When I lived in Hang Zhou in 1990/1991, I had the opportunity to study with a well known obstetrician/gynecologist named Dr. Qiu Xiao-mei.  This excerpt is from her text Experiences of Dr. Qiu Xiao-mei.  The first part is her description of her own experiential formula and the second part is a case study illustrating the use of this formula.

Supplementing Certainty

The Treatment of Premature Rupture of the Placenta

By Dr. Qiu Xiaomei

Translated By Sharon Weizenbaum

Bu Jue Tang, Supplement Certainty Soup

Herbal Constituents:

Ren Shen Radix Ginseng, (or Dang Shen Radix Codonopsis) 30 gm.
Huang Qi Radix Astragalus 24 gm.
Bai Ji Mo Rhizoma Bletillae Striatae Powder 6 gm. (Stir in)

Method: Decoct in water

Function: Consolidate Qi, absorb Blood, “Weeds through the old to bring forth the new”, stops bleeding and engenders flesh.

Principle Use: Early detachment of the placenta

Formula Explanation: This prescription contains Huang Qi Radix Astragalus which has a warm quality and a sweet bland flavor. It is able to raise Yang and supplement Qi, as well as heal wounds and grow flesh. It is also able to absorb blood and stop bleeding, consolidating so that the bleeding spontaneously stops. Ren Shen Radix Ginseng, (or Dang Shen Radix Codonopsis) increases strength, supplements the middle and boosts the Qi. Bai JiRhizoma Bletillae Striatae sticks and pastes, takes in and closes and repairs damage. Therefore this prescription is called supplement certainty soup. It has a very good effect for early detachment of the placenta.

San Qi, Radix Notoginseng is not in the prescription because its warm nature will tend to scatter. Bai Ji Rhizoma Bletillae Striatae is astringent and can cause closure. It also has the ability to rid the rotten, drive out the congealed and generate the new.

Early detachment of the placenta, according to the doctors of previous dynasties is called pregnancy Blood Beng in gynecology. In 1960 I worked in an obstetric practice and had the opportunity to make a careful observation of many patients. I sought the cause and examined the source. The term bo li means to peel and part from. I considered this term deeply and originated Bu Jue Tang, Supplement Certainty Soup and have found if effective in practice.

Case Study:

Ms. Ma was a thirty-six-year-old teacher when she came to my clinic on May 18, 1960. She was seven months pregnant with triplets. The day before she had gone out on a spring outing. That evening she experienced pain in her lower left abdomen with simultaneous lower back pain and a dropping down feeling. During her sleep a moderate amount of vaginal bleeding began like a menstrual period. A western medical check up showed that her placenta was prematurely rupturing. She was then admitted into the hospital.

Ms. Ma’s pulse was thin, slippery and without strength, her tongue moss was thin and white and her facial color was dull white and looked as if she was in pain. I gave her Bu Jue Tang, Supplement Certainty Soup.  After three packages of it the vaginal bleeding stopped. She left the hospital after an examination revealed her placenta to be correct and appropriately dense. Thereafter she returned home and later gave birth at term without difficulty. The baby weighed 6.8 lbs.

Discussion:

When a woman is six to seven months pregnant and there is a sudden manifestation of bleeding, this is called “pregnancy blood Beng”. The cause is often over work or anger damaging the Liver. This can cause the fetal Qi to be restless and the Chong and Ren Mai to loose their consolidation. In this kind of case it is appropriate to treat the symptoms and manifestation as well as the cause. Ms. Ma was seven months pregnant with early detachment of the placenta. I gave her Bu Jue Tang, Supplement Certainty Soup which is similar to Li Dong Yuan’s method of using Ren Shen Radix Ginseng, (or Dang Shen Radix Codonopsis) and Huang Qi Radix Astragalus to supplement the Qi and raise and lift. I use Bai Ji Rhizoma Bletillae Striatae to remedy the breaking of the placenta from the wall of the uterus and stop bleeding. This relates to this prescriptions ability to mend. Although there are only a few flavors used it has an amazing effect. San Qi Radix Notoginseng is not in the prescription because its warm nature will tend to scatter. Bai Ji Rhizoma Bletillae Striata is astringent and can cause closure. It also has the ability to rid the rotten, drive out the congealed and generate the new.