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The method of moxibustion with garlic slices is superior to the use of knives and needles. Ancient texts state: "For sores that do not cause pain, moxa should be applied until pain is felt; for sores that cause pain, moxa should be applied until the pain ceases." Whenever treating carbuncles (Yong Ju), Ding sores, flowing abscesses (Liu Zhu), and all kinds of nameless swellings and toxic masses, slice fresh garlic and place it on top of the lesion. Place a cone of aged mugwort (Chen Ai) on the garlic slice and ignite it for moxibustion. The size of the moxa cone should be determined according to the size of the sore or toxic mass. For larger carbuncles or sores, mash garlic into a cake, apply it to the affected area, and perform moxibustion. If the sore does not hurt, stop moxibustion once pain is induced; if it hurts, stop when the pain subsides. If pus has already formed internally, immediately apply Wujin Ointment (Black Gold Ointment) to the moxibusted area and cover it externally with Pujiu Wanquan Plaster (Universal Salvation Plaster). This will facilitate the opening of the sore, draining of stagnant pus, and thus promote healing. If the sore fails to close or necrotic tissue does not shed, wash with Fangfeng Decoction (Saposhnikovia Decoction), apply Haifu Powder (Sea Floating Powder), and cover externally with Wanquan Plaster. The necrotic tissue will naturally fall off, new flesh will grow, and recovery can be expected within days; this is truly a miraculous remedy.

For swellings located above the head and face, moxibustion is contraindicated as it may draw fire qi upward to attack. Instead, the Fire Illumination Method (Huo Zhao Fa) should be used, which yields miraculous results. The method involves placing Huozhao San (Fire Illumination Powder) inside a paper wick, soaking it in sesame oil, and igniting it. Use three such wicks at a time, holding them about half an cun away from the toxic area to illuminate it. Illuminate from the outside inward to allow the medicinal qi to penetrate. Purple and stagnant skin color will immediately turn red and vibrant. Flat and collapsed sores with heat will immediately become elevated and prominent. Continuous illumination is necessary so that the toxic factors are resolved quickly, transforming Yin conditions into Yang conditions to achieve complete cure. Moreover, this method is not limited to the head; it is also suitable for toxic masses such as Back Carbuncle (Fa Bei). However, some head and facial toxic masses can also be cured by moxibustion if they are purely Yin toxins, characterized by flatness, stubbornness, and numbness, which require moxibustion to be effective. In such cases, the moxa cones should be small, the size of millet grains. These two methods are precious techniques for treating sores and carbuncles and should be used in conjunction for reference to enhance their efficacy.

When a toxic mass presents with distending pain and urgency, and the pus is mature, leaving no time for waiting for moxibustion or fire illumination, the knife method should be employed immediately. However, incision must only be performed when the maturity of the pus is certain, and the depth must be appropriate. Press the swollen area with the left hand to first determine if pus has formed. If pressing feels soft and painless, and the swelling rebounds immediately upon release, the pus has formed. If pressing feels hard and painful, or if depression remains after release, the pus has not yet formed. Sores with formed pus can be punctured; those without formed pus should be waited upon. If the patient's Spleen Qi is deficient, supportive tonification methods should be used. One must also assess the depth of the pus: pressing with fingers, thick subcutaneous soft tissue indicates deep pus, while thin soft tissue indicates shallow pus. If the pus is shallow but the incision is too deep, healthy flesh may be damaged. If the pus is deep but the incision is too shallow, pus may not drain, leading to tissue necrosis; careful consideration is essential. Furthermore, for Gu Bone Abscess (Fu Gu Zhi Ju), where pus corrupts deep within the muscle and the skin color remains unchanged, the knife should be inserted deeply to drain the stagnant pus. Alternatively, the pus can be drained by opening a large wound via moxibustion. Do not hesitate or delay, allowing the toxic factors to rot deeper. The small knife must be sharp, and the patient should not see it to avoid fright. The Bian Stone method (Bian Fa) is applied to the head, face, and areas around the ears. Since these areas present with diffuse swelling without a distinct head, this method is urgently needed to drain toxicity. Select a fine porcelain shard, secure it tightly with chopsticks, exposing only half a fen of the sharp edge. Position it against the affected area and tap it with another chopstick to prick the swollen area repeatedly, aiming for the discharge of dark blood. After pricking, apply a slice of lean meat to the site, moistened with Frankincense Powder (Ruxiang Mo) mixed with egg white. Pus formation is unsuitable in these areas because the head muscles are hollow and the areas around the ears are complex and tortuous, making drainage and detoxification difficult. Therefore, the Bian Stone method should be applied early.