薛立斋治一产妇人,小便频数,时忽寒战,乃属脾肺虚弱,用补中益气汤加山药为主,佐以桑螵蛸散而安。
一产妇患前症,吐痰发热,日晡作渴,此膀胱阴虚,用补中益气汤,佐以六味丸而愈。又患痢后小便频数,
手足俱冷,属阳气虚寒,用前汤及八味丸而瘳。
一产妇小便不禁,二年不愈,或面色青赤,或黄白,此肝脾气血虚热,用加味逍遥散为主渐愈,佐以六味
丸而痊。后因怒,小便自遗,大便不实,左目顿紧,面色顿赤,仍用前散,佐六君子汤以清肝火,生肝血,培
土而瘳。
一产妇小水淋沥,或时自出,用分利降火之剂,二年不愈。以为肺肾气虚,用补中益气及六味丸而痊。
薛立斋治一产妇,大便秘结,小腹胀痛,用大黄等药,致吐泻不食,腹痛,胸结痞。用六君子汤加木香、
炮姜,治之而愈。
孙文垣治沈三石夫人,产三日,腹不畅。女科为下之,大泻五六次,遂发热恶心。又用温胆汤止吐,小柴
胡退热,数剂,食吐不止,粒米不进。又用八珍汤加童便,昏愦耳聋,眼合口渴,肠鸣,(发热恶心,耳聋口渴,
多似感症。然此实误下虚之所致,所谓变症蜂起也。)眼胞上下及手足背皆浮肿。诊之,六脉皆数,曰∶脉
数所主,其邪为热,其症为虚。与十全大补汤加炮姜,夜半稍清爽,进一盂,始得开目言语。次日午,以药不接,
且言语过多,复昏,时不知人事。翌日,以人参、白术各三钱,炮姜、茯苓、陈皮各一钱,甘草五分,服讫,体
微汗,遍身痱痤,热退神爽。下午,药又不接,且动怒,昏昧如前,六脉散乱无伦,状如解索,痱痤亦没,亟
以人参、白术各五钱,炙甘草、炮姜、制附子各一钱,连进二帖,是夜熟睡,惟呼吸之气尚促。(屡进皆效,后
之肿毒,自非实症也。)次日,脉转数,下午发热不退,环跳穴边发一毒如碗大,红肿微痛。女科复赞曰∶向之
发热恶心,皆此所致,姜、附温补误也,须急进寒凉解毒之剂。孙曰∶此乃胃中虚火,游行无制,大虚之症,非
毒也。若用寒凉,速其死耳。经云∶壮者气行则愈,怯者着而或病,惟大补庶可万全。三石然之,仍与前剂,日
夕二帖,参、术皆用七钱。服后,痱痤即起,毒散无踪,热亦退。再以参苓白术散调理而安。是症皆由误下,致
变幻百出,可不慎哉。
按∶是症多由产后血津虚耗,及平素多火内热之人常有之。虽日数过甚,亦无所害。即欲通之,惟大
剂二冬、二地、归、杞、苁蓉,不过一二服即行矣。彼桃、杏、麻、柏及胆蜜之治,犹下乘也。若硝、黄
肆用,诚庸医也。
薛立斋治一妇,产后大小便不通,诸药不应,将危矣。令饮牛乳,一日稍通,三日而痊。人乳尤善。(人乳腻
滞,不如牛乳之无弊。)
Dr. Xue Lizhai treated a postpartum woman with frequent urination and sudden chills, which he attributed to deficiency and weakness of the Spleen and Lung. He used Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) with Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Shanyao, 山药) as the main prescription, assisted by Sangpiaoxiao San (Mantis Egg-case Powder), and she recovered.
Another postpartum woman suffered from the aforementioned symptoms, along with vomiting phlegm, fever, and thirst in the late afternoon. This was diagnosed as Yin deficiency of the Bladder. She was treated with Buzhong Yiqi Tang assisted by Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia) and was cured. Later, she developed frequent urination after dysentery, with cold hands and feet, indicating Yang deficiency and cold. She was treated with the previous decoction and Bawei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill, also known as Jin Gui Shenqi Wan) and recovered.
A postpartum woman suffered from urinary incontinence for two years without cure. Her complexion was sometimes bluish-red or yellowish-white, indicating deficiency and heat of Liver and Spleen Qi and Blood. She was gradually improved using Jiawei Xiaoyao San (Modified Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) as the main formula, assisted by Liuwei Dihuang Wan, until fully recovered. Later, due to anger, she experienced spontaneous urinary leakage, loose stools, sudden tightening of the left eye, and flushed complexion. The same Xiao Yao San was used again, assisted by Liujunzi Tang (Six-Gentlemen Decoction) to clear Liver fire, nourish Liver blood, and strengthen the Earth (Spleen), leading to recovery.
Another postpartum woman had dribbling urine and occasional spontaneous leakage. After two years of unsuccessful treatment with diuretic and fire-clearing agents, it was determined to be Qi deficiency of the Lung and Kidney. She was cured using Buzhong Yiqi Tang and Liuwei Dihuang Wan.
Dr. Xue Lizhai treated a postpartum woman with constipation and lower abdominal distension and pain. The use of Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) and other purgatives led to vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, abdominal pain, and chest fullness. She was cured using Liujunzi Tang (Six-Gentlemen Decoction) with Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix) and Pao Jiang (Prepared Zingiberis Rhizoma).
Dr. Sun Wenyuan treated Mrs. Shen Sanshi, who, three days postpartum, felt abdominal discomfort. A gynecologist administered purgatives, causing severe diarrhea five or six times, followed by fever and nausea. Wendan Tang (Warm the Gallbladder Decoction) was used to stop vomiting, and Xiaochaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) to reduce fever. After several doses, vomiting persisted, and she could not eat anything. Bazhen Tang (Eight-Treasure Decoction) with Tongbian (Child's Urine) was then used, resulting in stupor, deafness, closed eyes, thirst, and borborygmus. (Fever, nausea, deafness, and thirst often resemble exterior syndromes. However, this was actually caused by erroneous purgation damaging deficiency, leading to a multitude of changing symptoms.) Swelling appeared on the eyelids and the dorsum of the hands and feet. Pulse diagnosis revealed rapid pulses in all positions. Dr. Sun stated: "Rapid pulses indicate heat pathogen, but the symptoms reflect deficiency." He prescribed Shiquan Dabu Tang (Complete Great Tonifying Decoction) with Pao Jiang. By midnight, she felt slightly refreshed; after drinking one bowl, she opened her eyes and spoke. The next day at noon, due to a gap in medication and excessive talking, she fell into stupor again, intermittently losing consciousness. On the following day, he prescribed Renshen (Ginseng Radix) and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) each 3 qian, Pao Jiang, Fuling (Poria), and Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) each 1 qian, and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) 0.5 qian. After ingestion, she sweated slightly, developed miliaria-like rashes over her body, the fever subsided, and her spirit cleared. In the afternoon, another gap in medication and anger caused her to become confused again. The six pulses were scattered and chaotic, resembling a loosened rope, and the rashes disappeared. Urgently, he prescribed Renshen and Baizhu each 5 qian, Zhigancao (Honey-fried Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Pao Jiang, and Zhi Fuzi (Prepared Aconiti Lateralis Radix) each 1 qian. Two doses were administered consecutively. That night, she slept soundly, though her breathing remained somewhat rapid. (Repeated administration proved effective; the subsequent abscess was clearly not an excess syndrome.) The next day, the pulse became rapid, and fever persisted in the afternoon. A large, bowl-sized abscess with redness, swelling, and slight pain erupted near the Huantiao (GB30) acupoint. The gynecologist remarked: "The previous fever and nausea were caused by this. The warming and tonifying actions of Ginger and Aconite were errors. We must urgently administer cold and cool detoxifying agents." Dr. Sun replied: "This is deficient fire wandering in the Stomach, uncontrolled, representing a severe deficiency syndrome, not a toxic abscess. If cold-cooling agents are used, death will be hastened. The Classics state: 'Those who are strong recover as Qi moves; those who are weak suffer when pathogens linger.' Only great tonification can ensure safety." Mr. Shen agreed, continuing the previous prescription, two doses daily and nightly, increasing Renshen and Baizhu to 7 qian each. After taking the medicine, the miliaria reappeared, the abscess dispersed without a trace, and the fever subsided. She was further regulated with Shenling Baizhu San (Ginseng, Poria, and Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder) and stabilized. This case arose from erroneous purgation, leading to myriad changes; how can one not be cautious?
Note: Such cases often occur in women with depleted blood and fluids postpartum, or in those prone to internal heat and fire. Although suffering for many days causes distress, it is not harmful. If bowel movement needs to be induced, large doses of Donggu (Tian Dong, Asparagi Radix), Maidong (Mai Dong, Ophiopogonis Radix), Shengdi (Rehmanniae Radix), Shudi (Prepared Rehmanniae Radix), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Gouqi (Lycii Fructus), and Rongrong (Cistanche Deserticolae Caulis) for one or two doses will suffice. Treatments using Taoren (Pruni Semen), Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum), Maziren (Cannabis Fructus), Baiziren (Platycladi Semen), Dan Nanxing (Bile Arisaematis), and honey are considered inferior methods. Indiscriminate use of Xiaoshi (Natrii Sulfas) and Da Huang constitutes malpractice by quacks.
Dr. Xue Lizhai treated a woman with postpartum retention of both urine and feces. Various medicines failed, and her condition became critical. He instructed her to drink cow's milk. Her bowels moved slightly after one day, and she recovered completely after three days. Human milk is even better. (Human milk is cloying and sticky, whereas cow's milk has no such drawbacks.)