If spontaneous
abortion occurs repeatedly more than 3 times to a single
person. The case is known as "habitual abortion," namely "
Huatai" as termed in traditional Chinese medicine. This case
results from long-standing deficiency of both the spleen and
the kidney and from the destitution of Yin-blood. Owing to
the deficiency of the kidney and spleen qi, the fetus cannot
be supplied with necessary nutrients while the destitution
of Yin-blood gives rise to the interior heat which brings
damage to uterine collaterals, and attacks the Penetrating
channel and Controlling Channel, thus leading to successive
abortions relative to frequent gestations.
Type and
Treatment
The chief method
for treating this illness is to have drugs to strengthen the
spleen and kidney before gestation and then deep on taking
drugs to secure the fetus until the pregnant months of easy
abortion have passed.
1. Deficiency of
both spleen and kidney
s.
Clinical
manifestations: The patient looks weary and languid,
with dark orbits or dim speckles on the face. She is short
of breath and lazy to speak and has poor appetite, sore
loins, weak knees and loose stools, accompanied by
dizziness, tinnitus and nocturia. The menses are always
irregular, either preceded or delayed, either profuse or
scanty. In some cases, conception is hard to achieve after
habitual abortion. The tongue is pale and tender with thin
coating. The pulse is deep and feeble.
Therapeutic method:
Tonify the kidney, strengthen the spleen and reinforce the
Penetrating and Controlling
channels.
Recipe: Bushen
Guchong
Pill
Ingredients:
Semen Cuscutae
Radix Dipsaci
Radix Morindae
Officinalis
Cortex Eucommiae
Radix Angelicae
Sinensis
Rhizoma Rehmanniae
Praeparata
Cornu Cervi
Degelatinatum
Fructus Lycii
Colla
Corii
Asini
Radix Codonopsis
Pilosulae
Rhizoma Atracty
lodis Macrocephalae
Rhizma
Atracty lodis Macrocephalae
Fructus Ziziphi
Jujubae (kernel removed)
Fructus Amomi
The above herbs are
made into honeyed boluses. Take at a time, twice a day,
starting in advance of conception but excluding the
menstrual period. One course of treatment consists of 2
months.
Modification: In
case of consistent debility, add Placenta Hominis. In case
of aversion to cold and cold-pain in the lower abdomen with
cool limbs, add Herba Epimedii.
2. Destitution
of both
qi and blood
Clinical
manifestations: The case is marked by a pale or sallow
complexion, short breaths, feeble limbs, accompanied by
dizziness palpitation ad lassitude; a pale tongue with tin,
whitish fur; a small and feeble pulse.
Therapeutic method:
Invigorate
qi
and replenish the blood, supported by tonifying the kidney
and preventing abortion.
Recipe: Taishan
Panshi
Decoction
Ingredients:
Radix Codonopsis
Pilosulae
Radix Astragali seu
Hedysari
Radix Dipasaci
Rhizoma Rehmanniae
Praeparata
Radix Angelicae
Sinensis
Rhizoma Ligustici
Chuanxiong
Rhizoma
Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Radix Paeoniae Ala
Radix Scutellariae
Fructus Amomi
Radix Glycyrrhizae
Praeparata
Glutinous rice a
handful.
The decoction of a
dose is 200-300 ml. Take one half in the morning and the
other half in the evening.
Modification:
In case of a hollow and hearing-down sensation in the lower
abdomen, exchange both Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae ad Radix
Astragali seu Hedysari from respectively, and add
Rhizoma Cimicifugae
Praepraata. In
case of heat due to deficiency of blood, add
Radix Rehmanniae.
In case of palpitation
and insomnia, add
Semen Ziziphi
Spinosae.
3. Blood-Heat due
to Yin-Deficiency
Clinical
manifestations: The patient has flushed cheeks, a dry throat
and a hot sensation in palms and soles, accompanied by
magersucht and dysphoria. A reddened tongue with little
coating. A thready and rapid pulse.
Therapeutic method:
Replenish the vital essence and remove heat from the blood.
Recipe: Bao Yin
Decoction
Ingredients:
Radix Rehmanniae
Rhizoma Rehmanniae
Praeparata
Radix Paeoniae Alba
Radix Dipsaci
Rhizoma Dioscoreae
Praeparata
Radix Scutellariae
Cortex Phellodendri
Radix Glycyrrhizae
Radix Boeheriae
Niveae
Herba Eclipatae
Caution:
In
order to carry out effective treatment, multifold
examinations must be carried out for both sexes, including
blood groups, chromosomes, function of the uterine neck,
etc.
The interval
between two conceptions should be long
enough.
It is best to pass over one year or even more.
The female who has
a history of habitual abortion should first of all free
herself from mental tension and nervousness. In ordinary
daily life, she should refrain from sexual activity.
Especially in the first and last trimesters of pregnancy,
sexual intercourse should be forbidden so as to prevent
miscarriage and premature birth.
Habitual abortion
caused by coldness of the uterus may be prevented y
frequently eating eggs boiled with Folium Artemisiae Argyi.
Another way to
prevent abortion is to use phoenix coat which refers to the
inner membrane of the egg shell as the chick has been
hatched. Put a proper amount of phoenix coat on a clean tile
and bake it slowly by soft fire till it turns yellowish.
Infuse of the drug into hot rice soup. Take the prepared
mixture twice a day, for 5 successive days, starting in
advance of the same month as that of the previous abortion.
