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Dried Ginger (Shengjiang, 干姜) and Southern Jujube (Nanzao, 南枣) (each calcined to retain efficacy), along with Dried Alum (Kubai Fan, 枯白矾) in equal parts, are ground into powder and applied externally to the affected area for immediate cure.

The *Classic of Medicine* (*Huangdi Neijing*, 黄帝内经) states: At the age of eight, a man's Kidney Qi becomes substantial, leading to the shedding of deciduous teeth and the growth of permanent teeth; at twenty-four (three times eight), wisdom teeth emerge; at forty-eight (five times eight), teeth begin to wither; and at sixty-four (eight times eight), teeth fall out. Women follow the same pattern but based on multiples of seven. This is because the Kidneys govern bones, and teeth are the external manifestation of the skeletal system, nourished by marrow. Generally, dental issues belong to the Kidneys, while the upper and lower gums belong to the Yangming channels. Pain in the upper gums, preferring cold drinks and disliking hot ones, is treated by selecting the Foot-Yangming Stomach channel; pain in the lower gums, preferring hot drinks and disliking cold ones, is treated by selecting the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine channel. Thus, diseases may present with aversion to cold or heat differently. Conditions involving tooth mobility, pain, bleeding or non-bleeding, wide interdental spaces, and a state resembling imminent loss all belong to the Kidneys. The *Classic* states: Those with Kidney heat have dark complexion and withered teeth. It also states: Those with Shaoyin channel disease have dark faces and long, dirty teeth. If caries cause gum swelling and necrosis without mobility but with stagnation, rotting, pain, and foul odor, this belongs to the Yangming channel, or mixed pathogenic factors from various channels and external causes. Treatment should distinguish between deficiency and excess. For Kidney channel deficiency-cold, use Anshen Wan (Kidney-Anchoring Pill), Huanshao Dan (Return-to-Youth Elixir), or Ba Wei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill) for severe cases. In winter, if extreme cold invades the brain causing headache and tooth mobility/pain, this is Taiyang and Shaoyin Cold Damage. Zhang Zhongjing used Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang (Ephedra, Aconite, and Asarum Decoction). This is common in those with Kidney deficiency. If accompanied by tooth pain/mobility, limb fatigue, and poor appetite, it indicates Spleen-Kidney depletion; treat with Anshen Wan combined with Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction). If one prefers cold and dislikes heat, it indicates Stomach Blood injury; use Xiaowei Tang (Clear the Stomach Decoction). If one dislikes cold and prefers heat, it indicates Stomach Qi injury; use Buzhong Yiqi Tang.

Teeth are the surplus of bone and the external marker of the Kidneys, residing in the gums and nourished by Qi and Blood. The upper gums belong to the Foot-Yangming Stomach channel, and the lower gums to the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine channel. However, teeth are essentially bone, originating from Qianyuan (Heaven/Yang) to initiate life; gums are essentially flesh, originating from Kunyuan (Earth/Yin) to sustain life, like trees growing in soil, relying on it for nourishment. Therefore, dental diseases arise from the Hand-Yangming, Foot-Yangming, and Foot-Shaoyin channels. The gums belong to Yangming Metal. Teeth belong to Shaoyin Water. When Yangming is excess, Ying Qi nourishes teeth making them firm; when Yangming is deficient, teeth lose nourishment and become loose. Thus, mobility, shedding, brittleness, widening gaps, aversion to cold/heat, and looseness indicate root deficiency of the Kidneys leading to branch deficiency. Caries with swelling, periodontal bleeding, and foul rotting indicate excessive damp-heat in the intestines and stomach, where "excess heat causes flesh to rot." Deficiency is tonified, damp-heat is purged, Stomach fire is cleared, and exterior wind-cold is dispersed. External powders can be applied. Severe cases with gum necrosis and tooth loss resemble collapsing earth and falling trees. Treatment focuses on stabilizing the gums; firm gums secure the teeth. "Zouma Gan" (Running Horse Gangrene) is caused by heat-toxin attacking upward due to visceral deficiency, particularly Kidney deficiency. Since teeth are bone surplus, heat rushes up causing ulceration rapidly, hence the name.

Swollen and painful gums with mobile teeth, or blackening/rotting/shedding, belong to Yangming damp-heat. Although related to Yangming, occurring in the upper and lower gums, it involves the Large Intestine and Stomach, like trees in soil. Injury to the intestines and stomach from rich wine and food leads to damp-heat attacking upward, clouding the gums, causing swelling, pain, bleeding, or insect infestation, disturbing the teeth. Just as unstable soil shakes trees, here damp-heat must be purged from Yangming to clear the gums and stabilize the teeth. If symptoms persist after regulation and teeth fall out, prognosis is poor, often fatal.

Dental diseases that recur after exertion, worsen in the afternoon, or present with thirst, dark complexion, and seminal emission are due to Spleen-Kidney deficiency-heat. Treat with Buzhong Yiqi Tang, Liuwei Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia), or Shiquan Dabu Tang (Ten-Agent Great Tonifying Decoction).

Li Dongyuan (Haizang) stated: Dental caries with foul odor persisting for years should be treated as Yangming Blood Stasis. Those who enjoy drinking alcohol often suffer this; use Tao Ren Cheng Qi Tang (Peach Kernel and Da Huang Decocting Agent) powdered and formed into honey pills for excellent effect.

However, teeth pain worsening with cooling indicates cold; pain stopping upon inhaling cool air indicates heat.

Toothache originates from Stomach injury and pre-existing damp-heat floating to the gums. Constrained by wind-cold or cold beverages, damp-heat cannot disperse externally, causing pain. Pathogenesis has root and branch distinctions, requiring warm or cool medications. Treating cold as the branch, external rinses should use Bi Bo (Long Pepper) and Xi Xin (Asarum), acrid-warm to dispel cold and open depression, also dispersing constrained heat. Treating heat as the root, internal meds should use Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia Root), Mu Dan Pi (Moutan Bark), Lian Qiao (Forsythia), and Bo He (Mint), acrid-cool to dissipate heat and clear the center. Internal and external treatment addressing both root and branch ensures recovery. Sudden severe pain often belongs to Dragon Fire (Hyperactive Ministerial Fire), rapid and fierce like storms burning wood. One must use contrary treatment (treating heat with heat): using warm medicines with cold drinks allows fire to return to its source. Using orthodox treatment with cold/cool herbs aggravates the condition. For unbearable pain radiating to the head, preferring cold/disliking heat, with surging-rapid-forceful pulse, use Liang Ge San (Cool the Chest Powder) with doubled Jiuzheng Dahuang (Wine-processed Rhubarb) to purge.