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Carbuncles, ulcers, furuncles, and swellings have numerous names, recorded in a chaotic manner, with hundreds of threads in medical texts. When facing diseases clinically, treatment lacks basis, leaving one at a loss. The *Neijing* (Inner Canon) states: "He who knows the essentials can summarize it in one word; he who does not know the essentials will be scattered infinitely." Although I am untalented, I shall tentatively expound upon its essentials. Heat erupting between the skin and flesh causes swelling with a small root, not exceeding two or three cun in size, which is called a **furuncle** (Jie). Accumulated heat in the six fu organs surges outward into the muscle layer, appearing suddenly, with swelling that is bright, soft, and spreading widely, which is called an **abscess** (Yong). Wind-heat accumulation attacking the five zang organs penetrates to the muscles and bones; the wind-toxin is fierce and violent. Initially presenting as a single head like a white point, scorched and dry, causing heart-piercing pain upon touch, this is called a **deep ulcer** (Ju). Abscesses arise from the six fu organs, resembling a prairie fire, ulcerating the skin and muscles externally. Ulcers arise from the five zang organs, being deep, stagnant, and difficult to treat, resembling the fire in a pottery kiln, consuming the bone marrow internally. Abscesses are easy to treat but heal slowly if nursing is improper; ulcers are difficult to treat but tend to recover easily. For furuncles and sores, moxibustion is suitable at the onset because their pathogenic qi is superficial and ascending, guiding the heat to allow rapid unblocking. For ulcers, cauterization is suitable rather than moxibustion, because their pathogenic qi is deep-seated, requiring penetration to the root. All sores and ulcers occurring on the exterior are caused by heat-toxin accumulating internally. Understanding these three types allows for analogical reasoning regarding other swellings, toxins, and erysipelas. Generally, slight elevation of the skin with thickened muscle, accompanied by pain or itching, and moving unpredictably, is called a **swelling**. Some result from wind pathogens, others from the struggle between wind and heat. Swellings that are hard and white result from heat; those that are red result from the struggle between wind and heat, persisting without resolution. If heat exceeds wind and immediate treatment is not administered, blood circulation stagnates, combining with qi to form pus. It is also said: excessive wind causes itching, excessive heat causes pain, which serves as verification. There is also **erysipelas** (Dan Du), where the body suddenly turns red, resembling applied vermilion, hence the name. In common parlance, it is called a red tumor; or if caused by touching an existing sore, with redness around the edges, it is called a sore-tumor. All cases of erysipelas wander不定ly, resembling cloud formations. When infants contract this, it is strictly contraindicated within the first hundred days, termed a fetal tumor, because their qi and blood are tender and weak, and their zang-fu organs are fragile, making them unable to withstand lancet needling, hence the contraindication. Additionally, nodules arising between the neck and axilla, initially like bean grains or plum pits, linked together, clearly visible as three to five units, persisting without resolution and gradually enlarging, sometimes accompanied by chills and fever, are called **scrofula** (Luo Li). Those with wind-toxin arise from wind pathogens; those with heat-toxin arise from heat pathogens; those with qi-toxin arise from qi pathogens. All are formed by the accumulation of wind-heat evil qi in the meridians. The syndromes differ, and thus the treatments vary accordingly.