薛立斋治一产妇头痛,日用补中益气汤不缺,已三年矣,稍劳则恶寒发热,为阳气虚,以前汤加附子一钱,
数剂遂不发。
一妇人产后,头疼面青二年矣,日服四物等药。薛谓肾水不能生肝木而血虚,用六味丸加五味子,两月而痊。
缪仲淳治黄桂峰乃正,产后头痛,大便秘,用生料五积散一剂不效。令加归身一两,一服大便通,头疼立止。
薛立斋治一膏粱之妇,产后,月经不调,唇裂内热,每 作,服寒凉之剂,后不时出水,薛用加味清胃散
而愈。后值春令,兼怒,唇口肿胀,寒热作呕,痰盛少食,用小柴胡加山栀、茯苓、桔梗,诸症顿退。但内热
仍作,乃以加味逍遥散,调理而安。
沈明生治袁令默女,素禀不足,分娩后,体倦发热,医者以其弱龄瘦质,且遵丹溪产后当大补之法,遂以
参、 进之,病益甚。诊之,脉浮而涩,此不惟有瘀血,且有风寒在内。夫瘀血未尽,外邪初感,均有用参之
诫,是以补之无功耳。遂用解表散瘀之剂,三四服后,热除胸爽。然倦怠如故,曰∶参、 之用,此其时矣。
而袁惩噎废食,因循勿与。越至四五日,忽舌喑不语,或用茯神、枣仁,或用南、半、姜、橘,或用芩、连,
皆不效。复延治,察其神情,虽不能语,然每对食物,辄注目以视,得食则神稍旺,更衣则神即疲,且脉空而
大。经云∶脾之脉,连舌本,散舌下。心之别脉系舌本。今火土两虚,医药杂乱。经又云∶言而微,终日乃
复言者,此夺气也。况经月不语乎,不惟用参,且应用附矣。服五六日,诸症悉愈。夫病机者,间不容发,有
昨宜用攻,而今宜用补,旦宜用热,而夕宜用凉,惟视其机之所在,以法合病耳。故是症也,不用补之害,与
骤补之害,同失其机甚矣,机之难也。
Xue Lizhai treated a postpartum woman suffering from headache. She had been taking Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) daily without interruption for three years. Whenever she exerted herself slightly, she experienced aversion to cold and fever, indicating deficiency of Yang Qi. Xue added one qian of Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root) to the previous prescription. After several doses, the symptoms ceased to recur.
Another woman suffered from headache and a bluish complexion for two years after childbirth, taking Siwu Tang (Four Substance Decoction) and other medicines daily. Xue reasoned that Kidney Water failed to nourish Liver Wood, resulting in Blood deficiency. He prescribed Liuwei Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia) with added Wuweizi (Schisandra Fruit). She recovered after two months.
Miao Zhongchun treated the wife of Huang Guifeng, who suffered from postpartum headache and constipation. Shengliao Wuji San (Raw Material Five Accumulations Powder) was ineffective after one dose. Miao instructed adding one liang of Dangshen (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) to the formula. After one dose, bowel movement became unobstructed, and the headache stopped immediately.
Xue Lizhai treated a well-fed woman who, after childbirth, suffered from irregular menstruation, cracked lips, and internal heat. Each time these symptoms occurred, she took cold-natured medicines, which later caused intermittent salivation. Xue cured her using Jiawei Qingwei San (Modified Stomach-Clearing Powder). Later, during spring, anger triggered swelling of the lips and mouth, alternating chills and fever, vomiting, excessive phlegm, and poor appetite. Xiao Chaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) with Shanzhi (Gardenia Fruit), Fuling (Poria), and Jiegeng (Platycodon Root) rapidly alleviated all symptoms. However, internal heat persisted, so Jiawei Xiaoyao San (Modified Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) was used for regulation, leading to stability.
Shen Mingsheng treated the daughter of Yuan Lingmo, who had an innate constitutional deficiency. After delivery, she experienced fatigue and fever. The physician, noting her young age and emaciated physique, and following Danxi’s principle that postpartum cases require substantial tonification, administered Renshen (Ginseng Root) and Huangqi (Astragalus Root). The condition worsened. Pulse examination revealed floating and choppy qualities, indicating not only blood stasis but also internal Wind-Cold. Since blood stasis was unresolved and external pathogens were newly contracted, the use of Ginseng was contraindicated; hence, tonification failed. Shen prescribed a formula to release the exterior and dissipate stasis. After three or four doses, the fever subsided, and the chest felt clear. However, fatigue remained. Shen stated, "Now is the time to use Renshen and Huangqi." However, Yuan, traumatized by previous adverse reactions to tonics causing dysphagia and food refusal, delayed administration. Four or five days later, she suddenly lost her voice (aphonia). Treatments with Fushen (Poria with Hostwood), Zaoren (Ziziphus Seed), Banxia (Pinellia Tuber), Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger), Chenpi (Tangerine Peel), Huangqin (Scutellaria Root), and Lianzi (Lotus Plumule) proved ineffective. Upon re-examination, although she could not speak, she focused intently on food; eating improved her spirit slightly, while defecation exhausted it. Her pulse was empty and large. The *Classic of Acupuncture* states: "The Spleen meridian connects to the root of the tongue and spreads beneath it. The Heart's divergent meridian ties to the root of the tongue." Currently, both Fire (Heart) and Earth (Spleen) are deficient, and medical interventions have been chaotic. The *Classic* also states: "Speaking faintly, only speaking again after a whole day, indicates loss of Qi." How much more so when silence persists for a month? Not only should Ginseng be used, but Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root) is also indicated. After five or six doses, all symptoms resolved. Pathogenesis changes leave no room for delay; what is suitable for attack yesterday may suit tonification today; what is hot in the morning may be cool in the evening. One must align treatment methods with the specific pathogenic mechanism. Thus, in this case, the harm of failing to tonify is equal to the harm of hasty tonification; both represent missing the critical moment. The difficulty of grasping the pathogenic mechanism is profound.