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Liu Zhu (Flowing Abscess) originally presents with several types of syndromes, including damp-phlegm (Damp-Phlegm), blood stasis (Blood Stasis), wind-dampness (Wind-Dampness), and residual toxins after sweating from cold damage (Cold Damage). Its characteristics are that the onset location is indefinite, swelling is diffuse and spreading, and if it ulcerates near bone joints, it is difficult to cure. The root of this syndrome lies in the weakness of the Spleen and Stomach, causing pathogens to accumulate between muscles, bones, and tendons.

[Note] Although this syndrome shares a name, its origins vary. Human Qi and Blood circulate throughout the body daily without pause. If due to damp-phlegm, blood stasis, wind-dampness, or residual toxins after sweating from Cold Damage, or if cold pathogens invade after sexual intercourse, these pathogens linger in the muscles, obstructing the flow of Qi and Blood, hence named "Liu Zhu" (Flowing Abscess).

Various medical texts state: "Liu" means flowing, "Zhu" means stopping. The onset location is indefinite, occurring anywhere. Initially, it presents as diffuse swelling without a head, with unchanged skin color. After long-term accumulation, slight heat and gradual pain appear; only when a red spot emerges is the pus considered mature, at which point it should be incised with a needle immediately. If formed by damp-phlegm, the pus is sticky and white; if formed by blood stasis, the pus is golden yellow; if formed by dampness, phlegm, wind, and dampness, the pus is thin and white like bean curd dregs; if formed by eight external pathogens after sweating, the pus is either yellow or black, thin and foul-smelling. Among the above four syndromes, those occurring in fleshy areas can be cured, while those occurring in bone joints and hollows are difficult to cure. Pus formed due to excessive sexual activity followed by cold invasion is thin, white, and fishy, containing substances resembling pork lard oil floating in water; this is called "Bai Jiang Nong" (Decayed Pus). Although various books have treatment methods, they ultimately become refractory cases.

For initial onset caused by damp-phlegm, use Muxiang Liqi Yin (Costus Flowing Qi Decoction) to guide it out; for postpartum onset caused by blood stasis, use Tongjing Daoshi Tang (Unblocking Meridians and Guiding Stagnation Decoction) to unblock and activate circulation; for onset caused by traumatic injury and blood stasis, use San Yu Gegen Tang (Dispersing Stasis and Pueraria Decoction) to expel stasis; for onset caused by wind-dampness, use Wanling Dan (Myriad Spirits Pill) and Wuji San (Five Accumulations Powder) with Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root) to warm and disperse; for swelling caused by residual pathogens after sweating, use Renshen Baidu San (Ginseng Resolving Toxins Powder) to dissipate; for external cold invasion after sexual intercourse, initially take Wuji San (Five Accumulations Powder) with Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root), followed by Fuzi Bayi Tang (Aconite Eight Substances Decoction) to warm; for virgins or widows forming this condition due to anger injuring the Liver and overthinking injuring the Spleen, take Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) with Xiangfu (Cyperus Rhizome) and Qingpi (Green Tangerina Peel) to disperse. These are all methods for treating Liu Zhu (Flowing Abscess) in its early stages before full formation, taking one to four doses is sufficient. Externally, apply Wulong Gao (Black Dragon Ointment) or Chonghe Gao (Harmonizing Ointment); for areas where skin and flesh are not hot, treat with Leihuo Shenzhen (Thunder-Fire Divine Needle) moxibustion; mild cases resolve immediately, severe cases will inevitably ulcerate. When about to ulcerate, take Tuoli Tou Nong Tang (Supporting Interior and Penetrating Pus Decoction); after ulceration, take Renshen Yangrong Tang (Ginseng Nourishing Vigor Decoction). For chronic ulcers with thin clear pus, reduced appetite, and inability to generate muscle tissue and close wounds, take Tiaozhong Dacheng Tang (Regulating Middle and Completing Formation Decoction); for chronic ulcers with thin clear pus, weak spirit, gradually developing into fistulas, take Xiantian Dazao Wan (Heavenly Origin Great Creation Pill). Other treatments after ulceration refer to the Ulcerated Sores section of the Carbuncle and Ulcer Gate.

Tongjing Daoshi Tang (Unblocking Meridians and Guiding Stagnation Decoction)
Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), Chi Shao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Zhike (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, bran-fried), Zisu (Perillae Folium), Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Danpi (Moutan Cortex), Honghua (Carthami Flos), Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix) (each 1 qian), Duhuo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, knotted) (each 0.5 qian).
Boil in two bowls of water until reduced to 0.8 bowl, add one cup of wine, take before meals.
[Fang Ge]: Tongjing Daoshi treats postpartum diseases,敗血 (decayed blood) and blood stasis cause swelling and pain accumulation; the formula contains Siwu (Four Substances), Zhike, Zisu, Xiangfu, Chenpi, plus Danpi, Duhuo, Gancao, Honghua, and Niuxi.

Sanyu Gegen Tang (Dispersing Stasis and Pueraria Decoction)
Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma Preparatum), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) (each 0.8 fen), Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, raw), Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma), Honghua (Carthami Flos), Ziye (Perillae Folium), Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix) (each 0.6 fen).
Boil in two bowls of water with three stalks of green onion and three slices of ginger until reduced to 0.8 bowl, take at any time.
[Fang Ge]: Sanyu Gegen disperses stasis and resolves blood coagulation, often caused by falls and trauma leading to Liu Zhu (Flowing Abscess); the formula contains Chuanxiong, Banxia, Jiegeng, Fangfeng, Qianghuo, Xixin, Gancao, plus Xiangfu, Honghua, Ziye, Baizhi, and Shengma.

Fuzi Bayi Tang (Aconite Eight Substances Decoction)
Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata), Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, earth-fried), Baifuling (Poria), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba, wine-fried) (each 1 qian), Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix), Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, honey-fried) (each 0.5 qian).
Boil in two bowls of water with three slices of ginger and one piece of jujube flesh until reduced to 0.8 bowl, take well after meals.
[Fang Ge]: Fuzi Bayi Tang treats Liu Zhu (Flowing Abscess), caused by sexual exhaustion injuring Yin and external cold invading; the formula contains Muxiang, Rougui, and Bazhen Tang (Eight Treasures Decoction), boiled with ginger and jujube, taken well after meals.

Tiaozhong Dacheng Tang (Regulating Middle and Completing Formation Decoction)
Renshen (Ginseng Radix) (2 qian), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, earth-fried), Baifuling (Poria), Huangqi (Astragali Membranacei Radix), Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma, fried), Danpi (Moutan Cortex), Dangguishen (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, heart), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba, wine-fried), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) (each 1 qian), Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex), Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata) (each 0.8 fen), Yuanzhi (Polygalae Radix, heart removed), Huoxiang (Agastaches Herba), Suosharen (Amomi Fructus Rotundus), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, honey-fried) (each 0.5 fen).
Boil in two bowls of water with three slices of baked ginger and two pieces of jujube flesh until reduced to 0.8 bowl, take well after meals.
[Fang Ge]: Tiaozhong Dacheng Tang treats Liu Zhu (Flowing Abscess) with thin pus after ulceration; the formula includes Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction), Shanyao, Danpi, Danggui, and Baishao; adding Yuanzhi, Huoxiang, Suosharen, Chenpi, Rougui, and Fuzi can treat thin pus from ulcerated Liu Zhu (Flowing Abscess).

Muxiang Liqi Yin (Costus Flowing Qi Decoction) (See Ding Chuang Gate)
Wanling Dan (Myriad Spirits Pill), Wulong Gao (Black Dragon Ointment), Chonghe Gao (Harmonizing Ointment) (All see Zhongyang Gate)
Wuji San (Five Accumulations Powder) (See Internal Carbuncles, Kidney Carbuncle)
Renshen Baidu San (Ginseng Resolving Toxins Powder) (i.e., Jingfang Baidu San minus Jingjie and Fangfeng, see Neck, Brain Carbuncle)
Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) (See Breast, Intramammary Nodule)
Leihuo Shenzhen (Thunder-Fire Divine Needle) (See Thigh, Deep Bone Carbuncle)
Tuoli Tou Nong Tang (Supporting Interior and Penetrating Pus Decoction) (See Head, Brain-Penetrating Carbuncle)
Renshen Yangrong Tang (Ginseng Nourishing Vigor Decoction) (See Ulcerated Sores Gate)
Xiantian Dazao Wan (Heavenly Origin Great Creation Pill) (See Buttock, Stork-Mouth Carbuncle)