Library

(Chengxiang's elder brother published this prescription in Huizhou, and I have frequently used it to treat others, all with efficacy.) It treats all kinds of carbuncles, sores, ulcers, and boils. Those not yet suppurated are rapidly dispersed; those already suppurated are rapidly ulcerated. The foul pus discharges naturally without manual squeezing, the foul flesh falls off naturally, avoiding injury from knives or sticks. After taking the medicine, pain is instantly reduced. This is the verified effect through trial. Hu Quan, Vice Magistrate of She, first obtained this prescription from an extraordinary person in the capital. At that time, there were over seventy people suffering from back ulcers who had tried various medicines without success. He then showed them this prescription. The surrounding physicians looked at each other and laughed, saying, "Is this really the medicine for treating carbuncles and ulcers?" He insistedently told them, "Ancient prescriptions have their own profound meaning. Observing the medicinal properties he used are mild and peaceful. Even if it cannot cure the disease immediately, it certainly will not worsen the condition. What harm is there in taking it?" So he prepared the medicine and administered it, using about half a sheng of hot wine to wash down five or six qian of the powder. Shortly after, the pain decreased by seven parts. After several doses, the sore greatly ulcerated, with pus and blood gushing out, as if something was pushing from within. After taking it for a month, the wound closed, as if no suffering had ever occurred. There was another patient suffering from abdominal disease with abnormal pain, which the physicians did not understand. This medicine is quite effective in stopping pain. Trying it on him, he discharged two or three bowls of pus on the same day, and the pain stopped accordingly. It turned out to be an intestinal abscess. Another elderly person suddenly developed swelling in the chest, with a large base. The toxic qi attacked upwards, resembling a gourd, slanting into the right side of the neck, making rotation impossible. After taking the medicine, the toxic swelling dissipated the next day, leaving only a small nodule, the size of a chestnut. The day after that, he was calm and as before. Another person developed a head lesion. Suspecting the prescription, he refused to take it, and eventually died in the hands of a mediocre physician. The following year, his son suffered from the same illness, identical to his father's condition. Learning from his father's mistake, he drank alcohol freely along with the medicine until he was heavily intoxicated, rolling on the ground all day. Upon waking from the drunkenness, the illness had vanished. Another woman developed a breast lesion, with unbearable swelling and pain, believing she had no hope of survival. Two other women developed swelling between their thighs, as large as cups or bowls. Taking this medicine, they recovered completely, as if the illness had been lost. Those saved by this remedy cannot be counted individually. I briefly narrate the general outline to show those unfamiliar with this prescription. Generally speaking, the occurrence of carbuncles and ulcers is caused by the stagnation of Qi and Blood, and the accumulation and knotting of Wind-Toxin. If treatment is not prompt, it will externally damage muscles and internally attack the Zang-Fu organs, moving far away from life. Carefully tasting this prescription, the ingredients used are all herbs that disperse Wind-Toxin, circulate Qi and Blood, discharge pus and stop pain, and generate flesh and promote tissue growth. Without employing the Five Poisons, one can sit back and reap the perfect success of a surgeon. Is this not worthy of admiration? Now, according to the Materia Medica, I briefly outline the warm and cool properties of each herb and their treated conditions below. Although the subtle purport of the prescription may not be immediately understood, in urgent situations, one can grasp the general idea of medication and take it without doubt.
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) (Slightly warm, non-toxic. Primarily tonifies the Five Zang organs, eliminates pathogenic factors, unblocks the vessels and collaterals, breaks firm accumulations, treats drum-like pain in the heart and abdomen, and fullness and rebellion in the chest and hypochondrium. Currently, those from Silla are considered superior. Select those that are compact, heavy, solid, and moist. Wash clean, remove the rhizome, slice thinly, and dry by baking.) Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) (Greatly warm, non-toxic. Primarily warms the middle and stops pain, eliminates stagnant blood and internal obstruction, treats cold deficiency of pathogenic Qi, tonifies the Five Zang organs, generates flesh, treats all types of Wind syndromes, all types of consumptive diseases, breaks evil blood, and nourishes new blood. Additionally, texts such as *Waitai Miyao* and *Jingui Yaolue* state it is a great tonic for deficiencies and a medicine that guarantees immediate effect. For those with chaotic Qi and Blood, taking it brings stability, causing Qi and Blood to return to their proper locations. The naming of Dang Gui likely stems from this. Currently, those from Sichuan are selected. Choose large slices resembling horse tails, which are moist, sweet, pungent, and fragrant. Wash with warm water, slice thinly, and dry by baking.) Huang Qi (Astragali Radix) (Slightly warm, non-toxic. Primarily treats chronic carbuncles, sores, and ulcers, discharges pus and stops pain, drives out evil blood among the Five Zang organs, tonifies deficiency and exhaustion in men, emaciation, vexation, heat, and toxic heat, and invigorates Blood. Those from Mianshang are superior, resembling arrow shafts, two or three chi long, with unbranched heads. Wash clean, cut into cun lengths, hammer open, hang on walls, moisten thoroughly with salt water, place in a cup, cover with a teapot lid for the duration of one meal, dry by baking, and grind together with other herbs into fine powder.) Xiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizoma) (Warm, non-toxic. Primarily treats Wind-stroke invading the brain, headache, cold bi syndrome, muscle spasms, and stiffness. Eliminates cold pain in the brain, wandering Wind on the face, treats all types of Wind, Qi, Blood, and consumptive diseases, all cold syndromes, firm pain in the heart and abdomen, Zhong-E, sudden acute swelling and pain, weakness of waist and legs, hemiplegia. Strengthens sinews and bones, regulates various pulses, breaks masses, treats carbuncles and back lesions, discharges pus and eliminates stasis, nourishes Blood and generates flesh. Those from Sichuan are superior; currently, Fuxiong is widely used. Clean large pieces, wash, slice, and bake.) Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) (Warm, non-toxic. Treats heart and abdominal pain, limb stiffness and spasm, and deficiency and emaciation of meridians. Primarily treats joint Wind, all types of deficiency and inferiority in men; tonifies the center and benefits Spirit, unblocks the Guan-Mai of the Five Zang organs, treats Wu-Lao and Qi-Shang, emaciation with night sweats, vexation, and heaviness of body. Calms Spirit and stabilizes Will, harmonizes Qi and pulses. Select fresh and fragrant ones, wash clean, slice, and bake.) Hou Po (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) (Greatly warm, non-toxic. Primarily treats Wind-Cold-Heat from Wind-stroke, Blood-Bi and dead muscle, warms the middle and directs Qi downward. Removes lingering heat, stops vexation and fullness, thickens intestines and stomach, removes accumulated water, breaks old blood, digests food and grain, stops all types of Qi pain in the Five Zang organs. Use those from Sizhou. The bark should be thick and purple, exuding oil when pinched. Remove coarse bark, slice, marinate in ginger juice overnight, cook, dry by baking, and slice. Do not use Du Zhong or Pu Mu.) Jie Geng (Platycodonis Radix) (Slightly warm, slightly toxic. Primarily treats stabbing pain in chest and hypochondrium, abdominal fullness and borborygmus, benefits the Five Zang organs, tonifies Qi and Blood, eliminates Cold-Heat, breaks Blood stasis and dissipates accumulations, stops heart and abdominal distension pain. Tonifies Wu-Lao, nourishes Qi and eliminates pathogens, also nourishes Blood, discharges pus, treats internal leakage, and chills in the chest. If Lung pulse is rapid, throat is hoarse without thirst, turbid saliva with foul odor is occasionally expectorated, and pus like rice gruel is vomited, this is Lung Abscess. Treatment uses Jie Geng and Gan Cao, two liang each, boiled in three sheng of water to yield one sheng, divided into two doses. Vomiting pus and blood in the morning and evening leads to recovery. Available everywhere now. Authentic ones have a heart and bitter taste. Those without a heart and sweet taste are Ji Ni, primarily used to resolve drug toxicity. It may be unfavorable with other herbs; do not use mistakenly. Wash clean, remove head and tail, slice thinly, and dry by baking.) Bai Zhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix) (Warm, non-toxic. Breaks old blood, generates new blood. Treats breast abscess, scrofula, intestinal wind, hemorrhoids, discharges pus, stops pain, and generates flesh.) Gui (Cinnamomi Ramulus / Cortex Cinnamomi) (Greatly warm, slightly toxic; alternatively: Warm, non-toxic. Acts as a pioneer among herbs, primarily warms the middle, benefits Liver and Lung Qi. Eliminates Cold-Heat in heart and abdomen, tonifies Wu-Lao and Qi-Shang, opens nine orifices, benefits joints, breaks masses and tumors, eliminates blood stasis, connects sinews and bones, generates flesh. Thick tube-like pieces are suitable for treating Zang organs and lower body formulas; thin and light pieces are suitable for treating head and eyes and dispersing formulas. Currently, thin curled pieces are preferred. Ancient method: for bark cinnamon, take only two qian half per liang. For one liang required, buy four liang. After processing other herbs, grind separately and add.) Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) (Neutral, non-toxic. Primarily treats Cold-Heat and pathogenic factors of Zang-Fu organs, strengthens sinews and bones, generates flesh, resolves toxicity, warms the middle and directs Qi downward, increases strength. Used raw.)
The above ten herbs: selection emphasizes quality, all must be clean, sun-dried and baked extremely dry before weighing. Ren Shen, Dang Gui, and Huang Qi are each two liang; the rest are each one liang. Except for Gui, process all into fine powder together, add Gui, and mix evenly. Each dose starts at three qian, increasing to five or six qian, taken with hot wine, several times day and night. More is better. Continue taking until the wound closes; further intake is excellent. This supplements previous damage and prevents future complications. For those who do not drink alcohol, administer with strong decoction of Mu Xiang. However, it is not as effective as alcohol. For those who drink little but can tolerate occasional alcohol, mix with alcohol and resolve intoxication with Mu Xiang decoction; efficacy should not be less than with alcohol alone.