妇人有经水后期而来多者，人以为血虚之病也，谁知非血虚乎！盖后期之多少，实有不同，不可执一而论。盖
后期而来少，血寒而不足；后期而来多，血寒而有余。夫经本于肾，而其流五脏六腑之血皆归之，故经来而诸经之
血尽来附益，以经水行而门启不遑迅阖，诸经之血乘其隙而皆出也，但血既出矣，则成不足。治法宜于补中温散之，
不得曰后期者俱不足也。
方用温经摄血汤
大熟地（一两，九蒸） 白芍（一两，酒炒） 川芎（五钱，酒洗） 白术（五钱，土炒） 柴胡（五分） 五味
子（三分） 续断（一钱） 肉桂（五分，去粗，研）
水煎服。三剂而经调矣。此方大补肝、肾、脾之精与血，加肉桂以祛其寒，柴胡以解其郁，是补中有散，而散
不耗气；补中有泄，而泄不损阴，所以补之有益，而温之收功，此调经之妙药也，而摄血之仙丹也。凡经来后期者，
俱可用。倘元气不足，加人参一、二钱亦可。
歌括∶经水后期因血寒，经量多少应分辨。
少属不足多有余，治宜补中合温散。
温经摄血用肉桂，白术川芎与五味。
柴胡续断熟地黄，加参可补元气亏。
妇人有经来断续，或前或后无定期，人以为气血之虚也，谁知是肝气之郁结乎！夫经水出诸肾，而肝为肾之子，
肝郁则肾亦郁矣；肾郁而气必不宣，前后之或断或续，正肾之或通或闭耳；或曰肝气郁而肾气不应，未必至于如此。
殊不知子母关切，子病而母必有顾复之情，肝郁而肾不无缱绻之谊，肝气之或开或闭，即肾气之或去或留，相因而
致，又何疑焉。治法宜舒肝之郁，即开肾之郁也，肝肾之郁既开。而经水自有一定之期矣。
方用定经汤。
菟丝子（一两，酒炒） 白芍（一两，酒炒） 当归（一两，酒洗） 大熟地（五钱，九蒸） 山药（五钱，炒）
白茯苓（三钱） 芥穗 柴胡（五分）
水煎服。二剂而经水净，四剂而经期定矣。此方舒肝肾之气，非通经之药也；补肝肾之精，非利水之品也，肝
肾之气舒而精通，肝肾之精旺而水利，不治之治，正妙于治也。
眉批∶以上调经三条辨论明晰，立方微妙，但恐临时或有外感、内伤不能见效∶有外感者宜加苏叶一钱，有
内伤者宜加神曲二钱（炒），有因肉食积滞者再加东山楂肉二钱（炒），临症须酌用之。若肝气郁抑又当以逍遥散为主，
有热加栀炭、丹皮即加味逍遥散。
歌括∶经水先后无定期，肝经郁结莫狐疑。
治法宜舒肝之气，子开其母亦随之。
定经汤中用菟丝，白芍当归与熟地。
茯苓山药柴荆芥，数服经自不衍期。
妇女月经后期而至且经量较多的，人们认为是血虚的病证，哪里知道并非血虚呢！大抵月经后期的多少，确实有所不同，不能一概而论。
凡是月经后期而至且经量少的，是血寒而不足；月经后期而至且经量多的，是血寒而有余。月经之本源于肾，而其流动过程中，五脏六腑之血皆归聚于此，所以月经来潮时，各经之血都来附益补充，因为经水运行，门户开启来不及迅速闭合，各经之血趁着空隙都流出，但血液既然已经流出，就会造成（体内）不足。治疗方法应当在补益中兼用温散之法，不能说月经后期的都属于不足之证。
方剂使用温经摄血汤：
大熟地（一两，九次蒸制）、白芍（一两，酒炒）、川芎（五钱，酒洗）、白术（五钱，土炒）、柴胡（五分）、五味子（三分）、续断（一钱）、肉桂（五分，去粗皮，研碎）。
用水煎服。服用三剂后月经即可调顺。此方大补肝、肾、脾的精与血，加入肉桂以祛除寒邪，加入柴胡以解郁结，这是补中有散，而散不耗气；补中有泄，而泄不损伤阴液，所以补益有益处，而温法能收效，这是调理月经的妙药，也是固摄血液的仙丹。凡是月经后期而至的，都可以使用。如果元气不足，加入人参一、二钱也可以。
歌诀：月经后期因血寒，经量多少应分辨。
量少属于不足，量多属于有余，治疗宜在补益中配合温散。
温经摄血汤用肉桂、白术、川芎和五味子。
还有柴胡、续断、熟地黄，加入人参可补元气亏损。
妇女月经淋漓断续，或提前或推后没有定期，人们认为是气血虚弱，哪里知道这是肝气郁结呢！月经出于肾，而肝是肾之子脏，肝气郁结则肾气也会郁结；肾气郁结则气机必然不通畅，前后的或断或续，正是肾气的或通或闭罢了；有人说肝气郁结而肾气不应，未必至于如此严重。殊不知母子相关，子病则母必有顾念之情，肝气郁结而肾气不无眷恋之意，肝气的或开或闭，即肾气的或去或留，相互影响导致，又有什么可疑的呢？治疗方法应当疏解肝气的郁结，也就是开解肾气的郁结，肝肾的郁结既已解开，那么月经自然就有固定的周期了。
方剂使用定经汤：
菟丝子（一两，酒炒）、白芍（一两，酒炒）、当归（一两，酒洗）、大熟地（五钱，九次蒸制）、山药（五钱，炒）、白茯苓（三钱）、荆芥穗、柴胡（五分）。
用水煎服。服用两剂后月经干净，四剂后经期就固定了。此方舒理肝肾之气，并非通经的药物；补益肝肾之精，并非利水的药品，肝肾之气舒通则经血通畅，肝肾之精旺盛则水道通利，这种不治之治的方法，正比一般的治法更巧妙。
眉批：以上调理月经的三条辨论清晰明确，处方微妙，但恐怕临症时若有外感、内伤可能不见效：有外感的宜加苏叶一钱，有内伤的宜加神曲二钱（炒），有因肉食积滞的再加东山楂肉二钱（炒），临症须酌情使用。若肝气郁抑又当以逍遥散为主，有热象加栀子炭、牡丹皮即为加味逍遥散。
歌诀：月经先后无定期，肝经郁结莫狐疑。
治疗宜疏解肝气，子脏开通其母脏也随之。
定经汤中使用菟丝子、白芍、当归和熟地黄。
还有茯苓、山药、柴胡、荆芥，数服之后月经自然不延期。
Women whose menstruation arrives late and in large amounts are often considered to have Blood Deficiency. However, it is not necessarily Blood Deficiency! The quantity of late-arriving menstruation varies significantly and cannot be generalized.
When menstruation arrives late and is scanty, it indicates Cold-Blood Deficiency; when it arrives late but is abundant, it indicates Cold-Blood Excess. The source of menstruation lies in the Kidney, while blood from the Zang-Fu organs flows into it. Thus, during menstruation, blood from all meridities gathers to supplement it. Because the menstrual flow opens the "gate" without allowing for rapid closure, blood from other meridities escapes through the gaps. Once this blood is lost, a state of deficiency ensues. The treatment principle should involve tonification combined with warming and dispersing methods. One must not assume that all cases of late menstruation are due to deficiency alone.
Prescribe Warming Meridians and Astringing Blood Decoction (Wen Jing She Xue Tang):
Rehmanniae Radix Preparata (Shu Di Huang) 30g, prepared by steaming nine times; Paeoniae Radix Alba (Bai Shao) 30g, stir-fried with wine; Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuan Xiong) 15g, washed with wine; Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Bai Zhu) 15g, stir-fried with earth; Bupleuri Radix (Chai Hu) 1.5g; Schisandrae Fructus (Wu Wei Zi) 0.9g; Dipsaci Radix (Xu Duan) 3g; Cinnamomi Cortex (Rou Gui) 1.5g, remove coarse bark and grind.
Decoct in water and take orally. After three doses, the menstruation will regulate. This formula greatly tonifies the Essence and Blood of the Liver, Kidney, and Spleen. Rou Gui dispels Cold, and Chai Hu resolves stagnation. It embodies tonification with dispersion, ensuring dispersion does not consume Qi; and tonification with draining, ensuring draining does not damage Yin. Thus, tonification is beneficial, and warming achieves success. It is a miraculous medicine for regulating menstruation and an elixir for astringing blood. It is suitable for all cases of late menstruation. If Yuan Qi (Original Qi) is insufficient, add Ren Shen (Ginseng Root) 3–6g.
Verse:
Late menstruation stems from Cold-Blood; distinguish by volume.
Scanty indicates Deficiency, abundant indicates Excess; treat with tonification and warming dispersion.
Wen Jing She Xue uses Rou Gui, Bai Zhu, Chuan Xiong, and Wu Wei Zi.
Add Chai Hu, Xu Duan, and Shu Di Huang; add Ren Shen to tonify deficient Original Qi.
Women experiencing irregular, intermittent menstruation, arriving either early or late without a fixed schedule, are often diagnosed with Qi and Blood Deficiency. In reality, this is due to Liver Qi Stagnation! Menstruation originates from the Kidney, and the Liver is the "child" organ of the Kidney. When Liver Qi stagnates, Kidney Qi also stagnates. Kidney Qi stagnation leads to obstructed Qi mechanism, causing the intermittency or irregularity of menstruation—this reflects the Kidney's obstruction or patency. Some argue that Liver Qi stagnation does not necessarily affect Kidney Qi to such a degree. However, one must understand the interdependence of mother and child organs: if the child is diseased, the mother feels concern; if Liver Qi is stagnant, Kidney Qi remains attached. The opening and closing of Liver Qi correspond to the retention and departure of Kidney Qi, leading to these symptoms causally. Therefore, there is no doubt about this connection. The treatment method should soothe Liver Qi stagnation, which simultaneously resolves Kidney Qi stagnation. Once the stagnation in both Liver and Kidney is resolved, menstruation will naturally return to its regular cycle.
Prescribe Ding Jing Decoction (Ding Jing Tang):
Cuscutae Semen (Tu Si Zi) 30g, stir-fried with wine; Paeoniae Radix Alba (Bai Shao) 30g, stir-fried with wine; Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Dang Gui) 30g, washed with wine; Rehmanniae Radix Preparata (Shu Di Huang) 15g, prepared by steaming nine times; Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Shan Yao) 15g, stir-fried; Poria (Fu Ling) 9g; Schizonepetae Spica (Jing Jie Sui); Bupleuri Radix (Chai Hu) 1.5g.
Decoct in water and take orally. After two doses, menstruation ceases; after four doses, the cycle becomes regular. This formula soothes the Qi of the Liver and Kidney; it is not a drug for unblocking menstruation. It tonifies the Essence of the Liver and Kidney; it is not a diuretic. When Liver and Kidney Qi are soothed, menstruation flows freely; when Liver and Kidney Essence is robust, fluid metabolism improves. This approach of "treating by not directly treating" is truly superior to conventional treatment.
Marginal Note: The above three discussions on regulating menstruation are clear, and the prescriptions are subtle. However, clinical efficacy may be compromised by external pathogens or internal injuries. For external pathogenic invasion, add Perillae Folium (Su Ye) 3g. For internal injury to digestion, add Massae Medicata Fermentata (Shen Qu) 6g (stir-fried). For food stagnation from meat consumption, additionally add Crataegi Fructus (Shan Zha) 6g (stir-fried). Use according to clinical judgment. If Liver Qi depression is severe, use Xiao Yao San as the primary formula; for heat signs, add Gardeniae Fructus Carbonis (Zhi Zi Tan) and Moutan Cortex (Dan Pi), forming Modified Xiao Yao San.
Verse:
Irregular early and late menstruation; do not doubt Liver Meridian Stagnation.
Treatment should soothe Liver Qi; once the child organ opens, the mother follows.
Ding Jing Tang contains Tu Si Zi, Bai Shao, Dang Gui, and Shu Di Huang.
With Fu Ling, Shan Yao, Chai Hu, and Jing Jie, several doses will prevent delayed cycles.