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Mastitis (acute purulent disease of the breast) is caused by internal accumulation of toxic heat and external invasion of wind pathogenic factors. The pathogens penetrate between the blood vessels, manifesting within the breast, gradually forming swelling and induration, leading to blood stasis and qi stagnation. Alternatively, retained milk that remains for a long time without dispersing may condense into an abscess or carbuncle. Danxi stated: The breasts belong to the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, and the nipples belong to the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. Nursing mothers who suffer from anger injuring the Liver, or accumulate internal heat due to rich and greasy foods, will experience impaired circulation of Qi and Blood. If the lactiferous ducts are blocked and milk cannot be discharged, it will condense, causing swelling and pain. Heat in the blood of the Yangming Meridian transforms into pus. Additionally, if an infant's breath blows into the breast causing heat, nodules may subsequently form. At the initial stage, one should endure the pain and massage the area until it softens, allowing the blood vessels to become smooth and harmonious, leading to natural resolution. If this opportunity is missed and untreated, it will develop into an abscess with pus. The treatment method at the initial stage should employ herbs that disperse and promote Qi flow; if pus has already formed, internal support with draining pus and nourishing Blood while smoothing Qi is required. One must not recklessly use needles or knives, as this may aggravate the condition, making it difficult to treat. Furthermore, some women develop hidden nodules due to chronic sorrow and depression, sized like turtle chess pieces, hard as stone, painless and non-itchy. After one, two, or three to five years, they may erupt as sores, breaking down into hollow cavities, named "Ru Ai" (Breast Cancer). This name derives from the deep concavity resembling a rocky cave. These cases are mostly difficult to treat. Although those afflicted may attribute it to fate, if they can clear their minds, avoid excessive worry, maintain a bland diet, and abstain from violent anger, while continuing to take herbs for internal support, promoting Blood circulation and smoothing Qi, there may still be a chance for survival.

Neituo Shengma Decoction (Internal Support Coptis and Cimicifuga Decoction)
Treats black heads appearing between both breasts in women, with the sore apex sunken presenting as a black eye, and also treats early-stage mastitis.
Shengma (Rhizoma Cimicifugae), Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Dangguishen (Radix Angelicae Sinensis - root body), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) (each 2 qian), Huangqi (Astragali Radix) (3 qian), Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) (5 fen), Niubangzi (Arctii Fructus), Gancao (Licorice Root, honey-fried) (each 1 qian).
Take as one dose. Add one cup of water and half a cup of wine. Decoct until one cup remains. Take after meals.

Lianqiao Yinzi (Forsythia Drink)
Treats mastitis.
Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Gualouren (Trichosanthis Semen), Zaojiaoci (Gleditsiae Spina), Jiuye (Citrus Reticulatae Folium), Qingpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride), Gancaojie (Licorice Root with nodes), Taoren (Persicae Semen) (each 2 qian).
Take as one dose. Add two cups of water. Decoct until one cup remains. Take well after meals.

Baichi Shuang Wan (Hundred-Tooth Frost Pills)
Highly effective for treating retained milk nodules that do not dissipate, accompanied by swelling and pain; also treats breast cancer.
Baichi Shuang (Head scale residue from combs).
Grind into pills the size of a corn kernel, coated with Zhudan (Red Lead Oxide). Take one or two pills per dose, washed down with good wine. If unable to drink alcohol, use plain boiled water. Do not allow the pill to dissolve before swallowing, and do not let the patient know it is this medicine. It is extremely effective.

Shiliuwei Liuqi Yin (Sixteen-Ingredient Flowing Qi Decoction)
(See formula mentioned previously)
Treats breast masses accompanied by alternating cold and fever, swelling, and pain, impending formation of abscess or carbuncle. Take this medicine urgently to disperse them.

Ge Zhichuan Formula
Treats female mastitis.
Ren Yachi (Human Teeth, calcined to retain efficacy).
Grind into an extremely fine powder. Mix with Su (Butter/Ghee) and apply topically to the abscess.

Bingbu Shouji Formula
Treats breast induration with malaria-like symptoms, impending pus formation. Taking this will cause resolution.
Lu Jiao (Deer Antler).
Rub the deer antler on a coarse stone to extract white juice and apply to the affected area. Reapply when dry. Avoid touching with hands. Have someone suck out the yellow fluid. Resolution occurs within about a day.
Alternatively, grind deer antler into an extremely fine powder, mix with wine, and take 2-3 qian orally. Also effective.

Shenxiao Gualou San (Miraculous Trichosanthes Powder)
Treats female breast carbuncles and chronic mastitis (Nai Lao).
Huang Gualou (Yellow Trichosanthes Fruit, select one with many seeds, peel, bake, and grind to fine powder; if urgent, use ripe fruit directly ground) (one unit), Chuan Danggui (Szechwan Lovage Root, wash, remove rhizome, bake, cut finely) (half liang), Sheng Gancao (Raw Licorice Root) (half liang), Tongming Moyao (Transparent Myrrh, separately ground) (2.5 qian), Dilu Xiang (Dripping Frankincense, separately ground) (1 qian).
Add three sheng of pure wine (without ash). Simmer slowly in a silver or earthenware vessel until one sheng of clear liquid remains. Divide into three doses, taken after meals. If suffering from chronic mastitis, take this immediately to eliminate the root cause. If toxic heat has formed pus, it will transform into yellow discharge; if toxic heat has not yet formed pus, it will resolve internally. For severe cases, repeat administration until symptoms subside. There are many formulas for breast carbuncles, but this one is uniquely miraculous and infallible.

Jiuyuan Wuwu Tang (Origin-Investigating Five-Ingredient Decoction)
General use for carbuncles, back infections, and mastitis.
Gualou (Trichosanthes Fruit, crushed) (one unit), Zaojiaoci (Gleditsiae Spina, half calcined, half raw) (half liang), Moyao (Myrrh) (half liang), Ruxiang (Frankincense), Gancao (Licorice Root) (each 2.5 qian).
Grind into coarse powder. Decoct in three sheng of strong wine to obtain two sheng. Sip frequently. Severe pain will stop immediately.

Mastitis Formula
For initial onset of mastitis.
Beimu (Fritillaria Bulb).
Grind into powder. Take 2 qian per dose, mixed with warm wine. Immediately place both hands flat on a table, letting the breast hang down for a long time to restore flow naturally.

Breast Application Formula
Tiannanxing (Arisaema Rhizome), Banxia (Pinellia Tuber, raw), Zaojiaoci (Gleditsiae Spina, calcined retaining rawness, each 2 fen), Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), Caowu (Aconiti Radix), Zhijiangcan (Silkworm, baked, 1 fen).
Grind into fine powder. Use plenty of Congbai (Scallion White) ground to extract juice, mix with honey, and apply externally. If broken, cover the wound with a plaster.

Fuyuan Tongqi San (Restoring Origin and Promoting Qi Flowing Powder)
Treats female breast abscesses/carbuncles and all types of swelling and toxins.
Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix), Huixiang (Foeniculi Fructus), Qingpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride), Chuanshanjia (Pangolin Scales, fried with butter), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), Gancao (Licorice Root), Lilü (Veratrum Nigrum), Beimu (Fritillaria Bulb, heart removed, processed with ginger) (equal parts).
Grind into fine powder. Take 3 qian per dose, mixed with good wine.