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Women's health and treatment focus on blood; when blood combines with essence, conception is achieved. To observe their ailments, one must look to the menstrual cycle; to treat them, one must regulate the Yin aspect. Menstrual blood is blood, and blood belongs to Yin. Yin corresponds to the moon, so menstruation arrives monthly as scheduled; this is the normal state. When pathology occurs, menstruation may come early or late, twice a month, or once every two months; it may be absent and obstructed, or frequent and unceasing; pain may precede flow or follow it; color may be pale, black, or purple; blood may coagulate into strips or flakes; insufficient essence and blood may transform into leukorrhea (white discharge) or turbid discharge; uterine deficiency-cold may prevent Yang Qi from generating and transforming; latent heat in the blood may prevent Yin Qi from condensing; Qi and Blood stagnation with uterine laxity may obstruct menstruation. All these are disorders of True Yin. Once True Yin is diseased, those with insufficient Yin-blood cannot nourish the fetus, and those with insufficient Yin-Qi cannot secure the fetus. Therefore, methods for seeking pregnancy prioritize regulating menstruation.

The principle of generation in Heaven and Earth lies solely in the interaction of Yin and Yang Qi. When they combine, the principle of life is complete; when separated, human constitution is fixed. Thus, men inherit Yang, women inherit Yin; men resemble the Sun, women resemble the Moon. Men's vital energy activates daily; women's vital energy cycles monthly. The hour of Zi (midnight) is when men's vital energy arises; the days of menstruation are when women's vital energy sprouts. If one pays attention to protection during these times of generation, disease can be expelled and longevity extended; this is a fixed principle. I often consider that women in the world are generally more leisurely than men. Specifically, women in wealthy families, living in deep chambers with fine clothes and food, free from hunger, cold, wind, dew, and physical labor, still suffer disproportionately from consumption (Lao Zhai) and frequent illnesses. Why? Because the pathogenic factors affecting them are subtle, arising from neglect without their awareness. Generally, at age fourteen, Tian Gui (the substance promoting reproductive maturity) arrives, and menstruation begins regularly. At this time, vital energy is vigorous; all matters of birth and nurturing stem from here. However, just before menstruation flows, new blood has not yet formed while old blood is about to leave, inevitably causing irritability different from usual. If one realizes menstruation is imminent, daily activities should be carefully regulated. Overwork, anger, and annoyance should be avoided. Most importantly, one must not consume cold foods or sit/lie in cold places. Coldness is a肃杀 (killing/drying) Qi that most harms vital energy. Moreover, during menstruation, all limbs and pores open, allowing old blood to enter the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) and flow downward. If cold Qi invades at this time, regardless of location, the blood intended to flow will stagnate. Initially, it gathers like hair; as daily blood circulates, it reaches the stagnant area and stops. Accumulating day by day, this gives rise to blood stasis, consumption, masses (Jia), palpitations, scrofula, dysphagia, and painful, shortened menstruation. One to two days after menstruation ends, new blood is generated throughout the body. If cold Qi invades then, vital energy is suppressed. Regardless of where cold strikes, that area fails to generate, leading to blood depletion, consumption, sallow complexion, weakness, heart-spleen distension, delayed menstruation, and leukorrhea. The initial invasion is subtle and unnoticed; by the time disease manifests, physicians treat symptoms without investigating the root cause, explaining why women suffer many diseases. Furthermore, women in noble households are accustomed to being willful and skilled at concealment. They crave sweet melons and cold fruits, which are hard to prohibit, and enjoy raw/cold foods, causing internal Stomach Qi coldness and aversion to heat. They do not realize that momentary pleasure is limited, while long-term pain is unbearable, leading to infertility. All such harm stems from this, which is now pointed out. Women everywhere who avoid raw/cold foods, cold Qi, and anger during menstruation, treating themselves as in postpartum care, will find diseases eliminated within five to six days each month. Medication taken at this time yields quick results. Thus, removing accumulation and moving stasis should be done during menstruation to take advantage of the flow; tonifying and regulating should be done one day after menstruation ends to assist the process. Efficacy will be faster than before, containing profound mechanisms. Regrettably, mediocre physicians are confused like fog and dew. Those who read this book should believe and follow it. If any sick woman does not recover fully within half a year, I vow to cut out my tongue. With the completion of *Yanqing Bian*, I append this treatise so women worldwide may know: not only will they be free from suffering, but also bearing many sons will slightly contribute to the great virtue of generation in the world.