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Discussion: Chi Gan (Gum Disease) refers to a syndrome resembling tooth erosion by "gan worms," characterized by exposed and rotting tooth roots, simultaneous discharge of pus and blood, and foul breath. This is generally caused by stagnation in the zang-fu organs, where heat steams upward to the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner), attacking the teeth. It may also result from excessive consumption of rich and sweet foods, or food residues remaining at the root of the teeth that cannot be rinsed away, leading to putrefaction and ulceration due to foul odors.

For treating Chi Gan and tooth erosion by worms. Xionghuang Gao (Realgar Ointment) Formula:
Xionghuang (Realgar, half tael, separately ground) Niusu (Oleum Bovis Bufonis, five taels) Huangla (Yellow Beeswax) Baimi (White Honey, one tael each) Dansha (Cinnabar, one fen, separately ground) Bencao (Ligustici Rhizoma et Radix, three fen, with seedlings and soil removed) Lilu (Veratri Radix, one fen, with rhizome head removed) Xingren (Prunus Armeniacae Semen, soaked in hot water, skin and tips removed, double kernels discarded, baked) Shengma ( Cimicifugae Rhizoma) Xiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma) Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, half tael each).
The above eleven ingredients: except for those requiring separate grinding and honey/beeswax, the rest are finely chopped. First, decoct the chopped herbs in a pan using Niusu (ox fat/butter). When the Xingren turns dark red-black, filter out the dregs. Add Baimi and Huangla, boil for ten to twenty boils until the ointment forms. Then add the separately ground medicines, stirring constantly until it solidifies into an ointment. Store in a porcelain vessel. Apply a small amount to the diseased area or dab into worm holes; this is highly effective.

For treating Chi Gan, with symptoms of purple-black, wrinkled, itchy, foul-smelling, and rotting gums. Fuzi San (Aconite Powder) Formula:
Fuzi (Prepared Aconiti Lateralis Radix, cracked, skin and navel removed) Shengma Cimui (Cinnamon Twig, bark surface removed) Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma, seedlings and leaves removed) Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba, roots and joints removed) Renshen (Ginseng Radix) Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma, prepared) Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix, black heart removed) Gancao (Licorice Root, roasted and chopped) Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, sliced and baked, one fen each).
The above ten ingredients are crushed, sifted, and made into a powder. Apply a small amount to the gums daily three to five times. Swallowing saliva is permissible.

For treating Chi Gan. Shexiang San (Musk Powder) Formula:
Shexiang (Moschus, one fen, ground) Baijian (Alumen, ground) Puhuang (Typhae Pollen) Xixin (one fen, seedlings and leaves removed) Dingxiang (Caryophylli Flos, half tael each) Fuzi (one fen, cracked, skin and navel removed) Qingpu (Iris Tectorii Rhizoma, one tael).
The above seven ingredients are crushed, sifted, and made into a powder. Wrap one qianbi (approx. 3-5g) in cotton, place in the affected area to bite on. Swallowing saliva is permissible. Use three to five times daily.

For treating wind-induced mouth ulcers. Baijian San (Alumen Powder) Formula:
Baijian (half tael, burned to ash and ground) Shengma (one tael) Xixin (one tael, seedlings and leaves removed) Dansha (one fen, ground) Shexiang (half qian, ground) Gancao (one fen, roasted and chopped).
The above six ingredients are crushed and ground into a powder. First rinse the mouth with salt water solution. Mix the medicine with warm water and apply using a chicken feather, three to five times daily.

For treating Chi Gan. Qiangweigen Gao (Rose Root Ointment) Formula:
Qiangweigen (Radix Rosae Rugosae, two taels) Digupi (Phellodendri Cortex, one tael) Conggen (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus, one tael) Hufen (Lead Carbonate, one tael) La (Beeswax, one fen).
The above five ingredients: chop the first three together. Decoct in two large bowls of water until reduced to half a bowl. Soak half a sheet of heavy paper in the liquid, dry it in the sun, and soak again until the liquid is fully absorbed. Dry the paper, coat with powder and wax, cut into strips, and apply overnight for miraculous effect.

For treating Chi Gan and rotting tooth roots. Xixin San (Asari Powder) Formula:
Xixin (two taels) Chuan Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma, two taels) Digupi (two taels) Jiaohao (Artemisiae Argyi Herba, two taels) Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix, three taels, seedlings removed) Sheng Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix, five taels).
The above six ingredients are all burned to ash and finely ground. Apply to the tooth roots every night before bed, or stick with wax paper, removing it in the morning.

For treating Chi Gan with unceasing day and night pain. Qingdai San (Indigo Naturalis Powder) Formula:
Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis, one tael) Ganzipi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, one tael) Gan Xiaha (Dried Bufo, one piece, collected on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, burned).
The above three ingredients are crushed and sifted into a fine powder. Mix with juice of Sheng Dihuang and apply to the gums, changing twice daily.

For treating Gan Chi with exposed tooth roots. Huangfan San (Yellow Alum Powder) Formula:
Huangfan (Burned and ground, one fen) Shexiang (one qian, ground) Gan Geke (Dried Tridacna Shell, burned to ash and ground, one fen) Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix, forked parts removed) Duhuo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix, rhizome head removed, one tael each).
The above five ingredients: except for those requiring separate grinding, crush and sift into a powder, then mix evenly. Rinse the mouth with warm grain water, then apply the medicine to the tooth roots. Spit out any saliva produced. Apply twice daily until cured.

For treating Chi Gan Feng (Wind in Gum Disease). Zaojiao San (Gleditsia Sinensis Powder) Formula:
Zaojiao (Gleditsiae Fructus, non-worm-eaten, two taels) Shengma (one tael; these two are placed in a bottle, sealed tightly leaving one hole, burned until smoke ceases, then taken out and finely ground) Xingren (Prunus Armeniacae Semen, skin and tips removed, double kernels discarded, ground, one tael) Ningshuishi (Natron, pounded into powder, two taels).
The above four ingredients are ground together evenly. Apply one qianbi to the affected area each time.

For treating Chi Gan. Xixin San (Asari Powder) Formula:
Xixin (seedlings and leaves removed) Chansu (Toad Venom, dried by roasting) Gudi (Trichosanthis Fructus Seed) Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma, mustards removed, one fen each).
The above four ingredients are crushed, sifted, and made into a powder. Apply one qianbi to the gums three to five times daily.

For treating Chi Gan Feng with unceasing pain. Lilu San (Veratri Powder) Formula:
Lilu (rhizome head removed) Shujiao (Sichuan Pepper, eyes and closed-mouth ones removed, stir-fried until oil appears) Fuzi (cracked, skin and navel removed, one fen each) Shexiang (one qian, ground).
The above four ingredients: first crush the first three into a powder, then add Shexiang and mix evenly. Wrap one qianbi in cotton and place in the affected area. Spit out any saliva produced.

For treating Chi Gan and oral ulcers, with dry eyes and heavy body, and internal organ erosion by worms. Kushen Tang (Sophora Decoction) Formula:
Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix, sliced) Taobaipi (Pruni Persicae Cortex Albus, sliced) Huaibaipi (Meliae Cortex Albus, sliced, one tael each).
The above three ingredients are coarsely crushed and sifted. Use five qianbi per dose. Decoct in two bowls of water for more than ten boils. Filter out the dregs. Hold the hot liquid in the mouth and spit it out when cool. Do this three to five times daily.

For treating Gan Chi with bleeding from tooth roots. Baijian San (Alumen Powder) Formula:
Baijian (burned to ash and ground, three fen) Ranshedan (Boa Snake Gallbladder, one qian, ground).
The above two ingredients are ground together evenly. First wipe the teeth with cloth until all blood is removed. Apply half a qianbi to the affected area. Do not swallow saliva.