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Both men and women are born endowing the qi of heaven and earth. The syndromes caused by external contraction or internal injury are not different, but women have specific treatments for regulating menstruation, antenatal care, and postpartum care; therefore, a separate department (Gynecology) is established. Men's blood should be quiet rather than active; if it becomes active, diseases such as hematemesis (vomiting blood), epistaxis (nosebleed), and hematochezia (blood in stool) will arise. Women's blood should be active rather than static; if it becomes static, diseases such as amenorrhea (closure of menstruation) and blood dryness will arise. In summary, regulating menstruation focuses on regulating qi, with tonifying the Heart and Spleen as the main approach, because blood cannot circulate without qi, the Heart generates blood, and the Spleen controls blood. Antenatal treatment focuses on clearing heat and tonifying the Spleen, because when heat is cleared, the fetus is secure, and when the Spleen is strong, the fetus does not miscarry. Postpartum treatment focuses on greatly tonifying qi and blood, while simultaneously moving stagnation, because after childbirth, qi and blood are severely deficient, and there is often blood stasis. Although various symptoms may appear, they are treated as secondary; Shenghua Tang (Decoction for Generating Blood) is truly a sage prescription. Understanding this, one grasps the essentials of Gynecology.

When the Shaoyin Heart pulse beats vigorously in women, pregnancy has been conceived; if it feels slippery and rapid without dispersing upon palpation, the pregnancy is likely three months old; if only rapid without dispersing, the gender can be distinguished at five months; a rapid pulse on the left indicates a male fetus, and on the right, a female fetus. Thus, the *Mai Jue* (Pulse Classic) states: "Rapid pulse at the Chi position, slippery at the Guan position, and full at the Cun position; Yang pulse thunders while Yin pulse distinguishes itself, like a sparrow jumping." This refers to these phenomena. If the fetal qi deviates from the normal course, or if the pulse rate is two or three beats per breath, it is a sign of impending delivery. During pregnancy, the pulse should be surging, rapid, and forceful; if it is deep and faint, difficult delivery is certain, indicating that qi and blood have deteriorated. After childbirth, the pulse should be slow, small, and weak; a solid, large, wiry, or firm pulse is contraindicated, indicating that the pulse contradicts the condition and pathogenic qi is excessive.

The Classics state: "At fourteen years of age, Tian Gui (heavenly water/essence) arrives in women, the Chong and Ren meridians become full and abundant, menstruation occurs regularly, and conception becomes possible." Therefore, those who follow the normal pattern are disease-free. If menstruation comes early, late, twice a month, once every few months, stops completely, or presents as metrorrhagia (heavy bleeding) or leukorrhea with spotting, all represent a deviation from the normal pattern and require regulation. The methods of regulation are: clear heat if hot, warm cold if cold, tonify deficiency if weak, move stagnation if blocked, consolidate if slipping, lift sinking if prolapsed, treat according to the syndrome, and aim for balance. For example, Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus), and Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) are heat-clearing menstrual regulators; Dingxiang (Caryophylli Flos), Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex), Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), and Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) are warming menstrual regulators; Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), and Fuling (Poria) are deficiency-tonifying agents; Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Danggui, Fuzi, Qingpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride), and Yuanhu (Corydalis Rhizoma) are stagnation-moving agents; Muli (Ostreae Concha), Chishizhi (Halloysit Rubrum), Zonglühui (Caryotae Fibra Cinis), and Cebaiye (Platycladi Cacumen) are astringent agents; Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Jingjie (Schizonepetae Spica), and Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix) are lifting agents. Used according to the syndrome, they are invariably effective.

There are three types of irregular menstruation in women: first, Spleen deficiency; second, damage to the Chong and Ren meridians; third, obstruction by phlegm-fat. Treatment must be carefully considered. For those with Spleen-Stomach weakness, the Classics state: "Diseases of the Two Yangs originate in the Heart and Spleen, leading to amenorrhea in women." The "Two Yangs" refer to the Yangming Stomach. The Stomach governs the reception of grains, nourishing qi and blood over time, irrigating the zang-fu organs, and circulating through the collaterals; it is the sea of food and fluid and the mother of qi and blood. Only worry and overthinking injure the Heart; when Heart qi is injured, Spleen qi loses nourishment, leading to depression and blockage, failure of transformation and transportation. Consequently, the function of long-term nourishment and irrigation is lost. Thus, Spleen-Stomach weakness leads to reduced appetite, gradual consumption of qi, gradual depletion of blood, resulting initially in blood dryness, blood closure, pale blood color, delayed onset of menstruation, and infrequent menstruation.

Regarding damage to the Chong and Ren meridians, the Classics state: "Qi warms, and blood moistens." Therefore, when qi moves, blood moves; when qi stops, blood stops. Women's temperament is often stubborn and impatient; anger and jealousy can injure Liver qi. The Liver is the Sea of Blood and is connected to the Chong and Ren meridians. When the Chong and Ren lose their control, qi and blood flow recklessly. Additionally, Chu Shi stated: "If intercourse forcibly stimulates the blood before menstruation has begun, obscure diseases will arise later." Thus, if men force intercourse with girls before they reach the age of fourteen when Tian Gui arrives, or if men indulge in lust while menstruation has not yet ceased, internal injury to the Chong and Ren occurs, and the Sea of Blood becomes insecure. Due to these two factors, metrorrhagia and leukorrhea with spotting occur, including menstruation twice a month or coming early.

Regarding obstruction by phlegm-fat: generally, in women's bodies, if the intestines and stomach are open without obstruction, and the collaterals circulate freely without stagnation, then qi and blood are harmonious and smooth, and menstruation arrives on schedule. However, in obese individuals, fat fills the body, and the opening of the uterus remains closed; in those with phlegm, phlegm-saliva stagnates, and the waves of the Sea of Blood do not flow. Thus, conditions such as delayed menstruation, infrequent menstruation, stagnation syndromes, leukorrhea, amenorrhea, and infertility arise.