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Before the seventh day of onset, or after moxibustion has been applied and no other medicines have been taken, it is appropriate to use Chan Su Wan (Toad Venom Pill) or Gan Zhu Dan (Crimson Pearl Pill) to induce sweating. If sweating does not occur despite treatment, it is due to the abundance of toxic qi and the tight closure of the exterior and interior. In such cases, external methods such as Shen Deng Zhao (Divine Lamp Illumination) and Sang Chai Hong (Mulberry Wood Roasting) should be combined. These methods can cause formed abscesses to spontaneously ulcerate and non-detached necrotic tissue to fall off, assisting decoctions in harmonizing the exterior and interior to achieve success. After roasting, apply a plaster over the affected area (or top of the head, depending on context interpretation) to promote pus discharge and draw out toxins, thereby defending against wind and cold. For swelling at the base of the lesion, rely on the power of topical applications to bind the root. If the sore has already ulcerated, use Tie Tong Gao (Iron Bucket Plaster) to encircle the wound opening to prevent it from enlarging. For yang-type sores presenting with swelling and pain, after seven days, thick yellow pus will naturally adhere to the plaster. Wash the area daily with Cong Tang (Scallion Decoction) and change the plaster. Normal pus discharge typically occurs around the eleventh day. If moxibustion was not performed, when internal pus is about to form but the skin is thick without a visible head and difficult to penetrate, apply Xuan Zhu Gao (Mysterious Pearl Ointment) to the top and cover it with Hei Gao (Black Plaster). Within three to five days, pus will be drawn out through the pores. Over time, clear boundaries will form. The necrotic tissue will fall off in sheets, and the underlying flesh will become level. At this point, switch to ji sheng yao (flesh-regenerating medicine). Apply this ointment to ulcers where stasis and necrosis persist; it removes necrotic tissue as cleanly as cutting, without pain, and is superior to other medicines. However, it must rely on the efficacy of nei tuo (internal support and expulsion) to achieve rapid results.

If ten days have passed since onset, and although the sore does not necrose, it presents with redness, swelling, and pain, this is caused by insufficient yuan qi (original qi), failure to apply tonifying and supporting treatments, misuse of cold-natured herbs, or inadequate warmth in covering. Treatment should focus on tuo li da bu (greatly tonifying the interior and supporting the body's resistance), with the emergence of pus as the sign of effectiveness. If black blood flows from the wound and sweat appears all over the body, these are signs that the tonifying and supporting treatment is working. If the expected period passes without necrosis and ulceration, and the lesion remains hard, this indicates that the root of the sore is closed and solid, representing a condition of balanced yin and yang. It is necessary to use Shen Miao Ba Gen Fa (Divine Root-Pulling Method) to prevent internal invasion of pathogens. If there is pus inside, it will also be easier to drain.

The period from fifteen to twenty-one days serves as another benchmark. Beyond this timeframe, even if thin pus exists, it is truly difficult for the wound to heal and close. If there is no pus, it is a pure yin condition that is difficult to cure. Therefore, for yang sores, fourteen days is the critical threshold; for yin sores, twenty-one days is the limit. At this stage, it is essential to ensure that pus discharges steadily and does not accumulate excessively. Wait for pus discharge before natural necrosis and shedding occur; after necrotic tissue sheds, new flesh will naturally grow; after new flesh grows, contraction will naturally occur; after contraction, the wound surface will naturally flatten. This is the sequential order of sore development. If pus does not appear by the expected time, various complications will likely arise later. The principles of medication are: for initial onset, focus on san zhong nei xiao (dispelling swelling and resolving internally); for ulcerated sores, focus on pai nong lian du (draining pus and consolidating toxins); when pus is exhausted, focus on qu fu nei sai (removing necrosis and filling internally); when necrosis is completely removed, focus on sheng ji fu jia (generating flesh and applying scabs). This is the fixed protocol for treating sores.