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The pulse of a woman who has just given birth, if slow and slippery, is auspicious; if it is full, large, wiry, and rapid, the prognosis is clearly adverse. If the Cun (inch) position pulse is slippery, absent, and irregular, death ensues; if it is deep and fine but still palpable at the bone level, life can be saved.

Note: Postpartum chills and fever often present with a rapid pulse. One must not treat this as excess heat simply because of the fever. This condition arises from blood deficiency and yin depletion. Merely using a heavy dose of Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) will cause the fever to subside naturally, and the rapid pulse will gradually disappear.

The wife of Chen Ao from Nan Hao suffered from abdominal pain, chills, and fever four or five days after delivery. The physician diagnosed this as severe deficiency of Yuan Qi (Original Qi), aligning with Danxi’s teachings on replenishing blood and Qi postpartum. Consequently, he administered a large dose of Renshen (Radix Ginseng). The excessive tonification caused her to develop asthma-like breathing, leading to her death. It was unknown that Danxi stated that while postpartum treatment primarily focuses on tonifying blood and Qi, any other symptoms should be treated secondarily ("treating the branch"). His mention of "treating the branch" refers to the principle of addressing the root and branch according to urgency. In this case, the patient had retained lochia (postpartum discharge), accompanied by chills and fever. This constitutes an urgent situation requiring treatment of the branch first. She should have been prescribed Shenghua Tang (Decoction for Generating New Blood) to dispel the retained blood initially. Furthermore, since the formula contains a doubled dose of Danggui, the body heat due to blood deficiency would naturally recede. The sudden use of strong tonics here misunderstood Danxi’s emphasis on prioritizing the root over the branch. This serves as clear evidence that Ren Shen (Ginseng Root) and Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root) should not be abruptly administered within seven days postpartum.

Previously, a puerpera in Yangzhou suffering from blood syncope recovered after taking one liang of Renshen and one qian of Fuzi. Another puerpera took the same prescription but died with her entire body turning purple-black. The former recovered because the syncope was due to blood deficiency, which was corrected by tonification. The latter died because she had retained lochia, and the mistaken use of tonics exacerbated the condition. Although the symptom and medicine were identical, the pathological origins differed, leading to opposite outcomes. This requires careful deliberation during clinical practice. One must inquire about the presence of lochia, the number of days postpartum, whether abdominal tenderness exists upon palpation, and the patient’s prior constitution (deficiency or excess). Only after accurately diagnosing the syndrome should treatment be administered to avoid errors. In summary, Shenghua Tang should be the primary formula. For deficient patients, additional Renshen may be added, but it must not be introduced abruptly within the first seven days. This is a crucial guideline.

When a pregnant woman reaches term and experiences labor pains, use unaluminized yellow paper, cut to 5-6 cun in length and 4-5 fen in width. Write talismanic characters with a vermilion brush. Burn them sequentially—first the first sheet, then the second—and do not reverse the order. Place both sheets in a cup of tea and administer to the pregnant woman to drink at once. The third talisman consists of only one sheet, so no sequence is needed. In cases of malpresentation (transverse or breech) or if limbs emerge first, gently push them back inside and administer this talisman without panic.

The Second Delivery Talisman consists of two sheets.

[Image] Above is one sheet.

[Image] Above is one sheet.

When a pregnant woman reaches term and experiences labor pains, use unaluminized yellow paper, cut to 5-6 cun in length and 4-5 fen in width. Write talismanic characters with a vermilion brush. Burn them sequentially—first the first sheet, then the second—and do not reverse the order. Place both sheets in a cup of tea and administer to the pregnant woman to drink at once. The third talisman consists of only one sheet, so no sequence is needed. In cases of malpresentation (transverse or breech) or if limbs emerge first, gently push them back inside and administer this talisman without panic.

The Second Delivery Talisman consists of two sheets.

[Image] Above is one sheet.

[Image] Above is one sheet. Below the main character, there are additional "talisman guts" (secret components). The writing stroke starts from the outside moving inward, executed in a single continuous motion.

Add six characters onto the main face of the character. Add them sequentially based on the following rules. For each character written, recite the incantation below once. Two small characters combined form one unit. Write and recite simultaneously. These constitute the "talisman guts." Follow this method completely. Even if it appears as a blot of ink, it is acceptable.

"Quickly give birth! Break open and emerge! Straight strokes indicate a male; curved strokes indicate a female. Breaking the talisman brings danger!" (This is the incantation.)

The Third Delivery Talisman (also known as the Dead Fetus Talisman).

[Image] Above is one sheet.

Method of administering the talisman: Use unaluminized yellow paper inscribed with vermilion. Place a lamp on the table. Hold a small cup of warm tea in the left hand. With the right hand, pierce the talisman with a needle and burn it over the flame until the ash falls entirely onto the surface of the tea. Drink the tea along with the ash. Do not stir or crush the ash; if crushed, it becomes ineffective. The swallowing method requires consuming it in one gulp. If swallowed in two parts, the ash may be chewed in the mouth, rendering it ineffective. Additionally, the writer must write and use the talisman immediately; overnight talismans are ineffective. Unclean persons cannot write effective talismans. Pregnant women cannot write them, nor will they work if written by them. (Husbands of parturient women also cannot write them.) Those who accept payment cannot write effective talismans. If a written talisman is not used, it must be burned immediately to avoid desecration. Administer the two sheets of the First Talisman first. After one to two hours, if the fetus does not turn, administer the two sheets of the Second Talisman. After another one to two hours, if the baby does not emerge, consume the Third Talisman. There is no case where delivery does not occur. Most cases respond to the Second Talisman. Do not administer the Third Talisman unless it is a severe dystocia or it is confirmed that the fetus has died in utero.

One Sheet of the An Tai (Fetus-Calming) Talisman (Administer using the method described above; effective for fetal movement regardless of gestational age).

[Image] This character involves a small vertical stroke scraping upward from the bottom. Below, there are additional "talisman guts."

[Image] Written on the face of the character [KT], adding elements sequentially to the top. Writing it as a solid block of ink is also acceptable. Every four main characters, combine two small characters with each main character to form one unit.

"I come from the law of sages and saints; I have never slaughtered cattle."

These ten characters should be written with a vermilion brush on red paper and pasted on the wall opposite the pregnant woman’s bed or on a partition. The parturient woman should silently recite these ten characters aloud only when reaching the character [KT] (which represents the character for "birth").