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In general, after childbirth, the body is fatigued and exhausted, damaging both the Spleen and Stomach. When the Stomach is injured by food intake, it loses its ability to accept grain foods. Therefore, immediately postpartum, one must prohibit the consumption of rich, greasy, and sweet foods, avoid strong flavors, and prioritize eating porridge and vegetables. Families that fail to care for the patient properly often worry only about the mother's deficiency, believing that abundant food is beneficial and that rich flavors constitute tonification. They force-feed the patient even when she has no appetite, leading to food injury in the Stomach, inability to digest grains, sluggish transport and transformation by the Spleen, stagnation causing fullness and obstruction, belching with sour regurgitation, and aversion to food. Treatment should primarily focus on supporting the Yuan Qi (Original Qi), warming and tonifying Qi and Blood, strengthening and assisting the Spleen and Stomach, nurturing the righteous Qi while simultaneously resolving stagnation. One must ascertain what specific food caused the injury and add herbs to promote digestion accordingly. This allows the Spleen Qi to recover, restoring its function of transporting and distributing essences; as stagnant matter moves, the Stomach begins to crave food again. Food and drink are the flavor source of Yuan Qi, and this is especially crucial for supplementation after childbirth. Due to fatigue injuring the Spleen, the body cannot tolerate heavy, sweet, or cloying foods. Light flavors should be introduced gradually to speed up digestion and transformation. Additionally, warm and tonifying formulas can be used, assisted by Shen Qu (Medicated Leaven) and Mai Ya (Sprouted Hordeum Seed) to resolve injuries from wheat and rice; Shan Zha (Crataegus Fruit) and Sha Ren (Amomum Fruit) to resolve meat injuries; and if cold substances were ingested, Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia Fruit) and Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig) should also be added. By treating with both tonification and resolution simultaneously, stability is achieved. It is frequently observed that treatments focusing solely on postpartum weakness lead practitioners to use only rapid digestive agents, which inadvertently damages True Qi and exacerbates fullness and oppression. If one prescription fails, harsher drugs are added; if one physician fails, another is consulted. The succession of varied prescriptions worsens mild conditions into severe ones, causing those who already had poor appetite to become more deficient. Consequently, cases where patients completely lose their desire to eat account for eight or nine out of ten. Patients blame fate, while physicians believe they have exhausted their skills—what a pity.

Jiawei Shenghua Tang (Modified Birth-Invigorating Decoction): Treats postpartum blood stasis clots that have not yet dissipated; take this formula to aid digestion.
Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum Rhizome) (2 qian), Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis Root) (5 qian), Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger) (4 fen), Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Licorice Root) (5 fen), Tao Ren (Peach Kernel) (10 grains).
For injury from wheat/rice: Add Shen Qu (1 qian), Mai Ya (1 qian, stir-fried).
For meat injury: Add Shan Zha (5 grains), Sha Ren (5 fen).
For cold injury with hypochondriac pain: Add Wu Zhu Yu (1 qian), Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark) (5 fen).
For extreme deficiency: Add Ren Shen (2 qian), taken over two doses.

Jianpi Xiaoshi Shenghua Tang (Spleen-Strengthening Digestive Birth-Invigorating Decoction): Treats postpartum abdominal pain from blood stasis after the clots have resolved; take this formula to aid digestion.
Chuan Xiong (1 qian), Dang Gui (3 qian), Zhi Gan Cao (5 fen), Ren Shen (2 qian), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) (1.5 qian), Shen Qu (1 qian), Mai Ya (5 fen).
For meat injury: Add Shan Zha (5 grains), Sha Ren (6 fen).
For food stagnation: Do not use Bai Zhu; use Ren Shen instead.
If cold stagnation persists for a long time and the Spleen and Stomach are weak, so that medicines do not circulate effectively, abdominal massage and application of stir-fried flour packs are recommended.

Changsheng Huoming Dan (Longevity and Life-Saving Pill): For patients with food stagnation who mistakenly took excessive digestive/resolving medications and have abstained from congee for several days; this formula is suitable. It is also miraculous for miscellaneous diseases where mistaken depletion therapies led to anorexia.
Ren Shen (2 qian).
Decoct half a water cup (zhong) until reduced to half a cup. First, administer one wine cup (jiu zhan) of the decoction, followed by three spoons of powder made from scorched rice crust (guo jiao). Gradually increase the amount of Ginseng decoction. The scorched rice crust helps stimulate stomach Qi. The Ginseng decoction must be prepared in a new pot or using a copper spoon, to prevent nausea induced by the medicinal aroma. Medical records confirm the efficacy of this formula. Ren Shen is named "Changsheng Cao" (Herb of Longevity), and scorched rice crust is named "Huoming Dan" (Life-Saving Pill). This formula has saved thousands of lives through extensive experience, hence the repeated emphasis on its usage.