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There is a person who is naturally prone to anger and easily loses their temper. Once, they experience fullness and distension in both hypochondriac regions, accompanied by aversion to cold and fever. Subsequently, the pain in the hypochondrium becomes extremely severe; pressing on the painful area with the hand causes unbearable suffering. People assume this is due to excessive Liver Fire (Liver Fire), but little do they know that it is actually an abscess forming on the liver lobe. The world only knows that among the five Zang organs, only the Lung can develop an abscess, not realizing that the Liver can also develop an abscess. Moreover, classics such as *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot) and *Su Wen* (Basic Questions) do not mention this. Could it be that I am proposing a novel theory to shock the world? I indeed heard from an unusual person that: "Hypochondriac pain that cannot be touched by hand indicates an abscess on the liver lobe." The reason *Ling Shu* and *Su Wen* do not discuss this is that Liver Meridian abscesses are rare in the world. Since ancient times, there were no such cases, so they were not recorded following the principle of discussing common ailments. Perhaps the Qi and fortune of ancient and modern times differ, and the growth of toxin-induced abscesses varies. When the Liver is angered, the liver lobes expand, and Liver Qi immediately rebels upward. After a great outburst of anger, the liver lobes become empty and distended, making it difficult for them to return to normal. Furthermore, anger inevitably stirs up Fire. The more anger, the stronger the Fire; when Fire is excessive, it scorches and dries up Liver Blood. Once dried up, Liver Qi becomes extremely dry, and without blood to nourish the Liver, one becomes even more prone to anger. Frequent injury from anger makes it impossible for the Qi not to stagnate and form an abscess. However, since the abscess forms internally, how can it be seen? Although it cannot be seen internally, it can be distinguished externally. For any abscess, the location is on the left side, not the right. The skin on the left hypochondrium must appear red-purple, and the tongue must appear blue-green. Based on these signs, the prognosis is definitely poor (incurable). The treatment method must focus primarily on soothing the Liver, assisted by herbs that drain Fire and remove toxins. One must never delay treatment, allowing it to ulcerate beyond salvation. Use Huagao Xiaodu Tang (Liver-Soothing and Toxin-Resolving Decoction):
Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba, 3 liang) Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis, 3 liang) Chao Zhi Zi (Fructus Gardeniae Praeparatus, 5 qian) Sheng Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata, 3 qian) Jin Yin Hua (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae, 5 liang). Decoct in water to obtain one bowl of juice, and drink.
After one dose, the pain lightens; after two doses, the pain lessens further; after three doses, the pain disappears completely. Reduce the dosage by half and take several more doses to achieve full recovery.
This formula uses Dang Gui and Bai Shao to directly enter the Liver to nourish Liver Blood, causing Liver Blood to generate rapidly and easily resolving the dryness of Liver Blood. With Gan Cao to relieve urgency, Zhi Zi to clear Fire, and Jin Yin Hua to resolve toxins, how could it fail to produce swift effects? Given that Fire-Toxin is excessive and Liver Blood is severely deficient, using this formula without such large doses would be futile. If one stubbornly believes it is merely exuberant Liver Fire rather than a formed Liver Abscess, and uses only Dang Gui and Bai Shao to treat hypochondriac pain, efficacy will certainly not be achieved.

Another person experiences extraordinary pain in the left hypochondrium, which worsens upon pressure. People mistake it for simple hypochondriac pain, not realizing it is an abscess of the Liver Meridian. Liver Meridian abscesses are mostly caused by anger, as discussed in detail in the previous section. However, Liver Abscesses are not solely caused by anger; melancholy can also cause them. Those caused by anger have sudden onset of pain; those caused by melancholy have gradual onset. At the initial stage of pain, if Xiao Yao San (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) were taken in large doses, the pain would stop immediately, preventing the formation of an abscess. Due to delayed treatment, the stagnant Qi in the Liver suffers from inability to diffuse, causing Blood to coagulate. Coagulated Blood blocks flow, transforming into pus and forming an abscess. The momentum may seem slightly slower, but the Liver nature is most urgent, so once the abscess forms, the toxin erupts swiftly. In the world, some die from hypochondriac pain within a few days; this is precisely because the abscess toxin destroys the body, not because simple hypochondriac pain kills. Should we not seek emergency treatment? Use Xuanyu Huadu Tang (Qi-Diffusing and Toxin-Resolving Decoction):
Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri, 2 qian) Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba, 1 liang) Xiang Fu (Rhizoma Cyperi, 2 qian) Bo He (Herba Menthae Haplocalycis, 2 qian) Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis, 1 liang) Chen Pi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, 1 qian) Zhi Ke (Fructus Aurantii, 1 qian) Tian Hua Fen (Radix Trichosanthis, 3 qian) Sheng Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata, 3 qian) Jin Yin Hua (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae, 1 liang). Decoct in water and take orally. After one dose, pain lightens; after two doses, pain decreases; after three doses, pain reduces further; after four doses, full recovery. Severe cases do not exceed six doses. After recovery, use Si Wu Tang (Four Substance Decoction) in large doses for regulation to prevent recurrence.
Liver abscesses are rarely seen in the world. Since the previous section has been covered, there was no need to discuss this again. However, while Liver abscesses are invisible, hypochondriac pain is a common ailment. I specifically elucidate how melancholy can lead to such conditions, so that people know to treat it urgently and avoid the formation of abscesses.