Fu Qing-zhu's Gynecology

This is perhaps the single most famous book on traditional Chinese gynecology and obstetrics. Dating from the early Qing Dynasty, this book established many of the disease mechanisms and pattern diagnoses now standard in contemporary Chinese gynecology’s most famous formulas
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Fu Qing-zhu was versed in literature, poetry, history, calligraphy, painting, the Daoist classics and Buddhist scriptures. He was said to be able to recite by heart anything he had read once, and passed the imperial exam at the age of fourteen. He led an extraordinary life, adhering to his political principles and turning his back on fame and gain, at one time living as a hermit in a mountain cave. He is also the most famous gynaecologist of Chinese medical history. He was the originator of many important gynaecology prescriptions such as Sheng Hua Tang (Generation and Transformation Decoction), Wan Dai Tang (End Discharge Decoction) and Yi Huang Tang (Change Yellow Decoction) and well as other well-known prescriptions such as Bai Wei Di Huang Wan (Eight Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia).

This book is the translation of his seminal four-volume work on gynaecology written over 300 years ago. Unlike many of the classical texts of TCM it was written in colloquial Chinese (and so could be understood by almost anyone who could read), was succinct and contained much original material.

This makes it eminently approachable by the modern reader. It discusses the aetiology, pathology and treatment of an enormous number of disorders of gynaecology, pregnancy and delivery and especially post-partum diseases. In nearly every case, after a brief description of the disorder, Fu Qing-zhu will dismiss cur-rent thinking on its cause and treatment and propose his own. In most cases he will suggest only one pattern and its treatment.

A typical example is "Profuse bleeding in young women: Some young women suffer from profuse uterine bleeding during the third month of pregnancy and subsequently have a miscarriage. People suppose this to be due to injuries by wrenching or contusion. Who would suspect that it is caused by indiscreet sexual intercourse? Naturally the only treatment method is to mainly supplement the qi with the use of a small amount of blood-supplementing ingredients." As Bob Flaws points out in his Preface, it is important to understand that the author was not attempting to present a complete differentiation for each disease. Rather, the importance of his work was to offer from his own clinical experience, insights into the treatment of specific gynaecological disorders that were not part of existing theory and practice. In the treatment of morning sickness, for example, he emphasises the need to nourish Liver blood and soothe the Liver as well as to strengthen the Spleen and Stomach, which was the primary focus of earlier doctors. The prescription he formulated, Shun Gan Yi Qi Tang, is so well balanced that it can be used in the treatment of morning sickness of any pattern*.

This short book is packed with material of clinical value, for example literally dozens of post-partum disorders. It also throws interesting light on traditional Chinese birthing practices, as well as Fu Qing-zhu's own approach, for example to prepare for assisting delivery "... ready the necessary instruments and utensils and procure medicinals like Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng) to have in store. During delivery, the presence of many people making noise is not allowed. The birthing woman can be supported by two persons or she may be allowed to stand alone against something ... In case of difficult delivery, just pretend and say that it is due to birthing twins or non-descension of the placenta. The birthing mother should be kept free from fright and scare". This book is suffused with clarity and certainty of approach and will aid the confidence and understanding of any practitioner of gynaecology.

*See A Handbook of Traditional Chinese Gynaecology

Editor's Preface to the second Edition v

Translator's Preface xi

Book 1: Nu Ke/ Gynecology

Chapter 1: Dai Xia/ Abnormal Vaginal Discharge 3
White Vaginal Discharge 3
Green-blue Vaginal Discharge 6
Yellow Vaginal Discharge 7
Black Vaginal Discharge 10
Red Vaginal Discharge 12

Chapter 2: Xue Beng/ Profuse Uterine Bleeding 15
Profuse Bleeding with Dimness & Darkness 15
Profuse Bleeding in Elderly Women 17
Profuse Bleeding in Young Women 19
(Sexual) Union Causing Bleeding 20
Depression Binding Profuse Bleeding 22
Profuse Bleeding Due to Wrenching & Falling 24
Profuse Bleeding Due to Great Heat in the Sea of Blood 25

Chapter 3: Tiao Jing/ Regulating the Menses 29
Menstruation Ahead of Schedule 29
Menstruation Behind Schedule 31
Menstruation Early, Late, At No Fixed Intervals 33
Menstruation Comes Once Every Several Months 35
Recurrent Menstruation in Old Women 36
Menstruation Suddenly Comes, Suddenly Ceases, Sometimes Pain,
Sometimes Stops 37
Menstruation Not Yet Arrived Preceded by Abdominal Ache 39
Menstruation Followed by Lower Abdominal Aching & Pain 41
Abdominal Aching & Vomiting of Blood Preceding Menstruation 42
Aching & Pain Below the Umbilicus Before the Period is About to Come 44
Excessive Menstruation 46
Watery Discharge Before Menstruation 48
Hemafecia Prior to Menstruation 49
Premature Menopause 52

Book 2: Nu Ke/ Gynecology (Continued)

Chapter 1: Ren Shen/ Pregnancy 57
Pregnancy Malign Blockage (i.e., Morning Sickness) 57
Swelling & Edema in Pregnancy 59
Lower Abdominal Pain in Pregnancy 62
Dry Mouth & Sore Throat in Pregnancy 63
Vomiting, Diarrhea, & Abdominal Pain in Pregnancy 65
Fetal Suspension with Lateral Costal Pain in Pregnancy 67
Impact Injury in Pregnancy 69
Hematuria in Pregnancy, (also) Called Fetal Leakage 71
Fetal Crying in Pregnancy 72
Fetal Mania, (i.e.), Lumbar & Abdominal Pain, Thirst, Sweating, &
Mania in Pregnancy 73
Falling Fetus (Due to) Excessive Anger During Pregnancy 75

Chapter 2: Xiao Chan/ Small Birth, (i.e., Miscarriage) 79
Miscarriage (Due to) Sexual Intercourse 79
Miscarriage (Due to) Wrenching & Contusion 81
Miscarriage with Dry, Bound Stools 82
Aversion to Cold & Abdominal Pain with Miscarriage 84
Miscarriage (Due to) Great Anger 86

Chapter 3: Nan Chan/ Difficult Delivery 89
Blood Vacuity Difficult Delivery 89
Difficult Delivery (Due to) the Joined Bones Not Opening 91
Hand or Foot Comes Down First Difficult Delivery,
(i.e., Breach Presentation) 93
Qi Counterflow Difficult Delivery 95
Child Dead at the Birth Gate Difficult Delivery 96
Dead Child Within the Abdomen Difficult Delivery 98

Chapter 4: Zheng Chan/ Normal Delivery 101
Normal Delivery (but) the Placenta Does Not Descend 101
Normal Delivery (but) Qi Vacuity, Blood Dizziness 104
Normal Delivery (but) Blood Dizziness (&) Loss of Speech 106
Normal Delivery (but) Vanquished Blood Attacks the Heart (Causing)
Dizziness (&) Mania 108
Normal Delivery (but) Intestinal Prolapse 110

Chapter 5: Chan Hou/ Postpartum (Disorders) 113
Postpartum Lower Abdominal Pain 113
Postpartum Dyspnea 116
Postpartum Aversion to Cold (&) Body Shivering 118
Postpartum Nausea, Retching (&) Vomiting 119
Postpartum Profuse (Uterine) Bleeding 121
Postpartum Incessant Dribbling (of Blood Due to) the Bao Tai
Being Damaged by Hand 123
Postpartum Swelling (&) Edema of the Four Limbs 124
Postpartum Exit of Fleshy Fiber 126
Postpartum Liver Atony 128
Postpartum Qi (&) Blood Dual Vacuity Breast Milk Not Descending 129
Postpartum Depression (&) Binding Breast Milk Not Flowing Freely 131

Book 3: Chan Hou/ Birthing & Afterwards

Chapter 1: Chan Hou Zong Lun/ An Overview of Postpartum (Disorders) 135

Chapter 2: Chan Qian Hou Fang Zheng Yi Ji/ Indications (&)
Contraindications of Pre (&) Postpartum Disorders 141
Normal Delivery 141
Damaged Delivery 142
Balancing (or Regulating) Delivery 142
Hastening Birth 142
Frozen Delivery 143
Hot Delivery 143
Transverse Delivery 144
Wound Umbilical Cord Delivery 144
Difficult Delivery 145
Dead (Fetus) Delivery 145
Descending the Fetal (Placenta) 146
Severing the Navel (i.e., the Umbilical Cord) 147
Treatment Methods for the Newly Birthed 150
Ten Mistakes in Using Medicinals Postpartum 151
Postpartum Cold (&) Heat 152
Before Birth Contraction of Cold Damage, Epidemic Disease,
Malaria, Miscarriage, etc. 154

Chapter 3: Chan Hou Zhu Zheng Zhi Fa/ Treatment Methods for
Various Postpartum Conditions 157
Blood Clots 157
Blood Fainting 160
Inversion Condition 164
Profuse (Uterine) Bleeding 167
Shortness of Breath Similar to Dyspnea 170
Confused Speech, Confused Vision 172
Food Damage 175
Indignation (&) Anger 177
Quasi-Malaria 179
Quasi-Cold Injury Conditions of the Two Yang 182
Quasi-Cold Injury Conditions of the Three Yin 184
Quasi-Windstroke 187
Quasi-Tetany 189
Sweating 190
Thief (i.e., Night) Sweating 193

Thirsty Mouth (with) Simultaneous Inhibited Urination 194
Enuresis 195

Book 4: Chan Hou/ Birthing & Afterwards (Continued)

Chan Hou/ Birthing & Afterwards 199
Mistaken Damage of the Urinary Bladder 199
Contraction of Strangury 200
Frequent Urination 201
Diarrhea 204
Whole Grains Not Transformed (i.e., Undigested Food in the Stools) 205
Dysentry 207
Sudden Chaos (i.e., Cholera-like Diseases) 210
Counterflow Retching (&) Inability to Eat 212
Coughing 214
Water Swelling 217
Streaming (Sore) 219
Inflation (&) Distention 221
Racing Heart (&) Fright Palpitations 224
Steaming Bone 226
Heart Pain 228
Abdominal Pain 229
Lower Abdominal Pain 230
Vacuity Taxation 231
Generalized Body Aching (&) Pain 231
Lumbar Pain 232
Lateral Costal Pain 234
Genital Pain 235
The Lochia 237
Mammary Yong 239
Severe Wind 242
Aphasia 242

Bu Bian/ Appendix 245

Postpartum Constipation 245
Treating Postpartum Chicken Claw Wind 246
Treating Generalized Water Swelling 247

Index 249