Library

Treats deficiency of Middle Qi (Middle Jiao Qi), resulting in pustules failing to rise and swell. (*Nan Jing* states: "Qi provides warmth." Thus, Qi is the force that nurtures and grows all things; failure of pustules to rise is due to blood weakness.)
See Formula in Volume 1, Upper Section, Gate of Treating Qi.

Ren Shen (Ginseng Root), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), and Gan Cao (Licorice Root) are used to tonify Qi; Sheng Ma (Cimicifugae Rhizome) and Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix) are used to raise Yang; Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) is used to nourish Ying (Nutritive) Blood; Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) is used to regulate Qi.

Treats pustule lesions with pale roots, indicating blood weakness. (When pustules reach five or six days, it is the time when Qi is abundant and Blood attaches; pale roots indicate blood weakness. Therefore, Dang Gui is used to invigorate blood, Xiong Huang (Ligusticum Rhizome) to move blood, Shu Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata) to tonify blood, and Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) to astringe blood.)
See Formula in Volume 1, Lower Section, Gate of Regulating Blood.

Treats pustules with purple and dry coloration, using this formula to cool blood and invigorate blood.
Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome), Chi Shao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), Hong Hua (Carthami Flos), Zi Cao (Arnebiae Radix seu Lithospermi Radix).
Purple color indicates blood heat; dryness indicates blood stasis. Heat is cooled by cooling agents; dryness is moistened by moisturizing agents; this is the way to regulate blood. Sheng Di Huang is a blood-cooling herb; the remaining herbs all invigorate blood.

Treats exterior deficiency with interior excess, where both Qi and Blood are weak. (Exterior signs: gray, sunken pustule tops indicate Qi deficiency; pale pustule roots indicate Blood deficiency. If breathing is heavy and coarse, it indicates interior excess.)
Ren Shen, Huang Qi (Astragali Radix), Gan Cao, Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong, Bai Shao, Hou Po (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Bai Zhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), Rou Gui (Cinnamomi Cortex), Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Radix), Jie Geng (Platycodonis Radix).
If the pustule color is deep red/black and sunken, indicating heat toxicity, remove Rou Gui, and add Zi Cao, Hong Hua, and Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix). If the color is pale/white/gray and sunken, indicating deficiency-cold, add Ding Xiang (Caryophylli Flos) to warm the interior, and Rou Gui to warm Yang.
Because of Qi deficiency, Ren Shen and Gan Cao are used; because of Blood deficiency, Dang Gui, Bai Shao, and Chuan Xiong are used. However, Fang Feng, Bai Zhi, and Rou Gui can guide the various herbs from the interior to push outward.

Treats dual deficiency of Qi and Blood. (Medicine values prevention before disease arises. Although the pustule condition appears smooth, if the body's Qi is weak, failure to tonify may lead to subsequent complications. Therefore, Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) is used to tonify Qi, and Si Wu Tang (Four Substance Decoction) is used to nourish Blood.)
See Formula in Volume 1, Upper Section, Gate of Treating Qi, Supplementary Formula for Si Jun Zi Tang.

Treats deficiency-cold in the Stomach, or cases where cold-natured medicines were mistakenly taken, resulting in diarrhea and cold extremities.
See Formula in Volume 6, Lower Section, Gate of Dispelling Cold, Supplementary Formula for Li Zhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction).

Treats pustule conditions lasting more than ten days, where Qi and Blood are weak.
See Formula in Volume 1, Upper Section, Gate of Treating Qi, Supplementary Formula for Si Jun Zi Tang.