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Decoctions for facilitating delivery are used only out of necessity when a woman experiences dystocia. For those who typically deliver easily, birth occurs naturally at term without the need for medication. If one insists on taking medicine to expedite delivery, it is necessary to wait until the parturient's abdominal pain becomes severe and extends intensely to the lower back; this indicates the onset of labor, at which point medication may be administered. By following the natural momentum, the infant will be delivered promptly. However, if abdominal pain is not yet severe and the fetus is not yet ready to descend, one must absolutely avoid administering delivery-facilitating drugs early on to force rapid birth. Doing so may prevent the fetus from rotating within the uterus, inevitably leading to malpresentations such as transverse or breech presentation. Therefore, there is essentially no such thing as "forcing" delivery. What is termed "facilitating delivery" merely assists *Qi* and blood flow to guide the process. One must wait until labor pains are intense before using Tuohua Decoction (Tuohua Jian) with a small addition of Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex, 5-7 fen). This is the most secure and effective method. Alternatively, if labor has been prolonged and the mother is exhausted and unable to deliver, Huatai Decoction (Huatai Jian) should be administered to assist *Qi* and blood for swift delivery. In cases of *Qi* deficiency resulting in weakness and difficulty in expelling the fetus, Dushen Decoction (Dushen Tang) must be used to replenish strength; these are all essential methods for facilitating delivery. Using Qi-moving and blood-invigorating agents prematurely, before the due date, under the guise of facilitating delivery, is akin to pulling shoots to help them grow—a futile and harmful act!

Tuohua Decoction (Tuohua Jian)
Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis, 7-8 qian or 1 liang) Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong) Niuxi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae, 2 qian each) Cheqianzi (Semen Plantaginis, 1.5 qian)
Boil in two zhong of water until reduced to seven-tenths. Take warm.
For *Qi* deficiency, add Renshen (Radix Ginseng), 1-2 qian; for Yin deficiency, add Shudihuang (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata), 3-5 qian.

Huatai Decoction (Huatai Jian)
Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) Shudihuang (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata, 3 qian each) Shanyao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae, stir-fried with ginger juice) Duzhong (Cortex Eucommiae, stir-fried, 2 qian each) Zhiqiao (Pericarpium Aurantii, bran-fried) Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong, 0.7 qian)
Boil in water. Take warm before meals.
For weak constitution, add Renshen (Radix Ginseng) and Baizhu (Radix Atractylodis Macrocephalae, honey-fried), 2 qian each; for constipation with stagnation, add Niuxi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae), 1 qian.

Dushen Decoction (Dushen Tang)
Renshen (Radix Ginseng, 2 liang, remove rhizome)
Boil in water to obtain a concentrated decoction. Drink hot in one dose, and administer frequently to replenish *Qi* and strength.

The delivery room should maintain a temperature that is neither too cold nor too hot. During spring and summer, wind exposure should be avoided; during autumn and winter, cold exposure should be avoided. Thus, in midsummer, one should not cool off by facing drafts to avoid pathogenic invasion, nor should the environment be excessively hot, causing headache and facial flushing in the mother. Furthermore, excessive noise and panic among many people should be avoided, as this generates heat and steams the environment. In summer, a basin of cool water should be kept and replaced when warm to alleviate heat. In winter, a charcoal fire should be kept to keep the lower body warm, and clothing and bedding should be thickened. This prevents invasion by cold pathogens and avoids dystocia caused by fetal coldness and blood stasis. After delivery, the placenta is expelled, and both *Qi* and blood are deficient, making the mother highly susceptible to pathogenic invasion; therefore, utmost caution is required!