Miao, female, 22 years old, farmer, sought treatment in the winter month of 1972. She reported that after sweating from labor, she removed her outer clothing and returned home (ST29). After dinner, she felt discomfort all over her body, and the next morning she felt chills and headache. It was during her menstrual period, which lasted for 2 days and then stopped. Symptoms included alternating chills and fever, heavy-headed headache, tympanites in the ears, slight abdominal distension and fullness with pain, nausea, anorexia, thirst, and yellow urine. The tongue was slightly red on the edges with a thin white coating, and the pulse was wiry and slightly rapid. Body temperature was 38.7°C. The diagnosis was heat entering the uterus, and treatment was prescribed with Minor Bupleurum Decoction minus Ginseng and Pinellia, plus Cinnamon Twig and smallpox powder. The prescription was:
Bupleurum 12g, Cinnamon Twig 6g, Skullcap Root 9g, Mongolian Snakegourd Root 12g, Fresh Ginger Rhizome 3g, Chinese Date 6 pieces, Liquorice Root 6g
. After taking 3 doses of the above medicine, the chills and fever subsided, and the headache decreased, but there was still distending pain in the lower abdomen, and the thirst was gone. The tongue had a moist, thin white coating, and the pulse was wiry. The previous prescription was modified by removing Cinnamon Twig, Mongolian Snakegourd Root, ginger, and dates, and adding Tangshen, Moutan Bark, and Shiny Bugleweed. The new prescription was:
Bupleurum 12g, Skullcap Root 9g, Tangshen 9g, Moutan Bark 12g, Shiny Bugleweed 30g, Liquorice Root 6g
. After taking 3 doses of the above medicine, the abdominal distension and fullness with pain greatly decreased, and all symptoms disappeared. A modified Cold-Limbs Powder was then prescribed for further recovery and consolidation.