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Ge Xianweng inscribed on stone at Zijigong in Jiangling Prefecture the methods for treating back carbuncle (Fa Bei), shoulder carbuncle, mustache hair follicle infection, temple hair follicle infection, rib infection, and all kinds of malignant swellings. The aforementioned several types are named according to their sites of occurrence; however, their etiology is identical, thus the moxibustion method follows a single principle. Among these types, the back carbuncle causes death most rapidly. Its symptoms often originate between the scapulae on the back. Initially, it is as small as a millet seed, either painful or itchy, with red or yellow discoloration. Neglected initially, it gradually enlarges, swelling protrusively across the back, causing heart-piercing pain, and can become fatal within days. At this stage, even Lu Yi (Bian Que) cannot cure it. Only by treating it in the early stage can life be preserved. For the other types, if treated early according to this method, not one out of a hundred will die. Whenever a lesion is suspected, slice garlic into thickness similar to a coin (if garlic is unavailable, mix clean water with mud to form a coin shape) and apply it over the sore head (if the sore has an opening upon initial appearance, do not cover the opening). First, apply moxa cones the size of a mung bean for moxibustion, ensuring not to damage the muscle tissue. Replace the garlic slice when it burns. When the pain becomes bearable, gradually increase the size of the moxa cone. Once again bearable, remove the garlic and perform direct moxibustion. The number of cones is unlimited; stop only when the pain ceases. If swelling and pain recur after stopping, resume moxibustion as before until both swelling and pain disappear. For each individual sore, treatment may require three hundred, five hundred, or even one to two thousand moxa cones to heal, while others may heal with fewer applications. If three to five sores are present, each must be treated individually according to this method; healing occurs when there is no swelling or pain after moxibustion. The method is the same for men and women. Sun Simiao also used this moxibustion method to treat stone abscess (Shi Yong). Stone abscess refers to a swelling that is extremely hard like stone with a root, hence the name. Upon moxibustion, the stone-like mass should fragment and discharge, leading to recovery.

This describes the method of garlic-mediated moxibustion applied directly to the center of the lesion; related discussions can be found in the section on Zhuma Moxibustion later.

Sun Simiao's method for treating intestinal abscess states: This condition is often unrecognized by people; incorrect treatment can be fatal. Symptoms include heaviness and hardness in the lower abdomen; pressing with the hand induces urination resembling strangury; frequent sweating accompanied by aversion to cold; rough, scaly skin over the entire body; tense, distended abdominal wall; in severe cases, shifting position produces splashing sounds; or sores developing around the umbilicus, pus discharging from the umbilical hole, or pus and blood passing in the stool. For any such symptoms, quickly moxibustate both elbow tips with one hundred cones each, using cones the size of a mung bean. Typically, pus and blood will pass through the bowels, resulting in recovery. Locate the points according to the illustration.