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According to *Bingji Jiyao* (Essentials of Pathogenesis), the treatment of diseases related to pregnancy and childbirth should be discussed in terms of Jueyin syndrome (diseases of the Foot-Jueyin Liver meridian). It is appropriate not to damage the Stomach Qi (Stomach energy) and the Upper and Middle Jiao (Upper and Middle Burners), which constitutes the "Three Prohibitions" (San Jin): one must not induce sweating, one must not purge downward, and one must not promote urination. Inducing sweating would result in complications similar to those caused by premature purgation in Cold Damage (Shanghan); promoting bowel movements would lead to a rapid pulse and damage Spleen Qi; promoting urination would cause the loss of body fluids internally and dryness in the Stomach. As long as these three prohibitions are not violated, Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive Qi) will naturally harmonize, and chills and fever will cease spontaneously. Regarding therapeutic methods: if thirst occurs, use Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction); if Qi is weak, use Huangqi (Astragali Radix); if there is blood-related pain, use Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix); if there is abdominal pain, use Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix). Generally speaking, for postpartum diseases, if they are due to epidemic pathogens, one should refer to Jiajian Chaihu Tang (Modified Bupleurum Decoction); if they are miscellaneous internal disorders, one should refer to Zengsun Siwu Tang (Augmented and Reduced Four Substances Decoction). One should observe the pulse and symptoms to apply the treatment. Although this theory serves as a general principle for childbirth, pathological changes vary. If specific syndromes exist, corresponding medicines must be used, as the saying goes, "when there is disease, the disease receives the medicine." This routine method must certainly be known, but adaptive flexibility must not be rigidly adhered to.

Postpartum abdominal pain requires careful differentiation between deficiency and excess. Pain caused by blood stasis retention is excess pain; pain caused by lack of blood nourishment is deficiency pain. Generally, pain accompanied by distension, or radiating upward to the chest and hypochondrium, or characterized by tenderness and inability to tolerate touch, are all excess pains, suitable for treatments that promote circulation and dissipate stasis. If there is no distension, or if the patient prefers rubbing and pressing, or prefers hot compresses, or experiences slight relief after eating, these belong to deficiency pains, and one must not recklessly use purgative or blood-breaking agents.

After recent delivery, many cases involve "Ezhen Abdominal Pain" (postpartum abdominal pain often attributed to uterine contraction or residual blood). Palpation may reveal a mass, and mild resistance to pressure is felt. Ancient formulas call this "Ezhen," attributing it to old blood remaining in the uterus. This is largely incorrect. Since the fetus and placenta have been expelled, how can blood remain alone? The uterus has housed the fetus for a long time; upon sudden separation, the Blood Sea (Chong and Ren meridians) becomes suddenly empty, causing pain. Injury to the uterine opening leads to congestion and swelling, creating the illusion of a mass, though it is not a true solid tumor. Because the swelling has not subsided, there is some resistance to pressure. Treatment should focus on nourishing and calming the organs, with recovery expected soon. Dianbao Jian (Palace-Protecting Decoction) is the most excellent choice, followed by Sishen San (Four Spirit Powder) and Wuwu Jian (Five Materials Decoction), which are also excellent. If mistakenly identified as blood stasis and treated recklessly with Taoren (Persicae Semen), Honghua (Carthami Flos), Yuanhusuo (Corydalis Rhizoma), or Qingpi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), organ Qi will be damaged, inevitably worsening the deficiency condition.

First, there are cases where the mother's constitution is originally deficient with low blood volume, resulting in little bleeding during delivery. These individuals definitely do not suffer from blood stasis. If pain occurs, the aforementioned methods should be used, or Daying Jian (Great Camp Decoction), Xiaoying Jian (Small Camp Decoction), and Huangci Ji Tang (Yellow Hen Soup) should be prescribed as main formulas.

Second, after recent delivery, some patients have weak Yang Qi leading to internal cold generation, or external cold invasion, resulting in heart and abdominal pain, vomiting, anorexia, and cold limbs. In such cases, Jiumi Jian (Nine Honey Decoction), Dayanmi Tang (Great Sealing Honey Decoction), or Liyin Jian (Regulating Yin Decoction) should be used.

Third, if delivery occurs in cold months, allowing cold qi to enter the abdomen, causing distending pain below the umbilicus that cannot be touched, Yangrou Tang (Mutton Soup) should be used. If the condition involves excess Qi and severe cold, Pansong San (Coiling Scallion Powder) is appropriate.

Fourth, incomplete expulsion of lochia (postpartum discharge) leading to stagnation and pain is common. However, this differs from deficiency pain; it typically worsens gradually, may involve constipation or urinary retention, hard and full lower abdomen, extreme pain intolerable to touch, pain radiating upward to the heart and abdomen, or severe pain causing lockjaw. With such excess signs, blood stasis must be rapidly removed. For lesions located higher up, Shixiao San (Laughing Without Trace Powder) is suitable; for lesions located lower down, Tongyu Jian (Promoting Circulation Decoction), Xueming Dan (Life-Restoring Pill), or Huisheng Dan (Return-to-Life Pill) are suitable. If these are ineffective, Juejin Jian (Striking Waterway Decoction) is advisable.

Fifth, postpartum abdominal pain caused by Spleen deficiency or Kidney deficiency arises not from the delivery itself but from insufficiency of organ Qi. If Spleen Qi is deficient and cold, presenting with vomiting, poor appetite, and abdominal pain, Wujunzi Jian (Five Gentlemen Decoction), Liujunzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction), or Wenwei Yin (Warming the Stomach Drink) should be used. If Kidney Qi is deficient and cold, presenting with diarrhea, dysentery, and abdominal pain, Weiguan Jian (Stomach Gate Decoction) or Liyin Jian (Regulating Yin Decoction) should be used.

Sixth, postpartum pain caused by food stagnation or rebellious Qi should be treated by resolving the specific type of stagnation. Paqi Yin (Dispersing Qi Drink) and Dahezhong Yin (Great Harmonizing the Middle Drink) can be used酌情 (as appropriate).

Zhang Zhongjing stated: For postpartum abdominal cold pain, Danggui Shengjiang Yangrou Tang (Danggui, Ginger, and Mutton Decoction) is the primary treatment. It also treats abdominal cold hernia and deficiency-wasting conditions.

Xue Lizhai stated: For the aforementioned syndromes, if caused by Qi stagnation, use Yanhusuo San (Corydalis Powder); if caused by external cold, use Wuji San (Five Accumulations Powder); if caused by anger, use Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) added with Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix) and Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix); if caused by blood deficiency, use Siwu Tang added with Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), and Paojiang (Prepared Ginger); if caused by weak Yang Qi, use Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) added with Danggui and Paojiang; if caused by Spleen deficiency and weak blood, use Liujunzi Tang added with Danggui and Paojiang.