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Cheng Da'an's fourth daughter-in-law, Dai Shi, suffered from leg pain half a month after childbirth. A specialist was invited for diagnosis and treatment, who diagnosed it as deficiency (Xu) and prescribed Bazhen Tang (Eight Treasures Decoction). After ten days of taking the medicine, the pain intensified.

I was on my way to the county town to attend an appointment for a waiting official when I passed by his house. Da'an hurriedly came to ask: "Leg pain half a month after childbirth, what syndrome is this?" I asked: "Do both legs hurt, or only one?" Da'an replied: "The right leg hurts." I asked: "Is the painful area hot?" He answered: "It is hot." I said: "You must absolutely not diagnose it as deficiency or wind pathogen. This is caused by retained blood (Bai Xue) stagnating in the Blood Sea (Xue Hai) after childbirth, flowing into the meridians. If not treated urgently, the blood will have no outlet; over time, it will transform into pus and toxin, potentially leading to intestinal abscess (Chang Yong). The current leg pain is a sign of this." Da'an silently took his leave.

Later, another specialist was invited, who again diagnosed it as wind pathogen. However, Danxi stated that postpartum cases require substantial tonification of Qi and Blood; even if other symptoms exist, they should be treated secondarily. Consequently, Shiquan Dabu Tang (Ten Complete Tonifying Decoction) was administered. The pain became severe, accompanied by alternating chills and fever. Indeed, the lower abdomen near the hip joint became red, swollen, and suppurated. The surgical physician had applied topical agents for tissue regeneration too early, causing a recurrence of a toxic sore at the Yaoshu point (BL23), with swelling, pain, chills, and fever similar to before. Ten days later, there was profuse suppuration without healing, mental exhaustion, sudden emaciation, loss of appetite, nausea, aversion to cold, and a critical condition. The surgical physician said: "It cannot be saved." The specialist said: "I only treat prenatal and postpartum conditions; now it is ruined by the toxic sore." Both resigned and ceased medication. Da'an finally regretted not listening to me, realizing his mistake. He urgently summoned me, and I went to examine her. The six pulses were soggy, large, and powerless. The wound exuded clear fluid without pus. I said: "The situation is critical. There is no time to treat the disease directly; prioritize protecting the Spleen. All five Zang and six Fu organs rely on Spleen Earth for nourishment. Therefore, large doses of Renshen (Ginseng Radix) and Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) are indispensable." Initially, I prescribed Renshen (Ginseng Radix) and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 5 qian each, Gancao (Licorice Root), Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), and Dafuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) 1 qian each, Huangqi (Astragali Radix) 3 qian, Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), and Guixin (Cinnamomi Cortex) 0.5 fen each, because they can drain pus and relieve pain. The surgical physician still objected, saying: "Using Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) might promote pus formation; it should not be taken." I said: "Pus does not kill people; inability to eat and drink kills people." Administered urgently. After four doses, spiritual energy returned, appetite improved, all symptoms decreased, and the wound formed pus. I told him: "She will survive. Switch to Shenling Baizhu San (Ginseng, Poria, and Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder) for conditioning for one month, and she will recover." Da'an kowtowed to me and asked: "How did you foresee it would definitely be a toxic sore requiring urgent treatment?" I said: "As stated in the *Neijing* regarding Zang-Xiang (Visceral Manifestations). It also says: 'Current symptoms include leg pain and heat; the signs are already manifest.' Occurring postpartum, if not caused by retained blood, then what? At that time, urgent dredging was needed to prevent stagnation in the meridians; how could toxins remain? The specialist failed to investigate and used tonification, thereby increasing toxicity and aiding ulceration. The surgical physician failed to assess excess/deficiency and strength/weakness, treating everything as a toxin. How could this not endanger the patient?" Da'an said: "Specialists are unreliable indeed. Nevertheless, without such events, your high medical skill would not have been revealed."