保产无忧方

3. Tongue and pulse

• Tongue: Pale red tongue with a thin, white coating.
• Pulse: Slippery pulse, or thin, slippery, and forceless.

4. Common modifications

• As an experience-based formula, its structure is relatively fixed. Modern application generally involves fine adjustment under a practitioner's guidance according to the specific situation:
  • Marked qi deficiency: the dose of Huang Qi (astragalus root) may be increased.
  • Marked blood deficiency: Shu Di Huang (prepared rehmannia root) and Sang Ji Sheng (mulberry mistletoe) may be added.
  • Kidney deficiency with instability, marked lower back soreness: Du Zhong (eucommia bark) and Xu Duan (dipsacus root) may be added.
  • When used to correct fetal position, it is often combined with methods such as moxibustion at the Zhiyin (BL-67) point.

5. Cautions and clinical notes

• Absolute contraindications:
  • This formula's nature tends toward warmth, dryness, and acrid dispersion; it is contraindicated in yin deficiency with blood heat (presenting with dry mouth, restlessness, constipation, red tongue).
  • Those with a history of habitual miscarriage must use this formula only under a practitioner's guidance and must not take it on their own.
  • This formula has the power to facilitate delivery; therefore, in the absence of clear indications, it should not be used lightly during early pregnancy (the first three months).
  • Strictly follow the practitioner's instructions; do not exceed the prescribed dose.

6. Granule conversion and dose

• Calculation of total raw herb weight in the original formula:
  • Dang Gui (Chinese angelica root) 4.5 g + Chuan Xiong (Sichuan lovage rhizome) 4.5 g + Bai Shao (white peony root) 4.5 g + Huang Qi (astragalus root) 2.4 g + Tu Si Zi (dodder seed) 4.5 g + Hou Po (magnolia bark) 2.1 g + Zhi Ke (bitter orange fruit) 1.8 g + Qiang Huo (notopterygium rhizome) 1.5 g + Chuan Bei Mu (Sichuan fritillary bulb) 3 g + Jing Jie Sui (schizonepeta spike) 2.4 g + Ai Ye (mugwort leaf) 1.5 g + Gan Cao (licorice root) 1.5 g + Sheng Jiang (fresh ginger) 3 g = 37.7 g.
• Conversion to 5:1 granules:
  • 37.7 g raw herbs ÷ 5 = 7.54 g granules.
• Recommended dose:
  • This is the daily dose. Take one dose per day, in two portions morning and evening, dissolved in warm water, about 4 g per dose.
  • Extremely important note: This is a formula specific to obstetrics, involving the safety of mother and child. The dose, timing of administration, and Duration of use must be strictly determined by an experienced licensed TCM practitioner according to the pregnant woman's specific condition (such as gestational age, constitution, and fetal presentation). Do not calculate or take this formula on one's own.