疾病之关于胎孕者,男子则在精,女子则在血,无非不足而然。凡男子之不足,则有精滑、精清、精冷,
或临事不坚,或流而不射,或梦遗频数,或便浊淋涩,或好女色,以致阴虚,阴虚则腰肾痛惫;或好男风,以
致阳极,阳极则亢而亡。阴或过于强固,强固则胜败不洽;或素患阴疝,阴疝则肝肾乖离。此外或以阳衰,阳
衰则多寒;或以阴虚,阴虚则多热,是皆男子之病,不得尽诿之妇人也。倘得其源而医治之,则事无不济矣。
妇人所重在血,血能构精胎孕乃成,欲察其病,惟于经候见之;欲治其病,惟于阴分调之。盖经即血也,
血即阴也,阴以应月,故月月如期,此其常也。及其为病则有或先或后者,有一月两至者,有两月一至者,有
枯绝不通者,有频来不止者;有先痛而后行者,有先行而后痛者;有淡色、紫色、黑色者,有瘀而为条、为片者;
有精血不充而化作带浊者,有元气下陷而变为崩漏者;有子宫虚冷而阳气不能生化者,有血中伏热而阴气不能
凝成者;有血 气瘕,子脏不收、月水不通者,皆真阴之病也(主治之法详载调经上、下两卷)。夫真阴既病,
则阴血不足者不能育胎,阴气不足者
不能摄胎。摄育之权总在命门,以命门为冲任之血海,而胎以血为主,血不能自生而又以气为主,是皆真阴之
谓也。故凡补命门,或气或血,皆可谓之补阴,而补阴之法,即培根固本之道也。凡自壮至老,乃人人之所不
可缺者,而况为先天后天之肇基舍,是无以用其力矣。是以调经种子之法,亦惟以填补命门顾惜阳气为主。
然精血之都在命门,而精血之源又在二阳心脾之间。盖心主血,养心则养血,脾胃主饮食、健脾胃则气布,二
者胥和则气畅血行,此情志饮食,又当先经血而为之计者,无非补阴之源也。使不知本末先后面妄为之,治则
乌足以言调经种子之法。
Regarding diseases affecting conception, in men it lies in the Jing (Essence), and in women it lies in the Blood; both are essentially due to deficiency. In men, deficiencies may manifest as seminal emission (slippage of essence), clear semen, or cold semen, or hardness failure during intercourse, or flow without ejaculation, or frequent nocturnal emissions, or turbid urine with dribbling and dysuria, or excessive lust for women leading to Yin Deficiency, which causes soreness and fatigue in the lower back and kidneys; or preference for male homosexuality leading to Extreme Yang, where Hyperactivity results in exhaustion and death. If Yin is excessively strong and solid, it leads to disharmony between victory and defeat; or if one suffers from Yin Hernia (Yin Han) chronically, it causes a separation between the Liver and Kidney. Additionally, some suffer from Yang Decline, resulting in excessive cold; others suffer from Yin Deficiency, resulting in excessive heat. These are all diseases of men and cannot be entirely blamed on women. If the root cause is identified and treated, success is assured.
In women, treatment focuses on the Blood, as the Blood combines with Essence to form the fetus. To observe her pathology, one must look at the Menstrual Cycle (Jing Hou); to treat it, one must regulate the Yin aspect. The Menses are Blood, and Blood is Yin. Yin corresponds to the moon, hence the regular monthly arrival, which is the norm. When pathological, menstruation may occur early or late, twice a month, once every two months, cease completely, or continue incessantly; it may involve pain before flow or pain after flow; the color may be pale, purple, or black; clots may form strips or pieces; insufficient Jing and Blood may transform into leukorrhea and turbidity; sinking of Yuan Qi may transform into metrorrhagia and metrostaxis (Beng Lou); uterine deficiency-cold may prevent the transformation and generation by Yang Qi; latent heat in the Blood may prevent the condensation of Yin Qi; blood and qi masses (Jia) may cause the uterus to fail to contract and menstruation to stop. All these are diseases of True Yin (the main treatment methods are detailed in the volumes on Regulating the Menses). Once True Yin is diseased, those with insufficient Yin Blood cannot nourish the fetus, and those with insufficient Yin Qi cannot grasp the fetus. The authority over grasping and nourishing lies entirely in the Mingmen (Gate of Life), as Mingmen is the Sea of Blood for the Chong and Ren vessels. The fetus is primarily sustained by Blood, but Blood cannot generate itself and relies on Qi as its master; this is referred to as True Yin. Therefore, tonifying Mingmen, whether by Qi or Blood, can be called tonifying Yin. The method of tonifying Yin is the way of nurturing the root and consolidating the foundation. This is indispensable from youth to old age for everyone, let alone as the foundation of congenital and acquired constitution; without exerting effort here, there is no way to succeed. Thus, the methods of regulating the menses and promoting conception focus mainly on filling Mingmen and cherishing Yang Qi. However, the hub of Jing and Blood is in Mingmen, while the source of Jing and Blood lies between the Heart and Spleen (referred to as "Er Yang" in the text, contextually implying the heart-spleen axis for blood/qi generation). The Heart governs Blood; nourishing the Heart nourishes the Blood. The Spleen and Stomach govern digestion; strengthening them allows Qi to distribute. When both are harmonious, Qi flows smoothly and Blood circulates. Emotional state and diet should be planned for prior to addressing menstrual blood, all aiming to supplement the source of Yin. If one does not understand the root and branch, priority and sequence, and treats blindly, how can one speak of the methods for regulating the menses and promoting conception?