Library

Xiong Ding Chuang (Male Carbuncle) is as large as a coin hole, black like a moxibustion sore, with blisters exuding fluid and red color on the four sides, accompanied by red millet-like papules. Although called a sore, it does not swell; pricking it causes no pain, but is accompanied by heat. This is named Xiong Ding Chuang (Male Carbuncle).

Ci Ding Chuang (Female Carbuncle) has a small yellow head, pointing inward, also resembling a moxibustion sore, with blisters exuding fluid and red color on the outside, as large as a coin hole but with more juice. It swells but does not hurt; if there are cross-shaped lines inside the sore accompanied by coldness, it is called Ci Ding Chuang (Female Carbuncle).

This type of sore is purple-red in color, like the color of fire, which is termed Purple Fire Red Ding Sore (Zise Huochi Ding Chuang).

Niu Ding Chuang (Ox Carbuncle) has skin color unchanged, only swelling with a black head; when pierced, yellow water flows out, and the four sides are red like the calyx of dogwood. This is named Niu Ding Chuang (Ox Carbuncle).

For this sore, when the head breaks, yellow water flows out, and floating fluid rises on the four sides. The shape is narrow and long like a fish's navel, hence it is called Yuqi Ding Chuang (Fish-Navel Carbuncle).

The sore resembles a red bean or occurs under the armpit. If it is as large as a duck, people do not recognize it; seeing only its redness, they call it Chigen Ding Chuang (Red-Root Carbuncle).

"Fan Ding Chuang" (Provoking Carbuncle) refers to touching or irritating the carbuncle when it is about to heal. Anger, eating pork, fish, or hemp seeds, or being exposed to the odor of someone with axillary osmidrosis can all provoke it. This makes the condition worse, even more severe than initially. It causes further heat and swelling of the sore, chills followed by fever, heavy limbs, headache, palpitations, vomiting, and irritability. At this stage, it is incurable.

"Ding Chuang Zhong" (Carbuncle Swelling) refers to the heat qi of the carbuncle attacking and battling with cold pathogens to form swelling.

"Fan Ding Chuang Zhong" (Provoked Carbuncle Swelling) refers to the swelling nearing resolution but being provoked again, causing the condition to worsen, even more than the initial state. Symptoms may include swollen, hot, painful twitching, chest oppression with confusion, heavy limbs, or vomiting with heart irritability. These are signs of provoking the sore and often lead to death.

This arises from a Ding Chuang (Carbuncle) that carries swelling but lacks roots.

"Chuang Jiu Bu Chai" (Sore Not Healing for Long) refers to a Ding Chuang (Carbuncle) where pus continues to flow, and the surface becomes flat and depressed. This is caused by excessive cold.

"Fan Ding Zhong" (Provoked Ding Swelling) refers to contracting Ding Swelling due to dietary or environmental provocations, leading to extreme worsening of the swelling.

Yong (Abscess) is generated by disharmony of the Six Fu Organs (Six Yang Organs). The Six Fu Organs govern the exterior; Qi moves through the meridians and floats outward. If emotions are unpredictable, diet is irregular, and Yin and Yang are imbalanced, the Six Fu Organs become disharmonious. When Ying Wei (Nutritive and Defensive Qi) are deficient, the Cou Li (pores/skin texture) open, allowing Cold to invade between the meridians. The collaterals are damaged by Cold, causing Ying and Wei to stagnate in the vessels. Ying is Blood; Wei is Qi. When Ying Blood encounters Cold, it becomes stagnant and fails to circulate. Wei Qi follows and battles with Cold, also becoming obstructed and blocked. Qi belongs to Yang apertures; when Yang Qi accumulates, Heat is generated. If Cold and Heat do not dissipate, they accumulate to form Yong (Abscess). Since Fu Qi floats and governs the exterior, Yong is superficial, with thin and lustrous skin. Over time, Heat surpasses Cold; accumulated Heat damages flesh and ruins muscle tissue, causing blood and flesh to rot and transform into pus. Since the pathology is superficial on the exterior, the bone marrow remains unburnt, and the Zang-Fu organs are not damaged, so it is treatable and curable.

Furthermore, young people suffering from Xiao Ke (Wasting and Thirsting Syndrome) over the age of forty often develop many Yong Ju (Abscesses and Ulcers). This is because the body is deficient in Heat, and Ying Wei are obstructed and stagnant. Those with Phlegm in the Diaphragm and thirst will likely develop Huang Dan (Jaundice) in their prime years due to deficiency-Heat in the Spleen and Stomach. In old age, they may also develop Yong Ju (Abscesses and Ulcers) due to deficiency-Heat in the Zang-Fu organs and stagnation of Blood and Qi.

Additionally, swelling one to two cun is called Jie (Furuncle); two to five cun is Yong (Abscess); five cun to one chi is Yong Ju (Abscess and Ulcer); one to three chi is Jingti Yong (Whole-Body Abscess), where upon formation, pus and blood discharge from the nine orifices. People whose Qi mechanisms are frustrated and desires unfulfilled have accumulated Blood and Qi, making them prone to this disease.

Diagnosing the Cun Kou (Radial Pulse): If the pulse is externally knotted/firm, it indicates Yong Zhong (Abscess Swelling). A Shen (Kidney) pulse that is very choppy indicates Da Yong (Large Abscess). A slippery and rapid pulse: Slippery indicates Excess; Rapid indicates Heat; Slippery indicates abundant Ying (Nutritive); Rapid indicates abundant Wei (Defensive). When Ying and Wei meet, they knot to form Yong (Abscess); where Heat passes, it becomes pus. A weak and rapid pulse indicates battling Cold, definitely leading to Yong Zhong (Abscess Swelling). A floating and rapid pulse with no body heat, silent demeanor, slight stomach restlessness, and unknown pain location indicates impending Yong Zhong (Abscess Swelling). A fine and sinking pulse that occasionally feels straight indicates body Yong Zhong (Abscess Swelling). If there is Fu Liang (Hidden Beam mass) in the abdomen. If both Lung and Liver pulses are present, Yong Ju (Abscesses and Ulcers) will erupt; accompanied by heavy limbs and frequent Lung pulses. Generally, for Yong Ju (Abscesses and Ulcers), a洪粗 (Surging and Coarse) pulse is difficult to treat, while a微弱涩 (Weak, Fine, and Choppy) pulse is easy to cure. For all floating and rapid pulses, fever should be present; if instead there is gradual aversion to cold, and there is a painful area, it indicates Yong (Abscess); this may imply pus attached to the bone. A pulse that is wiry and surging interacting indicates exterior tension and interior heat, thus predisposing to Yong Jie (Abscesses and Furuncles).

Generally, for erupted Yong Zhong (Abscess Swelling), high elevation indicates shallow origin; low elevation indicates deep origin. High heat is easy to treat; low heat is difficult to treat. Severe pain at onset injures muscle; severe pain appearing late injures bone. Yong (Abscesses) occurring at joints are incurable. Those erupting on Yang meridians die within 100 days; those on Yin meridians die within 40 days.

If there is Yong Zhong (Abscess Swelling) in the Taiyang pulse of the sacrum/calf region extending to the sole, involving Shaoyang pulse, death occurs in 8 days; if pus and blood discharge, death occurs in 80 days. If there is Yong Zhong (Abscess Swelling) in the Yangming pulse of the head extending to the sacrum, death occurs in 6 days; if pus and blood discharge, death occurs in 60 days. If there is Yong Zhong (Abscess Swelling) in the Taiyang pulse of the thigh extending to the Foot Taiyang meridian, death occurs in 70 days; if pus and blood discharge, death occurs in 100 days. If there is Yong Zhong (Abscess Swelling) in the Taiyang and Taiyin pulses of the arm extending to the tibia, death occurs in 8 days; if pus and blood discharge, death occurs in 400 days. If there is Yong Zhong (Abscess Swelling) in the Shaoyang pulse of the foot extending to the hypochondrium, death occurs in 8 days; if pus and blood discharge, death occurs in 600 days. If there is Yong Zhong (Abscess Swelling) in the Yangming pulse of the hand extending to the Yuan Ye acupoint, death occurs in one year; if pus and blood discharge, death occurs in two years. If the swelling is firm like stone, wandering in the skin without roots, it is Luo Li (Scrofula); if it persists for a long time without resolving and is subsequently attacked by other Heat pathogens, occasional eruptions also constitute Yong (Abscess). Furthermore, if the Qi of the Pericardium meridian activates and there is Yong Zhong (Abscess Swelling) in the thigh and calf, death occurs in 6 days; if pus and blood discharge, death occurs in 60 days. There is also Yong (Abscess) in the Gastrocnemius muscle, causing death in 9 days.

The *Yangsheng Fang* (Prescriptions for Nourishing Life) states: In May, do not eat unripe drupes or peaches and dates, as they trigger Yong Jie (Abscesses and Furuncles). Otherwise, it causes chills and fever, transforms into Huang Dan (Jaundice), and...

It also states: If human sweat enters various foods, consuming them will cause Ding Chuang (Carbuncles), Yong (Abscesses), Jie (Furuncles), etc.