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[Verse] Liu Zhu (Flowing Abscess) originally presents in several patterns, including damp-phlegm, blood stasis, wind-dampness, and residual cold after sweating from Taiyang disease. Its characteristics are an indeterminate location of onset with spreading swelling; if it ulcerates near bone joints, it is difficult to cure. This condition stems from Spleen-Stomach deficiency, causing pathogens to accumulate and knot between muscles, bones, and tendons.

[Annotation] Although the name of this condition is uniform, its origins vary. Human Qi and Blood circulate throughout the body daily without pause. If due to damp-phlegm, blood stasis, wind-dampness, or residual toxins after sweating from Cold Damage, or due to cold invasion after sexual intercourse, these pathogens accumulate in the muscles, obstructing the flow of Qi and Blood, hence named "Liu Zhu" (Flowing Abscess).

Various medical texts state: "Liu" means flowing, "Zhu" means stopping. The onset has no fixed location and can occur anywhere. Initially, it presents as a diffuse swelling without a head, with unchanged skin color. After long-term accumulation, slight heat and gradual pain appear. Only when a red spot emerges does it indicate that pus is ripe, at which point it should be incised with a needle immediately. If formed from damp-phlegm, the pus is sticky and white; if from blood stasis, the pus is golden yellow; if from water-dampness and wind-dampness, the pus is thin and white like bean juice; if from residual pathogens after sweating, the pus is either yellow or black, thin, and foul-smelling. Among these four types, those occurring in thick flesh areas can heal, while those at bone joints or hollows are difficult to cure. Pus formed from cold invasion after excessive sexual desire is thin, white, and fishy, containing oil-like substances resembling lard; this is called "Bai Jiang Nong" (Decayed Pus). Although various books offer treatments, they often result in refractory cases.

For initial damp-phlegm obstruction, use Huo Xiang Liu Qi Yin (Aromatic Qi-Regulating Decoction) to guide it out; for postpartum blood stasis, use Tong Jing Dao Zhi Tang (Unblocking Meridians and Guiding Stasis Decoction) to promote circulation; for trauma-induced blood stasis, use San Yu Ge Gen Tang (Dispersing Stasis and Kudzu Root Decoction) to expel it; for wind-dampness, use Wan Ling Dan (Ten Thousand Spirits Pill) and Wu Ji San (Five Accumulations Powder) with Fu Zi (Prepared Aconite Root) to warm and disperse; for swelling from residual pathogens after sweating, use Ren Shen Bai Du San (Ginseng Detoxification Powder) to scatter it; for external cold invasion after intercourse, initially take Wu Ji San with Fu Zi, followed by Fu Zi Ba Wu Tang (Aconite Eight-Ingredient Decoction) to warm; for young unmarried women or widows suffering from Liver injury due to anger and Spleen injury due overthinking, use Gui Pi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) with Xiang Fu (Cyperus Rhizome) and Qing Pi (Tangerine Peel) to dissipate stagnation. These are methods for the initial stage of Liu Zhu. One to four doses are sufficient. Externally, apply Wu Long Gao (Black Dragon Ointment) or Chong He Gao (Harmonizing Ointment). If the skin and flesh are not hot, use Lei Huo Shen Zhen (Thunder-Fire Divine Needle/Moxibustion); mild cases resolve, severe cases will inevitably ulcerate. When about to ulcerate, take Tuo Li Tou Nong Tang (Supporting Interior and Penetrating Pus Decoction); after ulceration, take Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang (Ginseng Nourishing Nutritive Decoction); for chronic ulcers with thin pus, reduced appetite, and failure to regenerate tissue, take Diao Zhong Da Cheng Tang (Regulating Middle and Great Success Decoction); for chronic ulcers with thin pus, weak spirit, and progression to fistula, take Xian Tian Da Zao Wan (Heavenly Creation Pill). Other post-ulceration treatments refer to the Ulcerative Sores section.

Formula: Tong Jing Dao Zhi Tang (Unblocking Meridians and Guiding Stasis Decoction)
Composition: Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Shu Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata), Chi Shao Yao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Zhi Ke (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, stir-fried with bran), Zi Su (Perillae Folium), Xiang Fu (Cyper Rotundus Rhizoma), Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Mu Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex), Hong Hua (Carthami Flos), Niu Xi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix) [each 1 qian], Du Huo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, nodes) [each 5 fen].
Usage: Water 2 zhong, decoct to 8 fen, add 1 cup of wine, take before meals.

[Verse] Tong Jing Dao Zhi Tang treats postpartum diseases,敗血 (decayed blood) and stasis causing swelling and accumulation; it contains Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction), Zhi Ke, Zi Su, Xiang Fu, Chen Pi, plus Mu Dan Pi, Du Huo, Gan Cao, Hong Hua, and Niu Xi.

Another Formula: San Yu Ge Gen Tang (Dispersing Stasis and Kudzu Root Decoction)
Composition: Ge Gen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), Chuan Xiong, Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum), Jie Geng (Platycodonis Radix), Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Qiang Huo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Sheng Ma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) [each 8 fen], Xi Xin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, raw), Xiang Fu, Hong Hua, Su Ye (Perillae Folium), Bai Zhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix) [each 6 fen].
Usage: Water 2 zhong, 3 stalks of green onion, 3 slices of ginger, decoct to 8 fen, take at any time.

[Verse] San Yu Ge Gen Tang treats blood stasis coagulation caused by trauma leading to Liu Zhu; it contains Chuan Xiong, Ban Xia, Jie Geng, Fang Feng, Qiang Huo, Xi Xin, Gan Cao, plus Xiang Fu, Hong Hua, Su Ye, Bai Zhi, and Sheng Ma.

Another Formula: Fu Zi Ba Wu Tang (Aconite Eight-Ingredient Decoction)
Composition: Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, stir-fried with earth), Dang Gui, Bai Fu Ling (Poria), Shu Di Huang, Chuan Xiong, Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba, stir-fried with wine) [each 1 qian], Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Radix), Rou Gui (Cinnamomi Cortex), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, honey-fried) [each 5 fen].
Usage: Water 2 zhong, 3 slices of ginger, 1 piece of jujube flesh, decoct to 8 fen, take well after meals.

[Verse] Fu Zi Ba Wu Tang treats Liu Zhu where sexual exhaustion injures Yin and external cold enters; it consists of Mu Xiang, Rou Gui, and Ba Zhen Tang (Eight-Treasure Decoction), decocted with ginger and jujube, taken after meals.

Another Formula: Diao Zhong Da Cheng Tang (Regulating Middle and Great Success Decoction)
Composition: Ren Shen (2 qian), Bai Zhu (stir-fried with earth), Bai Fu Ling, Huang Qi (Astragali Radix), Shan Yao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma, stir-fried), Mu Dan Pi, Dang Gui Shen (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, root tip), Bai Shao (stir-fried with wine), Chen Pi [each 1 qian], Rou Gui, Fu Zi (prepared) [each 8 fen], Yuan Zhi (Polygalae Radix, heart removed), Huo Xiang (Agastaches Herba), Suo Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus), Gan Cao (honey-fried) [each 5 fen].
Usage: Water 2 zhong, 3 slices of baked ginger, 2 pieces of jujube flesh, decoct to 8 fen, take well after meals.

[Verse] Diao Zhong Da Cheng Tang contains Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) plus Huang Qi; Shan Yao, Mu Dan Pi, Dang Gui, and Bai Shao are suitable; Yuan Zhi, Huo Xiang, Suo Sha Ren, Chen Pi, Rou Gui, and Fu Zi can treat Liu Zhu with thin pus after ulceration.

Another Formula: Mu Xiang Liu Qi Yin (see Ding Chuang Section)
Wan Ling Dan, Wu Long Gao, Chong He Gao (all see Zhong Yang Section)
Wu Ji San (see Internal Carbuncles, Kidney Carbuncle)
Ren Shen Bai Du San (i.e., Jing Fang Bai Du San minus Jing Jie and Fang Feng. see Neck Area Brain Carbuncle)
Gui Pi Tang (see Breast Area Intramammary Nodule)
Lei Huo Shen Zhen (see Thigh Area Deep-Bone Carbuncle)
Tuo Li Tou Nong Tang (see Head Area Brain-Penetrating Carbuncle)
Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang (see Ulcer Section)
Xian Tian Da Zao Wan (see Buttock Area Stork-Mouth Carbuncle)