to deficiency of both Qi and Blood, and disharmony of Yin and Yang. The symptoms closely mimic Shanghan (Cold Damage), so practitioners must avoid biased treatment. Since postpartum blood is largely depleted, if sweating methods are used, severe cases may result in Yang collapse (sudden loss of Yang Qi), while mild cases may cause muscle twitching, depression and dizziness with coma, convulsions, and constipation, leading to numerous complications. Although it is known that external pathogens are involved, Xiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome) and Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) within Shenghua Tang (Decoction for Generating New Blood) can also disperse them; otherwise, Xin San Shenghua Tang (Pungent-Dispersing Shenghua Decoction) can be used alone. Why use exterior-releasing drugs to violate the prohibition against sweating? Fever due to excessive exertion during delivery, fever due to excessive blood loss, fever due to sluggish lochia discharge, fever during the third day when milk secretion increases (milk steaming), and fever due to getting out of bed and working too early are mostly caused by Blood deficiency, leaving Yang without a foundation, floating and scattering externally as heat. Simply taking two or three doses of Shenghua Tang to eliminate lochia and generate new blood, allowing Yang to grow and Yin to increase, will resolve all fevers. Zunsheng adopted Danxi's method, using Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) added with Xiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Huangqi (Astragali Membranacei Radix), and Paojiang (Prepared Zingiberis Rhizoma) to treat postpartum fever, embodying the principle of using sweet-warm herbs to remove great heat (treating Qi-deficiency fever with sweet-warm properties).

Xin San Shenghua Tang treats postpartum cold-dampness invasion with aversion to cold, fever, and headache.
Chuanxiong Rhizome (1.5 qian) Angelicae Sinensis Radix (3 qian) Prepared Licorice Root Dried Ginger (charred black) Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix Saposhnikoviae Radix (each 0.4 qian) Persicae Semen (10 kernels, skin and tip removed)

Postpartum dry and constipated stool results from excessive blood loss causing dryness in the Stomach, preventing essence and nutrients from descending, leading to obstruction of waste materials. Moreover, the Large Intestine governs fluids; when the puerpera loses internal fluids, dryness causes loss of its conducting and transforming functions, resulting in difficult defecation. Frequent intake of Shenghua Tang will enrich Blood and smooth Qi, naturally moistening and unblocking the bowels; alternatively, Yangzheng Tongyou Tang (Nourishing Righteousness and Opening Obstruction Decoction) can be taken. If there is no bowel movement but no discomfort, medication may not be necessary. Even if symptoms resemble Shaoyin, Taiyin, or Jueyin diseases of Shanghan (such as tidal fever with sweating, dry mouth and abdominal fullness, delirium, constipation, or need to purge dry feces), these are actually signs of exhaustion of Qi and Blood, where deficiency mimics excess. Practitioners must not rashly prescribe Chengqi Decoctions (Three Generals' Decoctions for purging heat and accumulation) to purge. Feng stated: For difficult defecation, only regulating the Middle Jiao and nourishing Blood is suitable; one must not solely use Hemp Seed (Cannabis Fructus) and Aurantium Fructum Immaturum, which merely deplete the generating Qi of the intestines and stomach without effect. Some treatments for prolonged constipation use large doses of Chuanxiong and Danggui until efficacy is achieved, accompanied by intestinal-moistening porridge. If both urine and stool are obstructed and lochia does not flow, see the section on "Lochia Not Flowing."

Yangzheng Tongyou Tang treats postpartum dry and constipated stool.
Chuanxiong Rhizome (1, 1.5, or 2 qian) Angelicae Sinensis Radix (4 or 6 qian) Persicae Semen (10 kernels, skin and tip removed) Prepared Licorice Root (0.5 qian) Tangerine Peel (0.4 qian) Fried Hemp Seed (1.5 qian) Cistanche Stem (1 or 2 qian, washed with wine to remove mud and scales)
Decoct in water and take orally. If there is pain due to blood stasis, add Cinnamon Bark and Stir-fried Corydalis Rhizome (each 0.5 qian), and remove Cistanche Stem.