Library

The formula "Foshou San" (Buddha's Hand Powder) passed down by the world consists of only two herbs: Danggui Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Dong Quai) and Chuanxiong Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong. It is claimed to specifically treat restless fetus, capable of stabilizing a living fetus, expelling a dead fetus, and inducing labor at term; regular use by pregnant women can prevent miscarriage. Ten years ago, I suspected its rationale, but unfortunately, physicians at that time all believed in and used it. Even famous physicians like Chen Xiuyuan praised it highly in his writings, and occasionally there were cases where it proved effective. However, I only dared to use it for inducing labor, having applied it repeatedly with verified results, and never dared to use it for stabilizing the fetus. Later, I read a work by a certain renowned expert who strongly criticized the fallacy of using menstruation-regulating herbs for fetal stabilization, stating that the harm caused was severe. I privately felt fortunate to have realized this before others. Recently, witnessing the disasters caused by this practice, I have selected this topic for discussion.

Stabilizing the fetus inherently has no fixed formula; it depends entirely on the constitution of the woman. After conception, constitutions generally fall into two categories regarding blood and qi: cold/heat and deficiency/excess. Therefore, Zhu Danxi stated that Baizhu Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) and Huangqin Cortex Scutellariae (Scutellaria Root) are the holy medicines for stabilizing the fetus; he cited these to illustrate the two major aspects of deficiency-cold and excess-heat! However, cold patterns can also be excess, and heat patterns can be deficiency. The key is always to distinguish the status of qi and blood. If there is qi-cold and blood-excess, Fuzii Radix et Lateralis Preparata (Prepared Aconite Lateral Root) and Guizhi Ramulus Cinnamomi (Cinnamon Twig) can be used together to warm qi and promote the circulation of blood and qi. If there is qi-cold and blood-deficiency, Danggui and Chuanxiong can be used together to move qi and nourish blood. If there is qi-heat and blood-excess, one cannot help but worry about distension and rushing sensations; how could one further use Chuanxiong and Danggui to assist heat and increase excess? If there is qi-deficiency and blood-heat, one cannot help but experience boiling restlessness and laxity unable to sustain support, leading to falling; how could one further use Chuanxiong and Danggui to consume qi and warm blood? Therefore, for restless fetus and leakage due to qi-deficiency and blood-heat, urgently use sweet-cold and bitter-cold herbs, assisted by those that tonify qi and generate fluids, so that blood settles and sinews become firm, possessing the strength to hold up, gradually easing the condition. Then check if there is stagnant blood; slightly adding blood-invigorating herbs to the qi-tonifying and heat-clearing formula ensures perfection.

Generally, the human uterus is densely knitted by myriad sinews. When sinews are hot, they become lax; when cold, they become firm. If too cold, sinews contract tightly, failing to hold securely, leading to scattering of qi and leakage of blood; if too hot, sinews relax and lack the strength to hold, also resulting in scattering of qi and leakage of blood. In modern people, deficiency-heat is predominant, so after pregnancy, pulses are often surging, slippery, rapid, and frequent. If the pulse is excessively slippery or feels hollow upon pressure (Kou Mai), miscarriage is likely, because of heat in qi and deficiency in blood. Regarding gynecological menstrual and obstetric conditions, I deeply admire the teachings of Sun Simiao (Zhenren), and have studied them earnestly. My prescription usage does not stick to rigid examples but always considers the six characters: qi/blood, cold/heat, and deficiency/excess. I determine the truth or falsity of the condition through pulse diagnosis, so that the disease reveals no hidden aspects, and treatment rarely errs. Ancients regarded Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) as the main formula for pregnancy; modern people regard Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) as the main formula for pregnancy. This truly shows that the insight and capability of ancient and modern people are incomparable. To claim that all hundred diseases of pregnancy and childbirth are treated by modifying Siwu Tang is an extremely absurd statement, yet it is recited by countless mouths, which is truly incomprehensible. I have seen pregnant women and postpartum women suffering from exhaustion due to external pathogenic factors, all caused by the modification of this formula.