准绳云∶妇人病多是月经,乍多乍少,或前或后,将发疼痛,医者不审,一例呼为经
病,不知阳胜阴,阴胜阳,所以服药无效。盖阴气乘阳,则包藏寒,气血不营运,经所谓天
寒地冻,水凝成冰,故令乍少而在月后。若阳气乘阴,则血流散溢,经所谓天暑地热,经水
沸溢,故令乍多而在月前。当和血气平阴阳,斯为福也。阳胜阴,月候多者,当归饮;阴胜
阳,月候少者,七沸汤。又云∶经水过多,为虚热,为气虚不能摄血,经水涩少,为虚为涩
。虚则补之,涩则濡之。
脉经曰∶有一妇人来诊,言经水少,不如前者何也?师曰∶曾更下利,若汗出小便
利者可。何以故?师曰∶亡其津液,故令经水少。设经下反多于前者,当所苦困,当言恐大
便难,身无复汗也。(津液者,水谷之阴气也,亡之则血失所养矣,故不如前焉)
良方云∶妇人月水不利者,由劳伤气血,体虚而风冷客于胞内,伤于冲任之脉故也
。若寸脉弦,关脉沉,是肝病也,兼主腹痛,孔窍生疮;尺脉滑,血气实,经络不利;或尺
脉绝,不至,兼主小腹引腰痛,气攻胸膈也。(弦与沉主气病,滑为实,绝为虚)
薛氏曰∶前证属肝胆二经,盖肝胆相为表里,多因恚怒所伤。若本经风热,用补肝散
(方见胁痛门);血虚,用四物加酸枣仁;若肾水不足,用六味丸;若患诸疮疡,治见后。
《准绳》说:妇女的疾病大多与月经有关,经量忽多忽少,经期或提前或推后,行经前伴有疼痛。如果医生不仔细审察,一概称之为“经病”,却不知道这是因为阳胜阴或阴胜阳导致的,所以服药无效。大概是因为阴气乘袭阳气,导致胞宫寒冷,气血运行不畅,正如《内经》所说“天寒地冻,水凝成冰”,所以导致经量突然减少且经期推迟。如果是阳气乘袭阴气,则血液流散溢出,正如《内经》所说“天暑地热,经水沸溢”,所以导致经量突然增多且经期提前。应当调和气血、平衡阴阳,这才是良策。对于阳胜阴、月经量多的情况,用当归饮;对于阴胜阳、月经量少的情况,用七沸汤。又说:经水过多,是由于虚热,或是气虚不能统摄血液;经水涩滞量少,是由于虚证或涩证。虚证则补益它,涩证则濡润它。
《脉经》记载:有一位妇人来看诊,说月经量少,不如以前,这是为什么呢?医生说:“曾经有过下利(腹泻),或者出汗、小便通利的情况,这就可以解释。为什么这么说呢?医生说:这是因为津液耗损,所以导致月经量少。假如月经反而比以前多,那么患者将会感到痛苦困顿,可能会说大便困难,身体不再出汗。(津液是水谷化生的阴气,耗损了津液,血液就失去滋养,所以月经量不如从前)”
《良方》说:妇女月经不利,是由于劳损伤及气血,身体虚弱,风冷之邪客居于胞宫内部,损伤了冲脉和任脉的缘故。如果寸脉呈弦象,关脉呈沉象,这是肝病,同时主诉腹痛,孔窍生疮;尺脉滑,表示血气充实,但经络不利;或者尺脉绝,摸不到,同时主诉小腹牵引腰痛,气攻胸膈。(弦脉与沉脉主气病,滑脉主实证,绝脉主虚证)
薛氏说:上述症状属于肝胆二经的病变,因为肝胆互为表里,多因愤怒所伤。如果是本经风热,用补肝散(方剂见胁痛门);如果是血虚,用四物汤加酸枣仁;如果是肾水不足,用六味丸;如果患有各种疮疡,治疗方法见后文。
*Zhunsheng* states: Women's diseases are mostly related to menstruation, with flow varying from heavy to light, cycles advancing or retreating, and pain preceding onset. If physicians do not carefully examine the condition but uniformly diagnose it as "menstrual disease" (Jingbing), they fail to realize that this is caused by Yang prevailing over Yin or Yin prevailing over Yang, which explains why medication is ineffective. Generally, when Yin Qi attacks Yang, the uterus becomes cold, and Qi and Blood fail to circulate properly. As stated in the *Classic of Internal Medicine*: "When heaven is cold and earth frozen, water congeals into ice," thus causing sudden scantiness and delay in the menstrual cycle. Conversely, if Yang Qi attacks Yin, blood flows and scatters excessively. As stated in the *Classic*: "When heaven is hot and earth warm, menstrual water boils and overflows," thus causing sudden abundance and advancement of the cycle. One should harmonize Qi and Blood and balance Yin and Yang; this brings benefit. For cases where Yang prevails over Yin and menses are abundant, use Danggui Yin (Angelica Decoction); for cases where Yin prevails over Yang and menses are scanty, use Qifei Tang (Seven Boiling Decoction). It is further stated: Excessive menstruation is due to deficiency-heat or Qi deficiency failing to control blood; scanty and sluggish menstruation is due to deficiency or stagnation. Deficiency requires tonification, and stagnation requires moistening.
*Maijing* records: A woman came for consultation, stating her menstruation was scantier than before. Why? The physician said: "Have you experienced diarrhea, sweating, or excessive urination?" This would be explainable. Why? The physician said: "This is because body fluids have been depleted, causing scanty menstruation. If menstruation were instead heavier than before, the patient would suffer greatly, likely complaining of difficult defecation and absence of sweat." (Body fluids are the Yin Qi derived from food and grain; their depletion causes blood to lose nourishment, hence the reduction in menstruation.)
*Liangfang* states: Menstrual obstruction in women results from labor injuring Qi and Blood, bodily weakness allowing Wind-Cold pathogens to lodge in the interior of the uterus, damaging the Chong and Ren vessels. If the Cun (inch) pulse is wiry (Xian) and the Guan (bar) pulse is deep (Chen), it indicates Liver disease, accompanied by abdominal pain and sores in the orifices; a Hua (slippery) Chi (cubit) pulse indicates substantial Qi and Blood but obstructed collaterals; or an absent (Jue) Chi pulse indicates deficiency, accompanied by lower abdominal pain radiating to the lower back and Qi attacking the chest and diaphragm. (Wiry and deep pulses indicate Qi disorders; slippery indicates excess; absent indicates deficiency.)
Xue Shi stated: The aforementioned symptoms belong to the Liver and Gallbladder meridians, as these two organs are exterior-interior partners, often injured by anger. If there is Wind-Heat in the primary meridian, use Bogan San (Liver Tonifying Powder) (see formula under Hypochondriac Pain section); if there is Blood deficiency, use Siwu Tang (Four Substance Decoction) added with Suanzaoren (Ziziphus Seed); if Kidney Water is insufficient, use Liuwei Wan (Six Ingredient Pill); if suffering from various sores and ulcers, see treatment methods below.