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1. Cancer (Here referring to a malignant ulcer, not modern cancer)

When the cancer disease first appears, there are no clear indications, only heat and pain in the flesh. After one or two seven-day periods, it suddenly turns purple-red with slight swelling, gradually ceasing to hurt, spreading out to become soft and ripe with a purple-red color, yet remaining unbroken. It is appropriate to administer Da Che'ao San (Large Scorpion Powder) to purge and detoxify, followed by powders for draining pus, defeating toxins, supporting the interior, and internal nourishment. After breaking, apply Shexiang Gao (Musk Ointment). Then use Wuji Wan San (Five Accumulations Pill and Powder) to disperse wind and harmonize qi, followed by other medicines (formulas see later).

2. Biao (Zhao, referring to acute suppurative infection, similar to carbuncle/furuncle)

Biao disease initially gathers and knots, with a swollen tip and a root that is red-white, the higher part carrying redness. The swelling is solid and painful, accompanied by aversion to cold and high fever, dry mouth and thirst, pain in all joints, fatigue, and heaviness. If not yet broken, administer Da Che'ao San (Large Scorpion Powder). If already broken first, administer Xiao Che'ao San (Small Scorpion Powder). Then take medicines such as Qingji Huonong Neituo (Light Flesh, Living Pus, Internal Support) and wash/apply medicines to the broken area, adding Xiao Che'ao San (Small Scorpion Powder). If pus and toxins do not resolve, take two or three doses to extract living pus and blood.

3. Ju (Referring to deep-seated suppurative diseases)

Ju begins like a hemp seed or bean, itchy and painful, breaking like a small sore when scratched. Later, it gradually forms scars, the skin breaks open into holes resembling a honeycomb, often with pus and toxins unable to exit, causing knotted pain, aversion to cold with much heat, chest and epigastric fullness and weakness, dizziness of head and eyes, stiffness and urgency of all joints, inability to sleep, possibly vomiting and regurgitation, daily worsening of vexation and pain, the sore feeling like burning fire. At this time, Da Che'ao San (Large Scorpion Powder) must not be taken; only take Xiao Che'ao San (Small Scorpion Powder) and Jieguan Qingji Huoti San (Unlocking Gate, Light Flesh, Living Body Powder) to stop pain, reduce cold and heat, relieve dizziness, and diligently use washes and applications to remove rotten flesh and pus/toxins (formulas see later).

4. Gu (Referring to stubborn, difficult-to-heal sores)

When Gu disease erupts, its shape consists of three or two lesions, or they disappear and break on the back of the hand after a few days. The suffering lies in the absence of pus, blood, and toxic fluid, mistakenly thought to be healing. Suddenly, due to Xiao Ke (Wasting and Thirsting Syndrome), the Kidney is attacked. When spring and winter arrive, one or two more appear on the back, shoulder blades, or Kidney region. Painful, red, and swollen; lower back pain, tendon tightness and stiffness; eating much but often feeling hungry and dry; urine is red; stool is astringent, passing once every three to five days, or breaking. Take Xiao Che'ao San (Small Scorpion Powder) if broken; Da Che'ao San (Large Scorpion Powder) if not broken. Daily take Neixiao Neijie San (Internal Resolution and Internal Dissolution Powder) (formula see later).

5. Yong (Referring to superficial suppurative diseases)

Yong initially rises like a steamed cake or fish shape, one end large or multiple ends small, lying across the back/shoulder or between costal margins, about two or three cun in diameter, solid, red, and swollen, with intermittent fever and pain. If unbroken, take Da Che'ao San (Large Scorpion Powder). If broken, take Xiao Che'ao San (Small Scorpion Powder). Then use Neijie Neixiao (Internal Resolution and Internal Dissolution) medicines and treat according to the method for Gu.

Question: I wish to hear fully about the dosage systems of ancient and modern medicines, the changes in mineral properties, the contrary effects of herbs, the evolution of deficiency and excess syndromes, and the eruption of food poisons.

Answer: Ancient treatment of diseases was prescribed according to symptoms, like an arrow hitting the target, thus healing upon contact. The subtlety lies in understanding with the mind and guiding the body with intention. Modern patients' constitutions lack additions and subtractions in ancient formula books, resulting in mixed fortune and misfortune. Ancients stated that single-formula treatments are most effective; selecting appropriate assistants and guides is the way to cure diseases. Diseases like Yong and Ju are like mountain springs swelling overnight; without opening the main channels to reduce the momentum, floodwaters will cause disaster. Violent diseases require violent medicines; this is called "attacking poison with poison." The nature of Golden Elixirs cannot be overcome by True Water, leading to guest fire flaming upward. The contrary nature of herbs causes heat toxins to accumulate. The Five Metals and Eight Stones follow their own categories. Cinnabar suppresses Arsenic; Niter resolves Fuhuo Dan (Fire-Subduing Pill). Rhinoceros Horn and Rhubarb attack fearlessly. Xianzhi (Immortal Mushroom/Potent Herb) has no deficiency or excess distinctions; besides this, acupuncture and moxibustion assist (e.g., for Xianzhi formulas, acupuncture assistance is indispensable). In *Qianjin Fang* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold), only Wuxiang Lianqiao San (Five Fragrance Forsythia Powder), Zhuti Tang (Pig Trotter Decoction), and Jin Xi Jiao Wan (Golden Rhinoceros Horn Pill) are reliable. *Guiyi Fang* (Ghost Loss Formula) is praised as miraculous by the world, but examining its principles, apart from Muzhansi San (Wood Parasite Powder), none are heard of being applicable, while Baijiang Zhasi (Patrinia Parasite) is unrecognized by the world, becoming mere decoration. Sugu (Perilla Stem) and Rendong (Honeysuckle) cannot save emergencies; Moutun (Mung Bean) and Ruxiang (Frankincense) can treat mineral poisoning. Listing these obvious examples distinguishes right from wrong; thereafter, generalizations should be avoided. However, in sudden emergencies, doctors are confused and do not know where to start. Only with complete preparation above and below can success be achieved. Upon entry observation, medicine must be mixed with vinegar. For unbroken sores, apply like a chess piece size at the heart center; observe after a long time whether it hurts or not. If unknown pain, add a dot; if not hurting after a long time, add another dot, until the upper part is covered and does not hurt, or hurts as before; this indicates penetration into the flesh or non-response (Above discusses Xianzhi; no other methods, use only this formula). For broken sores, test with millet grains, and those with insufficient or excessive numbers determine severity; immediate pain upon application is excellent. Pain lasting the duration of a meal is four parts, again seven parts (This refers to ordinary pain; now point causes more pain, yesterday's pain today is gone, all applying the above methods). The subtlety lies in temporary judgment; one must settle intentions and deliberate, deciding life and death at this moment. Administer medicine corresponding to the disease; initial dose two qian; if Wuli, advance to three qian; if Wuli, advance to four qian; if morning to evening, six qian. Stopping at these two amounts also speaks of attacking poison with poison (This refers to Xianzhi; other medicines follow this method). On the day, after three doses of medicine, apply medication around the wide swollen area of the sore surface to prevent spread elsewhere, observing the four directions east and west. Besides the above method of surrounding application, apply one dot of medicine on the head; this subtle method is not transmitted. Trial method for broken sores: insert a tightly rolled thick paper cord, observing the depth. If on the back above Ganshu, inserting straight without deviation to 1.3 cun indicates approaching passage; ten out of three or four recover; beyond this, incurable. Even if exceeding the number, if spirit is strong, apply a piece of bamboo membrane over the sore. For sealed cases, first choose a clean, bright room, moisten the surroundings of the sore with water. Then apply the bamboo membrane, quietly watching for movement; if it seems like dragging air, it is passed. Not wind nor fan, but responding to breathing; ten deaths, incurable. Without this, it can be treated; other methods recorded in previous discussions. All back ulcers are tested with this method as extremely effective; if no large bamboo membrane is available, paste together to make one.

For rotten flesh colored cyan-black, missing teeth-like projections and not attached to bone, cut with a refined knife or bamboo knife. If already rotten but muscle is thin, do not cut; instead, apply Erou Gao (Flesh-Eliminating Ointment). Fumigate first, then apply. If post-ulceration shows no fatal signs, intervention is possible; otherwise, incurable (signs see previous discussion).

The method for growing flesh requires that all rotten flesh be removed before applying medicine. After application, observe the exudate ("yin"). If the exudate produces red and yellow colors, it is auspicious; if the exudate produces no fleshy intent but is cyan-black, it is ominous. Before applying, wash with medicinal decoction; after washing, wash again with soup containing little scallion and much salt, then dry slightly before use. Avoid all disgusting things; women and filial sons should not see it. After application, others are forbidden to uncover and look. Generally, without exudate, flesh does not grow; on top of the exudate is another layer of exudate, like yellow cotton on the flesh.

With pus, the pulse is surging, rapid, and tight; pain is like knife thrusts or chicken pecking; pressing feels as if yielding easily. One should first use a pus-draining needle to puncture it. After puncturing, if the pulse improves and symptoms recede, do not add acupuncture/moxibustion; only tonify evenly for recovery. Use Shiqi San (Ten Miracles Powder) type. If symptoms persist after puncturing, add acupuncture/moxibustion methods. There is also a syndrome of "Flesh-Li Yong" (Yong within the flesh); if pus exists within healthy flesh, it must be drained, otherwise it becomes Fugu Ju (Bone-Attacking Carbuncle). After draining, plug with an oil-soaked wick, leave for a long time, then remove, to exhaust toxins. For procedures within the flesh, needle depth must consider the patient's usual alcohol tolerance; mix medicine with wine and drain while under the influence of medicine. However, the back does not have this syndrome; thick flesh areas do. Chang Yong (Intestinal Abscess) follows this rule on the skin surface.

Needle Making Method: Use horse-bit iron. On Jiazi day, forge one Yang Needle like a leek leaf, 3.6 cun long. On Dingyou day, forge one Yin Needle, 2.4 cun long. On Jingzhe day, forge one Leifeng Needle, 2.4 cun long. Also forge one Pus-Draining Needle like a leek leaf, 3.6 cun long; forge one refining knife and one small hook. Boil with Mulberry White Bark and Purple Vine Fragrance for a week, storing with Purple Vine Fragrance powder. Yang Needles treat Du Ju (Solitary Carbuncles). Yin Needles treat Yong. Leifeng Needles treat strange shapes. For non-strange shapes, careful identification is required before needling. Mistaking tail for head causes great error; hitting the spine/shoulder blade causes unbearable pain. Disorderly sequence makes healing difficult. Suppose there is only one sore with no head on four sides, the head is in the center; do not puncture the center, which is highly adverse. Only apply thickly on the four sides according to normal methods. Suppose one to several sores, observe which is most severe, first severe then light, or first light then severe. The method should treat the light ones first, then the severe ones. Reversing this gives the base formula; medicine will not respond. Although not fatal, it prolongs the disease. Although many disease forms exist, needling and application are unified; gather external attacks inward, waiting for aggregation. If internal toxins are abundant, urgently attack internally; if external toxins are abundant, quickly drain heat. Day and night gathering and attacking, hopefully without error.

Riding Bamboo Horse Moxibustion Measurement Method: For Fa Bei (Back Carbuncle), Nao Ju (Brain Carbuncle), Chang Yong (Intestinal Abscess), Xia Bu Yong (Lower Body Carbuncle), Ru Yong (Breast Carbuncle), Hou Yong (Throat Carbuncle), Ya Yong (Tooth Carbuncle), all hand/foot sores/carbuncles, or unpredictable Dan Yong (Red Carbuncle) on chest/abdomen, and tight/hard types. First, let the patient lean elbow on table, raise arm/wrist straight. Use a bamboo strip, starting from the transverse crease at the middle curve of the wrist,贴肉 (against skin), measuring male left, female right, up to the tip of the middle finger, cutting off as standard, excluding fingernails. Then use a bamboo pole, let the patient undress and sit astride it straight. Two people lift front and back, feet not touching ground. Another person supports left and right to prevent falling. Take the previously measured wrist bamboo strip, place it straight along the spine from the Weilu acupoint at the sitting position of the bamboo pole, measure to the end of the strip, mark with ink. This point is for measurement, not moxa site. Then use rice straw to measure the middle segment of the patient's middle finger, distance between two transverse creases as standard, cut male left, female right. Place the rice straw standard from the marked point, measure horizontally one cun on both sides. At the end of the standard, select two acupoints, moxa each five or seven moxibustions, do not moxa excessively. Regardless of where the Yong arises, use this moxa method, all heal. These two acupoints originate from the Heart Pulse. All Yong arise from stagnation of Heart Fire. Moxa here allows Heart Fire to circulate instantly, healing in less than three days, capable of reviving the dead and saving crises, with extraordinary merit. Tested repeatedly and verified. *Suwen* says: All pain, itching, and sores belong to the Heart. Also says: When Ying Qi is discordant and reverses in the muscle tissue, Yong Swelling is generated. Ying Qi is Blood. The Heart moves Blood; if Blood stagnates, vessels do not move, thus reversing in muscle tissue generates Yong Swelling. Moxa these two acupoints, Heart Fire is regulated, blood vessels naturally circulate, healing is far superior to taking medicine.