经者,经脉也。血随气行,周身旋转,应月而下,不失其常,故即谓之经水。带者,带
脉也
,环束如带,管摄诸经,失其所司,时流秽浊,故即谓之带下。女科首重调经,其人心脾充
旺,则经候如常。盖脾输五谷之津液,归于心,入于脉,变赤而为血,血有余则注于冲任而
为经水。苟心脾衰弱,便有参差不月之虞。血虚者,后期而至,血热者,先期而来。阴气
胜阳,则血不营运,故令乍少。阳气胜阴,则血流散溢,故令乍多。忧思过度则气结,气结
则血亦结。郁怒过度则气逆,气逆则血亦逆。气血结逆于脏腑经络之间,而经闭不通矣。又
有经前误食冷物,遏抑阳明之路,阻其血脉,每次经来,必先腹中作痛,或筋骨酸疼,经后
风寒乘虚客于胞门,伤其冲任,所生之血不能宣流而下,断续淋漓,或成块作片,此皆当察
其虚实而治之也。经闭不调,皆有目患。盖目为血脉之宗,血不足,则脾脏失职,不能归明
于目,而且肝木无制,必然化火生风,为星翳雾障,甚则挟相火上行,刑克水源,为瞳神淡
白。经水逆行而上,目中清纯之膏,为浊阴扰乱,或为瘀血灌睛,或为胭脂内障。先贤治法
,气虚阴胜者,四君子主之。气滞者,四君加香附延胡索调之。血虚阳胜兼热者,四物加芩
连丹皮清之。血实有瘀者,四物加桃仁红花破之。忧思者,归脾汤补之。郁怒者,加味逍遥
散,佐以越鞠丸达之。经来胀痛者,当归抑气散行之。风寒内客者,当归养荣汤加薤白以温
之散之。带之为病,五脏六腑皆有之。《产宝》云∶带下三十六疾,分十二症九痛七害五伤
。然总而论之,不过虚实二字,故后人只以赤白言之。凡风寒湿热客于胞门,传至脏腑,结
于带脉,津液因之涌溢而出,必辨其色赤者为热,白者为寒,青者为风,黄者为湿。内经言
白蛊白液白淫,皆主任脉为病,治宜专固任脉。若因脾虚,中气下陷,不能统固,宜补中升
阳。或因心肾不交,相火蒸烁膏液,宜交通心肾。若兼目疾,因于风寒湿热者,必翳障羞明
。因于脾虚心肾不交者,必午后干涩,甚则瞳神昏暗,皆由津液暗耗,无以滋荣。总宜闭其
精窍,开其水道,庶清浊得分,更兼用补其气血,和其阴阳。气血旺,则客邪无隙可乘,阴
阳和,则水火得以既济矣。
Jing (Menstruation) refers to the meridians. Blood follows Qi in its movement, circulating throughout the body, and descending in accordance with the lunar cycle without deviating from normal rhythm; thus it is called "Jing Shui" (Menstrual Water). Dai (Leukorrhea) refers to the Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel), which encircles the waist like a belt and controls all other meridians. When it loses its regulatory function, turbid fluids flow out intermittently, hence it is called "Dai Xia" (Leukorrhea). In gynecology, regulating menstruation is of primary importance. If one's Heart and Spleen are robust, menstruation will be regular. This is because the Spleen transports the essence and fluids of the five grains to the Heart, enters the vessels, transforms into red blood, and when blood is sufficient, it flows into the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) and Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) to form menstrual water. If the Heart and Spleen are weak, there is a risk of irregular or absent menstruation. Blood deficiency leads to delayed menstruation, while blood heat leads to early menstruation. When Yin qi overcomes Yang qi, blood fails to circulate properly, resulting in sudden scantiness. When Yang qi overcomes Yin qi, blood scatters and overflows, resulting in sudden profuseness. Excessive worry and thought cause Qi stagnation; Qi stagnation leads to Blood stasis. Excessive anger causes Qi rebellion; Qi rebellion leads to Blood rebellion. When Qi and Blood stagnate and rebel within the Zang-Fu organs and meridians, amenorrhea occurs. Additionally, consuming cold foods before menstruation can obstruct the pathway of the Yangming Meridian, blocking blood vessels. Consequently, abdominal pain or soreness of bones and sinews often precedes each period. After menstruation, Wind-Cold may invade the Uterus through deficiency, damaging the Chong and Ren vessels. The generated blood cannot flow smoothly downward, leading to intermittent dripping, clotting into pieces, etc. All these conditions require treatment based on differentiation of excess and deficiency. Amenorrhea and irregular menstruation are always associated with eye disorders. The eyes are the master of blood vessels. When blood is insufficient, the Spleen fails in its duty, failing to illuminate the eyes. Moreover, Liver Wood becomes uncontrolled, transforming into Fire and generating Wind, causing astigmatism, nebulae, and visual obstructions. Severe cases involve Ministerial Fire ascending to damage Kidney Water (the source), resulting in pale pupils. Menstrual blood reversing upward disturbs the pure essence in the eyes with turbid Yin, potentially causing blood stasis flooding the eyeball or internal cataracts resembling rouge. Ancient sages' treatment methods: For Qi deficiency with Yin excess, Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) is used as the main formula. For Qi stagnation, Si Jun Zi Tang is modified with Xiang Fu (Cyperus Rhizome) and Yan Hu Suo (Corydalis Rhizome). For Blood deficiency with Yang excess and heat, Si Wu Tang (Four Substance Decoction) is modified with Huang Qin (Scutellaria Root), Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome), and Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex). For Blood excess with stasis, Si Wu Tang is modified with Tao Ren (Peach Seed) and Hong Hua (Carthamus Flower). For cases caused by worry and thought, Gui Pi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) is used for tonification. For cases caused by anger, Jia Wei Xiao Yao San (Modified Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) is used, assisted by Yue Ju Wan (Pill for Relieving Stagnation) to promote circulation. For distending pain during menstruation, Dang Gui Yi Qi San (Angelica Regulating Qi Powder) is used to move Qi. For internal invasion of Wind-Cold, Dang Gui Yang Rong Tang (Angelica Nourishing Vigor Decoction) with Xie Bai (Allium Macrostemon Bulb) is used to warm and disperse. Leukorrhea can affect all Zang-Fu organs. The text *Chan Bao* states that leukorrhea comprises thirty-six diseases, divided into twelve symptoms, nine pains, seven harms, and five injuries. However, generally speaking, it boils down to only two characters: Deficiency and Excess. Hence, later practitioners simply distinguish between white and red discharge. Whenever Wind, Cold, Damp-Heat pathogens invade the uterine gate and transmit to the Zang-Fu, knotting at the Dai Mai, body fluids surge and overflow. One must differentiate by color: red indicates Heat, white indicates Cold, green indicates Wind, and yellow indicates Dampness. The *Nei Jing* mentions Bai Gu, Bai Ye, and Bai Yin, all primarily attributed to disease of the Ren Mai. Treatment should focus on securing the Ren Mai. If due to Spleen deficiency with sinking of Middle Qi, unable to control and secure, Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) should be used to raise Yang. If due to non-interaction between Heart and Kidney, with Ministerial Fire steaming and evaporating essence, Heart-Kidney interaction should be restored. If accompanied by eye disease caused by Wind-Cold-Damp-Heat, nebulae and photophobia will definitely occur. If caused by Spleen deficiency and Heart-Kidney non-interaction, dryness and astringency in the afternoon, or even dim pupils, will occur. These are all due to the hidden consumption of body fluids, lacking nourishment. Generally, it is appropriate to close the essence apertures and open the water pathways, so that clear and turbid substances can be separated. Furthermore, tonifying Qi and Blood and harmonizing Yin and Yang is necessary. When Qi and Blood are robust, pathogenic factors have no opportunity to invade; when Yin and Yang are harmonized, Water and Fire achieve mutual balance (Ji Ji).