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The swelling of the root of the tongue is called *Chong She* (Double Tongue); swelling of the tongue that is stiff and not flexible is called *Mu She* (Wooden Tongue). If Wind-Cold pathogenic factors injure the Heart and Spleen, it causes aversion to cold with high fever, floating teeth with tongue swelling and pain. It is suitable to gargle with *Jin Fei Cao San* (Boiling Water Herb Powder), spitting out half and swallowing half. To treat tongue swelling, *Huang Yao Tang* (Yellow Herb Decoction) can be used. Alternatively, burnt hair powder mixed with water can be taken orally. Externally, soot from the bottom of a cauldron can be ground into fine powder, mixed with vinegar, and applied to the upper and lower surfaces of the tongue; reapply as needed. If bloodletting is performed first before application, the effect is even better. Another method uses equal parts of salt and well-water (*Jing Hua Shui*) mixed for topical application. Borax (*Peng Sha*) ground into fine powder, dipped on slices of fresh ginger, can be rubbed on the swollen area to reduce swelling. Castor oil (*Bi Ma Ren You*), applied to paper twists and smoked over the affected area, can also cure it. Fine powder of good-quality Chalcanthite (*Dan Fan*) can be applied topically. For tongue swelling that is hard and bleeding, cuttlebone (*Hai Piao Xiao*) and Polygonum multiflorum pollen (*Pu Huang*) in equal parts, ground fine and mixed with well-water, can be applied.

For swelling, *Ma Ya Xiao Wan* (Halloysite Pill), *Niu Huang San* (Calculus Bovis Powder), *Xuan Shen San* (Scrophulariae Radix Powder), *Fei Fan San* (Calcined Alum Powder), [Insect] Powder, and *Bai Cao Shuang San* (Burnt Grass Ash Powder) are used.

Using only pure *Pu Huang* (Polygoni Typhonii Pollen) powder sprinkled on the lesion is effective. Another method involves grinding a small amount of Gleditsia sinensis spine (*Zao Jiao Ci*) and Mirabilite (*Pu Xiao*) evenly; first wipe the inside of the mouth and tongue with wet hands, then sprinkle the powder, which will cause saliva to dissipate naturally. Another method uses five liang of Trogopterus dung (*Wu Ling Zhi*), free of sand and ground into powder, decocted in a large bowl of rice vinegar, and held in the mouth for gargling. Another method selects four or five unrotten stalks of Gleditsia sinensis fruit (*Zao Jiao*), removing the peel and strings, drying them by roasting, mixing with a small amount of Schizonepeta spike (*Jing Jie Sui*) ground into fine powder, and applying with rice vinegar to the swollen area. Burnt snake skin (*She Tui*), ground extremely fine, can be applied sparingly. *Wu Xi Gao* (Black Rhinoceros Horn Ointment), *Niu Huang San*, and *Huang Yao Tang* are also applicable. One may also use a lancet (*Pi Dao*) to prick and bleed the area for healing. The *San Yin Fang* states: Whenever there is tongue swelling, there must be "Jin Chong" (Lockjaw Worms) underneath, resembling mole crickets or silkworms, with heads and tails; the head is white. Burning iron can be used to cauterize the head of the worm, causing it to disappear. If not treated urgently, it can be fatal. Li Dongyuan stated: The *Lian Quan* acupoint, also known as *She Ben* (Root of the Tongue), is located below the chin and above the laryngeal prominence. The *Ci Mie Lun* states: The two vessels under the tongue are *Lian Quan*. The *Ci Jin Lun* warns: If needling the sublingual vessels is too deep and causes continuous bleeding, aphonia results. The *Ci Jie Zhen Xie Lun* states: When selecting the *Lian Quan* acupoint, stop when the blood changes color. This indicates that bloodletting is appropriate but deep needle insertion is contraindicated. Some ask about the discrepancy regarding the location of *Lian Quan*: one view places it below the chin above the larynx, while another places it at the two vessels under the tongue. Which is correct? The answer is: *She Ben* refers to the root of the tongue. Taking the two vessels under the tongue is taking the tip of the tongue (*She Biao*), which is incorrect. One should take the location below the chin, which is the true root of the tongue. Furthermore, the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian originates at *Li Dui* and converges at *Lian Quan*; the area below the chin is where the Foot-Yangming meridian travels. The vessels under the tongue do not belong to the Foot-Yangming meridian. Wu combines with Gui; *Lian Quan* belongs to the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and treats salivary overflow. The commentary explains: Heat in the stomach overflows upward, opening *Lian Quan*, causing salivary overflow; thus, bloodletting should be used to drain stomach heat. Therefore, it is not the vessels under the tongue, but the location below the chin above the larynx that is accurate. The *Zhang Lun* states: *Lian Quan* and *Yu Ying* are the pathways for body fluids. Zhang Dairen treated an old man named Zhu in the south, aged over sixty, who had persistent fever for several days. His tongue root swelled up, extending to the tip, filling his mouth, three times larger than normal. A surgeon used a red-hot needle (*Fan Zhen*) to prick the *Lian Quan* points below the sides of the tongue, worsening the condition to near-death. Dairen said: "When blood is excessive, it should be drained." He sharpened a needle, lightly pricked the area, performing this eight or nine times daily, draining about one to two cups of blood. After three such sessions, the bleeding decreased, pain subsided, and swelling reduced. The tongue is the external manifestation of the Heart. The Heart governs blood; therefore, bleeding leads to recovery. Moreover, all pain, itching, sores, and ulcers belong to Heart Fire. Red-hot needles and moxibustion violate this principle. Xue Xinpu stated: For severe tongue swelling, one should first prick the tongue tip, top, or sides to release blood and detoxify for emergency relief. However, for the *Lian Quan* point under the tongue, which belongs to the Kidney Meridian, although bloodletting is suitable, deep needle insertion is strictly contraindicated; caution is advised.