人身之病四百有四，妇人之证与男子无殊，其所异者，惟月经、孕育、胎前产后、崩淋、带下、乳
痈、阴疮诸病，为闺房隐曲。孙真人所谓，妇人之病，治疗倍难于男子者此也。
《经》曰∶冲脉起于气街，并少阴之经，挟脐上行，至胸中而散，渗灌诸阳，下入于足，为十二经络之海。
其出入皆少阴经以行，故为血海。然冲、任、督三者，一源而三歧也。冲自少腹后脐两旁而上行，循腹
以任于前，为阴脉之总。任督脉起自少腹循背，以督于后，为阳脉之都纲。
冲为血海，诸经朝分，男子则运而行之，女子则停而止之。营运者，无积而不满动也。停止者，有积而能满静也。
不满者以时而溢谓之信，男子以气运，故阳气应日而一举，女子以血满，故阴血应月而一下。
冲、任二脉，奇经八脉之二也。《经》云∶冲为血海，作主胞胎，一脉也。通于任而下，既行而空，至七日后而渐
满，如月之盈亏相似，当知血海之有余，以十二经皆然，非特血海之满也。故始得以行耳。
任脉者，起于中极之下，以上毛际，循腹里，上关元，至咽喉，故曰∶阴脉之海。任者，妊也。此人生养之始，
故曰∶任脉，督脉者，起于下极之俞，并于脊里，上至风府，入脑上颠，循额至鼻，柱督之为言都也，是为阳脉
之大纲也。故云∶阳脉之海，任脉主任一身之阴血，太冲属阳明，为血之海，故谷气盛则血海满，而月事以时下也。
妇人月水，本于四经，二者冲任，二者手太阳小肠、手少阴心。然冲为血海，任主胞胎；二者相资，故令有子，
小肠经属腑主表为阳，少阴经为藏，主里属阴，此二经在上为乳汁，在下为月水。（惟鸟兽无天癸而成胎，盖鸟兽惟
知饮食交媾，故运精血往来，独聚于尾闾也。）
《经》云∶女子二七而天癸至。天谓天真之气，癸为壬癸之水。壬为阳水，癸为阴水。女子阴类，冲为血海，任主
胞胎，二脉流通，经血渐盈，应时而下，天真气降，故曰天癸。常以三旬一见以象月，盈则亏，不失其期，故曰月信。
然名天癸者，以比阴精也。盖肾属水，癸亦属水，由先天之气，畜极而生，故谓阴精为天癸。王冰以月事为天癸者非也。
男女之精，皆可以天癸称，若以女子之血为天癸，则男子之天癸亦为血耶！男女交媾之时各有精，而行经之际，方有其
血，未闻交媾时可以血言也。但女子之精二七而至，其月事亦与此时同候也。
男子为阳，阳中有阴，阴中之数八，故一八而阳精升，二八而阳精溢。女子为阴，阴中有阳，阳中之数七，
故一七而阴精升，二七而阴血溢，皆饮食五味之实秀也。《经》曰∶饮食入胃，游溢精气，上输于脾，脾气散精，上归
于肺，通调水道，下输膀胱，水精四布，五经并行。东垣谓脾为生化之源，心统诸经之血，心脾平和，则经候如常。
苟或七情内伤，六淫内侵，饮食失节，起居不时，脾胃虚损，心火妄动，则月经不调矣。夫血生于脾土，故云脾统血。
凡血病当用甘温之药，以助阳气，而生阴血也。
血者水谷之精气也。和调五脏，洒陈六腑，在男子则化为精，在妇人则上为乳汁，下为月水，故虽心主血，肝藏血，
实皆统摄于脾，补脾和胃，血自生矣。凡经行之际，禁用苦寒之药，饮食亦然，凡女子天癸未至之前为病，多从心脾，
天癸既至之后，多从肝肾。
妇人经水与乳，俱由脾胃所生，谷气入胃，其清纯津液之气归于心，入于脉，变赤而为血，血有余则注于冲任而为
经水，经水者阴水也。阴必从阳，故其色赤，禀火之色也。冲为血海，任主胞胎，若男子媾精，阴阳和合而成孕，则
其血皆移阴于胎矣，既产。则胃中清纯津液之气，归于肺，朝于脉，流入乳房，变白为乳，是禀肺金之色也。若不自
哺，则阳明之窍不通，胃中津液仍归于脉，变赤而腹为月水矣。
夫男女各有精，凡房劳不节，皆能大伤精气，故曰精枯杀人。奈世人所论，独重男子，不知书云。女子嗜
欲过于丈夫，感病倍于男子，况产蓐带下，三十六病，损气伤血，挟症多端，故女人尤宜清心节欲，便是调经却
病之第一。
人体疾病共有四百零四种，妇女的病症与男子并无不同，所不同的只是月经、孕育、胎前产后、崩漏淋证、带下、乳痈、阴疮等病，属于闺房中的隐秘之疾。正如孙真人所说，妇女的疾病，治疗比男子困难一倍，指的就是这种情况。
《黄帝内经》说：冲脉起于气街穴，伴行足少阴肾经，夹脐上行，至胸中而散开，渗灌诸阳经，下行入足，是十二经络的海汇之处。它的出入都通过少阴经运行，所以被称为血海。然而冲脉、任脉、督脉这三者，同源而分三歧。冲脉从少腹后部、脐旁两侧向上行，沿腹部前方循行以统领阴脉，为阴脉的总汇。任脉和督脉起自少腹，沿背部上行，以总督阳脉，为阳脉的大纲。
冲脉为血海，各经气血汇聚于此。男子则使气血营运流动，没有积滞而不充满发动的情况；女子则使气血停蓄静止，有积滞而能充满静止的状态。不充满时按时溢出的称为“信”（定期），男子以气运化，所以阳气应每日而动一次；女子以血满盈，所以阴血应每月而下一次。
冲脉、任脉是奇经八脉中的两条。《内经》说：冲为血海，主持胞胎，这是一条经脉。它向下通于任脉，既已运行排空，到七日后又逐渐充盈，如同月亮的盈亏相似，应当知道血海的有余状态，是因为十二经的气血都如此，不仅仅是血海充盈。因此才能来潮。
任脉，起于中极穴之下，向上经过阴毛际，沿腹部内侧，上至关元穴，直至咽喉，所以称为“阴脉之海”。任，就是妊养的意思。这是人生育的开始，所以叫任脉。督脉，起于长强穴（下极之俞），并行的脊柱内部，上至风府穴，入脑上达头顶，循额至鼻柱。督，意为都统，这是阳脉的大纲。所以称其为阳脉之海。任脉主管一身之阴血，太冲脉隶属于阳明胃经，为血之海，所以谷气旺盛则血海充盈，月经就能按时来潮。
妇人的月经，根本在于四条经脉：即冲脉、任脉，以及手太阳小肠经、手少阴心经。其中冲为血海，任主胞胎；这两条经脉相互资助，所以能受孕生子。小肠经属腑，主表为阳；少阴经属脏，主里为阴。这两条经脉在上化为乳汁，在下化为月经。（只有鸟兽没有天癸却能成胎，大概因为鸟兽只知道饮食交配，所以精血往来独聚于尾闾部位。）
《内经》说：女子十四岁（二七）时天癸至。“天”指天真之气，“癸”指壬癸之水。壬为阳水，癸为阴水。女子属阴类，冲为血海，任主胞胎，二脉流通，经血逐渐充盈，应时而下，天真之气下降，所以叫天癸。通常三十天见一次以象征月亮，满月则亏，不失其期，所以叫月信。然而之所以叫天癸，是因为它比拟阴精。因为肾属水，癸也属水，由先天之气积蓄至极而生发，所以称阴精为天癸。王冰将月事直接等同于天癸是错误的。男女的精都可以称为天癸，如果把女子的血当作天癸，那么男子的天癸也是血吗？男女交媾时各有精，而行经之际才有血，没听说过交媾时可以用血来说明的。只是女子的精在十四岁时到来，其月经也在此时同期出现。
男子属阳，阳中有阴，阴中之数为八，所以八岁（一八）时阳精升发，十六岁（二八）时阳精溢泄。女子属阴，阴中有阳，阳中之数为七，所以七岁（一七）时阴精升发，十四岁（二七）时阴血溢泄，这都是饮食五味精华的结果。《内经》说：饮食进入胃中，游溢出精气，向上输送给脾，脾气散布精微，向上归于肺，通调水道，向下输送膀胱，水精四布，五脏经脉并行。李东垣认为脾是生化之源，心统摄各经之血，心脾平和，则月经正常。如果因七情内伤，六淫外侵，饮食失节，起居无常，导致脾胃虚损，心火妄动，就会月经不调。血生于脾土，所以说脾统血。凡血病应当用甘温的药物，以助阳气，从而生发阴血。
血是水谷的精气。调和五脏，布散六腑，在男子则化为精，在妇人则上为乳汁，下为月经，所以虽然心主血，肝藏血，实际上都统摄于脾，补脾和胃，血自然生成。凡是在行经期间，禁用苦寒药物，饮食也要避免。凡是女子天癸未至之前生病，多从心脾论治；天癸既至之后，多从肝肾论治。
妇人的经水和乳汁，都由脾胃所生。谷气进入胃中，其清纯津液之气归于心，进入脉管，变赤而为血，血有余则注入冲任而为经水，经水属于阴水。阴必从阳，所以颜色赤红，禀受火的色泽。冲为血海，任主胞胎，若男子交媾射精，阴阳和合而成孕，则这些血都移注于胞胎之中。分娩之后，胃中清纯津液之气，归于肺，朝会于脉，流入乳房，变白为乳，这是禀受肺金的色泽。如果不亲自哺乳，则阳明窍道不通，胃中津液仍归于脉管，变赤而为月经。
男女各有精，凡是房事不节制，都能大伤精气，所以说精枯会杀人。无奈世人议论，只重视男子，不知书云：女子嗜欲超过丈夫，感病倍于男子，何况产褥、带下及三十六病，损伤气血，夹杂症状繁多，所以女人尤其应该清心节欲，这是调经祛病的第一要务。
The human body has 404 types of diseases. Women's conditions are no different from men's, except for menstruation, pregnancy, pre- and postpartum periods, metrorrhagia and leukorrhea (bleeding and discharge), leukorrhea (vaginal discharge), mastitis (inflammation of the breast), and vulvar sores, which are considered private matters within the boudoir. As Sun Simiao stated, women's diseases are twice as difficult to treat as men's, referring precisely to this situation.
The *Classic* states: The Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) originates at Qichuan (ST30), runs alongside the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, flanks the navel upwards, disperses in the chest, seeps into and irrigates the Yang meridians, descends into the feet, and serves as the Sea of the Twelve Meridians. Its entry and exit all proceed via the Shaoyin Meridian, thus it is called the Sea of Blood. However, the Chong, Ren, and Du vessels share a single source but branch into three. The Chong vessel ascends from the lower abdomen on both sides behind the navel, follows the front of the abdomen to govern Yin meridians, acting as the general assembly of Yin vessels. The Ren and Du vessels originate from the lower abdomen and ascend along the back; the Du vessel governs the posterior aspect as the chief outline of Yang vessels.
The Chong vessel is the Sea of Blood, where Qi and Blood from all meridians converge. In men, Qi and Blood circulate and move without stagnation or lack of fullness and activation; in women, they accumulate and remain still, achieving fullness through accumulation. When not full, it overflows at regular intervals, termed "Xin" (trust/regularity). Men operate by Qi, so Yang Qi acts once daily; women fill with Blood, so Yin Blood flows down once monthly.
The Chong and Ren vessels are two of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels. The *Classic* says: The Chong is the Sea of Blood and governs conception; this is one vessel. It connects downward to the Ren vessel. After circulation empties it, it gradually fills after seven days, similar to the waxing and waning of the moon. One should understand that the surplus in the Sea of Blood applies to all twelve meridians, not just the Sea of Blood itself. Thus, menstruation can occur.
The Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) originates below Zhongji (CV3), ascends above the pubic hair, follows the interior of the abdomen, passes through Guanyuan (CV4), and reaches the throat; hence it is called the "Sea of Yin Vessels." "Ren" means pregnancy/nurturing. This marks the beginning of human reproduction, hence the name Ren Mai. The Du Mai (Governor Vessel) originates at Changqiang (GV1, also referred to as Xiaji Zhi Shu), runs parallel within the spinal column, ascends to Fengfu (GV16), enters the brain, reaches the vertex, follows the forehead to the nose bridge. "Du" implies governance or capital, making it the grand outline of Yang vessels. Hence it is called the "Sea of Yang Vessels." The Ren Mai governs the Yin Blood of the whole body. Taichong belongs to the Yangming Stomach Meridian and is the Sea of Blood; therefore, when Grain Qi is abundant, the Sea of Blood fills, and menstruation arrives on time.
Women's menstrual water originates from four meridians: the Chong and Ren, and the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian and Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. Among these, Chong is the Sea of Blood, and Ren governs conception; these two mutually support each other, enabling pregnancy. The Small Intestine Meridian belongs to the Fu organs, governs the exterior, and is Yang; the Shaoyin Meridian belongs to the Zang organs, governs the interior, and is Yin. These two meridians transform into milk when upper and menstrual blood when lower. (Only birds and beasts conceive without Tian Gui, likely because they only know eating and mating, causing Jing and Blood to circulate and gather exclusively at the tailgate area.)
The *Classic* states: At age fourteen (two sevens), Tian Gui arrives in women. "Tian" refers to Heavenly True Qi, and "Gui" refers to the Water of Ren and Gui. Ren is Yang Water, and Gui is Yin Water. Women belong to the Yin category. With Chong as the Sea of Blood and Ren governing conception, as these two vessels flow smoothly and menstrual blood gradually fills, it flows down on schedule, and Heavenly True Qi descends; thus it is called Tian Gui. It typically appears every thirty days to symbolize the moon; when full, it wanes, never missing its period, hence called "Yue Xin" (Monthly Trust). The term Tian Gui compares it to Yin Essence. Since the Kidney belongs to Water, and Gui also belongs to Water, it arises from the accumulation of Pre-heaven Qi reaching its limit; thus Yin Essence is called Tian Gui. Wang Bing’s view that menstrual flow itself is Tian Gui is incorrect. Both male and female essence can be called Tian Gui; if women's blood were Tian Gui, would men's Tian Gui also be blood? During intercourse, both have essence; during menstruation, there is blood. It is unheard of to describe intercourse using blood. However, women's essence arrives at age fourteen, and their menstruation coincides with this timing.
Men are Yang, containing Yin within them; the number for Yin is eight. Thus, at age eight (one eight), Yang Essence rises; at sixteen (two eights), Yang Essence overflows. Women are Yin, containing Yang within them; the number for Yang is seven. Thus, at age seven (one seven), Yin Essence rises; at fourteen (two sevens), Yin Blood overflows. All of this results from the essence of food and drink. The *Classic* says: Food enters the stomach, releasing Qi and Essence, which moves upward to the Spleen. The Spleen scatters essence, sending it up to the Lung, which regulates water passages and transports it downward to the Bladder. Water essence distributes throughout, and the Five Meridians run together. Li Dongyuan stated that the Spleen is the source of transformation and production, and the Heart commands the Blood of all meridians. If the Heart and Spleen are peaceful, menstruation remains normal. However, if internal injury from Seven Emotions, invasion by Six Evils, irregular diet, or improper rest leads to Spleen-Stomach deficiency and reckless movement of Heart Fire, menstruation will become irregular. Blood is born from Spleen Earth; hence, the Spleen controls Blood. For all Blood disorders, sweet-warm herbs should be used to assist Yang Qi and generate Yin Blood.
Blood is the refined essence of water and grain. It harmonizes the Five Zang organs and spreads to the Six Fu organs. In men, it transforms into Essence; in women, it becomes milk above and menstrual blood below. Although the Heart governs Blood and the Liver stores Blood, ultimately all are controlled by the Spleen. Tonifying the Spleen and harmonizing the Stomach allows Blood to generate naturally. During menstruation, bitter-cold medicines must be prohibited, as well as such foods. Generally, before Tian Gui arrives, illnesses in women often stem from the Heart and Spleen; after Tian Gui arrives, they often stem from the Liver and Kidneys.
Women's menstrual blood and milk are both generated by the Spleen and Stomach. Grain Qi enters the stomach; its pure and clear fluid-Qi returns to the Heart, enters the vessels, turns red to become Blood. Excess Blood pours into the Chong and Ren to form menstrual blood, which is Yin Water. Yin must follow Yang, hence its red color, inheriting the hue of Fire. Chong is the Sea of Blood, Ren governs conception. If male essence is ejaculated during intercourse, Yin and Yang combine to form pregnancy, and this Blood shifts to nourish the fetus. After childbirth, the pure fluid-Qi from the Stomach returns to the Lung, gathers in the vessels, flows into the breasts, turns white to become milk, inheriting the color of Metal (Lung). If not breastfed, the Yangming orifices remain blocked, Stomach fluids return to the vessels, turn red, and become menstrual blood.
Both men and women possess Essence. Any excess in sexual activity severely damages Essence; hence, it is said that depleted Essence kills. Unfortunately, worldly discussions focus solely on men, ignoring texts stating that women's desires exceed men's, and their susceptibility to disease is double that of men. Moreover, postpartum conditions, leukorrhea, and the thirty-six diseases damage Qi and Blood and involve complex symptoms. Therefore, women especially should keep their hearts pure and restrain desires; this is the primary method for regulating menstruation and dispelling disease.