If spontaneous abortion occurs repeatedly more than 3 times to a single person. The case is known as "habitual abortion," namely " Huatai" as termed in traditional Chinese medicine. This case results from long-standing deficiency of both the spleen and the kidney and from the destitution of Yin-blood. Owing to the deficiency of the kidney and spleen qi, the fetus cannot be supplied with necessary nutrients while the destitution of Yin-blood gives rise to the interior heat which brings damage to uterine collaterals, and attacks the Penetrating channel and Controlling Channel, thus leading to successive abortions relative to frequent gestations.

Type and Treatment
The chief method for treating this illness is to have drugs to strengthen the spleen and kidney before gestation and then deep on taking drugs to secure the fetus until the pregnant months of easy abortion have passed.
1. Deficiency of both spleen and kidneys.
Clinical manifestations: The patient looks weary and languid, with dark orbits or dim speckles on the face. She is short of breath and lazy to speak and has poor appetite, sore loins, weak knees and loose stools, accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus and nocturia. The menses are always irregular, either preceded or delayed, either profuse or scanty. In some cases, conception is hard to achieve after habitual abortion. The tongue is pale and tender with thin coating. The pulse is deep and feeble.
Therapeutic method: Tonify the kidney, strengthen the spleen and reinforce the Penetrating and Controlling channels.
Recipe: Bushen Guchong Pill
Ingredients:
Semen Cuscutae
Radix Dipsaci
Radix Morindae Officinalis
Cortex Eucommiae
Radix Angelicae Sinensis
Rhizoma Rehmanniae Praeparata
Cornu Cervi Degelatinatum
Fructus Lycii
Colla Corii Asini
Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae
Rhizoma Atracty lodis Macrocephalae
Rhizma Atracty lodis Macrocephalae
Fructus Ziziphi Jujubae (kernel removed)
Fructus Amomi
The above herbs are made into honeyed boluses. Take at a time, twice a day, starting in advance of conception but excluding the menstrual period. One course of treatment consists of 2 months.
Modification: In case of consistent debility, add Placenta Hominis. In case of aversion to cold and cold-pain in the lower abdomen with cool limbs, add Herba Epimedii.
2. Destitution of both qi and blood
Clinical manifestations: The case is marked by a pale or sallow complexion, short breaths, feeble limbs, accompanied by dizziness palpitation ad lassitude; a pale tongue with tin, whitish fur; a small and feeble pulse.
Therapeutic method: Invigorate qi and replenish the blood, supported by tonifying the kidney and preventing abortion.
Recipe: Taishan Panshi Decoction
Ingredients:
Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae
Radix Astragali seu Hedysari
Radix Dipasaci
Rhizoma Rehmanniae Praeparata
Radix Angelicae Sinensis
Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong
Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Radix Paeoniae Ala
Radix Scutellariae
Fructus Amomi
Radix Glycyrrhizae Praeparata
Glutinous rice a handful.
The decoction of a dose is 200-300 ml. Take one half in the morning and the other half in the evening.
Modification: In case of a hollow and hearing-down sensation in the lower abdomen, exchange both Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae ad Radix Astragali seu Hedysari from respectively, and add Rhizoma Cimicifugae Praepraata. In case of heat due to deficiency of blood, add Radix Rehmanniae. In case of palpitation and insomnia, add Semen Ziziphi Spinosae.
3. Blood-Heat due to Yin-Deficiency
Clinical manifestations: The patient has flushed cheeks, a dry throat and a hot sensation in palms and soles, accompanied by magersucht and dysphoria. A reddened tongue with little coating. A thready and rapid pulse.
Therapeutic method: Replenish the vital essence and remove heat from the blood.
Recipe: Bao Yin Decoction
Ingredients:
Radix Rehmanniae
Rhizoma Rehmanniae Praeparata
Radix Paeoniae Alba
Radix Dipsaci
Rhizoma Dioscoreae Praeparata
Radix Scutellariae
Cortex Phellodendri
Radix Glycyrrhizae
Radix Boeheriae Niveae
Herba Eclipatae
Caution: In order to carry out effective treatment, multifold examinations must be carried out for both sexes, including blood groups, chromosomes, function of the uterine neck, etc.
The interval between two conceptions should be long enough. It is best to pass over one year or even more.
The female who has a history of habitual abortion should first of all free herself from mental tension and nervousness. In ordinary daily life, she should refrain from sexual activity. Especially in the first and last trimesters of pregnancy, sexual intercourse should be forbidden so as to prevent miscarriage and premature birth.
Habitual abortion caused by coldness of the uterus may be prevented y frequently eating eggs boiled with Folium Artemisiae Argyi.
Another way to prevent abortion is to use phoenix coat which refers to the inner membrane of the egg shell as the chick has been hatched. Put a proper amount of phoenix coat on a clean tile and bake it slowly by soft fire till it turns yellowish. Infuse of the drug into hot rice soup. Take the prepared mixture twice a day, for 5 successive days, starting in advance of the same month as that of the previous abortion.
Dr. Ming's TCM Medical Center,
Hua Xi Xiao Yuan, Hutian Developing Area,
Huaihua city, Hunan province
China