Library

According to the *Zhubing Yuanhou Lun* (Treatise on the Pathogenesis and Manifestations of All Diseases), the manifestations of tinea (xuàn bìng) include hidden rashes on the skin and flesh, roughly the size of a coin, gradually expanding in circular or oblique shapes, accompanied by itching and pain. The lesions have distinct borders (kuāng guō), harbor parasites internally, and exude fluid upon scratching. This condition arises when wind-damp pathogenic factors invade the couli (pores and interstitial spaces), and are compounded by cold-dampness clashing with blood and qi, causing obstruction and stagnation of blood and qi. As stated in the *Jiu Chong Lun* (Treatise on Nine Parasites), pinworms reside in the intestines and can induce tinea upon activation; thus, parasites are indeed present within tinea lesions. The *Yangsheng Fang* (Prescriptions for Nourishing Life) notes that sleeping outdoors in summer exposes the face to dew, thickening the facial skin and predisposing one to tinea.

Dry tinea is characterized by distinct borders, dry and rough skin, intense itching, and the shedding of white scales upon scratching. It results from wind-damp pathogens invading the couli and clashing with blood and qi under cold-damp conditions. When wind-toxicity predominates over dampness, the wind penetrates deeply, resulting in no exudate, hence termed "dry tinea." Parasites are also present internally.

Wet tinea also presents with distinct borders, a sensation resembling insects crawling beneath the skin, progressive spreading, moisture, and itching. Scratching yields copious exudate and ulceration. This occurs because wind-toxicity is shallow while dampness is heavy and wind is light, hence termed "wet tinea." Parasites are also present internally.

Wind tinea arises from chilling winds lodging in the skin and obstructing blood flow. It manifests as circular patterns with borders but is characterized by stubborn numbness where scratching fails to elicit pain or itch sensation. Parasites are also present internally.

White tinea presents with white, sediment-like patches and itching. This results from deficiency in the couli allowing wind invasion, where wind combines with qi, causing blood stagnation and failure to nourish the muscles.

Cow tinea, according to folk belief, is caused by washing hands or face with water remaining after watering cows. Its symptoms include thickened skin, tightness, hardness, and itching upon scratching. Parasites are also present internally.

Round tinea manifests as raised circular rings with red edges, accompanied by itching and pain. Parasites are also present internally.

Dog tinea is said to be caused by washing hands or face with water licked by dogs. Symptoms include slight scarring, connected white spots, and mild itching. Parasites are also present internally.

Sparrow-eye tinea is transformed from wind-dampness. Its patterns are fine like sparrow eyes, hence the name. It itches upon scratching. Parasites are also present internally.

Knife tinea is caused by washing hands or face with water used for sharpening knives. It lacks distinct borders and has irregular, oblique shapes. Parasites are also present internally.

The *Ge Shi Fang* (Prescriptions of Master Ge) for treating tinea ulcers:
Grind Cinnamon Twig (Guizhi) with good vinegar on a stone and apply.

Another prescription: Grind Persimmon Root (Shigen) with vinegar and apply.

Another prescription: Burn dried toad (Gan Chan Chu) to ash, mix with ointment base, and apply for immediate cure.

Another prescription: Apply Polygonum leaves (Liao Ye).

Regarding wet tinea:
Scrape the lesion, heat deer fat (Mi Zhi) over fire, and apply. Mix Cnidium Seed (Shechuangzi) powder with lard and apply.

Another prescription: Scrape the lesion with Chinese Yam Root (Yangti Cao) until healed.

Regarding dry tinea:
Apply Mercury (Shuiyin) mixed with Lead Carbonate (Hufen).

Another prescription: Apply rooster comb blood (Xiongji Guan Xue).

Another prescription: Calcine Lead Carbonate (Hufen) until yellow-red, mix with vinegar into a paste, apply, cover with paper, and reapply when dry.

Another prescription: Crush peach inner bark (Tao Bai Pi), mix with vinegar, and apply for cure.

Another prescription: Apply Zelkova sap (Ju Shu Zhi).

The *Qianjin Fang* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) secret formula for tinea:
Crush Chinese Yam Root (Yangti Gen), place in a jar, mix with white honey. First scrape the lesion edge to cause injury, apply honey mixture. After the time it takes to steam one shi of rice, wipe off. Then mix with three-year-old strong vinegar and apply to the tinea. Dryness indicates healing. If scraping does not injure the skin, it will not heal.

Regarding chronic tinea unhealed for years, applicable anywhere:
Burn dead snakes to ash, mix with pig fat collected in the twelfth lunar month, and apply for cure.

The *Fan Wang Fang* for wet tinea:
Finely chop several sheng of Chinese Yam Root (Yangti Gen), boil in mulch wood ash lye for four to five boils, strain, and wash the lesion with the juice.

The *Seng Shen Fang* for tinea:
Powder Realgar (Xionghuang), mix with vinegar. Wipe lesion with cloth to cause injury, then apply medicine. Highly effective but not widely transmitted.

Another prescription: One Aconite Root (Fuzi), one Gleditsia Sinensis Fruit (Zao Jia), four he of Cornus officinalis fruit (Zhuyu) harvested on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month.
Sieve these three ingredients into powder. Scratch the tinea until fluid exudes, then apply powder. For dry tinea, mix powder with vinegar and apply. Excellent efficacy, a secret formula.

Regarding chronic tinea unhealed for years:
Roach catfish (Nian Yu), eat roasted, avoiding salt and vinegar. Cure after three courses of meals. Temporary worsening may occur initially, indicating impending cure.

Regarding wo tinea spreading daily, itching, pain, yellow exudate upon scratching, recurring after cure:
Before sunrise, face north to harvest Chinese Yam Root (Yangti Gen). Do not let women or children see it. Wash off soil, chop and crush. Mix with pure vinegar to wash the lesion, remove crusts, apply for a period, rinse with cold water in between. Apply once daily. Rubbing with root is also excellent. Harvesting before sunrise prevents degradation of the root.

The *Ji Yao Fang* for wet tinea:
Perform above actions before sunrise. Harvest Chinese Yam Root (Yangti Gen) with single roots, no branches, protected from wind. Chop, crush to powder, mix with yogurt (Yang Lao), add little salt, sun-dry for a long time, then apply to tinea.

Another prescription: Apply Toona sinensis leaf flour (Chun Ye Mian) to tinea, pound with spoon back until fine, wrap securely without dropping leaves. Universal cure.

Regarding chronic dry tinea with thick crusts, yellow water upon scratching, itching during rainy weather:
Take one plump Croton Seed (Ba Dou), roast on charcoal until oil exudes. Grind on an anvil with finger to almond-sized portion, apply to tinea. Thin application for one or two times suffices for cure.

Another prescription: Make moxa cones and moxibustion. Heal as you moxa.

Another prescription: Crush Purslane (Ma Chi Xian) juice, rub and wash. Effective.

The *Bo Ji An Zhong Fang* for all types of tinea, malignant sores, and pediatric scalp sores:
Mix Mercury (Shuiyin), Alum (Bai Fanshi), Cnidium Seed (Shechuangzi), and Coptis Rhizome (Huanglian) with lard and apply.

Su Jing’s Commentary on Materia Medica: Rub with earth from the east wall; treats both dry and wet tinea.

Tao Hongjing’s Commentary on Materia Medica: Boil Mugwort Leaf (Ai Ye) with vinegar and apply.

Shennong Bencao Jing: Crush Oxalis corniculata (Cu Jiang Cao) and apply; kills various small insects and treats malignant sores.

The *Guang Li Fang* for various tinea ulcers, wet pain, unbearable itching:
Grind Chalcanthum (Shi Liu Huang) with vinegar and apply.

Another prescription: Burn Chinaberry Bark (Kulian Pi) to ash, mix with lard and apply.