Comprehensive Treatment of Postpartum Hemorrhagic Syncope
Postpartum hemorrhagic syncope refers to sudden dizziness, blurred vision, inability to sit up, chest tightness, nausea, vomiting, phlegm surging, rapid breathing, restlessness, and in severe cases, clenched jaw, unconsciousness, and loss of awareness after childbirth.
Traditional Chinese medicine attributes postpartum hemorrhagic syncope primarily to excessive blood loss during delivery, leading to depletion of yin blood and qi collapsing with blood. It may also result from exposure to cold during delivery, causing blood to congeal and stagnate, leading to blood stasis and upward reversal of qi, disturbing the mind and causing syncope. Treatment must first address shock and resuscitation. Once stabilized, treat according to syndrome differentiation.
For syncope due to blood deficiency and qi collapse, main symptoms include dizziness, blurred vision, unconsciousness, pale lips and face, palpitations, cold extremities, and spontaneous sweating. Treatment should focus on replenishing qi and blood, strengthening qi and preventing collapse. Use Ding Kun Dan or Dushen Tang. If sweating and cold extremities occur, use Shen Fu Tang to restore yang and rescue from collapse. If bleeding continues, add scorched ginger to Shen Fu Tang to stop bleeding. Alternative treatments include medicinal diets: Astragalus Porridge—take 20 grams astragalus, add 200 ml water, decoct to 100 ml, remove residue. Cook 50 grams rice into porridge, add the decoction and appropriate rock sugar, simmer briefly. Take twice daily, morning and evening. Alternatively, use Longan Seed and Lotus Seed Soup: 10 grams longan flesh, 12 grams lotus seeds, 10 grams stir-fried sour jujube seed. Boil together, remove residue, drink the decoction. One dose daily, continue for five days.
For syncope due to blood stasis blocking qi, main symptoms include delayed or scant lochia, intermittent lower abdominal pain with tenderness, even urgent fullness in the epigastrium, rapid breathing, unconsciousness, clenched jaws, unresponsive, fists clenched, locked teeth, dark complexion, purple lips and tongue. Treatment should aim to invigorate blood and expel stasis. Use Duo Ming San with added angelica and ligusticum. If accompanied by chest tightness and nausea, add *Pinellia ternata* to descend counterflow and transform phlegm. Alternative dietary therapies include Buddha's Hand Hawthorn Corydalis Soup: 6 grams Buddha's hand, 10 grams hawthorn, 6 grams corydalis, decoct and drink. One dose daily. Peach Kernel Porridge: 15 grams peach kernel, crush, soak in water, strain and keep juice. Cook 50 grams rice into porridge, add peach kernel juice and a little rock sugar when porridge is half-cooked, cook until done. Eat in the morning. Black Bean Safflower Soup: 30 grams black beans, 6 grams safflower, boil together, strain, add 50 grams rock sugar and warm, drink once daily.
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