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In the postpartum period, if panting and急促 (rapid breathing) are caused by external contraction of Wind-Cold, with pathogenic factors entering the Lung, there will inevitably be coarse breathing, chest distension, or frequent coughing. This is distinct from shortness of breath resembling panting, where Qi fails to connect between the upper and lower Jiao. Treatment should prioritize dispersing and supplementing simultaneously; Jin Shui Liu Jun Decoction (Golden Water Six Gentlemen Decoction) or Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) are appropriate. If the condition is solely due to Cold pathogen entering the Lung, with excess Qi and Qi stagnation but no underlying deficiency, Liu An Jian (Six Comforts Decoction) or Er Chen Tang (Two Aged Substances Decoction) added with Su Ye (Perilla Leaf) may be used. Furthermore, if Blood stasis enters the Lung, it presents with a dark complexion and panting, which is significantly different from shortness of breath resembling panting; Er Wei Shen Su Yin (Two-Ingredient Ginseng and Perilla Drink) should be used. In cases of Qi deficiency with floating Phlegm-Blood rising upwards, Liu Jun Zi Tang can be taken alone, or Shi Xiao San (Pain-Relieving Powder) is also effective.

Postpartum, damage to the Zang-Fu organs and depletion of Qi and Blood, or the Bao Luo (Uterus/Pericardium) harboring chronic Cold, or exposure to wind and cooling after delivery, allows Wind-Cold to invade through the deficiency and clash with Blood. This causes stagnation and obstruction, preventing discharge, leading to accumulation inside. Therefore, lochia does not descend. Treatment should involve warming and invigorating Blood, allowing Blood to flow naturally. This condition typically presents with lower abdominal fullness and constant stabbing pain. Hei Shen San (Black Divine Powder) for Blood Disorders is indicated. I often treat this syndrome using Sheng Hua Tang (Generate the New Decoction) with doubled Tao Ren (Peach Kernel), mixed with Shi Xiao San, to generate new Blood and dispel stasis. It is frequently administered with black sugar dissolved in boiling water, with a few drops of unadulterated wine. If the patient does not usually drink alcohol or fears dizziness, the wine may be omitted, yet efficacy is still often achieved. Alternatively, due to inherent weakness of the Spleen and Stomach and deficiency of Middle Qi, with little residual Blood and obstructed Qi and Blood, lochia cannot fully descend. The symptoms present as intermittent pain that is not severe. Do not use purgatives like Da Huang (Rhubarb), as this may induce other diseases. Jia Jian Ba Zhen Tang (Modified Eight Treasures Decoction) is the primary treatment, or prolonged use of Sheng Hua Tang is also effective.
Hei Shen San (see previous volume, Delirium Section).

Childbirth involves loss of Blood, and when accompanied by profuse sweating, it is an extremely critical condition. Sweat is the fluid of the Heart; internally it nourishes as Blood, externally it manifests as sweat. Blood and fluids belong to Yin; when Yin is depleted, Yang follows and escapes, hence this is called Tuo Han Wang Yang (Collapse Sweating and Yang Exhaustion). Medication differs from other syndromes. If there is only pain from blood clots, Zhu Ru (Bamboo Shavings) and Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Root) should not be arbitrarily added. If fatigue is severe, sweating occurs, and the complexion is sallow and depleted, quickly administer Jia Shen Sheng Hua Tang (Ginseng-Added Generate the New Decoction) with doubled Ginseng to save the critical state, disregarding the constraint regarding clots. Once sweating stops, discontinue Ginseng. The Classics state: "Yang Qi, when refined, nourishes the Spirit; when soft, it nourishes the Sinews." Profuse continuous sweating will inevitably lead to Rou Jing (Flaccid Spasm). With both Qi and Blood deficient, Shi Quan Da Bu Tang (Ten Great Tonics Decoction) should be used; if ineffective, add Fu Zi (Aconite). I assert: this is suitable for those without clot pain. If this syndrome persists with heavy doses of Ginseng and other tonics, with continuous profuse sweating and sweating only on the head not reaching the waist and feet, it is difficult to treat.
Continuous spontaneous sweating is all due to overwork damaging the Heart Spirit, failing to secure the fluids. Treatment should strengthen the Spleen and Stomach, distribute the essence of food and water to return to the Lung, benefit Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive Qi), and guide deficient Blood back to its source, irrigating the surroundings to prevent it from leaking out as sweat. Jia Shen Sheng Hua Tang or Ma Huang Gen Tang (Ephedra Root Decoction) may be used, occasionally combined with Huang Qi (Astragalus) and Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra) decoction, taken with Liu Wei Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia). *Yi Tong* states: For profuse sweating due to external contraction, Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang (Astragalus and Cinnamon Twig Decoction to Establish the Middle) is indicated.
Night sweats refer to sweating during sleep, stopping upon waking, likened to a thief stealing while one sleeps. This is not comparable to spontaneous sweating. It is caused by Blood loss and Yin deficiency, with relative excess of Yang. The *Nei Jing* states: "When Yang adds to Yin, sweating occurs." Treatment should incorporate Blood-level herbs. Although Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang (Angelica Hexagonal Yellow Decoction) is used for miscellaneous diseases, its cold nature and cloying effect make it unsuitable for postpartum night sweats. Zhi Han San (Sweat-Stop Powder) is indicated.
Head sweating may be due to Damp-Heat or Blood stasis; one must examine deficiency and excess to treat accordingly.
Hemihidrosis (sweating on half the body): Ancients used Er Chen Tang combined with Si Wu Tang, but treatment was often ineffective. Blood tonics assist Yin, causing blockage of the meridians. This belongs to insufficient Qi and Blood with retention of Cold-Phlegm. Without greatly tonifying Qi and Blood and simultaneously moving meridians and resolving phlegm, it will not be effective. Shi Quan Da Bu Tang or Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang (Ginseng Nourishing Youth Decoction) added with Xing Ren (Apricot Seed), Ban Xia (Pinellia), and Chuan Wu (Chuanwu Aconite) are indicated. For obese individuals, add more phlegm-resolving and Qi-moving herbs; for thin individuals, this indicates inherent exhaustion of Qi and Blood, a sign of premature decline.
Ma Huang Gen Tang treats extreme postpartum deficiency with continuous spontaneous sweating.
Ren Shen (Ginseng, 1 qian or 2 qian), Dang Gui (Angelica, 2 qian), Huang Qi (Astragalus, 1.5 qian honey-fried), Ma Huang Gen (Ephedra Root), Mu Li (Oyster Shell), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon, heart removed), Fu Mai (Floating Wheat, each 1 qian), Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig, 0.5 fen), Zhi Cao (Honey-fried Licorice, 0.4 fen).
Decoct in water and take orally. If there is no clot pain, add Tu Chao Bai Zhu (Earth-fried Atractylodes, 1 qian) and Shu Di (Prepared Rehmannia, 3 qian); if hands and feet are cold, add Shu Fu Zi (Prepared Aconite, one slice) and Pao Jiang (Roasted Ginger, 0.4 fen); if aversion to wind and cold, add Fang Feng (Saposhnikovia, 0.5 fen).
Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang
Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig, 1 qian), Bai Shao (White Peony, 2 qian), Zhi Cao (Honey-fried Licorice, 0.7 fen), Huang Qi (Astragalus, 1.5 qian honey-fried), Jiao Yi (Maltose, 3 qian), Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger, three slices), Zao (Jujube, two pieces).
Gui Zhi Tang is a formula harmonizing Ying and exterior. Doubling Bai Shao and adding Jiao Yi creates Middle Qi, hence named Xiao Jian Zhong Tang (Minor Construct the Middle Decoction). The sourness of Bai Shao astringes and protects Ying Blood; the sweetness of Jiao Yi nourishes the Middle Earth. It treats Liver Wood invading Spleen, alternating chills and fever, and abdominal pain. Adding further honey-fried Huang Qi makes Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang, treating deficiency consumption with external Cold contraction, spontaneous sweating, by solidifying Wei Qi, harmonizing Ying, Wei, and Zang-Fu, thereby yielding great benefit.
Zhi Han San treats postpartum night sweats.
Ren Shen (Ginseng, 2 qian), Ma Huang Gen (Ephedra Root, 1.5 qian), Dang Gui (Angelica, wine-washed), Shu Di (Prepared Rehmannia, each 3 qian, do not use if clot pain exists), Huang Lian (Coptis, 0.5 fen stir-fried), Fu Mai (Floating Wheat, 1 qian).