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If sores present with swelling, redness, and pain, it is caused by wind-heat and warm-toxin. Jingfang Baidu San (Jingfang Decoction for Overcoming Toxicity; formula see chapter on Carbuncles and Ulcers) can be used.

Sanxiang Gao (Three Fragments Ointment): Treats chronic or recent sores that have ulcerated to the bone with severe pain.
Ingredients: Ruxiang (Frankincense, 2 qian), Songxiang (Pine Resin, 3 qian). Grind together into a fine powder. Mix with Sesame Oil. Take thin bamboo leaves (Ruo Ye) used for wrapping zongzi, prick them densely with holes, spread the medicine on the leaves, apply to the affected area with the medicine centered, cover completely with the remaining leaf, and bind tightly with cloth. It stops pain and promotes flesh regeneration immediately.

Huangbai San (Phellodendron Powder): Treats damp painful sores and widespread heat sores on the body.
Ingredients: Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex, 1 liang), Qingfen (Calomel, 3 qian). Grind together into powder. Mix with Pig Gallbladder Juice for topical application. If the area is wet, sprinkle the dry powder directly.

Suo Chuang Gao (Ointment for Sores): Also treats injuries from beating (Zhang Chuang).
Ingredients: Guduan Shi (Ancient Hammered Iron Scale, 2 qian), Kufan (Alum, 2 qian), Ruxiang (Frankincense, 1.5 qian), Moyao (Myrrh, 1.5 qian), Xuexie (Dragon's Blood, 1.5 qian).
Preparation: Grind all ingredients into a fine powder. Use half Tung Oil and half Sesame Oil. First, fry one he of Sophora Flower (Huaihua) in the oil until black, filter out the dregs. Add 3 qian of Songxiang (Pine Resin), boil, and filter out the dregs again. Add 5 qian of Huangla (Beeswax) and boil into an ointment consistency, tested by dropping a drop into water without dispersing. Then add the medicinal powder and boil until black, tested by dropping a drop into water forming a bead-like shape. For both old and new sores, first wash the area with water boiled with Scallion White (Congbai) and Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia Root), then apply the medicine. If the area is uneven, moisten fingers with saliva, roll the medicine into a lump, fill the uneven spots, spread the ointment on You Dan Zhi (oil-coated paper), apply to the affected area, and continue until the skin thickens after healing. This method is also effective for beat injuries.

Gezhi Gao (Ointment Separated by Paper):
Ingredients: Huangxiang (Yellow Resin, ground soft, 5 qian), Qingfen (Calomel, 5 qian), Yinzhu (Vermilion, 5 qian), Bingpian (Borneol, 0.5 fen).
Preparation: Grind all ingredients into an extremely fine powder. Mix with Sesame Oil. Spread on You Dan Zhi (oil-coated paper). Prick the paper densely with a needle before spreading the medicine onto the holes. When applying, align the holes with the sore. First, wash the toxic sores with water boiled with Scallion Heads, Sichuan Pepper (Huajiao), and fine tea, then apply. Bind tightly with a cloth band. Change once daily in summer, and once every two days (with washing) in winter. For foul-smelling, rotting sores, five applications are sufficient for cure. Highly effective.

Dietary Precautions: Avoid all "fa wu" (stimulating foods that may exacerbate disease). When preparing patches, adjust the size and shape according to the sore.

Tie Chuang Fang (Patch Formula for Sores): Effective for sores regardless of whether they are new or old, as well as beat injuries and ding carbuncles.
Ingredients: Huahong Juan (Red Silk Cloth, burned to ash, 2 fen), Ekou Jian (Silkworm Cocoon Mouth, burned to ash, 2 fen), Jufan (Alum, 1 fen), Zhenzhu (Pearl, fire-roasted, 3 fen), Xuyuhui (Ash of Human Hair, 2 fen), Feiluo Baifan (Fine Wheat Flour, 1 fen), Guanfen (Lead Carbonate/White Lead, 2 fen).
Preparation: Grind all ingredients into a fine powder. Melt 2 liang of Huangla (Beeswax) and mix with the powder. Spread on good paper. Highly effective.

Another Sore Formula: Stir-fry Wubeizi (Chinese Gall) into powder, add Baicaoshuang (Soot from Chimney) and melt Huangla (Beeswax) into it. Spread as Gezhi Gao (Ointment Separated by Paper) and apply to heal.

Case Record: A male patient suffered from a carbuncle on his leg. After taking purgative drugs, his Yuan Qi (Original Qi) was depleted, preventing suppuration. I advised using Tuo Li (Supporting the Interior) to promote rupture and Da Bu (Great Tonification) to promote closure. If constipation occurred, Shiquan Dabu Tang (Decoction for Tenfold Great Tonification) was added with Maidong (Ophiopogon Root) and Wuweizi (Schisandra Fruit) to moisten. After a month, the mass remained unruptured. The patient self-medicated with Run Chang Wan (Moisten Intestines Pill), causing persistent diarrhea. I used Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Decoction for Supplementing the Middle and Augmenting the Qi) to deliver Sishen Wan (Four Miracles Pill). After several doses, the diarrhea stopped. (See Buzhong Yiqi Tang in the Tonification chapter, and Sishen Wan in the Diarrhea chapter.)

Qu Shaoxi, a Honglu Qing (Court Gentleman of the Court of State Ceremonial), developed sores on both legs, which gradually led to whole-body fever, expectoration of phlegm, dry mouth, dry throat, night sweats, mental restlessness, dark urine, hot feet worsening in the late afternoon, and progressive emaciation. This was due to deficiency fire in the Kidney Meridian. Using Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) for less than a month, all symptoms resolved; after three months, the sores flattened and healed. (Formula see chapter on Carbuncles and Ulcers.)