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Fingers suffering from Ding sores (hard, deep-rooted boils) present with numbness and itching, accompanied by alternating chills and fever, nausea, and vomiting. The entire left side of the body feels numb, and the pulse is rapid and intermittently visible. Xue Ji stated: Generally, sores should not be completely painless, nor should they cause severe pain; if the patient experiences irritability and oppression, it is untreatable. The current presentation of numbness and itching indicates a particularly malignant progression. Administration of Duoming Dan (Life-Rescuing Pill) for two doses yielded no effect. Subsequently, detoxifying agents were used, after which the numbness and itching subsided, but swelling and pain ensued. Xue Ji remarked: Although the condition is critical, the emergence of pain is auspicious as it suggests the potential for toxin discharge; however, the toxic factors currently have no outlet. Therefore, acupuncture was employed to puncture the lesion, causing all symptoms to recede abruptly. Further administration of detoxifying agents led to recovery.

Su Yang, courtesy name Yuanbo, suffered from a Ding sore on the posterior aspect of his palm, with red streaks extending to the wrist, accompanied by chills and fever. The pathology belonged to the exterior syndrome. One dose of Duoming Dan caused the red streaks to vanish immediately. A harmonizing formula was then administered, significantly reducing the severity of the illness. He subsequently self-administered purgative-toxin-resolving drugs, resulting in thirst, fever, and the reappearance of red streaks. The pulse was floating, large, and deficient, indicating injury to Qi and Blood. Treatment with Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) resulted in recovery. This was because, after taking Duoming Dan, the pathogenic factors of the sore had already dispersed. Re-administering purgative-toxin-resolving agents at this stage would constitute an unjust attack on healthy tissue, violating the principles of the *Neijing* (Inner Canon).

A scholar suffered from a Ding sore; his primordial Qi was inherently weak. Xue Ji tonified his Qi and Blood, leading to suppuration and recovery. Later, due to overexertion, the scar tissue of the healed sore became itchy. He separately took one dose of Baidu San (Detoxification Powder), which resulted in trismus (lockjaw), tongue stiffness, convulsions of the hands and feet, surging phlegm-saliva, and incessant spontaneous sweating. This indicated that Qi and Blood had been injured again, leading to wind-stroke-like spasms. Shiquan Dabu Tang (Complete Great Tonifying Decoction) with one qian of Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root) was administered via gavage, restoring consciousness.

A man suffered from a Ding sore. After taking Dueming Tang (Life-Rescuing Decoction), he experienced profuse sweating, absence of pain in the sore, persistent fever, and urinary retention. This indicated yang collapse due to excessive sweating and injury to true Qi. Two doses of Ren Shen (Ginseng Root), Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis Root), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome), Bai Shao (White Peony Root), Fang Feng (Saposhnikovia Root), and Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Fruit) resolved all symptoms. However, he remained concerned about urinary difficulty. Xue Ji stated: Excessive sweating leads to urinary difficulty; once sweating ceases, yang qi will recover, and urination will normalize naturally. The previous prescription was continued, excluding Fang Feng, adding Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber), and doubling the dosage of Huang Qin (Scutellaria Root) and Dang Gui. After four doses, bowel movements normalized, the sore ulcerated, and he recovered.

My cousin-in-law, Ju Fu, suffered from a Ding sore on the little finger of the right hand, appearing purple. Some suggested pricking the small sore to bleed and applying cooling medicines. Consequently, the palm and fingers swelled three to four times their normal size, becoming dark and painless, with mental confusion and restlessness. This indicated depletion of true Qi and excess of pathogenic factors. Initially, one dose of Duoming Dan and two doses of Huoming Yin (Living Life Decoction) provided slight relief. While Xue Ji was away, others pricked his hand extensively, releasing approximately one bowl of fresh blood. Swelling extended to the arm and wrist, becoming as large as a gourd, with fingers swollen several times their normal size, unable to ulcerate. Xue Ji prescribed a large dose of Ren Shen, Dang Gui, Bai Zhu, etc., and frequently moxibusted the entire hand, gradually reducing the swelling. However, loose stools and frequent flatus occurred, indicating sinking of primordial Qi. Buzhong Yiqi Tang plus Gub Zhi (Psoralea Fruit), Rou Dou Kou (Nutmeg), Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia Fruit), and Wu Wei Zi were used to firm the stool and prevent qi leakage. Additionally, daily tea made from 5 qian of Ren Shen, 3 qian of Mai Dong, and 2 qian of Wu Wei Zi was consumed. Over fifty doses of major tonifying formulas were taken before gradual recovery. In this case, if detoxifying agents had not been used initially, and major tonics had not been used later, survival would have been difficult.

A twenty-year-old man suffered from a Ding sore on the lip for four days. Purple veins extended from the sore into the oral cavity, approaching the throat. Xue Ji stated: This is deficiency of true Qi and excess of pathogenic factors. If the purple veins cross the throat, it becomes difficult to treat. It is necessary to prick the purple veins and the head of the sore to release foul blood and drain the toxicity. However, other practitioners used detoxifying agents, causing swelling of the head and face. Seeking treatment urgently, Xue Ji said: My previous words were correct. The pulse was flooding and rapid, but empty upon deep pressure. Oral swelling was severe, preventing needle insertion. Bian stone therapy was applied to the face and lips, releasing about one bowl of black blood. The condition slightly improved, and some liquid food was taken, but he ultimately died.

Zhang Hengshan, a Censor, suffered from this condition on the toe of the left foot. The pain was unbearable. Immediate moxibustion through garlic for over thirty cones allowed him to walk. Desiring a quick cure, cool medicines were applied externally, causing blood coagulation and muscle necrosis, with toxins flaring up again. Moxibustion was performed for one hundred cones, and Huoming Yin was taken, discharging purple-black toxic blood, providing relief. The sole of the foot completely ulcerated with extensive rotting of tendons and flesh. Near recovery, mistaken use of skin-regenerating medicines aggravated the toxins. Due to primordial Qi depletion, healing stalled. Xue Ji treated with interior-supporting medicines. Fortunately, his constitution was robust, and he recovered after residing away from home for over three months. Generally, when Ding sores occur on limbs and joints, moxibustion has life-saving effects. If cooling agents are used to consolidate, blocking the pores and collaterals, the pathogenic factors intensify, often leading to death. If toxins are not fully cleared and skin-regenerating medicines are used prematurely, mild cases may worsen with increased ulceration, and severe cases may become fatal.

A man suffered from a Ding sore on his toe, presenting with swelling, pain, and redness. Moxibustion through garlic and Renshen Baidu San (Ginseng Detoxification Powder) added with Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle Flower), Bai Zhi (Angelica Dahurica Root), and Da Huang (Rhubarb Root) stopped the pain after two doses. Shixuan San (Ten Acupoints Powder) added with Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthes Root) and Jin Yin Hua, excluding Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), cured the condition after several doses.

Puyang Chuan recorded: In the Dinghai year of the Wanli era, a woman in Jintai scattered wool throughout the market and then disappeared. Subsequently, people in the capital developed blistering tumors that grew larger, causing painful deaths in many cases. Inside the tumors, only wool was found. A Daoist priest transmitted a formula using black beans and buckwheat ground into powder, applied topically. When the hair fell out, the patient recovered. This is named Yangmao Ding (Wool Ding Sore).

Jingjie Baidu San (Detoxification Powder with Schizonepeta) (Formula seen in the chapter on Swollen Ulcers). Adding Chrysanthemum leaves is excellent; fresh ones crushed for juice are especially effective in medication.

Treatment for Ding Sores:
Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome), Qiang Huo (Notopterygium Rhizome), Qing Pi (Citrus Unripe Peel), Bai Jiang Can (Bombyx Batryticatus), Fang Feng (Saposhnikovia Root), Du Huo (Angelica Pubescens Root), Chan Tui (Cicada Slough), Xi Xin (Asarum Root), Chi Shao Yao (Red Peony Root), Gan Cao Jie (Licorice Knot), Du Jiao Mao (Single-Foot Grass) (Equal parts).
The above herbs are coarsely crushed. For each dose of five qian, first take one portion, add a small amount of Ze Lan Ye (Lycopus Leaf) and ginger weighing ten qian, pound them together until paste-like, and take with hot wine. Then, decoct with half a cup of wine and half a cup of water, along with three slices of ginger, and drink. After the disease severity subsides, add a small amount of Da Huang and decoct again, allowing for one or two bowel movements to sweep away residual toxins. Finally, apply a paste of Bai Mei (White Plum) and Cang Er Zi (Xanthium Fruit) to the sore to extract the root.