bubble_chart Concept

After childbirth, if there is spasm of the hands and feet, stiffness of the neck and back, even lockjaw, and opisthotonos, it is called postpartum convulsion. Jingui Yaolue refers to it as 'disease convulsion' among the three illnesses of new mothers. Qianjin Yaofang calls it 'childbed wind'. Although the names differ, they refer to the same condition. There is also a type of convulsion caused by infection of the birth wound with pathogenic toxins, known as 'postpartum tetanus', which is also discussed in this section.

bubble_chart Pattern Analysis

1. Blood Deficiency︰Suddenly, lockjaw occurs, with stiffness in the neck and back, convulsions in the limbs, and even opisthotonos, accompanied by a pale complexion. The tongue appears light red with scant coating, and the pulse is thin. This is often caused by excessive postpartum metrorrhagia, compounded by profuse sweating, which depletes body fluids, leading to insufficient blood and dried-up fluids, resulting in malnutrition of the tendons and vessels, and internal stirring of liver wind, thereby inducing convulsions. The key points for pattern identification are: excessive postpartum loss of blood, accompanied by sweating, followed by the sudden onset of limb convulsions, stiffness in the neck and back, and opisthotonos. Based on these symptoms, it can be diagnosed as postpartum blood deficiency convulsions. The treatment principle is to nourish blood and stop convulsions, with the recommended formula being Ten Major Tonics Decoction with modifications.
2. External Contractionwind-cold︰Initially, fever and chills, headache and body pain, without sweating, followed by limb convulsions, stiff neck and back, lockjaw, and opisthotonos, thin white tongue coating, floating and wiry pulse. It is caused by blood deficiency after childbirth and exposure to wind-cold pathogens. This condition has a clear history of wind-cold exposure, initially presenting with exterior patterns such as fever and chills, headache and body pain, without sweating, etc., followed by limb convulsions, stiff neck and back, lockjaw, opisthotonos, and other symptoms. If there is no history of wind-cold exposure, this condition should not be diagnosed. Treatment should focus on dispelling wind and releasing the exterior, promoting sweating to stop convulsions, using Pueraria Root Decoction with Mongolian Snakegourd Root.
3. Evil Toxin︰At the onset, there are fever and chills, headache and painful stiff nape, lockjaw, twitching at the corners of the mouth, and a sardonic facial expression. Subsequently, there is stiffness of the neck and back, opisthotonos, or fever with unconsciousness. The tongue texture appears bluish-dark with a thin white coating, and the pulse is wiry and forceful. This condition is caused by unclean wounds during childbirth, leading to infection by pathogenic toxins that invade the Jingmai and cause illness. The key diagnostic points include lockjaw accompanied by a sardonic facial expression, a bluish-dark tongue texture, and a wiry, forceful pulse. The treatment principle involves dispelling wind and removing toxins, regulating blood to stop spasms, and the recommended formula is the Antispasmodic and Wind-Dispelling Powder.

The condition of postpartum convulsion is fundamentally rooted in blood deficiency, with the external manifestation being the conflict with wind pathogens. Wind pathogens can be further categorized into external wind and internal wind. Therefore, the treatment principles revolve around nourishing blood and dispelling wind. The key lies in early treatment; if delayed, it often leads to critical conditions that are difficult to save.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Yizong Jinjian Gynecology Essentials．Postpartum Section: "After childbirth, if there is excessive loss of blood, yang qi becomes excessively vigorous, and the tendons lack nourishment, it will inevitably lead to spasm and convulsion, fever and chills, restlessness, and thirst. It should not be treated as a wind disorder, but rather by supplementing both qi and blood, using Eight Precious Ingredients Decoction with added Moutan Cortex, Unprocessed Rehmannia Root, and Uncaria to treat it. If there is no strength to spasm, with upturned eyes and backward bending, and profuse sweating that does not stop, then it is an incurable condition, hence it is said that life is about to end."