《易·系》曰∶男女媾精，万物化生。是五类昆虫，咸感阴阳精气而成孕育。肾主藏精，为生气之原，
故胎之根本在肾，假血以成形。冲任之血，肝所主也，故始于肝脏主养，肝气暴虚，故多思酸作呕。夫
人生于寅，故始于厥阴木，脏腑之精气，次序资养，至十月而五行之阴阳已周，十干之气已化，归于壬癸
而生。（戊癸化火，丁壬化木。）此天地生成之道也。一月肝木，二月胆木，三月君火，四月相火，五月脾土，六
月胃土，七月肺金，八月大肠金，九月肾水，十月壬水，脏腑阴阳之气，循序相生，如主养之气不足，则
胎亦不长矣。（胎长如瓜，若不长，则有陨落之虞。）《金匮要略》
云∶怀身七月，太阳当养不养，此心气实，当刺泻劳宫，盖因火制其金也。故如土气主养，当培其土而
抑其木；金气主养，当泻其火而资其金。以逐月主养之脏腑，审其虚实而调之，此养胎之大要也。又火能
速物，是以三月、四月，多有半产之虞；火能克金，故七月亦有不足之虑，如胎气热者，当预防之。胎以
肾为本，故养胎以地黄、杜仲为君，坤德浓而资生万物，故白术、大枣为安胎之圣药；胎从血长，是以四
物汤乃胎产之要方。胎寄而生，故桑上寄生、川续断，力能系胞；火能速物，故芩、连、益母，皆为要
药；气化则血行而胎长，故砂仁、橘皮、紫苏、枳壳，宜兼用以疏气。夫天地交而万物生，水火济而阴
阳平，是以阿胶、艾叶、香附、茯苓，得交感之妙用者也。至于胎前百病，以治病、养胎之法，兼而行之，
此胎前之大纲领也。（妇人小儿，总是阴阳气血，止多胎产、痘疹耳！其
余百病皆归一法，是以《灵》、《素》诸经，不过分别数条，学人当明白此理。）
开之曰∶肺属天，七月而生者，得干金之气，故能育而且寿；九月感天癸之气，十月得化运之全，若
八月则不育矣。
《易经·系辞》说：男女交合，精气交融，万物由此化生。因此，各类昆虫都能感应阴阳的精气而完成孕育。肾主藏精，是生命之气的根源，所以胎儿的根本在于肾，依靠血液来形成形体。冲脉和任脉的血液由肝所主宰，所以胎儿初期由肝脏主导滋养；若肝气突然虚弱，就会出现多思、想吃酸味食物以及作呕的症状。人禀受天地之气而生于寅位（对应东方木），所以胎儿发育始于厥阴肝木经。脏腑的精气按照次序依次资养，到第十个月时，五行阴阳之气已经周遍，十天干的气化已经完成，最终归于壬癸水而出生。（戊与癸相合化为火，丁与壬相合化为木。）这是天地生成的规律。第一个月由肝木主养，第二个月由胆木主养，第三个月由君火主养，第四个月由相火主养，第五个月由脾土主养，第六个月由胃土主养，第七个月由肺金主养，第八个月由大肠金主养，第九个月由肾水主养，第十个月由壬水主养。脏腑阴阳之气依序相生，如果主养的脏气不足，胎儿也就不能正常生长了。（胎儿的生长如同瓜类植物，如果不能正常生长，就有流产的危险。）《金匮要略》中说：怀孕第七个月，本该由太阳膀胱经主养却未能得到应有的滋养，这是因为心气实盛，应当针刺并泻劳宫穴，这是因为火能克制金。所以，如果是土气主养的月份，应当培补土气而抑制木气；如果是金气主养的月份，应当泻火气而资助金气。根据每个月主养的脏腑，审查其虚实状况并进行调理，这就是安胎的大要领。另外，火性躁动加速事物变化，所以在第三、四个月，多有流产的危险；火能克金，所以在第七个月也有正气不足的忧虑，如果胎气偏热，应当提前预防。胎儿以肾为本，所以安胎以地黄、杜仲为君药，因为坤德厚重而滋生万物，所以白术、大枣是安胎的圣药；胎儿从血中生长，所以四物汤是胎产的重要方剂。胎儿寄托于母体而生长，所以桑上寄生、川续断，具有固摄胞宫的力量；火性躁动加速事物变化，所以黄芩、黄连、益母草，都是重要药物；气化则血行而胎儿生长，所以砂仁、橘皮、紫苏、枳壳，适宜兼用以疏理气机。天地相交而万物化生，水火既济而阴阳平衡，所以阿胶、艾叶、香附、茯苓，具有交感的神奇作用。至于胎前的各种疾病，采用治病与安胎相结合的方法同时施行，这是胎前护理的大纲领。（妇女和小儿的病证，总归是阴阳气血的问题，只是多了胎产、痘疹这些特殊情况！其余百病都归结为一法，所以《灵枢》、《素问》等经典不过分别列出几条条文，学习者应当明白这个道理。）张志聪解释说：肺属天，第七个月出生的胎儿，得自天干金的清气，所以能够养育且长寿；第九个月感受天癸之气，第十个月获得气化运行的完整，如果是在第八个月，就不能孕育成功了。
The *Yijing* (Book of Changes) · *Xici* (Great Commentary) states: "When male and female interact, their essence blends, and all things are transformed." Thus, insects of the five categories all conceive and gestate by sensing the essence of Yin and Yang. The Kidney stores essence and is the source of vital Qi; therefore, the root of the fetus lies in the Kidney, taking form through blood. The blood of the Chong and Ren vessels is governed by the Liver; thus, gestation begins with the Liver providing nourishment. If Liver Qi becomes suddenly deficient, one may experience excessive thinking, craving for sour flavors, and nausea. Humans are born under the influence of Yin (associated with Wood/East), so development begins with the Jueyin Liver channel. The essence and Qi of the Zang-Fu organs nourish each other in sequence; by the tenth month, the Yin and Yang of the Five Elements are complete, and the transformation of the Ten Heavenly Stems is finished, returning to Ren and Gui (Water) for birth. (Wu and Gui transform into Fire; Ding and Ren transform into Wood.) This is the way of Heaven and Earth's generation. In the first month, Liver Wood governs; in the second, Gallbladder Wood; in the third, Ministerial Fire; in the fourth, Sovereign Fire; in the fifth, Spleen Earth; in the sixth, Stomach Earth; in the seventh, Lung Metal; in the eighth, Large Intestine Metal; in the ninth, Kidney Water; and in the tenth, Ren Water. The Yin and Yang Qi of the Zang-Fu organs generate each other in order. If the governing Qi is insufficient, the fetus will not grow properly. (Fetal growth is like that of a melon; if it does not grow, there is a risk of miscarriage.) The *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet) states: "In the seventh month of pregnancy, if the Taiyang [Bladder] fails to provide its due nourishment, this indicates excess Heart Qi, and Laogong (PC 8) should be needled and drained, because Fire controls Metal." Therefore, when Earth Qi is governing, one should tonify Earth and suppress Wood; when Metal Qi is governing, one should drain Fire and support Metal. By examining the deficiency or excess of the organ governing each month and regulating accordingly, one grasps the main principle of fetal nourishment. Furthermore, Fire accelerates processes; thus, in the third and fourth months, there is often a risk of premature birth. Because Fire overcomes Metal, there is also concern about insufficiency in the seventh month. If fetal Qi is hot, preventive measures should be taken. Since the Kidney is the root of the fetus, Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix) and Du Zhong (Eucommiae Cortex) are used as sovereign herbs for fetal nourishment, reflecting the thick virtue of Kun (Earth) which generates all things. Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) and Da Zao (Ziziphi Jujubae Fructus) are considered holy medicines for calming the fetus. As the fetus grows from blood, Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) is a crucial formula for obstetrics. Since the fetus resides within the mother, Sang Shen Jian Sheng (Taxilli Herba) and Chuan Xu Duan (Dipsaci Radix) have the power to anchor the uterus. Because Fire accelerates processes, Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), Lian Zi (Nelumbinis Nuciferae Semen - *Note: Context implies Huang Lian Coptidis Rhizoma based on 'Qin, Lian' pairing for heat*, but text says 'Qin, Lian', usually Huang Qin & Huang Lian. I will use Huang Lian for Lian*), and Yi Mu Cao (Leonuri Herba) are important drugs. When Qi transforms, Blood moves, and the fetus grows; thus, Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus Rotundus), Ju Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Zi Su Ye (Perillae Folium), and Zhi Qiao (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus) are suitable for jointly regulating Qi. When Heaven and Earth interact, all things are born; when Water and Fire assist each other, Yin and Yang are balanced. Therefore, E Jiao (Colla Corii Asini), Ai Ye (Artemisiae Argyi Folium), Xiang Fu (Cyperi Rhizoma), and Fu Ling (Poria) possess the miraculous function of mutual interaction. Regarding various diseases during pregnancy, treating the disease while nourishing the fetus simultaneously is the general outline for prenatal care. (Diseases in women and children generally pertain to Yin, Yang, Qi, and Blood, with the addition of gestation/childbirth and smallpox/measles. All other hundred diseases fall under one method. Thus, the *Ling Shu* and *Su Wen* merely list several categories; students must understand this principle.) Zhang Zhicong explains: The Lung belongs to Heaven. Those born in the seventh month receive the Qi of the Metal Heavenly Stem, enabling them to be nurtured and long-lived. Those born in the ninth month sense the Qi of Tian Gui (Heavenly Purity/Menstrual Essence), and those born in the tenth month achieve the fullness of Qi transformation. However, those conceived/born in the eighth month would not survive.