Library

(Warts, pronounced *xiū*, are commonly known as "chicken eye spots.") The divergent vessel of the Hand-Taiyang (Small Intestine) meridian is named Zhizheng (*Zhi Zheng*), located five cun proximal to the wrist. When this vessel is deficient, warts may develop; if minor, they manifest as scabies or crusts on the fingers. Treatment involves selecting its divergent point. *The Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies* records: For warts appearing on hands and feet, apply salt or lick with the tongue; three applications suffice for cure. Chu Yushi's *Fang* records using the inner lining of a chicken stomach to rub the wart, then pressing the residue with a stone, which proved effective. Pinching the tip of *Guimantou* (a plant) releases white juice; frequent wiping yields good results.

[Xue Ji's Commentary] Warts belong to wind-heat and blood dryness in the Liver, Gallbladder, and Shaoyang meridians. They may be caused by anger stirring up Liver fire or pathogenic factors lodging in the Liver. This occurs because Liver heat dries up Kidney water, preventing Kidney Qi from nourishing the Liver, resulting in the loss of essence and contraction of sinews. It is advisable to use Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill) to nourish Kidney water to generate Liver blood. Methods such as tying with spider silk, applying mantis bites, or moxibustion will likely lead to errors. Generally, this condition resembles tubercles caused by blood dryness. Therefore, using external corrosive agents or internal blood-drying and detoxifying herbs will further deplete essence and blood, damage Liver sinews, cause the wound edges to evert and open, and ultimately result in a fatal outcome.

Zhu Hongren, a student at the Prefectural School, aged twenty, had five warts near the middle finger on the back of his right hand. The largest was like a soybean, while others clustered like millet grains. Upon removal, filaments stretched three to four cun long. This indicated blood dryness and sinew contraction. He was cured after taking Qinggan Yirong Tang (Liver-Clearing and Nourishing Decoction) for over fifty doses.

Shen Jiwen, a student at the Prefectural School, had a habit of biting his nails since childhood, which he could not control later in life. I stated: This is due to Liver fire and blood dryness. He also frequently developed small warts on the sides of his neck, which recurred despite dispersal attempts. A lump the size of a mung bean appeared on his arm; when crushed, it resembled broken threads, lengthening when pulled and retracting when released. Later, white spots appeared in his temples. He sought treatment. I said: You have a chronic Liver condition, and these areas correspond to the Liver and Gallbladder meridians. Nails are the surplus of sinews, and the Gallbladder meridian runs along the side of the body, corresponding to nail-biting and warts. You must nourish Kidney water to generate Liver and Gallbladder blood, and all diseases will heal spontaneously. I prescribed Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia). After two years, the white spots faded, and no new warts appeared.

A man had warts on his face, initially resembling red mulberries. After using various topical pastes, the lesions everted like fungi. Subsequent use of corrosives caused them to swell into tumors. At this stage, deficiency patterns of the Foot-Yin meridians were fully present. Treatment with formulas tonifying Spleen and Lung while generating Liver and Kidney led to rapid recovery.

Another man had a mass in his lower abdomen causing intermittent pain. Qi-moving and phlegm-resolving drugs failed. Another practitioner diagnosed it as "Blood Bi" (blood clump) and administered qi-moving and blood-dispelling agents. Later, a wart appeared on the back of his hand, growing to about one cun, shaped like a turtle. Many bean-sized warts appeared around his joints. Clinging to the idea that "turtle eggs" manifested externally, he used blood-invigorating methods, leading to full manifestation of deficiency patterns. His left Chi pulse was flooding and rapid, and the Guan pulse was flooding, rapid, and wiry. I diagnosed this as Kidney water failing to nourish Liver wood, causing Liver fire, blood dryness, and sinew contraction. He was treated with Liuwei Dihuang Wan to nourish Kidney water and Liver blood for over three months, resulting in complete recovery.

A man suffered from excessive labor, presenting with a dark blue-black complexion, fever, cough, facial warts, an abdominal mass causing migrating pain, dry mouth, and scanty, difficult urination. His condition worsened after taking draining and reducing herbs. His pulses at both Guan positions were wiry and flooding, indicating severe Yuan Qi deficiency. This was a Liver-Spleen disorder causing sinew contraction. I administered Jiawei Xiaoyao San (Modified Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) combined with Dihuang Wan ingredients, restoring his Yuan Qi. Had he been mistakenly treated for Blood Bi with draining methods, it would have been fatal.

A man accustomed to rich foods and alcohol first experienced hematochezia and constipation, palpitations, and insomnia. Later, small warts-like papules appeared around his anus, varying in size. Heat-clearing and detoxifying herbs failed, and within half a year, similar lesions appeared on his inner thighs. Phlegm-resolving herbs induced chills, fever, and expectoration, affecting his neck. His Liver and Kidney pulses were floating and rapid but weak upon pressure. I diagnosed this as blood deficiency and blazing fire in the Foot-Yin meridians, requiring nourishment of the source of transformation. Disbelieving me, he took Siwu Tang with Huangbai (Phellodendron) and Zhimu (Anemarrhena), causing symptoms to erupt. This injured his Stomach Qi further, affecting all meridians. I first used Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) for over thirty doses, gradually improving his condition. Then, morning doses of the former formula and evening doses of Bazhen Tang (Eight Treasure Decoction) for another fifty-plus doses led to quick recovery. Finally, he switched to Liuwei Dihuang Wan plus Wuweizi (Schisandra) at night. After another half-year, all symptoms resolved.

A woman had five or six mulberry-like warts on the back of her left hand and ring finger, accompanied by internal heat, afternoon fever, and early menstruation. I stated: This is due to Liver-Spleen blood deficiency with heat. Tonifying these two meridians to generate Yin blood would resolve the symptoms. She refused. Instead, she used moxibustion, causing hand swelling, heat, and finger contracture. Warts subsequently appeared on her hypochondrium, neck, and chest/breast area, with irregular menstruation. I treated her with Jiawei Xiaoyao San with added charred Huanglian (Coptis). After several doses, she improved. I removed Huanglian and added Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction). Her lesions healed. After over a hundred doses, her menstruation normalized. Three doses of Dihuang Wan completed her cure.

Another woman had an abdominal mass moving upward or downward, accompanied by chills, fever, chest stuffiness, and dribbling urination. Qi-moving and phlegm-resolving drugs worsened her symptoms. Her menstruation occurred only once every two months. Some suspected an internal "flesh bi" and suggested drinking its blood to stop menstruation. She took purging agents, resulting in heavy bleeding. Two large warts appeared on her hands, growing to one cun in two months, followed by more lesions. Suspecting external migration of "bi eggs," she continued purging. Swelling appeared below both ears, suspected as toxic sores. I diagnosed this as Liver fire and blood dryness. Combined use of Jiawei Xiaoyao San and Jiawei Guipi Tang, assisted by Liuwei Dihuang Wan, cured her in over three months.

A woman treated her warts with spider silk binding, Kansui root (*Daphne genkwa*) thread strangulation, mantis bites, toxic erosives, and moxibustion. This led to severe ulceration, swelling, pain, fever, and hemorrhage. I stated: This is Yin blood deficiency. She disbelieved and continued taking fire-descending herbs, resulting in death.