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The occurrence of sores, carbuncles, and erysipelas swelling is all caused by the disharmony of Yin and Yang, the stagnation and涩 (obstruction) of Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive Qi), and the impaired flow of Qi and Blood. The ancients said: When Yang stagnates in Yin, sores arise; when Yin stagnates in Yang, carbuncles arise. The origin of sores and carbuncles can be internal or external; internally, they arise within the Zang-Fu organs and chest/abdomen; externally, they arise on the surface of skin, flesh, sinews, and bones, with no fixed location. The root of this stagnation lies in the impaired flow of Qi and Blood, where steaming Qi cannot reach the exterior, remaining stagnant to generate internal heat, thereby giving rise to sores and carbuncles.

If at the initial stage one perceives Qi and Blood stagnation, with clustering of skin and flesh, swelling but not yet ulcerated, it is particularly appropriate to dispel wind-heat and unblock the Zang-Fu organs one or two times, followed by soaking the affected area with various decoctions, which will lead to internal resolution. Otherwise, if treatment is slightly delayed, the toxic heat will not dissipate but instead attack inward, resulting in the accumulation of pus and blood. The *Neijing* states: "In treating disease, one must seek the root." Generally, the root of sores and carbuncles lies in the stagnation and obstruction of internal heat, as well as the aggregation of wind-cold pathogens. Treatment should employ warm-natured agents to harmonize the blood and facilitate internal resolution. Differentiation follows specific methods: one must recognize that if caused by wind-cold, the swelling will be hard and white in color; if caused by toxic heat, the swelling will be red in color, using this as the distinction. If Qi has already formed a solid mass, the method of internal resolution cannot be discussed; instead, drugs for draining pus and supporting the interior should be used. These represent the proper sequence of treatment.

Sores arising externally are all due to accumulated heat harbored internally. The *Neijing* states: "When blood is hot, flesh rots; when Ying and Wei do not circulate, pus will inevitably form, remaining in the collaterals, leading to decay." Generally, during the time when sores and carbuncles have pus and ulcerate, if the head is small and unbroken, the wound opening is not open, or the toxic vapors cannot exit, causing unbearable pain, the method of "chasing and eroding" pus is established to allow toxins to excrete outward rather than attack inward, facilitating the removal of foul flesh and the growth of healthy flesh. If bleeding from the sore does not stop, erosion/chasing should not be performed; applying chasing-erosion powder on the sore, wait until it is ripe and ready for incision before doing so. If the pain of the sore extends to the heart-root, one must not force an incision; accidentally touching the sore will double the pain, and adverse transformations are inevitable, so caution is essential! If a furuncle has formed pus but not broken, and the thin skin on top is peeling up, one should immediately apply a "head-breaking needle-replacement" agent on it and cover it with a plaster. After the pus drains, use drugs that search out pus and resolve toxicity, achieving miraculous effects. If pus and blood are not yet exhausted, but one uses drugs for generating flesh and closing sores, striving for early healing; one fails to realize that if foul flesh is not completely removed and the sore closes too early, it will inevitably recur later. Caution is absolutely necessary!