Library

[Cracked Sores]
People living in hardship and poverty, disregarding wind and rain, suffer from cracked skin on their hands and feet during winter, forming sores. The cracks bleed, causing unbearable swelling and pain. Externally, wash the cracks with decocted radish juice.
Subsequently, dripping mutton fat oil into the cracks will lead to healing. Alternatively, applying a thick paste of Bletilla Rhizoma (Baiji) powder mixed with hot water into the cracks is also effective.

[Shoulder-Carrying Tumor]
Shoulder-carrying tumors may also rupture and discharge pus and blood. This is not caused by the maladministration of Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi), but rather results from bearing heavy loads on the shoulders and sleeping on cold surfaces, leading to obstruction in the meridians and collaterals, causing accumulation. If moxibustion is not applied early, it cannot dissipate. It is suitable to apply Qianjin Fen Shuang (Thousand-Gold Powder Frost) to the lesion for immediate dissipation, with miraculous efficacy.

[Eye Dan]
The eyelids belong to the Spleen and Stomach, referred to as "Nei Shu" (Internal Transmission). If severe redness and swelling occur without suppuration, it is called "Yan Dan" (Eye Dan). Internally, San Huang Tang Wan (Three-Yellow Pill) should be taken to purge Stomach Fire. Externally, applying Shui Cheng Gao (Water-Clarified Ointment) will lead to recovery.

[Stealing Needle Eye]
When small carbuncles or boils appear at the corners of the eyes in adults or children, accompanied by swelling and pain, this is also due to excessive Fire in the Heart, Gallbladder, and Small Intestine. Whenever such sores exist, there must be connected small sore pits on the chest and back. It is suitable to prick them with a needle to release blood, after which the eye corner sores will heal spontaneously, hence the name "Stealing Needle Eye." Taking herbs to purge Heart Fire further enhances efficacy.

Regarding the condition of variola (smallpox/chickenpox), it is contracted from fetal toxin. Fetal toxin refers to the state where, after the fetus has formed within the mother's womb, it nourishes its body by absorbing maternal blood day and night. Only after ten months is it complete and ready for birth. At the time of delivery, a mouthful of foul blood remains in the infant's mouth. If the midwife removes it, the child will have no variola or other diseases. If not removed in time, the child cries out, causing the foul blood to descend and lodge in the Right Kidney and Mingmen (Gate of Life). Later, encountering wind-cold, epidemic pathogens, or fright, internal and external factors interact to manifest as variola. My view is that while the fetus absorbs maternal blood for ten months to form its body, if the mother exercises caution in diet, avoiding five pungent spices, toxic substances, strong flavors, and strange foods; avoids viewing fierce or bizarre objects; avoids hearing obscene, chaotic, evil, or killing sounds; practices prenatal education; plays with beautiful jade or holds bows and arrows; views beautiful paintings and ancient books; listens to words of loyalty, filial piety, virtue, and goodness; and abstains from sexual intercourse after conception, then the born child will likely be intelligent and handsome, suffer less from sores and toxins, have no malignant diseases, and be virtuous, filial, and long-lived. Nowadays, people do not act this way. They treat wine as water, indulge in lust, crave delicious tastes, and disregard taboos against five meats and three abominations. How can their Qi and Blood remain pure? Thus, their children often suffer from rotting sores, variola, carbuncles, and various convulsive malignant diseases. Another question asks: Infants develop variola anywhere from one month old, one year old, to three, five, seven years old, or even up to twenty or thirty years old. Why does the timing vary so much? The answer is: It depends on the severity of the fetal toxin contraction, the strength of the innate Qi and Blood constitution, and whether the mother’s care was proper. Proper care leads to fewer illnesses; improper care leads to more diseases. Encounters with external infections and internal injuries also vary in severity. When the pathogenic toxins attack, they manifest upon encounter and do not manifest otherwise. This explains why infants' variola varies in onset time, density, and severity. Another question asks: Why do children with sparse variola die, while those with dense variola survive? Children who die with sparse variola do so because, in the first one or two days, the fever has not fully expressed itself, and the pathogenic toxins are blocked and unable to exit. Children who survive with dense variola do so because the fever has fully expressed itself, and the toxins have been expelled outward, leaving no internal stagnation. The appearance and nature of the variola are all favorable (Shun pattern), so despite the density, the child survives. Another statement says: If the variola has fully erupted, but the child falls ill and dies half a month or twenty days later, while others fall ill and survive, what is the reason? The answer is: This is due to incomplete clearance of the variola toxin and improper nursing care, causing the child to fall ill again. Those with mild illness survive; those with severe illness die. This is predetermined by fate; how can humans escape it? The Classics say, "Sacrificing life for wealth," acting against reason, yet few take heed.