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Mainly treats tinea capitis (white baldness) and chronic sores on the head and face, a prescription to remove parasites and relieve pain:
*Gongbusiliuxing* (Vaccaria Seed, 5 liang), *Taodongnan zhi* (branches of peach tree from the southeast direction, 5 liang), *Zhuyu genpi* (root bark of *Cornus officinalis*, 5 liang), *Shechuangzi* (Cnidium Fruit, 3 sheng), *Mojing* (Vitex trifolia, 3 sheng), *Kuzhuye* (Bitter Bamboo Leaf, sliced, 3 dou), *Jili* (Tribulus Fruit, 3 sheng), *Dama ren* (Hemp Seed, 1 sheng).
The above eight ingredients are decocted in two dou of water until one dou remains. Wash the sores twice daily. This also treats carbuncles and ulcus molle (moon-eating sore).

Prescription for treating tinea capitis:
Collected on the third day of the third lunar month when peach blossoms are in full bloom, dried in shade: *Baizi* (Biota Seed), *Chisanggen*.
The above three ingredients are ground into powder, mixed with lard. First wash the bald area clean with ash lye, dry it, and apply the mixture.

Another prescription:
*Xiuliu zhi* (fine willow branch, one handful), *Shuiyin* (Mercurius, Mercury), *Zaojiao* (Gleditsia Fruit, roasted).
The above three ingredients are decocted in vinegar until thick like maltose, and applied to the affected area.

Prescription mainly for tinea capitis, carbuncles, and various sores:
*Mulan lanpi* (bark of *Magnolia officinalis*, 1 liang), *Fanshi* (Alumen, Alum), *Duhen* (Asarum? Note: likely *Asarum* or similar herb, here kept as Duhen), *Xionghuang* (Realgar), *Fuzi* (Prepared Aconite Root), *Dahuang* (Rhubarb Rhizome), *Shinan* (Acanthopanax Bark), *Zhenmi* (True Rice/Grain), *Kushen* (Sophora Root), *Shuiyin* (Mercurius, Mercury, each 2 liang), *Songzhi* (Pine Rosin, 6 liang).
The above twelve ingredients are soaked in vinegar overnight, then decocted with 1.5 jin of lard. When the *Fuzi* turns yellow, filter out the dregs. Then add *Fanshi*, *Xionghuang*, and *Shuiyin*. Boil again over fire for three boils. Place in a damp area to cool and solidify. Apply to the sore; it will heal.

Another prescription:
Make beef jerky with five flavors, roast until fragrant, and apply while hot to the sore. Within three or four applications, it will heal.

Prescription for treating head sores and swelling:
Burn almond seeds until black, grind, and apply. Also burn bundles of *Shuchai* (likely a local herb name) and kudzu vines along with dried fish heads to ash. Mix with musk (*Xunhuang*) and lard rendered in the twelfth lunar month, and apply.

Although a physician may be skilled in pulse diagnosis, if they do not know how to observe qi and complexion, they have not fully grasped the essence of treatment. Thus it is said: The superior doctor observes complexion, the average doctor listens to voice, and the inferior doctor only diagnoses by pulse. From this, we know that the flourishing or declining state of a person is first manifested in the facial complexion. Therefore, a good physician must understand the five colors to determine life and death and resolve doubts. Hence, the method of observing qi and complexion is placed at the beginning of this chapter.
When the Liver is diseased, the complexion is green; when the Heart is diseased, the complexion is red; when the Spleen is diseased, the complexion is yellow; when the Lung is diseased, the complexion is white; when the Kidney is diseased, the complexion is black. (Observe the patient's original complexion first.)
In Spring, if the complexion is green and the eyes are red, new diseases can be treated and will heal by Summer.
In Summer, if the complexion is red and the eyes are yellow, new diseases can be treated and will heal by Late Summer (Ji Xia).
In Late Summer, if the complexion is yellow and the eyes are white, new diseases can be treated and will heal by Autumn.
In Autumn, if the complexion is white and the eyes are black, new diseases can be treated and will heal by Winter.
In Winter, if the complexion is black and the eyes are green, new diseases can be treated and will heal by Spring.
Discussion: These are the proper colors corresponding to the four seasons, so treatment will surely result in recovery. The Five Zang organs correspond to the Five Elements. If there is disease, the color appears on the face and eyes according to the season, just as auspicious or inauspicious signs appear on the surface after divining with tortoise shell.
Bian Que said: If the patient's base color is green, it should resemble the luster of green jade, which is good. The complexion should not look like dull blue-green. If the face is white and the eyes are green, this is called violating normalcy. It is caused by excessive drinking and exposure to wind, allowing pathogenic wind to enter the Lung collaterals and connect to the Gallbladder, causing reckless leakage of Gallbladder qi, thus making the eyes green. Although it indicates premature death, if saved improperly, life cannot be restored.
If the patient's base color is red, it should resemble the luster of a rooster's comb, which is good. The complexion should not look like dark ochre soil. If the face is red and the eyes are white, it is due to worry, anger, and overthinking, causing internal depletion of Heart qi. If the complexion appears falsely good, prepare a coffin immediately; death will occur within ten days.
If the patient's base color is yellow, it should resemble the luster of ox gallstone, which is good. The complexion should not look like yellow earth from a stove. If the face is green and the eyes are yellow, death occurs in five days.
If the patient is bedridden, suffers from heart pain and shortness of breath, and has exhausted Spleen qi with internal injury, they may recover in a hundred days. If they try to rise but stumble and fall, eventually leaning against the bed to die, a physician who can treat this is considered divine and excellent.
If the patient's base color is white, it should resemble the luster of a jade pendant, which is good. The complexion should not look like white chalk. If the face is white and black, there is no hope for life. This is called excessive indulgence in drink, where vitality is gone and blood vessels are exhausted. Even if Qi Bo were present, nothing could be done.
If the patient's base color is black, it should resemble the luster of heavy lacquer, which is good. The complexion should not look like charcoal. If the face is black and the eyes are white, death occurs in eight days due to internal injury of Kidney qi.
If the patient's complexion is green like a kingfisher feather, they live; if green like rotting grass, they die.
If red like a rooster's comb, they live; if red like clotted blood, they die.
If yellow like a crab's belly, they live; if yellow like unripe kumquat (Zhi Shi), they die.
If white like pig fat, they live; if white like dry bones, they die.
If black like bird feathers, they live; if black like coal, they die.
Generally, observing the five colors: if the face is yellow with green/red/white/black eyes, death does not occur.
If the patient's eyes lack luster and teeth are black, the condition is untreatable.
If the patient's face loses luster, looks like earth, and does not eat, death occurs in four days.
If a patient or healthy person's face suddenly looks like a horse's liver, appearing green from afar and black up close, sudden death will occur.
Discussion: The five colors are the splendor of the five Zang organs. On clear days, we see all things, distinguish black and white, and judge length and shortness. If the five colors are indistinct and lengths are confused, this is disorder. Humans are the same.
Yellow Di asked Bo Gao: How is illness known by observing complexion? Bo Gao said: White appearing between the eyebrows, thin and lustrous, indicates disease in the skin; blue/yellow/red/black lips indicate disease in the flesh; sluggish Ying Qi indicates disease in the blood vessels; blue/yellow/red/white/black eye colors indicate disease in the sinews; scorched/dry ears covered in dust indicate disease in the bones. Asked: If the symptoms are so, how to treat? Bo Gao said: Skin has regions, flesh has pillars, Qi and Blood have transport points, sinews have knots, bones have attachments.
The Classics say: Skin regions are in the limbs; flesh pillars are between the Yang muscle spaces of the arms and the Yin muscle spaces; Qi and Blood transports are in the meridians and collaterals, where stagnation causes swelling; sinew regions have no yin/yang or left/right distinction, depending only on the disease location; bone attachments are in the bone voids, receiving fluids that overflow into the brain marrow. For treatment, one must observe the severity. Mild cases require shallow and few insertions; severe cases require deep and many insertions. Adjust according to changes; thus it is called Superior Artisan. The Classics say: Knowing one Zang makes an Inferior Artisan; knowing two Zangs makes a Medium Artisan; comprehensively understanding makes a Superior Artisan. Superior artisans save nine out of ten; medium artisans save six out of ten; inferior artisans save three out of ten. This is what is meant.
Lei Gong asked: Why do some people die suddenly without apparent illness? Yellow Di said: When massive pathogenic qi enters the Zang-Fu organs, sudden death occurs without prior illness.
Lei Gong asked: Why do some people die suddenly after slight recovery? Yellow Di said: If red color appears on both cheekbones, large as a thumb, despite slight recovery, sudden death will occur. If black color appears on the forehead (Yan Mao), large as a thumb, sudden death will definitely occur. Yan refers to the area below the eyes; Mao refers to the area above the eyes and below the eyebrows.
Bian Que said: Observing pathological qi and complexion, there are four qi colors: red, white, green, and black. Regardless of size, if appearing on the Nian Shang (tip of the nose), it is disease. Only yellow qi indicates recovery. Nian Shang is between the eyes on the nose bridge. If fine black qi like a rope appears on the Si Mu (four tombs: straight up from eyebrows to hairline, left father tomb, right mother tomb; and Xia Mu under the mouth/chin) and on the cheekbones, death ensues. Or during the three winter months, approaching Ren-Gui days, if the annual fortune is declining, it is incurable, and the patient dies. Observe the four seasonal qi on these four tombs.
Green qi appearing in Spring lasts until the solar term ends, then death.
Red qi appearing in Summer lasts until the solar term ends, then death.
White qi appearing in Summer/Autumn lasts until the solar term ends, then death.
White qi appearing in Spring lasts until Autumn, then death.
White qi appearing in Summer causes sudden death; black qi appearing in Winter causes death.
Red qi appearing in Autumn lasts until the solar term ends, then death; after Winter Solstice on Jia-Zi day, death.
Red qi appearing in Winter causes sudden death; yellow qi appearing in Late Summer causes death.
Discussion: Generally, if yellow qi enters the nose and goes from the mouth to Jing/Zao (Jing is above the nostrils; Zao is one cun above the corners of the mouth), death occurs in a hundred days. If it enters, death occurs on Bing-Ding days.
Dead colors in humans are easy to verify. If black qi crosses horizontally on Nian Shang, death occurs within a hundred days. If black qi emanates from Tian Zhong (straight up from nose to hairline) and both tombs, death occurs in three years. If black qi appears on the cheekbones, death occurs in two hundred days.
If black qi crosses horizontally on Nian Shang under the eyes, death occurs within thirty days. If black qi enters the mouth and corresponds to Tian Zhong, death occurs within one year.
If Tian Zhong shows dead color, and Nian Shang/Ming Men show yellow, the condition is half-healed, half-worsened. Taking Tian Zhong as primary, death occurs within five years. If Tian Zhong shows black, death occurs within three years. This is because two areas are dominant, hence death within five years.
If Tian Zhong shows black and cheekbones show red corresponding to it, death by violence occurs within sixty days. If Nian Shang shows red corresponding to it, death occurs within thirty days. If Ming Men shows red corresponding to it, death occurs within a hundred days (market death, childbirth death, or violence death). Same qi entering from Ming Men to ear/Nian Shang causes death.
Red qi rushing down from eyebrows into the eyes causes death in five days or on Bing-Ding days.
Black qi on either eyebrow causes death in one day or on Ren-Gui days.
If white, it also causes death, or on Geng-Xin days or within two-three days.
Red qi entering the mouth causes death in three days, or on Bing-Ding days in the distant future.
Black qi entering the eyes from Tian Zhong and Nian Shang causes death in three days, or on Ren-Gui days, or within two-three days, or within a hundred days/half a year.
Green qi like a needle under the eyes causes death in Spring or on Jia-Yi days.
Yellow qi encircling the eyes causes death on Wu-Ji days.
Black qi moving up from the nose tip or entering the eyes, expected on Ren-Gui days, death in twenty days distant; if entering nose/ears, death in three days. (Nose tip is above the nose; movement means descending sequentially from Shou Shang/Nian Shang.)
Yellow qi crossing cheekbones into the nose causes death in one year.
Black qi like a thumb above the eyebrows causes sudden death within one year (or three years).
Red like a horse, black like a crow, appearing on the face causes death. (Right side is Horse, Left side is Crow.)
Black qi circling the eyes from the eyebrows causes death.
Red qi on both sides of the mouth causes death.
Black qi like dark lacquer circling the mouth, or white, all cause death.
Yellow Di asked Bian Que: How to distinguish life and death in chronic illness? Please explain the essentials. Bian Que replied: According to the *Ming Tang*, observing complexion, there are qi in ten regions. Knowing the region, observe the four seasons and Five Elements' Wang/Xiang states, watch for winning/losing color changes. Entering the "gate" is inauspicious; not entering is auspicious. White appearing above the eyebrows indicates Lung disease; entering Que Ting (glabella) causes death in Summer. Yellow appearing on the nose indicates Spleen disease; entering the mouth causes death in Spring/Summer. Green appearing in the Ren Zhong indicates Liver disease; entering the eyes causes death in Autumn. Black appearing on the cheekbones indicates Kidney disease; entering the ears causes death in the sixth month. Red appearing on the chin indicates Heart disease; entering the mouth causes death in Winter. The so-called gates are: Que Ting is the Lung gate; Eyes are the Liver gate; Ears are the Kidney gate; Mouth is the Heart/Spleen gate. If color qi enters, death ensues. Yellow Di said: Good.
Asked: Death occurring readily in illness is tragic. Can it be rescued? Replied: When Zang is Excess, Fu is Deficient; when Fu is Excess, Zang is Deficient. Use *Ming Tang* to view facial color, and use acupuncture to drain and regulate; all diseases will heal. Nasal breathing involves Qi exiting and entering. Exiting is Yang, entering is Yin. Yang is Fu, Yin is Zang. Yang is Wei (Defensive), Yin is Ying (Nutritive). Thus, a person takes 13,500 breaths in a day and night, and pulses circulate fifty cycles around the body. In two ke (approx. 48 mins), Ying and Wei Qi complete a cycle around the body.
Face green indicates Deficiency. Deficiency should be filled; tonify deficiency and drain excess, so Shen returns to its chamber. Tonify excess and drain deficiency, so Shen abandons its ruin. If all evils advance together, great life cannot remain. Yellow Di said: Good.
Five Excesses (not seen).
Six Deficiencies: Skin deficiency causes heat; Pulse deficiency causes palpitations/fright; Flesh deficiency causes heaviness; Bone deficiency causes pain; Intestine deficiency causes loose stools; Marrow deficiency causes lethargy.
Zhong Jing said: If the nose tip is green, the abdomen is cold; if painful, death. If slightly black, there is water retention; if white, blood deficiency; if yellow, cold in the chest; if red, wind; if green, pain; if bright/shiny, retained fluid.
Also Zhong Jing said: If a patient is silent but likes to cry out suddenly, the disease is in the joints. If speech is hoarse and unclear, the disease is in the heart/diaphragm. If speech is quiet, thin, and long, the disease is in the head.