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(Ghost Fetus, also known as Yaksha Fetus.)

Whenever a woman's Qi and Blood are abundant, her Zang-Fu organs are harmonious, and her mind is upright and pure, she will not suffer from the condition of Ghost Fetus. However, if Ying and Wei Qi are deficient and damaged, spirit and vitality are weak, evil thoughts accumulate and pour in, causing stagnation and reversal in the Chong and Ren meridians, and the pulse channels become congested with blood stasis that fails to flow, resulting in a physical state resembling pregnancy; thus it is called Ghost Fetus. Upon careful investigation of its principle, the so-called Ghost Fetus is actually a pseudo-fetus. Just as when a person harbors illicit sexual desires, the Minister Fire (Xiang Huo) of the Liver and Kidney activates spontaneously; some may dream of intercourse with spirits or ghosts. This does not mean that actual spirits or ghosts have engaged in intercourse to form a fetus. As stated in the classics: "Thoughts are endless, wishes remain unfulfilled." White discharge (Bai Yin) and turbid urine (Bai Zhuo) flow into the uterus, condensing into a Ghost Fetus. This is essentially a mass formed by the aggregation of the woman's own blood and seminal fluids. The blood coagulates with Qi and does not disperse, leading to fullness and distension in the chest and abdomen, appearing exactly like pregnancy. Is this not a pseudo-fetus? Therefore, the pulse of Ghost Fetus presents as deep, fine, wiry, and choppy, or sometimes floating and empty, sometimes deep and tight, fluctuating between large and small. These are all signs of insufficient Yang Qi. Although the abdomen gradually enlarges and feels heavy and dragging, it ultimately differs from a normal fetus. Even if there is slight movement at or below the umbilicus on the left side, it is distinctly different from true fetal movement. Thus, once menstrual irregularities are observed, regulation and tonification should be initiated immediately to avoid such affliction. If caused by amenorrhea and blood stasis, it belongs to categories such as Blood Mass (Xue Jia) or Qi Mass (Qi Jia). In such cases, the pathology has already formed, and treatment should primarily focus on regulating and tonifying Yuan Qi, followed by the use of herbs that resolve accumulations. However, among formulas that combine tonification with purgation, none is superior to Juejin Decoction (Juejin Jian). To remove stagnation without using harsh and drastic drugs, none is better than Tongyu Decoction (Tongyu Jian). If caused by insufficiency of Yang Qi or injury due to Liver-Spleen depression and anger, preventing the generation and diffusion of Qi, leading to the failure of Yin Blood transformation and amenorrhea, with gradual abdominal enlargement, Jiawei Guipi Tang (Modified Spleen-Tonifying Decoction) and Jiawei Xiaoyao San (Modified Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) can be used, plus eight fen of Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, peeled). For dry cough, honey-processed treatment will lead to self-healing. Furthermore, encounters with fox-spirit or other supernatural entities involve actual external pathogenic reception, which does not fall under the category of Ghost Fetus; methods for treating masses (Zhen Jia) involving purgation should be sought. It is also commonly seen that after conception, menstruation stops, and the Chi pulse is either choppy or weak and faint, without other diseases. This indicates incomplete True Qi of the Uterus. Although Jing and Blood have condensed, Yang deficiency prevents Yin from transforming, so the fetus ultimately fails to take shape. This often results in the expulsion of blood clots and placental membranes during delivery. Large doses of warming and tonifying medicines must be used for pre-conditioning before successful pregnancy can be achieved.

Juejin Decoction (Juejin Jian): Treats women with Blood deficiency causing menstrual stagnation, where flow is obstructed and pain is severe. It acts like water replenishing water; just as a river breach clears all accumulated silt, this decoction is used with modifications based on syndrome differentiation. It is a miraculous agent that uses tonification to achieve purgation.

Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) (3-5 qian or 1 liang), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma) (1.5 qian), Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix) (2 qian), Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) (1, 2, or 3 qian), Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata) (2-3 qian or 5-7 qian, or may be omitted), Wuyao (Linderae Radix) (1 qian, may be omitted if Qi is deficient).

Decoct 2 zhong of water until reduced to 70-80%, take before meals. If vomiting and nausea occur, add Jiaojiang (Scorched Zingiberis Rhizoma) 1-2 qian. If Yin stagnation fails to move, Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) must be added. If Qi stagnation causes distension and pain, add Xiangfu (Cyperii Rhizoma) 1-2 qian, or Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix) 0.7-0.8 qian. If Blood stagnation and涩 (astringency/stasis) occur, add Honghua (Carthami Flos) wine-fried 1-2 qian. If the lower abdomen is cold and pain is severe, add Wuzhuyu (Evodiae Fructus) 0.7-0.8 qian. If stool is constipated and dry, add Rongzhuong (Cistanches Herba) 1-3 qian; for mild cases, Shanzha (Crataegi Fructus) can substitute. If Qi is deficient, use less Xiangfu and Chenpi; for severe cases, they may be omitted.

Tongyu Decoction (Tongyu Jian): Treats women with Qi stagnation and Blood accumulation, unsmooth meridians, severe pain with refusal to press, postpartum real pain due to blood stasis, as well as Blood rebellion and Blood syncope in both men and women.

Guiwei (Angelicae Sinensis Radix Cauda) (3-5 qian), Shanzha (Crataegi Fructus), Xiangfu (Cyperii Rhizoma, processed), Honghua (Carthami Flos, fresh stir-fried until yellow, each 2 qian), Wuyao (Linderae Radix) (1-2 qian), Qingpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma) (each 1.5 qian), Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix) (0.7 qian).

Decoct 2 zhong of water until reduced to 70%, add 1-2 small zhong of wine, take before meals. For combined Cold stagnation, add Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) 1 qian or Wuzhuyu (Evodiae Fructus) 0.5 qian. For excess Fire and internal heat with dry Blood failing to flow, add Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus) stir-fried 1-2 qian. For mild Heat with Blood deficiency, add Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) 2 qian. For Blood deficiency with astringent stagnation, add Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix). For Blood stasis failing to move, add Taoren (Persicae Semen) 20 grains, peeled and de-pitted, or add Sumu (Sappan Lignum) or Yuanyan (Cyathulae Radix).

For extreme stasis with dry and constipated stool, add Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) 1-2 qian.

Jiawei Guipi Tang (See Volume [X], Section on Metrorrhagia and Spontaneous Abortion, attached under Guipi Tang.) Jiawei Xiaoyao San (See Volume [X], Section on Subcostal Distension, attached under Xiaoyao San.)