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Lei Gong Zhen Jun said: When water qi invades the collateral of the Pericardium (Xin Bao), causing incessant hiccups, it is a fatal syndrome. However, I believe it can be saved. The reason the Pericardium is invaded by water qi and fears further invasion of the Heart is that the incessant hiccups represent an attempt to summon the qi of the five zang organs to jointly rescue the Heart from the invasion of water qi. For the syndrome of water qi invading the Pericardium resulting in hiccups, one only needs to separate and dissipate the water-dampness qi, and the hiccups will naturally cease. Use the Formula for Stopping Hiccups (Zhi E Tang): Fu Shen (Poria with Hostwood) 1 liang, Cang Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma) 3 qian, Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 3 qian, Yi Yi Ren (Coicis Semen) 1 liang, Qian Shi (Euryales Semen) 5 qian, Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) 1 qian, Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) 3 qian, Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) 1 qian, Ding Xiang (Caryophylli Flos) 5 fen, Wu Zhu Yu (Evodiae Fructus) 3 fen. Decoct in water and take orally. After one dose, hiccups stop; after two doses, hiccups are cured. This formula strengthens the stomach and consolidates the spleen. Although it promotes diuresis and separates dampness, it does not consume true qi. Therefore, it can tonify the Pericardium and strengthen the position of the Heart Monarch. There is no need to specifically treat hiccups, as they will settle on their own.

When water-dampness knots in the Bladder, causing urine to be excreted drop by drop or not at all, leading to protruding eyes, gaping mouth, swollen feet, and panting, this is also considered incurable. However, I believe it is treatable because the Bladder and Kidney are exterior-interiorly related. The opening and closing of the Bladder are governed by the Kidney qi. Water-dampness knotting in the Bladder occurs because Kidney qi cannot flow into the Bladder. By unblocking the Kidney qi, the Bladder will naturally become unblocked, and all symptoms will heal themselves. Use the Formula for Unblocking the Kidney and Dissolving Water (Tong Shen Xiao Shui Tang): Shu Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata) 1 liang, Shan Zhu Yu (Corni Fructus) 5 qian, Che Qian Zi (Plantaginis Semen) 3 qian, Fu Shen (Poria with Hostwood) 5 qian, Rou Gui (Cinnamomi Cortex) 1 qian, Niu Xi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix) 1 qian, Shan Yao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) 1 liang, Yi Yi Ren (Coicis Semen) 1 liang. Decoct in water and take orally. This formula specifically treats the Kidney to unblock the qi of the Bladder. When the Bladder receives Kidney qi, water becomes difficult to retain. Since water cannot be retained, it flows downward, and the qi follows smoothly without rebelling. How could there be symptoms like protruding eyes and panting? As upper symptoms gradually subside, lower symptoms follow suit. The water swelling in the feet unknowingly returns entirely to the Bladder and is completely excreted through urination.

The syndrome of Huang Dan (Jaundice/Damp-Heat Jaundice), where the whole body and both eyes turn yellow, is typically a fatal condition. However, if treated at the onset, death is not inevitable. I have a miraculous formula named the Formula for Eliminating Yellow and Removing Dan (Xiao Huang Qu Dan Tang): Yin Chen (Artemisiae Scopariae Herba) 3 qian, Yi Yi Ren (Coicis Semen) 3 liang, Fu Ling (Poria) 2 liang, Che Qian Zi (Plantaginis Semen) 3 liang, Rou Gui (Cinnamomi Cortex) 3 fen. Decoct in water and take orally. After four consecutive doses, the yellow color disappears and Dan resolves. Although Huang Dan arises from damp-heat, the root cause is ultimately Spleen deficiency failing to separate and dissipate water-dampness, leading to stagnation and yellowing. I use large doses of Fu Ling (Poria), Yi Yi Ren (Coicis Semen), and Che Qian Zi (Plantaginis Semen) as the sovereign herbs to separate and dissipate water-dampness; these are still herbs that strengthen the Spleen and consolidate qi. A small amount of Yin Chen (Artemisiae Scopariae Herba) is used to resolve damp-heat, and Rou Gui (Cinnamomi Cortex) is used to guide the action into the Bladder, so that damp-heat is entirely excreted via urination. Without panic, the rampant damp-heat is secretly resolved. This formula is plain yet subtle, simple yet divine. After four doses, reduce the dosage by half, add Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 1 liang, decoct in water, and drink. After another four doses, full recovery will occur without sequelae.

The syndrome of Huang Dan was originally not meant to be fatal, but improper treatment often turns life into death. Generally, dampness from external contraction is easy to treat, while dampness from internal injury is difficult to cure. In cases of external dampness, treating dampness alone leads to the resolution of Dan. In cases of internal dampness, treating dampness alone makes Dan hard to cure. Purgation depletes qi further, and sweating depletes essence further; how can such methods rapidly cure Huang Dan? I have a formula specifically for treating Huang Dan caused by internal injury, named the Formula for Treating Internal Injury and Eliminating Dan (Zhi Nei Xiao Dan Tang): Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 1 liang, Fu Ling (Poria) 1 liang, Yi Yi Ren (Coicis Semen) 1 liang, Yin Chen (Artemisiae Scopariae Herba) 2 qian, Chao Zhi Zi (Gardeniae Fructus Praefritus) 2 qian, Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) 5 fen. Decoct in water and take orally. The brilliance of this formula lies in the heavy use of Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, and Yi Yi Ren, which strengthen the Spleen and promote diuresis simultaneously, assisting Yin Chen and Zhi Zi to eliminate damp-heat, which is then eliminated internally from the Bladder. There is no need to disperse dampness from the skin, yet skin dampness naturally dissipates. Approximately ten doses of this formula will ensure resolution; more than ten doses are unnecessary. After ten doses, reduce the dosage by half, remove Zhi Zi, and continue for five more doses for full recovery, leaving the patient robust. This is an extremely exquisite and divine formula, beneficial without harm, serving as a method for treating dampness arising from internal injury.

When a postpartum woman contracts edema, resulting in facial edema, edema of hands and feet, and chest distension, it is considered incurable. However, this edema is not due to water qi but rather floating qi due to deficiency. If treated as water-dampness, it will certainly lead to death. I now do not treat water-dampness but focus solely on strengthening the Spleen, which offers a chance of survival. Use the Formula for Assisting Qi and Separating Water (Zhu Qi Fen Shui Tang): Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 2 liang, Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) 3 liang, Fu Ling (Poria) 5 qian, Yi Yi Ren (Coicis Semen) 1 liang, Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) 5 fen, Luo Bo Zi (Raphani Semen) 3 fen. Decoct in water and take orally. Ren Shen, Fu Ling, Yi Yi Ren, and Bai Zhu in this formula are sacred herbs for strengthening the Spleen. Small amounts of Chen Pi and Luo Bo Zi are used to reduce distension. When Spleen qi is strong, water-dampness moves freely; when water-dampness moves, distension disappears; when distension disappears, edema gradually subsides. However, this formula requires multiple doses to show effect and cannot be expected to achieve immediate results in just one dose.

If a postpartum woman suffers from dysentery accompanied by vomiting and hiccups, it is a fatal syndrome. Dysentery consumes yin fluid; even for a healthy person, it is inadvisable, let alone for a postpartum woman with severe deficiency of qi and blood. With the addition of vomiting and hiccups, there is fire in the Stomach, obstructing and disrupting the qi mechanism, making qi and blood even more deficient. This inevitably leads to the exhaustion of Stomach qi; why would she not die? However, as long as there is a thread of Stomach qi remaining, rescue is possible. I have a formula that does not require oral medication. Simply crush one field snail, add 1 li of She Xiang (Moschus) and 1 fen of Wu Zhu Yu (Evodiae Fructus), grind into fine powder, and apply to the umbilicus. Vomiting will cease, and new life can be celebrated. Field snails are excellent for promoting diuresis and clearing heat. Dysentery is essentially a heat syndrome complicated by dampness. Because postpartum women suffer from qi and blood deficiency, one must not use cold herbs to clear heat and drain fire, which would further weaken the deficiency. Using field snails for external treatment is a highly ingenious method. Once vomiting and hiccups subside, quickly administer Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) 1 liang, Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) 3 qian, Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) 1 qian, Zhi Ke (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus) 3 fen, Bing Lang (Arecae Semen) 3 fen. Decoct in water and take orally. After two doses, dysentery will naturally cease. Subsequently, Duzhen Tang (Single Ginseng Decoction) can be used for regulation.

When a postpartum woman's entire body turns yellow due to stagnant and unresolved damp-heat, treating the yellowing consumes more qi and blood, while tonifying deficiency exacerbates the damp-yellow. This is a dead end for treatment, leaving doctors helpless, forced to watch her die. Nevertheless, since the formation of damp-heat originates from deficiency, tonifying deficiency to treat jaundice is feasible, provided the combined treatment is appropriate. I have a formula that is miraculously effective for yellowing caused by deficiency, applicable not only to postpartum women. It is named the Formula for Tonifying Deficiency and Dispelling Yellow (Bu Xu San Huang Tang): Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 1 liang, Yi Yi Ren (Coicis Semen) 2 liang, Che Qian Zi (Plantaginis Semen) 5 qian, Fu Ling (Poria) 5 qian, Jing Jie (Schizonepetae Spica) 1 qian, Yin Chen (Artemisiae Scopariae Herba) 5 fen. Decoct in water and take orally. For non-postpartum adults, use Yin Chen 3 qian. The brilliance of this formula lies in strengthening the Spleen to promote diuresis without consuming qi. It tonifies deficiency and removes dampness; there has never been a case where dampness is removed but yellowing persists.

When postpartum dampness invades the uterine collaterals, causing vulvar swelling and inability to pass urine drop by drop, it is a fatal syndrome. Water entering the abdomen should naturally flow to the Bladder and exit via urination. Now, instead of going through the Bladder, it enters the collaterals of the uterus, which is contrary and unsmooth; how can this not be fatal? So, what method shall I use to save her? It is still to promote diuresis via the Bladder. The Bladder's ability to transform water relies on Kidney qi for vaporization. Postpartum women have severe deficiency of qi and blood, leading to weak Kidney qi. Weak Kidney qi causes weak Bladder qi. Due to Bladder qi deficiency, water is not transformed, and water enters the uterus and does not dissipate. Thus, there is initial urgency followed by swelling, and extreme swelling leads to the inability to pass urine. I now do not merely treat the Bladder but first treat the Kidney. When Kidney qi is sufficient, Bladder qi flows naturally, and the water passages become smooth. Use the Formula for Unblocking Water (Tong Shui San): Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 1 liang, Shu Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata) 1 liang, Fu Ling (Poria) 3 qian, Shan Zhu Yu (Corni Fructus) 5 qian, Yi Yi Ren (Coicis Semen) 1 liang, Rou Gui (Cinnamomi Cortex) 5 fen, Che Qian Zi (Plantaginis Semen) 3 qian, Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) 1 liang. Decoct in water and take orally. This formula tonifies the Kidney and supplements the Heart. The uterus connects upward to the Heart and downward to the Kidney. By tonifying the Heart and Kidney, the qi of the uterus becomes unblocked, naturally rejecting water and transferring it to the Bladder. Moreover, due to the unblocking of Kidney qi, the Bladder can naturally transform water and separate it into the Large and Small Intestines, flowing downward to the urethra for excretion. This truly has profound utility and is not a casual prescription.

When postpartum water qi invades the Lung, causing incessant panting, it is also a fatal syndrome. However, with proper treatment, death can be avoided. Postpartum women contract water qi due to deficiency; originally, one should not fully treat the water. Although incessant panting seems caused by water qi invasion, treating water alone will worsen the panting. So, what is the method? It is to boost the prosperity of Spleen qi, making it fearless of water. Then water cannot invade the Spleen. If the Spleen is not invaded, where will the panting come from? Use the Formula for Strengthening Earth and Calming Panting (Bu Tu Ning Chuan Dan): Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) 1 liang, Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 1 liang, Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Tuber) 1 liang, Fu Ling (Poria) 3 qian, Su Zi (Perillae Fructus) 1 qian. Decoct in water and take orally. In this formula, Ren Shen tonifies qi to strengthen the Spleen, Bai Zhu benefits the waist to strengthen the Spleen, and Mai Dong nourishes the Lung to strengthen the Spleen. Fu Ling and Su Zi serve merely as assistants to move water and stop panting. Yet, treating panting with this formula yields miraculous results. When the Spleen is strong, Earth is prosperous. When Earth is prosperous, water dares not overflow. How could distension and panting arise?