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The *Qianjin Fang* (Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) discusses that since humans possess physical forms, they must attend to nourishment and preservation. If daily routines and rest are not regulated properly, myriad diseases will arise. Therefore, as the four seasons change and yin and yang alternate in prosperity and decline, it is like these two qi (vital energies) striking and angering each other; at such times, there must be violent qi (sudden pathogenic factors). This violent qi occurs every month, manifesting as sudden strong winds, heavy fog, extreme cold, or extreme heat. If one does not... (the original text has omissions here)

Another account states: First is Maziling (Hemp Seed Carbuncle), its appearance is a head raised on the skin, the size of a millet seed, slightly black in color, with slightly red surroundings, often accompanied by itching. One should avoid eating hemp seeds, wearing hemp cloth, and walking into hemp fields. Second is Shiling (Stone Carbuncle), its appearance is connected to the skin and flesh, black like a soybean, very hard, unpenetrable by needles, with dull pain inside the muscle. One should avoid contact with tiles, gravel, bricks, etc. Third is Xionging (Male Carbuncle), its appearance has a black head, with surrounding raised sores exuding fluid, yellow in color, the size of a copper coin hole. Sexual abstinence is required. Fourth is Ciling (Female Carbuncle), its appearance has a slightly yellow head depressed inward, resembling a moxibustion scar, with surrounding fluid exudation, red in color, the size of a copper coin hole. Sexual abstinence is required. Fifth is Huoding (Fire Carbuncle), its appearance resembles a fire-toxic sore, with a black head and surrounding fluid exudation like red millet grains. One should avoid roasted, fried, or baked foods. Sixth is Lanting (Rotting Carbuncle), its appearance is slightly black with white spots, containing pus and water within the sore, the shape and size like a spoon face. One should avoid hot, rotten, or foul-smelling foods. Seventh is Sanliuling (Thirty-Six Carbuncles), its appearance has a floating black head, shaped like a black bean, with fiery red surroundings. It grows one today, two tomorrow, three the day after, up to ten. If it reaches thirty-six, it cannot be treated by medicine; if less than thirty-six, it can be treated. Commonly known as Heiding (Black Carbuncle). One should avoid anger, excessive joy, sorrow, and resentment. Eighth is Sheyanling (Snake Eye Carbuncle), its appearance has a black, floating skin head, shaped like a small bean, resembling a snake's eye, large and hard. One should avoid being seen by people with "evil eyes" or those who are jealous. Ninth is Yankufing (Salt Skin Carbuncle), its appearance is like a spoon face, entirely red with black millet-like bumps. Salty food is prohibited. Tenth is Shuixiling (Water Wash Carbuncle), its appearance is the size of a coin or coin hole, with a white-black head, exuding juice, hard in the center. One should avoid drinking raw water, bathwater, or getting wet while crossing rivers. Eleventh is Daolianing (Sickle Carbuncle), its appearance is as wide as a leek leaf, one inch long, black on the side. Avoid burning, piercing, cutting, or slicing. Twelfth is Fouaoling (Floating Bubble Carbuncle), its appearance resembles a bubble, slightly curved and round, not elongated, width like a scallion leaf, yellow inside and black outside. Puncturing the curved black part causes no pain, but puncturing the yellow inside causes sharp pain. Thirteenth is Niujuling (Cow Contraction Carbuncle), its appearance is raised flesh that cannot be broken by picking.

For the above thirteen types of ding sores, initially there is itching followed by pain, chills followed by fever. After the fever settles, limbs often feel heavy, accompanied by headache, palpitations, and blurred vision. If severe, vomiting and regurgitation occur, which are difficult to treat. Among them, Maziling only itches from start to finish without pain. The recorded taboos must not be violated; violation makes treatment difficult. Fouaoling and Niujuling have no taboos; even without treatment, they are not fatal. Their chills and fever are similar to other ding sores, and all can be treated with this prescription, with absolute certainty. To determine if a taboo was violated, if one feels extreme stiffness in the spine and unbearable soreness, unable to endure, it indicates a violation.

The medicinal herb for treating this condition is Gouqi (Lycium Bark/Root): called Tianjing (Heavenly Essence) in spring, Gouqi in summer,quelao (Age-Defier) in autumn, and Digutong (Earth Bone Root) in winter. Collect leaves on the Jiazi days of the first month in spring, branches on the Jiazi days of the fourth month in summer, fruits on the Jiazi days of the seventh month in autumn, and roots on the Jiazi days of the tenth month in winter. Dry these four parts. Mixing them on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month at noon is best. If collection dates cannot be strictly observed, obtaining any one part is acceptable. Wrap the medicine in a piece of crimson silk. Take a mass of tangled hair the size of a chicken egg, Niu Huang (Calculus Bovis, Calculus Bos taurus) the size of a wuizi (phitseed), and fourteen pieces of fan gou ji ci zhen (reverse-hook thorn needles), powdered. Also powder seven Chi Xiao Dou (Adzuki Beans, Vigna angularis). Spread the tangled hair on the crimson silk, sprinkle the Niu Huang powder and other medicines over the hair, then roll the silk into a ball. Twist the hair into a rope and tie it in a cross shape. Boil rapidly in an iron heating shovel... sift two spoons...

This prescription can be used for any carbuncle or swelling. It is the formula of Rong Mu from Qizhou.

Bai Jiang Shi (Halloysite, Halloysitum; 1 jin, select soft yellow ones) Gou Qi Gen Pi (Cortex Lycii, Cortex Lycii Chinensis; 2 liang) Mu Li (Concha Ostreae, Concha Ostreae; 9 liang, select soft/rotten ones) Zhong Ru (Concha Margaritifera Interior, Concha Margaritifera Interior; inferior grade, powdered 1 liang) Bai Shi Ying (Quartzum Album, Quartzum Album; 1 liang, powdered) Jie Geng (Radix Platycodonis, Radix Platycodonis Grandiflori; 1 liang)

Pulverize and sieve each of the above six herbs separately, then weigh and mix them thoroughly. First, take 9 sheng of Fu Long Gan (Caulis Longan? No, Fulongs Gan - Fornax Argilla, Fornacis Argilla), pulverize it, and mix with 1 dou 2 sheng of clear wine until turbid... Insert deeply to the root of the sore, prick the surroundings to induce bleeding. Scrape off medicine the size of a soybean and apply to the sore. For severe cases, apply 3-4 times day and night; for mild cases, 1-2 times. Severe cases may rot and discharge the root in two days; mild cases in half a day to one day. Observe for the sore rising, which indicates the root is discharging. If the root has discharged and rotted, do not stop medication; continue application. The medicine is safe and promotes easy tissue regeneration. If the disease is located in the mouth, throat, chest, or abdomen, there will likely be external abnormal swelling. If experiencing chills, fever, and discomfort, suspect this disease. Mix the medicine with water or clear liquid to the size of two apricot kernels and ingest. Take 3-4 times day and night; it will naturally rot and dissolve. Alternatively, use an object to extract and spit out the root, leading to recovery. Even if the root does not discharge, recovery occurs. One should observe for mental clarity and awakening. Prepare the medicine on May 5th (best), July 7th (second best), September 9th, or the last day of the twelfth lunar month. If urgent, other days are acceptable, though not as auspicious. Preparation requires purity and incense burning; avoid contamination. Do not let mourners, disabled persons, postpartum women, livestock, chickens, or dogs see it. Taboos include sexual activity, pork, beef, chicken, fish, raw garlic, scallions, cilantro, vinegar, and wheat flour. If symptoms flare due to taboo violations, mix the medicine with Gou Qi Gen Tang (Decoction of Lycium Root Bark) as per the following formula. The previous two formulas originate from the same source; wise commentators consider the latter formula the most authentic. General taboos include alcohol, meat, five pungent spices, cilantro, oil, flour, raw/cold foods, and sour/slippery foods.

The following formula is provided (identical to Cui Shi's formula):
Bai Jiang Shi (Halloysite, Halloysitum; 25 liang) Mu Li (Concha Ostreae, Concha Ostreae; 10 liang) Gou Qi Gen Bai Pi (Cortex Lycii Radicis, Cortex Lycii Chinensis Radicis; 4 liang) Fu Ling (Poria, Poria cocos; 3 liang)

Sieve the four herbs finely and mix. Cut 6 sheng of fresh Gou Qi Gen (Root of Lycium chinense, Radix Lycii Chinensis) and boil in 1 dou 5 sheng of water to obtain 5 sheng. Strain, add 2 sheng of dog feces, stir well, clarify, and take the clear liquid. Mix with the powdered herbs, cook-pulverize, and form into cakes. Dry in the shade. Use a double-edged needle to pierce the center of the painful sore deeply, withdraw, scrape medicine powder into the hole, and immediately cover the entire sore. The head will swell. Pick out the root with a needle. Severe cases discharge in half a day or more; mild cases may dissolve spontaneously. Do not worry. Internal diseases present with corresponding external swelling, chills, and fever. For suspected internal sores, mix 5 walnut-sized doses of medicine in half a cup of water. Take 3-4 times day and night; external swelling will subside. To discharge the root, wait one day after taking medicine, then use a chicken feather to extract/spit out the root. Even if not extracted, it dissolves. For external sores, apply medicine 3-4 times day and night; continue after root discharge to promote healing. If taboos were violated, take 3 sheng of chopped Gou Qi Gen boiled in 5 sheng of water to yield 3 sheng. Strain. Mix 1 qian bi of medicine with one cup of Gou Qi juice.

Also, squeeze juice from dog feces using Gou Qi juice and ingest; this is best. Use immediately after preparation; drying is not necessary. The "white dog feces" refers to feces from dogs that have eaten bones...

Another formula:
Prick the four sides and center of the sore with a needle, apply Xiong Huang (Realgar, Realgar), and it heals immediately. (Alternatively, apply Huang Tu, Terra Rubra).

Another formula:
Ma Chi Cai (Portulaca Oleracea, Herba Portulae Oleraceae; 2 fen) Duan Shi (Colcothar Vitrioli, Colcothar Vitrioli; 3 fen)

Pulverize and mix, apply mixed with egg white. (Wen Zhong's Bei Ji Fang, Vol 23).

Another formula for all carbuncles and swellings:
Burn Cang Er Gen Jing Zi (Root, Stem, and Fruit of Xanthium sibiricum, Fructus Xanthii) to ash. Mix with vinegar rice wash sediment to form mud. Apply; change when dry. Within ten applications, the root will discharge.

Commentary: In the 4th year of Zhenguan, I suddenly developed a carbuncle on the right corner of my mouth. Gan Zizhen treated me with pastes for ten days without success. I treated myself with this formula exactly as described. Since then, I have frequently prepared this formula to save others, never failing. Thus, I discuss it specifically to pass it to future generations. There are nearly a thousand formulas for carbuncles, none surpassing Rong Mu’s Qizhou formula, nor this substance, which is easily obtained.

Another formula:
Drink one bowl of Tie Jiang (Iron Slag Water), and recover.

Another formula:
Ji Li Zi (Fructus Tribuli, Fructus Tribuli Terestris; 1 sheng) burn to ash, mix with strong vinegar, apply overnight. Recover.

Another formula:
Powdered Ren of Zao Jia Zi (Semen Gleditsiae Sinensis, Semen Gleditsiae Sinensis) applied several times cures in five days.

Commentary: When treating carbuncles, prick the center until painful, then prick the surroundings ten-plus times to induce bleeding. Apply medicine afterward; it is best if the medicinal qi enters the needle pores. If it does not reach the interior of the sore, it is ineffective.

Commentary: These swellings often appear on the corners of the mouth, cheeks, or tongue, red-black like beads, painful to the heart. This is chronic cold toxin accumulation transforming into this disease. If not treated immediately...

Bei Ji Yao Fang (Essential Prescriptions for Emergencies) states regarding carbuncles: Yao Fang says carbuncle toxins present as protrusions in the flesh like fish eyes, red-black and painful, caused by cold toxin accumulation. Treat initially with decoctions and methods used for Dan disease (erysipelas). Yi Taiyi states there are thirteen types of carbuncles, detailed elsewhere. Initial symptoms include chills and fever. The Thirty-Six Carbuncles are among these thirteen types, growing incrementally. Formulas exist for treating up to thirty-six carbuncles.

She Pi (Snake Skin) burned to powder, mixed with Shu Shi (Mouse Feces), inserted into the pierced sore and withdrawn; cure stops. (Wen Zhong).

Another formula:
Powder dry human feces, pierce the swelling, apply generously. If taboo-violated and non-lethal, open the wound and pour one sheng of toilet water; immediate cure.

Another formula:
Burn Bai Ma Ya Chi (Teeth of White Horse) to ash. Prick the sore, apply ash, surround with flour paste. When swelling softens, wash off ash with good vinegar; the root discharges, and cure follows.

Another internal miraculous formula:
Fan Gou Ji Ci Zhen (Reverse-hook thorn needles; 32 pieces, >1 year old) Sheng Da Dou Huang (Yellow Soybeans, Semen Sojae Preparatum; 40 whole pieces) Fei Tou Si (Crimson Silk; 3 strips, 1 cun wide) Luan Fa (Tangled Hair; size of 3 chicken eggs)

Divide the four ingredients into three portions. Wrap 30 needles and 30 soybeans in one strip of silk, bind with hair tightly. Wrap remaining items similarly in two more silk strips. Burn each strip over charcoal until smoke ceases. Pulverize in a porcelain vessel. Mix with half a cup of wine and ingest on an empty stomach. After half a day, sore edges soften, internal comfort ensues, and cure occurs. If no effect after half a day, ingest another portion; cure is certain. If violated later, 3-5 bean-sized red-black pus discharges. Non-violators cure in 18 days. This formula is highly effective; avoid violations.