Panting in pregnancy

Panting during pregnancy. It arises in patients usually suffering from lung qì vacuity, when during pregnancy water qì ascends and exploits the lung, or when externally contracted wind-cold impairs lung qì diffusion. It can also occur in retention of dead fetus with rushing upsurge, or when fire stirs the fetal origin and causes qì counterflow. The signs include phlegm panting with rapid breathing, and unquiet sleep.

Patterns

Lung qì vacuity (肺气虚 fèi qì xū) is characterized by sudden panting accompanied by lack of strength in the limbs.

Medicinal therapy: Supplement the lung and boost qì with variations of Pulse-Engendering Powder (生脉散 shēng mài sǎn).

Wind-cold (风寒 fēng hán) is characterized by heat effusion and aversion to cold.

Medicinal therapy: Course wind and disperse cold with Ginseng and Perilla Beverage (参苏饮 shēn sū yǐn).

Retention of dead fetus (死胎不下 sǐ tāi bù xià) is characterized by cessation of fetal movement, disappearance of the fetal heart beat, red face and green-blue tongue, and panting that prevents the patient from lying down.

Medicinal therapy: Make a decoction of peach kernel (Persicae Semen, 桃仁 táo rén), white peony (Paeoniae Radix Alba, 白芍药 bái sháo yào), moutan (Moutan Cortex, 牡丹皮 mǔ dān pí), cinnamon bark (Cinnamomi Cortex, 肉桂 ròu guì), poria (Poria, 茯苓 fú líng), Chinese angelica (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, 当归 dāng guī), and chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma, 川芎 chuān xiōng).

Fire stirring qì counterflow (火动气逆 huǒ dòng qì nì) causes panting with vexation, agitation, and heat effusion.

Medicinal therapy: Use scutellaria (Scutellariae Radix, 黄芩 huáng qín) and cyperus (Cyperi Rhizoma, 香附子 xiāng fù zǐ) ground to a powder and mixed with water.