南濠陈鳌妻新产四五日患腹痛恶寒发热医曰此原气大虚正合丹溪云产后当大补气血遂用
人参
大剂入口痛剧面黑发喘而死殊不知丹溪以产后当以大补气血为主治虽有杂症以末治之今陈氏
之妻因瘀血未尽而恶寒发热不先去其恶血骤施大补是失丹溪主末二字之意矣主末者即标本之
谓也
余治一妇人新产后七日为将息失宜腠理不密偶因风寒所侵身热头痛两眼反视手足螈 名
曰蓐
风用荆芥穗一味新瓦上焙干为细末豆淋酒调下二钱其疾即愈古人珍秘此方隐FS 其名故曰举卿
古拜散盖用韵之切语举卿为荆故拜为芥曾公谈录谓之再生丹亦神之也
仇远稗史载奉化陆严以医术行于时新昌徐氏妇病产后暴死但胸膈微热陆诊之曰此血闷也
用红
花数十斤以大锅煮之候汤沸以木桶盛汤将藉病者寝其上熏之汤气微复进之有顷妇人指动半日
遂苏此法亦许胤宗治王太后病中风不能言之余意去
钱仲阳以颅囟著名其治一产妇因事大恐而病病虽愈目张不得闭人皆不能晓以问于钱钱曰
病名
胆衡煮郁李仁酒饮之使醉则愈所以然者目系内连肝胆恐则气结胆衡不下郁李仁可去结随酒入
胆结去胆下目则能闭矣如言而效昔人称钱仲阳医如李靖用兵度越纵舍卒与法会观此信然
妇人性偏执任气况多嗜欲易为七情所伤或经水二三月不行一身百病胸膈咽塞呕吐恶心全
不
喜食或吐酸水痰涎或一块如卵筑筑心下而疼或腹中有块或左或右动则作痛时发哄热四肢无力
惟
喜食果子杂物此是有孕当以脉参之宜安胎理气消痰为主不可专恃攻击通经等剂所谓孕妇做得
百般病者此也
Chen Ao's wife from Nan Hao suffered from abdominal pain, aversion to cold, and fever four or five days after childbirth. The physician reasoned that this was due to a severe deficiency of Yuan Qi (Original Qi), aligning with Zhu Danxi's principle that "postpartum conditions require substantial tonification of Qi and Blood." Consequently, he administered a large dose of Renshen (Ginseng Root). Upon ingestion, the pain intensified, her complexion turned black, she developed asthma (wheezing/shortness of breath), and died. They failed to realize that although Zhu Danxi advocated for tonifying Qi and Blood as the primary treatment postpartum, any concurrent miscellaneous symptoms should be treated as secondary (Biao/Mark). In this case, Chen's wife suffered from aversion to cold and fever due to incomplete expulsion of lochia (stagnant blood). Failing to first remove the stagnant blood and instead abruptly applying strong tonification violated Zhu Danxi's distinction between "Zhu" (Primary/Root) and "Mo" (Secondary/Mark). "Zhu" and "Mo" refer to Ben (Root/Etiology) and Biao (Manifestation/Symptom).
I once treated a woman seven days postpartum who, due to improper recuperation and lax pores (Cou Li), contracted wind-cold. She presented with fever, headache, eyes rolling upward, and convulsions of the hands and feet, a condition known as Ru Feng (Postpartum Wind). I prescribed only Jingjie Sui (Schizonepeta Spike), roasted on a new tile until dry, ground into a fine powder, and taken with Dou Lin Jiu (Soybean-infused wine) in a dose of two qian. The disease was cured immediately. Ancient physicians treasured and kept secret this prescription, hiding its name, hence calling it "Ju Qing Gu Bai San." This is because "Ju Qing" is a phonetic abbreviation for Jing (Schizonepeta), and "Gu Bai" for Jie (Shedding). Zeng Gong's Tan Lu referred to it as "Zai Sheng Dan" (Rebirth Pill), emphasizing its miraculous efficacy.
Qiu Yuan's Baishi records that Lu Yan from Fenghua was renowned for his medical skills. A woman from the Xu family in Xinchang suddenly died after childbirth, but her chest and diaphragm remained slightly warm. Lu Yan diagnosed this as Xue Men (Blood Stagnation obstructing Qi). He used tens of jin of Hong Hua (Carthamus Flower), boiled them in a large pot. When the decoction boiled, he filled a wooden barrel with the hot liquid and had the patient lie over it to fumigate. As the heat diminished, he replenished the hot liquid. After a while, the patient's fingers moved, and half a day later, she regained consciousness. This method resembles that of Xu Yinzong, who treated Empress Wang for stroke-induced aphasia. My interpretation aligns with this approach.
Qian Zhongyang was famous for his expertise in cranial fontanelle diagnosis. He treated a puerpera who fell ill due to extreme fright. Although the illness subsided, her eyes remained open and could not close. Others were puzzled and asked Qian. Qian explained: "This disease is named Dan Heng (Balancing Gallbladder). It requires boiling Yuli Ren (Prunus Armeniaca Seed/Dried Apricot Kernel) and administering it with wine to induce intoxication, which will cure the condition. The reason is that the eye system connects internally to the Liver and Gallbladder; fright causes Qi stagnation, preventing the Gallbladder Qi from descending. Yuli Ren can resolve stagnation. With the aid of wine entering the Gallbladder channel, the stagnation clears, Gallbladder Qi descends, and the eyes can close." Following his advice, the result was effective. Ancients praised Qian Zhongyang's medical practice as comparable to Li Jing's military strategy, where movements and pauses ultimately conformed to tactical principles. This case confirms such praise.
Women often have stubborn personalities and are prone to desires, making them susceptible to injury by the Seven Emotions (Joy, Anger, Worry, Thought, Sadness, Fear, Fright). Some women may have amenorrhea for two or three months, suffering from various ailments, a sensation of blockage in the chest, diaphragm, and throat, vomiting, nausea, and complete anorexia; or they may vomit sour fluid or phlegm-saliva; or feel a lump like an egg under the heart that throbs and hurts; or have masses in the abdomen, left or right, causing pain upon movement, accompanied by occasional flushing and limb weakness. They may crave fruits and miscellaneous items. This indicates pregnancy. One must verify this through pulse diagnosis. Treatment should focus on stabilizing the fetus, regulating Qi, and resolving phlegm. One should not rely solely on purgative or menstruation-inducing agents. This explains the saying that "pregnant women can suffer from a hundred diseases."