产后虚在八脉，孙真人创论于前，叶天士畅明于后，妇科所当首识者也。盖八脉丽于肝肾，如
树木之有本也；阴阳交媾，胎前产后，生生化化，全赖乎此。古语云∶医道通乎仙道者，此其大门也。
死胎不下，不可拘执成方而悉用通法，当求其
不下之故，参之临时所现之证若何，补偏救弊，而胎自下也。余治一妇，死胎不下二日矣，诊其脉则
洪大而芤，问其证则大汗不止，精神恍惚欲脱。余曰∶此心气太虚，不能固胎，不问胎死与否，先固心
气，用救逆汤加人参，煮三杯，服一杯而汗敛，服二杯而神清气宁，三杯未服而死胎下矣。下后补肝
肾之阴，以配心阳之用而愈。若执成方而用平胃、朴硝，有生理乎？
催生亦不可拘执一辙，阳虚者补阳，阴损者翕阴，血滞者通血。余治一妇素日脉迟，而有 瘕寒
积厥痛，余用通补八脉大剂丸料，服半载而成胎，产时五日不下，是夕方延余诊视。余视其面青，诊
其脉再至，用安边桂五钱，加入温经补气之品，作三杯，服二杯而生矣，亦未曾服第三杯也。次日诊
其脉涩，腹痛甚拒按，仍令其服第三杯，又减其制，用一帖，下 块长七、八寸，宽二三寸，其人腹中
块本有二枚，兹下其一，不敢再通矣。仍用温通八脉由渐而愈。其他治验甚多，略举一、二，以见门径耳。
产后虚损主要在于奇经八脉，孙思邈（孙真人）在前创立了相关理论，叶天士在后加以阐发明晰，这是妇科医生应当首先认识到的。因为奇经八脉依附于肝和肾，就像树木有根本一样；阴阳交合媾精，在胎前和产后，生命的化生与演变，完全依赖于此。古语说：医学之道通晓仙道之处，就在于此大门。
死胎不下，不可拘泥于固定成方而全部使用通利下胎的方法，应当探究其不下的原因，参考当时所表现出的症状如何，纠正偏颇、补救弊端，那么死胎自然就会排出。我治疗过一个妇人，死胎不下已有两天了，诊察她的脉象洪大且中空（芤脉），询问她的症状则是大汗淋漓不止，精神恍惚想要脱失。我说：这是心气过于虚弱，不能固摄胞胎，不论胎儿是否已死，先要固护心气，使用救逆汤加入人参，煎煮成三杯药液，服用一杯后汗止收敛，服用两杯后神志清爽安宁，第三杯尚未服下而死胎已经排出。排出之后补益肝肾之阴，以配合心阳的功能而痊愈。如果拘执于成方而使用平胃散、朴硝，还有生机吗？
催生也不可拘泥于一种模式，阳气虚弱的就补阳，阴液损伤的就敛阴，血行滞涩的就通血。我治疗过一个妇人，平时脉象迟缓，且有瘕积寒凝导致的厥逆疼痛，我使用通补奇经八脉的大剂量丸药，服用半年后怀孕，分娩时五天胎儿未下，傍晚时分延请我诊治。我看她面色青暗，诊察她的脉搏两次跳动才来一次（一息两至），使用安边桂五钱，加入温经补气药物，煎煮成三杯药液，服用两杯后就生产了，也未曾服用第三杯。次日诊察她的脉象涩滞，腹痛剧烈且拒绝按压，仍让她服用第三杯药，又减少药量规格，用一帖药，排出一块长七、八寸，宽二三寸的血块，她腹中原有两个血块，现在排出了一个，不敢再继续攻通了。仍然使用温通奇经八脉的方法逐渐治愈。其他治疗验证很多，略举一二，以此展示门径罢了。
Deficiency after childbirth primarily lies in the Eight Extraordinary Vessels (Qi Jing Ba Mai). Sun Simiao (Sun Zhenren) established the theory beforehand, and Ye Tianshi elucidated it clearly afterwards; this is what gynecological practitioners must recognize first. The Eight Extraordinary Vessels are attached to the Liver and Kidney, much like a tree has its root. The interaction of Yin and Yang, during pregnancy and postpartum, relies entirely on these vessels for the generation and transformation of life. As the ancient saying goes: "The way of medicine connects with the way of immortality," this is the gateway.
When a dead fetus fails to be expelled, one should not rigidly adhere to established prescriptions and indiscriminately use methods to purge and descend. Instead, one must investigate the cause of retention, consider the symptoms presenting at that moment, correct deviations, remedy deficiencies, and the fetus will naturally be expelled. I treated a woman whose dead fetus had remained inside for two days. Her pulse was surging (Hong) and hollow (Kou). Upon inquiry, she presented with continuous profuse sweating and mental confusion bordering on collapse. I stated: "This is extreme deficiency of Heart Qi, unable to secure the fetus. Regardless of whether the fetus is dead or alive, we must first secure the Heart Qi." I used Jiuni Tang (Rescue from Collapse Decoction) added with Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), decocted into three cups. After drinking one cup, the sweating ceased; after two cups, her spirit became clear and calm. She did not need to drink the third cup as the dead fetus was already expelled. After expulsion, I tonified the Yin of the Liver and Kidney to coordinate with the function of Heart Yang, leading to recovery. If one were to rigidly stick to established formulas and use Pingwei San (Peaceful Stomach Powder) or Po Xiao (Mirabilite), would there be any hope for life?
Methods to induce labor should also not be restricted to a single approach. For Yang deficiency, tonify Yang; for Yin damage, gather/consolidate Yin; for Blood stasis, unblock Blood. I treated a woman who typically had a slow pulse and suffered from abdominal masses (Jia) due to cold accumulation causing Jue (reversal) pain. I prescribed large doses of pills designed to unblock and tonify the Eight Extraordinary Vessels. After taking them for half a year, she conceived. During delivery, the fetus did not emerge for five days. In the evening, she invited me to examine her. Her face was blue-green, and her pulse beat only twice per breath (Yi Xi Li Zhi - extremely slow). I used Anbian Gui (Cortex Cinnamomi, specifically from Annan/Cambodia) 5 qian, combined with herbs that warm the meridians and tonify Qi, decocted into three cups. After drinking two cups, she delivered, without needing the third cup. The next day, her pulse was choppy (Se), and she experienced severe abdominal pain that refused pressure. I instructed her to take the remaining third cup, but reduced the dosage strength, using one dose. She expelled a blood clot measuring seven to eight cun in length and two to three cun in width. She originally had two such clots in her abdomen; having expelled one, I dared not continue with purgative methods. I continued with warming and unblocking methods for the Eight Extraordinary Vessels, leading to gradual recovery. There are many other verified cases; I briefly mention one or two to illustrate the principles.