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The relationship of root (Ben) and branch (Biao) in diseases is such that: The Five Movements (Wu Yun) are the root, and the Six Qi (Liu Qi) are the branch; the Zang organs are the root, and the Fu organs are the branch; the initial disease is the root, and the transmitted disease is the branch; the Yuan Qi (Primal Qi) is the root, and the pathogenic Qi is the branch.

Treatment should prioritize addressing the root while managing the branch. If symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, poor appetite, or insomnia occur, these should be treated first. This is what is meant by "when internal diseases heal, external diseases become easier to cure," which is treating the branch to stabilize the root. External treatments should still be combined.

Regarding the use of "branch guides" (Yin Jing Yao / guiding herbs): When a carbuncle (Zhong Yang - early stage suppurative infection) first appears, after examining the condition and prescribing, one herb must be used as a branch guide. For example, Shen Shou Wei Sheng San uses Honeysuckle Flower (Jinyinhua) and Angelica Sinensis Root (Danggui); Cang Zhu Fu Jian San uses Atractylodes Rhizome (Cangzhu); Shi Quan Da Bu Tang uses Prunella Vulgaris Spike (Xiakucao); La Fan Wan uses Chrysanthemum Decoction (Juhua Tang); Tong Sheng San uses Agrimoniae Herba (Loulu), and similar herbs. Each is used in an amount of one liang, decocted into a soup, and then this soup is used to decoct the other herbs in the prescription. The response is immediate and effective. This is the secret method of Fei Xia Zi. Xi Yun states: E Jiao Yin and Niu Jiao Wan belong to Metal and Earth elements; they tonify Lung Qi, strengthen the Large Intestine, fortify the Stomach, and stop diarrhea. Huang La Wan enters the Large Intestine with a tonifying effect. Guo Lao Gao (Licorice preparation) resolves toxicity and promotes meridian circulation. Yuan Zhi Wine and Jinyinhua Wine both have tonifying properties, returning blood to the Heart. Those skilled in medication use them in combination, achieving rapid results in resolving nodules in carbuncles and tonifying deficiency in ulcers. One should extrapolate from these examples. Furthermore, for various toxic sores arising on the vertex, all herbs are suitable for wine soaking, wine frying, wine decocting, or wine administration. These serve as guiding herbs or follow the principle of "treating disorders above by inducing upward movement."

Ancient texts state: "Sweating cures the sore." This applies when there are exterior manifestations of the Six Meridians (Liu Jing), but no internal obstruction of urination or defecation, normal diet, and regular bowel and bladder movements, indicating the disease is not interior. The left pulse is surging and slow, and the Guan position pulse is wiry, indicating exogenous pathogenic factors. Therefore, sweating is appropriate to unblock Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive Qi) and expel pathogens. In winter, cold causes pore closure; pungent-warm formulas must be used to support the interior and expel pathogens, such as Tuo Li Wen Zhong Tang or Gan Zhu Dan. It is also said: "Supporting the exterior does not aim solely at inducing sweat"; this refers to detoxifying agents like Toad Venom (Chansu), Cinnabar (Zhusha), and Realgar (Xionghuang), which are harsh agents for inducing sweat. It is further stated: "Patients with sores, even if painless, should not be sweated. Sweating will cause spasms." This is because there is no exterior syndrome. Even if an exterior syndrome exists, heavy sweating should be avoided. Heavy sweating leads to exterior deficiency and inability to form pus, making later treatment difficult. After sweating, if urination is difficult, stopping the sweat allows Yang Qi to recover, and urination becomes normal.

If five excess conditions (Wu Shi - full pulse, hot skin, abdominal distension, blockage of front and back, and dizziness/confusion) appear during the carbuncle stage, it indicates pathogenic factors in the interior. Cold-cooling purgatives should be used, such as Nei Shu Huang Lian Tang, followed by formulas that support the interior and drain pus. During the ulcer stage, although symptoms like dry mouth and constipation may occur due to the loss of body fluids internally, the pulse will be fine and rapid, the mouth feels neutral but dry, food intake is low and preference for warmth exists, indicating deficient fire. Only by tonifying Qi and Blood, nourishing body fluids, and strengthening the Spleen and Stomach will bowel and bladder functions normalize, preventing complications. If urinary retention occurs, even during the carbuncle stage, one need not use Polyporus (Zuling) or Alisma (Zexie) to drain water; instead, use Ginseng (Renshen), [missing character, likely Astragalus or Atractylodes], Angelica Sinensis Root (Danggui), Peony Root (Baishao), and Tuo Li Xiao Du San, adjusting as necessary, for natural efficacy. Facial redness in sores indicates Fire stagnation; disperse it. Wind pulse or wind symptoms indicate dispersion. Dry and urgent stool indicates moistening. Dizziness and confusion (Yu Mao) indicate heat stagnation; all should be treated with sweating. For the above conditions, purgatives must strictly be avoided. Thus, the rule for treating sores is: keep closed without knotting, keep open without purging.

Vomiting in sores, whether ulcerated or not, depends on the pulse and preference: if the pulse is excess and rapid with a desire for cold drinks, it is internal attack by toxic vapors, requiring purgation; if the pulse is weak with a desire for warm drinks, it is insufficient Yang Qi, requiring tonification. Body heat with a desire to wear clothes indicates heat in the skin/hair layer and cold in the bone marrow; treat with warming. No body heat with a desire to remove clothes indicates cold in the skin/hair layer and heat in the bone marrow; treat with clearing.

Cold, Heat, Excess, and Deficiency can all cause pain. Methods to relieve pain vary. Pain from Heat-Toxin requires purgation; pain from constipation requires guiding out stagnation; pain from Blood Stasis requires harmonizing, combined with roasting with Mulberry Wood fire. Pain from Cold-Pathogen requires warming and dispersing. Pain from damp swelling and stiffness requires leaching and draining. Pain from dryness, twitching, and cramping requires moistening. Pain from fatigue requires tonification. Pain from pus distension requires needle drainage. Pain returning after pus discharge indicates deficiency; tonify. Pain from ulceration/corrosion requires removing necrotic tissue. Pain from foul odors requires harmonizing. Pain from Wind-Cold requires warming and dispersing. Apply according to symptoms, and pain will cease. There is no need to rigidly rely on Frankincense (Ruxiang) and Myrrh (Moyao). Furthermore, sores should not be painless; painlessness indicates extreme deficiency of Stomach Qi and is incurable. Sores should not be severely painful; severe pain with irritability is also incurable. Numbness and itching are particularly ominous signs.

Not eating during the swelling stage is due to pain damaging Stomach Qi; after ulceration, when pain stops, appetite returns naturally. Yuan (Li Dongyuan) stated: Eating meat for sore patients tonifies Stomach Qi, which is self-abandonment. This prohibition applies to changes caused by rich foods and mineral drugs, not as a general rule for those eating coarse grains or who are weak. If the Spleen and Stomach are weak, even if there are taboos, small amounts should be given. Withholding food violates Stomach Qi and suppresses appetite. The key to taboos is avoiding raw/cold foods that damage the Spleen, hard-to-digest items, and greasy foods that cause loose stools. Moderation is key. Also, avoid drinking cold water after taking medicine; violating this delays efficacy and causes pus to recur.