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The method of moxibustion with garlic slices is superior to the use of knives and needles. Ancient texts state: "For non-painful lesions, moxa until pain arises; for painful lesions, moxa until pain ceases." In treating carbuncles (Yong Ju), ding swellings (Ding Zhong), flowing abscesses (Liu Zhu), and all kinds of unnamed swelling-toxins, place a slice of garlic on top of the lesion, position a mugwort cone (Ai Zhu) made from aged mugwort on the garlic slice, ignite it, and apply moxibustion. The size of the mugwort cone should be determined according to the size of the lesion/toxin. For larger carbuncles, mash garlic into a cake, apply it to the area, and perform moxibustion. For non-painful lesions, stop when pain is felt; for painful lesions, stop when pain disappears. If pus has already formed internally, immediately apply Wujin Ointment (Wu Jin Gao) to the treated area and cover externally with Puji Wanquan Plaster (Puji Wanquan Gao). This causes the ulcer to open widely, allowing the discharge of stagnant pus, which facilitates healing. If the wound fails to close or necrotic tissue does not detach, wash with Fangfeng Decoction (Fangfeng Tang), apply Haifu Powder (Haifu San), and cover with Wanquan Plaster; the necrotic tissue will naturally fall off, and new flesh will regenerate. Healing can be expected within a calculated number of days.

For swellings located above the head and face, moxibustion is contraindicated as it may draw fire qi upward to attack. Instead, the Fire Illumination Method (Huo Zhao Fa) should be used, which yields miraculous results. This method uses Huozhao Powder (Huozhao San), wrapped in paper and ignited, dipped in sesame oil for lighting. Three sticks are used per treatment, held approximately half an cun away from the toxin to illuminate the area. Illuminating from outside inward allows the medicinal qi to penetrate. Purple and stagnant skin color will immediately turn red and vibrant; flat and collapsed heat-sores will immediately become elevated. Continuous illumination is necessary so that the toxin qi is instantly resolved, transforming yin conditions into yang conditions to achieve complete recovery. This method is not limited to the head; it is also suitable for toxins such as back carbuncles (Fa Bei). However, some head and facial toxins can also be cured by moxibustion if they are purely yin toxins presenting as flat, stubborn, and numb lesions, where moxibustion is effective. In such cases, the mugwort cone should be small, the size of a millet grain. These two methods are precious techniques for treating carbuncles and ulcers and should be used in conjunction.

When there is urgent swelling and pain from a toxin, and the pus is mature, leaving no time for waiting for moxibustion or fire illumination, the knife method should be used to incise. However, the knife method must only be employed when the maturity of the pus is certain, and the depth must be appropriate. Press the swollen area with the left hand to first assess whether pus has formed. If pressing feels soft without pain and the swelling rebounds immediately upon release, the pus has formed; if pressing feels hard and painful, or remains depressed, the pus has not yet formed. Formed pus can be punctured; unformed pus should be waited for. If the Spleen Qi is deficient, supportive tonification methods should be used. One must also observe the depth of the pus: pressing with fingers, deep subcutaneous soft tissue indicates deep pus; shallow subcutaneous soft tissue indicates shallow pus. If the pus is shallow but the incision is too deep, healthy flesh may be damaged. If the pus is deep but the incision is too shallow, the pus may not drain, leading to tissue decay; careful deliberation is essential. Furthermore, in cases of bone-hidden carbuncles (Fu Gu Ju) where pus corrupts the muscle but the skin color remains unchanged, a knife should be inserted deeply to drain the stagnant pus, or a large opening created via moxibustion to drain it. Indulgence or delay must be avoided to prevent the toxin qi from rotting deeper. The small knife used must be sharp, and the patient should not see it to avoid fright. The Bian stone method (Bian Fa) is applied to the head, face, and around the ears because these areas present with diffuse swelling without a head; this method is urgently needed to drain the toxin. Select a fine porcelain shard with a sharp edge, clamp it tightly with bamboo chopsticks, exposing half a fen of the edge. Aim at the affected area and strike the chopsticks with another pair to pierce the swollen area repeatedly, ensuring the discharge of dark blood is abundant. After piercing, cover with a slice of lean meat, then moisten with Frankincense Powder (Ruxiang Mo) mixed with egg white. Pus formation is unsuitable in these areas; the head muscles are hollow, and the areas around the ears are complex and folded, making the extraction of pus and draining of toxins often inconvenient, therefore...