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Insufficient Zhenqi (True Qi) allows pathogenic factors to remain in the muscles, causing Qi and Blood to congeal and form a disorder known as Liuzhu (Flowing Abscess). Initially, there is diffuse swelling without a head, and the skin color remains unchanged. All such cases should be treated with Congyi Method (Onion Moxibustion) (see Volume 5). If the skin and flesh are not hot, Leihuo Needle (Thunder-Fire Needle) moxibustion can be used. Cases occurring in areas with abundant muscle tissue are easy to cure; those occurring at bone joints or hollow/soft areas are difficult to treat.

Yiqi Yangying Decoction (Benefit Qi and Nourish Ying Decoction): Treats swelling in the limbs, neck, and other areas caused by emotional depression and damage to Qi and Blood. Regardless of whether the swelling is soft or hard, red or white, painful or painless, unformed abscesses will resolve spontaneously, and formed abscesses will rupture spontaneously.
Ingredients: Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Huangqi (Astragali Radix) stir-fried with salt water, Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix) stir-fried, Beimu (Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus), Fuling (Poria), Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) (each 1 qian), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) (2 qian), Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) (6 fen), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix) (each 5 fen), add Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) for decoction.
Modifications: For dry mouth, add Wuweizi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus) and Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix); for alternating chills and fever, add Digupi (Daturae Radix); for delayed muscle regeneration, add Bailian (Ibomi Radix) and Guigui (Cinnamomi Cortex).

Muxiang Liuqi Yin (Wood Fragrance Qi-Regulating Drink): Treats joint pain due to Liuzhu, or chest and diaphragm discomfort due to sudden anger, or conditions caused by damp-phlegm (also known as Fangmai Liuqi Yin).
Ingredients: Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) stir-fried, Fuling (Poria), Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Zisu (Perillae Folium), Wuyao (Linderae Radix), Qingpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma Preparatum) processed, Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus) stir-fried, Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) (each 1 qian), Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix), Dafupi (Arecae Pericarpium), Binglang (Arecae Semen), Zhike (Aurantii Fructus) (each 5 fen), add Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) 3 slices and Dazao (Jujubae Fructus) 2 pieces, decoct in water and take orally.
Modifications: For scanty and painful urination, add Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma); for lesions in the lower body, add Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix).

Chuangke Liuqi Yin (Wound Specialist Qi-Regulating Drink): Treats Liuzhu and all swellings/hardnesses caused by anger stagnation, or masses formed by wind-cold-damp-toxicity clashing in the meridians, presenting as diffuse swelling, numbness, and lack of a head.
This formula is the previous formula minus Qingpi, Zhishi, Banxia, Dafupi, Shengjiang, and Dazao, plus Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Guigui (Cinnamomi Cortex), Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), and Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix).
Modifications: At the initial stage of Liuzhu, add Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix) and Duhuo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix); for pain, add Rushen (Boswelliae Resina) and Moyao (Commiphora Myrrha).

Bao'an Wanling Dan (Security Ten-Thousand Spirits Pill): Treats wind-damp Liuzhu, Yin Ju (Yin Abscess), Hexi Feng (Crane Knee Wind), Tanbing (Paralysis), and wandering pain throughout the body. Dosage varies according to the patient's age/strength and the severity of the condition (applying mixed with onion juice to the affected area is also effective).
Ingredients: Maoshan Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma) (8 liang), Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba), Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Jingjie (Schizonepetae Spica), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), Chuanwu (Aconiti Radix Preparata), Caowu (Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Preparata) soaked in water and peeled, Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Quanxie (Scorpio), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Heshouwu (Polygoni Multiflori Radix), Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma) (each 1 liang), Xionghuang (Realgar) (6 qian). Grind into fine powder, make pills with refined honey, coat with Zhusha (Cinnabar). Take 3 qian with a decoction of 9 green onion whites, cover with blankets to induce sweating. If the carbuncle is unformed, it will dissipate; if formed, it will swell high and suppurate. If there are no exterior-interior combined symptoms, dispersing methods are not necessary; take with warm wine instead.

Sanyu Gegen Tang (Dispersing Stasis Puerariae Decoction): Treats blood stasis stagnation due to sprains and falls.
Ingredients: Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma Preparatum) processed, Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) (each 8 fen), Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Honghua (Carthami Flos), Suye (Perillae Folium), Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix) (each 6 fen), add Congbai (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus) 3 roots and Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) 3 slices, decoct in water and take orally.

Tongjing Daoshi Tang (Unblocking Meridians and Guiding Stagnation Decoction): Treats postpartum blood stasis flowing into the joints.
Ingredients: Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), Chishao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Zhike (Aurantii Fructus) stir-fried, Zisu (Perillae Folium), Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Danpi (Moutan Cortex), Honghua (Carthami Flos), Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix) (each 1 qian), Duhuo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) (each 5 fen), decoct in water, add one zhong of wine and take orally.

Tuoli Toungong Tang (Supporting Interior and Penetrating Pus Decoction)
Ingredients: Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Chuanshanjia (Manis Squama) stir-fried, Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix) (each 1 qian), Huangqi (Astragali Radix) (3 qian), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) (2 qian), Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), Gancao Jie (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma node) stir-fried (each 5 fen), Zaocispicula (Gleditsiae Spina) (1.5 qian), decoct in water. For diseases in the upper body, drink one zhong of boiled wine first, then take the medicine; for diseases in the lower body, take the medicine first, then drink wine; for diseases in the middle body, mix half a zhong of wine into the medicine and take.

Da Fangfeng Tang (Great Saposhnikovia Decoction): Treats deficiency of the three Yin meridities of the foot, internal invasion of cold pathogens, resulting in Crane Knee Wind, Guyiju (Bone Abscess), Liuzhu with whole-body pain, or swelling without pain. Suitable regardless of whether ulcerated or not.
Ingredients: Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), Duzhong (Eucommiae Cortex) (each 2 qian), Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata) processed, Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix) (each 1 qian), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma) (1.5 qian), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) roasted, Guigui (Cinnamomi Cortex) (each 5 fen). (Another version includes Danggui and Shengjiang, without Guigui.)

Select the above formulas according to the specific syndrome. Take one dose up to three, four, or five doses, depending on the severity of the disease.

If the aforementioned conditions are due to Spleen Qi deficiency with dampness stagnating in the muscle texture, presenting only as swelling with unchanged skin color, use Liujunzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) plus Chuanxiong, Danggui, Shaoyao, and Rougui. If swelling occurs after sweating from Shanghan (Cold Damage) due to residual pathogens, use Ren Shen Bai Du San (Ginseng Detoxifying Powder) or Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) etc. Generally, mild Liuzhu cases resolve with medication; severe cases must ulcerate. When about to ulcerate, take Tuoli Toungong Tang. If ulcers fail to heal, use Renshen Yangying Tang (Ginseng Nourishing Ying Decoction) etc., focusing on tonifying Qi and Blood.

Guyiju (Bone Abscess) is a deteriorated severe stage of Liuzhu. Using cooling medicines would internally injure the Spleen and externally freeze the Blood, preventing muscle growth and weakening Qi and Blood, leading to further stagnation. One should strengthen the Spleen and tonify the Kidney. The Spleen generates Blood, and the Kidney governs Bone. When the Kidney is solid, the Bone has vital energy, and the abscess will not adhere to the bone.