Library

Shi, experiencing chills and aversion to cold, vomiting, and complete inability to eat or drink for over forty days, was extremely weak and exhausted, with cold limbs and Yang Qi on the verge of collapse. Her pulse was deep and hidden (Fu Mai), seemingly absent upon heavy pressure. I diagnosed pregnancy, but her family doubted it. I stated this was severe morning sickness (Ezu), and the fetus was undoubtedly present. Since blood gathers in the uterus (Baogong) and Qi fails to descend, turbid Yin pathogenic factors must rise and invade, blocking the harmonious Yang Qi, leading to vomiting, regurgitation, and cold extremities. Only ginger and aconite can unblock Yang and drain turbidity. Her father-in-law feared that hot herbs would cause miscarriage. I replied, "As the Classics state, 'If there is a cause (pathogen), there will be no injury' (Yougu wuyun); do not worry." First, warm ginger juice was given, followed by rice water, stopping the vomiting. Then, Fuzi Lizhong Tang (Aconite Decoction to Regulate the Middle) with prepared Pinellia was administered. After two doses, body warmth returned. Subsequently, Yigong San (Four-Gentlemen Powder with Added Atractylodes) with Amomum and roasted ginger was used; after five doses, stability was achieved, and she delivered a daughter at term.

Zheng, suffering from alternating chills and fever, cough with phlegm, reduced appetite, and amenorrhea, was treated by doctors as a deficiency-wasting disease and given tonics. This resulted in abdominal fullness, vomiting, belching, aversion to food odors, irritability, dizziness, and timidity. Another doctor attributed it to Liver Wind and used methods to harmonize Ying and calm fright. The condition worsened to mental and physical exhaustion, with occasional syncope. The family sought my consultation. I said, "This is a fetal pulse; the right Chi position shows slipping and movement. No medication is needed." (The Classics state: "When the Yin pulses beat strongly and are distinct from the Yang, it indicates pregnancy." This means Yin beats below while Yang is distinct above, indicating harmonious Qi and Blood, which constitutes the fetal pulse. The Pulse Classic states: "Continuous, endless pulses in the Chi position indicate a fetal knot.") If medication were necessary, I temporarily prescribed a method to nourish Yin and harmonize Yang, using White Peony Root, Biota Seed, Poria, Chrysanthemum (stir-fried), Ziziphus Seed, Licorice (honey-fried), Wheat, Mulberry Leaf, and Jujube. After four doses, she gradually stabilized and later gave birth to a son.

A certain woman, with amenorrhea and mass formation suspected as blood stasis, suffered sudden abdominal pain and flooding. The doctor claimed the stasis had not moved and used purgative and resolving drugs, worsening the dribbling and distension. I said, "Since blood stasis has already moved, distension should theoretically cease." Her pulse showed Yang deficiency and Yin beating, indicating pregnancy with bleeding. I used Qiwu Ejiao San (Seven-Ingredient Donkey-Hide Gelatin Decoction) with added White Peony Root, Aucklandia, Eucommia, and Dipsacus. Bleeding stopped, distension resolved, and she subsequently conceived and delivered. This treatment secured the fetus, stopped leakage, strengthened Spleen Qi to control blood, and naturally removed distension. Pregnancy bleeding is called fetal leakage (Tailou), often caused by trauma damaging the uterine collaterals. Using attacking drugs again would disturb new blood, increasing deficiency pain and distension until miscarriage occurs.

Wei, with amenorrhea for two months, abdominal pain and distension, reduced appetite, and night fever, was treated by a doctor for amenorrhea with draining drugs, causing continuous bleeding. Another doctor used Achyranthes, Safflower, Roasted Ginger, and Bitter Orange, worsening the leakage, abdominal pain, distension, dizziness, lower back pain, irritability, and insomnia. My examination revealed strong pulsation at the Chi position and distinctness at both Cun positions, confirming a fetal pulse. However, prolonged heat and excessive attacking drugs likely damaged the fetal origin and weakened the uterine connection. I used Cyperus (processed with child's urine) and White Peony Root (stir-fried) to move Qi and harmonize Blood to relieve pain and distension; Polygonum (charred black) and Schizonepeta (vinegar-processed) to stop bleeding and relieve dizziness; Eucommia (wine-processed), Donkey-Hide Gelatin (dissolved in water), and Rehmannia (stir-fried) to secure the Kidney and grasp the lower; Poria, Ophiopogon, and Ziziphus Seed (stir-fried) to calm the Spirit and relieve irritability. After one dose, symptoms improved, and appetite returned. Feeling like the fetus was falling, I removed White Peony, Gelatin, Polygonum, and Ophiopogon from the previous formula, adding Hawthorn Fruit, Angelica Sinensis (vinegar-processed), Licorice (honey-fried), and Lotus Seed. After several doses, stability was achieved.

Xie, pregnant for over three months when male and female forms differentiated, self-diagnosed as a blood disorder. The practitioner mistakenly used attacking drugs, causing blood to flow downward and the fetus to abort. She experienced fever, sweating, irritability, dizziness, and insomnia. The requested prescription contained Peach Kernel, Achyranthes, Curcuma, and Safflower, with raw Hawthorn to be added the next morning. I was shocked. Upon inquiry, she claimed the fetus had aborted but concealed the truth. I tactfully noted that blood stasis had moved and the doctor did not know a male fetus had been expelled, sighing at how quackery kills. I urgently used Ginseng, [missing character], and Poria to consolidate Yuan Qi, assisted by Licorice (honey-fried), Schizonepeta (vinegar-processed), Donkey-Hide Gelatin (melted), Ophiopogon, Schisandra, Oyster Shell (vinegar-quenched), Longan Aril, and Red Dates. After several doses, sweating ceased, and bleeding stopped.

Tang, at four months of pregnancy, had bright red fetal leakage due to damaged uterine collaterals. Frequent use of Scutellaria-Peony-Bidentate Root Decoction led to abdominal pain and diarrhea. Her pulse was deficient and slow, indicating this was not leakage caused by fire forcing damage to collaterals, but rather required warming and tonifying to mend the gaps. I imitated Ejiao Ai Tang (Donkey-Hide Gelatin and Mugwort Decoction), using Cuttlebone, Donkey-Hide Gelatin, Eucommia, Poria, Lycium Bark, Mugwort Floss, Dipsacus, Licorice (honey-fried), and Amomum. After several doses, she stabilized.

Sui, who had miscarried repeatedly at five months of pregnancy, consulted me. I explained that at five months, the Foot-Taiyin Spleen channel nourishes the fetus, suggesting inherent Spleen Blood deficiency. For future pregnancies, I advised taking securing formulas two to three months in advance. I prescribed Taiyuan Yin (Fetal Origin Decoction) with Ginseng, Poria, Atractylodes, Licorice, Rehmannia, White Peony, Angelica, Tangerine Peel, Eucommia, Dipsacus, Amomum, Dodder Seed, Euryale Seed, Ginger, and Dates, decocted in water, taken five to seven doses monthly. The fetus became secure, resulting in the birth of a son, though only barely surviving initially, and she subsequently became infertile.

Xue, at six months of pregnancy, had hematochezia due to exertion and slight dizziness. This was an old case of intestinal wind, caused by heat injuring the Yin aspect. I used White Peony, Sophora Root (both wine-stir-fried), Angelica, Schizonepeta (both vinegar-stir-fried), Gardenia (stir-fried), Poria, Licorice (honey-fried), Donkey-Hide Gelatin (wine-dissolved), and Platycodon Leaf (crushed). Decocted in water, three doses cured the condition.

My niece, at seven months of pregnancy, suffered from chronic diarrhea, anal prolapse, foot edema, vomiting, cough, mild abdominal pain, and evening chills/fever resembling malaria. Her pulse was wiry, with the right Chi position slippery and large. This indicated sinking of Middle Qi and Wood overacting on deficient Earth. I used Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Middle-Warming Qi-Supplementing Decoction), removing Angelica and [missing character], adding Amomum, prepared Pinellia, Poria, and roasted ginger. After several doses, pain, prolapse, and chills/fever decreased. Because her intestines and stomach were chronically loose and she did not avoid rich foods, diarrhea recurred. I added stir-fried Rice Sprout, Fennel, and Roasted Ginger, achieving stability.

Feng, pregnant for over seven months, argued with her husband and was struck with a rolling pin. She suffered severe left hypochondriac pain, tearing sensation in the lower part, and fetal Qi pressing upward, causing distress. Gynecological medicines could not be swallowed; she gasped for breath, awaiting death. Her pulse was surging and rapid without limit, her body felt hot like a brand, and her face was dark red. Observing her lips and tongue were not cyanotic, I knew the fetus was undamaged and comforted her, saying, "Fortunately, both mother and child are safe." I used Achyranthes, Perilla Stem, Trichosanthes Fruit, Safflower (2 qian each), Angelica Tail, Bitter Orange (1.5 qian each), Costus Root (3 qian chopped), and Moutan Cortex (1 qian). After decoction and ingestion, panting stopped, pain resolved, and heat subsided. After consuming a bowl of porridge, she was given Qi-regulating and fetal-securing agents to stabilize.

A clan girl, at eight months of pregnancy, vomited blood due to exertion, with fresh purple blood filling a basin. Rising fire caused choking cough, malar flush, poor taste, and insomnia. Child's urine and Donkey-Hide Gelatin failed to stop the bleeding. Her pulse showed large Left Cun and Guan positions, with both Chi positions hidden. This indicated Ministerial Fire forcing damage to Yang collaterals. Fire must descend, cough must cease, and bleeding would stop naturally. I used Rehmannia, Gardenia, Forsythia, White Peony, Apricot Seed, Fritillaria, Lily Bulb, Poria, Licorice, Lotus Seed, Rush Pith, and Donkey-Hide Gelatin (melted). After three doses, cough became sparse, bleeding stopped, and sleep was peaceful. Later, I used Rehmannia, Angelica, White Peony, Eucommia (salt-water stir-fried), and Lycium Bark (roasted) to solidify the Lower Origin, and the Chi pulse rose.

Lu, approaching labor, had abdominal pain and bleeding. Her pulse was short and slippery, with the left side deficient and hollow. I said, "The pulse has not separated from the meridian; this is certainly not normal delivery." The right Guan position being short and slippery indicated food stagnation. Abdominal pain with red discharge was due to trauma. I recommended moving Qi and nourishing Blood. I used Red Rice Qu, Tangerine Peel, and Hawthorn Fruit to promote Qi movement and resolve stagnation, and Angelica and White Peony to harmonize Blood and relieve pain. She delivered after more than twenty days.

A certain woman, overdue for delivery, might have had menstrual cycles mistaken for pregnancy. She claimed to have been pregnant for two years, with lactation and abdominal enlargement but no delivery. Plans were made to induce abortion, but careful diagnosis showed it was not a delivery pulse. One must realize that if a sieve is not plugged, how can pregnancy form? There is absolutely no rationale for attacking and dropping. Although a strange case, it should be treated with standard methods, known only to those who understand principles. The formula used Rehmannia, Codonopsis, Angelica, White Peony, Atractylodes, Licorice (honey-fried), Eucommia, Lycium, Dipsacus, Amomum, Tangerine Peel, Lotus Seed, and Dates. This is a Qi-controlling-Blood formula. With continued use, leakage stopped, the fetus grew, and after twenty additional doses, she delivered after another eight to nine months.