Library

When approaching labor, Ji Zhai already had the "Six-Character Mantra": first, sleep; second, endure pain; third, delay delivery. This is indeed a golden pill for preserving childbirth. Now, Fei Xia proposes the three characters "Not Yet Discharged from the Meridian" (Wei Li Jing). Although practitioners may not often discuss this with patients, the family of the parturient must know it. It is more practical than the Six-Character Mantra, and adhering to it can save many lives.

If a physician examines a woman in labor, regardless of whether the pulse is slippery or the pain is tight, one should only state that the "fetus has not yet discharged from the meridian," indicating that the time for normal delivery has not arrived. Furthermore, if the pulse qi is found to be slow and leisurely, it is certainly an auspicious sign. One should merely instruct the mother to eat well and lie down steadily, waiting for the proper time. What is the meaning of this? Childbirth relies entirely on the mother's Yuan Qi (Original Qi). Upon hearing the doctor say the fetus has not yet discharged, knowing the time is not ripe, she will not expect rapid delivery but will instead remain calm and endure. Once the mother is at peace, the whole household is at peace, thus avoiding panic and chaos. There are originally no cases of dystocia in the world. Those who die from difficult labor do so because the time has not arrived, and they are harmed by panic and coercion.

Initially, the family members are startled and cannot remain composed; subsequently, the mother, being delicate and timid, cannot endure the pain. Or, due to improper handling causing abnormal labor progression or uterine displacement, as soon as there is slight abdominal pain, she cries out loudly. Ignorant midwives then claim that labor has begun. They allow her to try water and sit on straw, acting arbitrarily. Who knows that the seven signs of impending labor have not yet appeared, and the fetal qi is insufficient? The fetus remains still and safe within the womb; how could it possibly deliver? Because the fetus does not come down after a long time, the mother becomes frightened, fearful, and worried, refusing food and drink. Gradually, this leads to deficient qi and confused spirit, causing various strange symptoms to emerge, artificially creating dystocia. There are often cases where the mother dies before giving birth.

In such cases, one must administer large doses of sweet and warm medicines, such as Bazhen Tang (Eight-Treasure Decoction) or Shiquan Dabu Tang (Ten Significant Tonifying Decoction), to assist the mother's Yuan Qi. If normal delivery occurs after taking the medicine, the abdominal pain will become paroxysmal and tight, and with each intense contraction, the fetus will naturally descend. If it is not normal delivery, the abdominal pain will gradually decrease and slow down, and the fetal origin will be warmed and settled.

It is frequently seen that midwives claim the fetal head has reached the pelvic inlet (Ping Men), but upon examination, the pulse indicates the fetus has not yet discharged from the meridian. Using herbs to secure the fetus and warm the uterus can stabilize the situation. Some deliveries are delayed by a month or half a month. How could the fetal head reach the pelvic inlet and yet hang upside down for a month or half a month? From this, we can see that midwives' words are unreliable. Observing Ji Zhai's statement: For women of loose morals who conceive out of wedlock, there is usually no difficulty in childbirth. This is because the pregnancy arises from illicit affairs, and fearing discovery, they strive to endure the pain until it reaches its peak familiarity, at which point the fetus falls out naturally. Where is there any need for a midwife's manual manipulation or miraculous drugs to induce labor?

If a woman can patiently endure pain and let nature take its course, everything will be complete and safe. Regarding the claim that drugs can induce labor, I dare not agree. As for methods of induction, they should only be used when the amniotic sac has ruptured for one or two hours, the seven signs are fully present, yet the baby has not been born. Only then can herbal power assist. Amniotic fluid is the substance that nourishes the fetus. If the fluid dries up and birth does not occur, it is necessarily because the fetal origin lacks strength. The longer the delay, the drier the fluid, and the weaker the strength. It is imperative to use large doses of herbs to tonify qi and blood to assist the mother's strength. Among these, Ren Shen (Ginseng Root) is the most sacred, followed by Tuohua Jian (Flower-Shedding Decoction) and Xiong Gui Tang (Ligusticum and Angelica Decoction). However, this is beneficial only if the fetus has exited the womb and reached the pelvic inlet, and the pubic symphysis (Jiao Gu) has opened. If one blindly uses strange and bizarre formulas to induce labor based solely on the mother's complaint of abdominal pain or the midwife's claim that the head has arrived, it will not only be ineffective but also accelerate death. Be cautious and beware.