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When carbuncles and sores (severe suppurative infections) on the back first appear, this formula should be taken. It is effective regardless of where the sore occurs on the body, as well as for breast abscesses (acute purulent disease of the breast) in women.

Take five taels of *Lonicerae Japonicae Caulis* (Honeysuckle Vine), gently pounded with a wooden mallet but not crushed; one tael of *Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma* (Licorice Root). Add two bowls of water, decoct using gentle then strong heat until one bowl remains. Add one large bowl of fine wine without ash residue, boil for more than ten times, strain off the dregs, divide into three doses, and consume within one day. If the condition is severe, administer another dose within a night and day. The medicinal efficacy reaches its peak only after the intestines and bowels become unobstructed. If fresh herbs are unavailable, dried ones may be used, though they are inferior to fresh ones because fresh herbs possess greater potency and faster action.

This treats various malignant sores and scrofula (tuberculous lymphadenitis of the neck) that have just formed but not yet ruptured. Apply the medication directly to the center of the lesion; it will heal upon rupture.

Take one qian each of *Draconis Sanguis* (Dragon's Blood), *Boswelliae Resina* (Frankincense), and *Myrrha* (Myrrh); three qian each of *Bufo Venenum* (Toad Venom) and *Hydrargyri Chloridum* (Calomel); five qian of *Realgar*; and five fen of *Moschus* (Musk). Use thirteen dou and three sheng of genuine charcoal ash to leach eight or nine bowls of lye water. Decoct this lye water using mulberry wood fire (gentle then strong heat) until reduced to three bowls. Reserve one bowl and keep two bowls aside. Place the reserved two bowls of lye water in a porcelain vessel. When warm, grind the aforementioned seven ingredients into fine powder, add to the lye water, and stir with mulberry or willow branches. Then add one rice bowl of weathered *Alumen* (Calcined Alum), mix thoroughly, let stand overnight until cool, and store in a porcelain jar. For any malignant sore, apply the medicine to the head of the sore twice daily. On the second day, apply twice again. Healing occurs once the sore head erodes, ruptures, and discharges blood and fluid. If the paste dries, add the reserved lye water to reconstitute it.

For various carbuncles, sores, and deep-seated abscesses (osteomyelitis-like conditions) that have not yet ruptured, surgical incision is unnecessary. Oral administration causes pus to emerge spontaneously shortly thereafter; this has been verified repeatedly.

Burn *Ophiopogonis tuber* (referred to here as 'moth-mouth corn') until charred but retaining its nature. Mix with wine and take orally. Only one pill is needed. Using two or three pills may cause multiple oral ulcers; exercise caution.

This formula is effective for detoxification and healing in cases of carbuncles and sores on the back, fish-belly toxic sores, drug poisoning, plant toxin poisoning, snake venom, animal bites, and various malignant sores.

Take five qian each of *Folium Galla* (Chinese Gall) and *Scorpio* (Scorpion); one liang each of *Diplocardi Radix* (Dougen Root) and *Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma* (Tu Fu Ling); one qian of *Moschus* (Musk); seven qian of *Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix* (Red Tooth Spurge); two qian each of *Cinnabaris* (Cinnabar) and *Realgar*; and five qian of *Euphorbiae Lathyridis Semen* (Seed of Caper Spurge), processed by removing oil to make a frost/powder. First, pound and sieve the first five ingredients in a wooden mortar into fine powder. Then grind the remaining four ingredients finely and mix uniformly with the previous powder. Form pills using glutinous rice paste, dividing into thirty-five pills. Prepare these during auspicious days such as Dragon Boat Festival, Qixi, Double Ninth Festival, or Laba Day, in a clean room. Take one pill per dose, ground down with ginger and honey water for ingestion. Alternatively, soak in well water, grind, and apply externally to the affected area for miraculous effects.