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A person suffers from malignant sores for a long time, located on the hands and feet, or on the chest and back, or on the head and face. These sores do not heal throughout the year or even across years, emitting an unbearable foul odor and putrefaction. All medications prove ineffective; topical applications yield no response, and internal administration produces no benefit. Hence, the common people call this condition "Wan Chuang" (Stubborn Sore). However, although the sore is stubborn, how should it be treated? Generally, if the Qi and Blood in the human body are harmonious, carbuncles and furuncles will never arise. If they occasionally appear, they heal within ten days. In cases of disharmony, it may be due to dampness infiltration, excessive heat, or the interplay of damp-heat and cold pathogens. This leads to Qi stagnation without free flow, and Blood stasis without dispersion. When Qi knots in the skin, skin sores arise; when it knots in the flesh, flesh sores arise. Over time, pus and blood fail to clear completely, leading to the generation of worms (parasitic sensation/ulcerative debris). People assume these are actual worms and use vermifuges, which instead damage the skin and flesh, further depleting Qi and Blood. With strength insufficient to address both, the skin and flesh are neglected, turning the sore into an intractable affliction. Therefore, treating sores primarily focuses on promoting Qi circulation and activating Blood, while disregarding worms and toxins. However, Blood is difficult to activate, and Qi is difficult to move; tonifying Qi and Blood is indispensable. When Qi is tonified, it circulates freely throughout the body; when Blood is tonified, it flows actively throughout the entire system. The prescription used is Jiu Wan Tang (Rescue Stubborn Sore Decoction): Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) 2 liang, Huang Qi (Radix Astragali Membranacei) 1 liang, Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) 1 liang, Sheng Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata) 3 qian, Shu Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata) 1 liang, Shan Zhu Yu (Fructus Corni Officinalis) 5 qian, Mai Dong (Radix Ophiopogonis Japonici) 1 liang, Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri) 1 liang, Fu Ling (Sclerotium Poria cocos) 5 qian, Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae Ternatae) 2 qian, Fang Feng (Radix Saposhnikoviae Divaricatae) 1 qian, Lian Qiao (Fructus Forsythiae Suspensae) 1 qian, Fu Zi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata) 1 slice. Decoct in water and take orally. After taking two doses, the sore opening will inevitably swell; one must not fear this. The previous ineffectiveness followed by swelling after medication indicates that the drug assists Qi and Blood in battling the sore pathogen, signaling a rapid recovery. Take another two doses, and pain ceases, replaced by itching. Take another two doses, itching stops, and new flesh grows. Take another two doses, scabs form, and healing occurs. Take another two doses, and recurrence is prevented.

This formula relies not merely on moving Qi and activating Blood, but gains power from tonification. When Qi moves and Blood activates, where can worms lodge? Thus, there is no need to kill worms, and the stubborn sore heals naturally.

Another case involves a person with a sore on the inner thigh. When contracted, it is bean-sized; when everted, a piece of flesh protrudes like a mushroom. People assume it is caused by worm erosion causing the exterior to flip out. Little do they know this results from Wind-Heat and Blood Dryness in the Liver Meridian. Liver Heat generates Wind; this is Internal Wind, not External Wind. External Wind is cool and clear, suitable for dispersal; Internal Wind harbors heat, suitable for clearing. However, merely clearing Wind without nourishing Blood means Heat cannot be resolved, and Wind cannot be soothed. One must add heat-clearing herbs to blood-nourishing ones, so that dryness does not prevail, Heat retreats, and Wind calms naturally. The prescription is Qing Feng Tang (Clear Wind Decoction): Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba) 1 liang, Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng) 5 qian, Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) 5 qian, Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) 3 qian, Chao Zhi Zi (Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis Praeparatus) 3 qian, Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis) 1 qian, Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong) 2 qian, Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan Radicis) 3 qian, Sha Shen (Radix Glehniae Littoralis seu Radix Adenophorae Strictae) 3 qian, Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri) 1 qian, Tian Hua Fen (Radix Trichosanthis Kirilowii) 3 qian, Lian Qiao (Fructus Forsythiae Suspensae) 1 qian. Decoct in water and take orally. After several consecutive doses, the sore opening naturally contracts.

This formula nourishes the Liver by enriching Blood, rather than eliminating flesh to resolve toxins. Why does contraction lead to healing? The sore arises from exuberance of Liver Wood. Calming the Liver prevents Blood from becoming overly dry; naturally, Wind dissipates, and Heat causes no burning disaster. If the Liver is not calmed, but instead internal fire-lowering agents are used and external cauterizing/erosive methods applied, the tissue erodes then everts, everts then erodes. The flesh grows larger, Qi becomes more deficient, and unusual complications arise, making rescue extremely difficult.