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According to the *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon), there are two acupuncture methods for treating axillary swelling: The first involves selecting Gallbladder Meridian points. The classic states, "The diseases generated by the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian include swelling and pain in the Quepen area (supraclavicular fossa) and axillary swelling." The second involves selecting Pericardium Meridian points. The classic states, "When the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian is disturbed, it causes pain, heat in the palm, and axillary swelling." In all these cases, treatment should be administered based on deficiency or excess, cold or heat, or sinking of the vessels, employing tonification, purgation, rapid insertion, retention of needles, or moxibustion accordingly.

This condition is also known as Fox Odor. There are orifices involved, and various medicines rarely eradicate the root cause; they merely serve to block the orifices. Use high-quality Malachite (Tongqing), an appropriate amount, mixed with rice vinegar into a paste. First, wash the axilla thoroughly with a decoction of Gleditsia Sinensis (Zaojiao). Then sprinkle Calomel (Qingfen) over the area, followed by applying the aforementioned paste. It takes effect immediately.

Generally speaking, Gu Poison (Gu Toxin) comes in several types, such as Snake Poison, Lizard Poison, Toad Poison, Dung Beetle Poison, and Grass Poison. These all disrupt the Yuan Qi (Original Qi). Some people intentionally create Gu to harm others, which is referred to as "Gu." It often enters the body through diet, causing misfortune to others while bringing luck to the creator, hence some keep and raise them. Those poisoned experience severe colicky pain in the heart and abdomen, as if being bitten by something, or vomit and excrete material resembling rotting flesh. They may prefer sleeping in dark rooms and dislike light. Their temperament may become abnormal, alternating between anger and joy. They may suffer from heavy limbs, soreness and pain in all joints, alternating chills and fever, numbness throughout the body, chest fullness, headache, and eye pain. Vomiting may be irregular. The face and eyes may appear greenish-yellow. In severe cases, all ten fingers turn black. The pulse is typically slow, large, and scattered, which are all signs of Gu poison. However, the toxin can be acute or chronic. Acute cases may lead to death within a few days. Chronic cases drag on for years, with the Gu worm wandering in the intestines, eroding the five Zang organs until death occurs. When entering regions where Gu is prevalent, if one sees that the door thresholds and roof beams of a household are absolutely free of dust and exceptionally clean, that family likely keeps Gu. One must guard against it carefully. If one inevitably consumes their food, secretly hold a piece of dirt in hand when first putting down chopsticks. After eating, bury this dirty object at a crossroads shortly thereafter. The Gu will then wreak havoc in its original owner's home, and the master will likely come seeking help. Alternatively, let the host eat first, or openly ask, "Do you have Gu?" and strike the table with chopsticks before eating. This prevents the Gu from causing harm. In southern regions where Gu is common, stir food with Rhinoceros Horn (Xijiao) when dining elsewhere. White foam indicates toxicity; no foam means it is safe. To discover the name of the Gu master, burn old drum skin to powder and administer one cun-bi (a square-inch measure) to the patient. Soon, the patient will spontaneously call out the Gu master's name. Inform the patient to summon the master to take the Gu away, and the illness will cure. There are specific treatments for this. To test for Gu, have the patient spit into water. If it sinks, it is Gu; if it floats, it is not. Alternatively, have the patient hold a black soybean in the mouth. If the bean swells and the skin peels off, it is Gu; otherwise, it is not. Chu Yushifang stated: Chewing black soybeans without a fishy smell, or chewing alum tasting sweet, are both signs of poisoning. For Gu located above the diaphragm, use Guihun San (Return Soul Powder) to induce vomiting. For Gu below the diaphragm, use Xiong Zhu Wan (Cinnabar Pill) to induce purgation. After vomiting and purging, if there is still stabbing pain and tightness in the anterior and posterior heart areas, and a sensation like grass blades piercing the throat, this indicates post-treatment Qi disturbance. Do not re-administer emetics or purgatives. Simply administer Jiegeng San (Platycodon Powder), and recovery will occur naturally. *Xixi Conghua* records: A monk in Quanzhou could treat Golden Silkworm Gu. If a patient had eaten alum and found it not astringent, and chewed black soybeans without a fishy taste, it confirmed poisoning. Boiling Pomegranate Peel juice and drinking it would cause the patient to vomit live worms, ensuring recovery. Li Huizhi said: For any poisoning, grind Alum and Tea Buds into powder and take with cold water. In Guangnan, some kill via "Tiao Sheng" (picking life), serving fish or meat to guests while performing sorcery. The meat regenerates in the victim's stomach, killing them, with the belief that the victim's soul serves the perpetrator after death. Former Prefect Fu Changyan of Leizhou personally investigated a case in the 5th year of Gandao. He bought meat, placed it in a dish, and had a prisoner perform rituals to verify the technique. Soon, hair grew on the meat. What evil spirit could do this? Yet, resolving it is easy. If one feels an object in the chest/diaphragm, urgently take Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang) to induce vomiting. If felt in the abdomen, urgently take Curcuma Aromatica Root (Yujin) to induce purgation. The printed editions in Leizhou were likely derived from prisoners. *Yijian Zhi* records: Chen Keda, Prefect of Zhaoqing, suddenly developed a swelling under his ribs resembling an abscess, growing as large as a bowl. Experts identified it as "Tiao Sheng" poison. At dawn, he tested it by chewing mung beans. If sweet and fragrant, it was poison, which proved true. Someone crushed Chinese Ephedra (Chuan Shengma), mixed it with cool boiled water, and administered two large cups. The patient suffered profuse diarrhea, expelling several raw scallions with roots and stems intact. The swelling subsided. Subsequently, Pingwei San (Regulate the Stomach Powder) was decocted for regulation, along with white rice porridge. Normalcy returned after ten days. Kang Cai's wife in Leizhou was subjected to chicken-based "Tiao Sheng" by a barbarian shaman. Merchant Yang Yi, skilled in medicine, gave her medicine. After a meal's time, she vomited a mass of accumulated flesh. Dissecting the fascia revealed raw flesh shaped like a chicken. Kang sued in court, arresting the shaman. He asked Yang to diagnose the condition and prescribe medication. Yang explained: Any meat, fruit, soup, or tea can be used for "Tiao Sheng." In domestic poisoning, slight abdominal pain is felt initially, worsening with stabbing pain the next day. By the tenth day, internal objects move. Moving upward causes chest pain; moving downward causes abdominal pain. Accumulation leads to emaciation. For Gu above the diaphragm, use emesis: drink a cup of hot tea containing half a qian of Vitriol (Danfan). Once dissolved, drink it all. After a while, stimulate the throat with a chicken feather to vomit the toxin. For Gu below the diaphragm, use purgation: take three qian of Yujin powder with rice gruel. The toxin is expelled. Then, mix half liang each of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen) and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu) into powder. Add to half a sheng of unrefined wine in a bottle. Simmer slowly for half a day. Take warm when ready, one cup daily, stopping after five days. Buddhist scriptures mention a divine mantra for dissolving Gu poison. Recite it silently seven times before eating during travel to prevent toxicity. The mantra goes: "Gusu Zhuo, Moye Zhuo, I know Gu poison grows four corners. Father is Qionglong Qiong, Mother is Ye She Nu. Relatives number in millions. I now know you all. Maha Saha." Avoid eating food with spider webs. Another method: Recite "Medicine King Myriad Blessings" seven times wherever you go; it is effective. Moxibustion for Gu poison: Apply three moxa cones to the tip of the little toe. Whatever type of Gu it is, it will exit corresponding to the substance (wine exits for wine Gu, fruit for fruit Gu, etc.).

[Diagnosis] *Mai Jue* (Pulse Classic) states: If the pulse at the Cun and Chi positions is tight and rapid, resembling a straight hairpin, with increased vomiting, this indicates acute Gu poison requiring urgent rescue. If the pulse is rapid but soft, the disease will prolong. The classic states: A floating, choppy, and rapid pulse indicates survival; a minute and fine pulse indicates death; a surging, large, and rapid pulse indicates survival.