Postpartum panting

Panting occurring after childbirth. Postpartum panting is attributed to qì-blood vacuity or vanquished blood ascending to attack the lung.

Patterns

Qì-blood vacuity (气血虚弱 qì xuè xū ruò) postpartum panting arises when excessive blood loss causes sudden exhaustion of provisioning-blood that leaves defense qì ungoverned. It is characterized by rapid breathing and a rootless vacuous floating pulse on both wrists.

Medicinal therapy: Treat by major supplementation of qì and the blood using Desertion-Stemming Mother-Reviving Decoction (救脱活母汤 jiù tuō huó mǔ tāng) and apply a hot water bottle on the lower abdomen.

Vanquished blood (败血 bài xuè) patterns may result from nonmovement of the lochia with vanquished blood ascending to attack the lung. Such patterns are characterized by rough breathing, purple-black facial complexion and retention of lochia.

Medicinal therapy: Quicken the blood and expel stasis with formulas such as Life-Clutching Elixir (夺命丹 duó mìng dān). See panting.