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The reason why surgical diseases (Waike) are listed before miscellaneous diseases (Zabing) is that changes occur in an instant, and life hangs by a hair's breadth. Although there are more than twenty types of names for carbuncles and sores (Yongju), their essence can be summarized into two categories: Yin syndrome (Yin Zheng) and Yang syndrome (Yang Zheng). Those arising from Yang meridians are called Yong (Carbuncle), Fire, or Excess; those arising from Yin meridians are called Ju (Deep Abscess), Stagnation, or Deficiency. Thus, when a Yang lesion erupts, the skin is thin, red, and swollen high, often with dozens of pustules resembling pepper eyes, and the pain is shallow. When a Yin lesion erupts, the skin is thick, pale, and hard-swollen, resembling calloused skin, with numbness and deep, hidden pain. There is also "Yin within Yang," which appears hot but is not truly hot; although swollen, it is essentially deficient, moist rather than dry, desiring to suppurate but lacking pus, floating on superficial palpation but vanishing on deep pressure, appearing externally vigorous but internally corrupt. There is also "Yang within Yin," which appears cold but is not truly cold; not swollen but essentially solid, slightly red and dry, with pus and pain, appearing externally mild but internally vexatious and full. Patients with "Yin within Yang" are usually obese with tight flesh but internal deficiency; patients with "Yang within Yin" are usually emaciated with loose flesh but internal excess. Furthermore, Yang transforming into Yin is due to the overuse of cooling prescriptions by unskilled practitioners; Yin transforming into Yang is due to the abrupt use of large doses of heating medicines by physicians. However, cases of Yang transforming into Yin are numerous and can still revert to Yang, thus resulting in more survivals; cases of Yin transforming into Yang are rare and cannot revert to Yang, thus resulting in more deaths. Occasionally, survival occurs when a practitioner accidentally follows the correct method, one in a hundred. The term "Fa" (eruption) refers to pathogens accumulating internally and manifesting externally. Generally, the whole body originates from the Five Zang Organs (Wu Zang), whose Qi originates from Stomach Qi (Wei Qi), which is the root of the Five Zang Organs. The Stomach receives grain, the Spleen transforms it to generate Qi, the Spleen governs muscles, and Stomach Qi transmits to the Five Zang Organs, circulating blood vessels through the meridians around the body once day and night. Although carbuncles and sores have deficiencies, excesses, colds, and heats, they all result from Qi stagnation. The causes are three: Internal Causes (Nei Yin), External Causes (Wai Yin), and Non-Internal/External Causes (Bu Nei Wai Yin). Internal causes are diagnosed at the Renying pulse (Renying Mai), located at the left Guan position. (Note: Identifying Renying solely as the left Guan is incorrect. Internal causes should be diagnosed at the Renying position of the Stomach pulse, as the Stomach is the source of the Zang-Fu organs and governs internal causes.) External causes are diagnosed at the Qikou pulse (Qikou Mai), located at the right Guan position. (Note: Identifying Qikou solely as the right Guan is incorrect. Both wrists' Cun Kou positions are referred to as Qikou. The Classics state: "Qikou is Taiyin." Taiyin Lung governs skin and pores, so diagnosing external causes via Qikou is clear.) If Renying and Qikou pulses are harmonious, it indicates a Non-Internal/External Cause. The sources of pathology are five: 1. Seasonal epidemics (Tianxing Shiqi); 2. Emotional depression (Seven Emotions internal stagnation); 3. External contraction due to physical weakness; 4. Body heat clashing with wind-cold; 5. Heat toxins from roasted/fried foods, alcohol, or cinnabar/mineral pills. These five act as pathogenic factors stagnating in the Stomach. If Stomach Qi is strong and the constitution solid, pathogens clash and flow into the meridians, obstructing stagnant blood vessels, gathering and knotting to form a Yong (Carbuncle). If Stomach Qi is weak and the constitution deficient, pathogens flourish and lodge in the meridians, condensing and accumulating, causing blood vessels to fail to fill, leading to internal corruption and forming a Ju (Abscess). Therefore, it is said: externally like millet seeds, internally enough to hold grain; externally like coins, internally enough to hold a fist. Malignant pus tubes, one inch long and deep; sticky pus and blood, curable with medicine. Foul-smelling pus without threads, blood ruined and Qi exhausted; Yang exhausted and Yin excessive, even immortals cannot cure. Physicians must judge appropriateness, assess patient deficiency/excess, observe disease cold/heat, deduce causes, and investigate origins before treating. Treatment must correspond internally and externally, not applied uniformly. If a disease arises from Yang and is extremely hot, one should smooth Qi and harmonize Blood. Smoothed Qi allows pathogenic toxins to circulate freely without stagnation; harmonized Blood allows vessels to flow and disperse naturally. Qi is Yang, Blood is Yin; when Yin and Yang are harmonious, the patient recovers. Externally, apply cooling medicines. If heat is excessive, Qi disperses easily with cooling; if not dispersed, heat wanes while Blood coagulates due to cooling, marking the gradual transformation of Yang into Yin, the root of necrosis. Urgently treat with warm-cooling combinations, resolve exterior symptoms, attack blood pathways around the periphery, drain formed pus/toxins from the center, then follow protocols to complete healing. If a disease arises from Yin and is extremely cold, internally use balanced tonifying medicines to diffuse Qi, nourish Blood, assist Yuan Yang, and strengthen Spleen and Stomach. Wait for diet intake and spirit recovery, then smooth Qi and harmonize Blood as usual. Externally apply heating medicines to gather Qi and Blood throughout the body, revive dead tissue, and extract toxic vapors, then use warm medicines to dissipate them. For extreme cold, if mistakenly treated with cooling medicines, resort to Sanjian Tang (Three Jian Decoction) to restore Yang. If the condition flares up again, this is a good sign, indicating Yin transforming into Yang, a兆 of regeneration. If internal Yang does not return and external signs do not appear, it is "Solitary Yang Exhaustion, Yin Severance," which is incurable. Yang is Qi, Yin is Blood. Yang moves, Yin follows; Qi circulates, Blood flows. If Qi does not circulate, Blood dies; if Blood dies, Muscle dies; if Muscle dies, the patient dies. Cold syndromes use heating medicines merely to move Qi and Blood; Qi and Blood move with heat and stop with cold. Although the use of cold/hot medicines is subtle, one must first use Ru Xiang (Frankincense) and Dou Fen (Bean Powder) to protect the Heart and membranes. The Heart is the master of the body's membranes and the sac of the Five Zang Organs. At the onset of disease, toxins attack the Pericardium Collateral (Xin Bao Luo), causing vomiting/regurgitation before or after the carbuncle. The Pericardium Collateral roots in the Heart; if treatment is delayed, the Heart Master absorbs toxins, Spirit loses its residence, and Yuan Qi becomes confused. At onset, toxins seep into Bladder and muscles; if treatment is delayed, toxic vapors penetrate the membranes. Once penetrated, Yuan Qi leaks, Zang-Fu lose nourishment, spirit withers, and pulses fail. Thus, those who survive severe disease have intact internal Zang organs and membranes; those who die from minor disease have ruptured membranes before muscle ulceration. This is why protecting the Heart and membranes is the primary principle! This prescription was secretly transmitted by immortals, possessing divine efficacy and skill, too profound to fully describe. Treasure it, treasure it! (From *Qing Nang Shu*)