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Chicken Comb and Mussel Flesh Diagram [p05-c20a6.bmp]

The condition known as "Chicken Comb and Mussel Flesh" is caused by heat in the Heart (Zang organ) and toxicity from alcohol consumption. Stagnation in the Spleen and Stomach, along with accumulated heat in the Liver, leads to the gradual growth of a fleshy pterygium (a wing-like membrane growing over the cornea). It invades the Black Pupil (cornea), presenting as high and bulky protrusions resembling chicken combs or mussel flesh, obstructing vision. This arises from the stagnation and knotting of Ministerial Fire (fire residing in the Kidney/Liver) and Stomach Fire, resulting in the formation of red tissue accompanied by a gritty sensation, astringency, and tearing. Treatment method: At the initial stage, use a small sharp needle to puncture it, allowing evil blood to flow out to unblock the stagnant flesh; this can be repeated once every two or three days. Another method involves rolling bamboo leaves into a small tube and inserting it into the nostril to expel blood, or using a small sharp needle. For the right eye, treat the right nostril; for the left eye, treat the left nostril. Administer Sanhuang Wan with Niter Pills (Three-Yellow Pill with Niter), sized like a bullet, held in the mouth at night to dissolve, thereby clearing fire in the Upper Jiao. As the saying goes, stopping boiling water by stirring is inferior to removing the firewood; for fleshy pterygium, cauterization (Lao Fa) can be performed three to five times, yielding very rapid results. The cauterization tool should have a hole cut in soft leather, moistened and pressed against the eye socket so that cauterization does not injure the tissues at the four corners of the eyelids. The condition has deficiency and excess patterns; in deficiency cases, scissors must absolutely not be used, as cutting will cause profuse bleeding and transform into a severe complication. If the swelling resembles plums or peaches, it is difficult to treat.

Question: What causes the generation of false flesh inside the eye, shaped like chicken combs and mussel flesh? Answer: This is due to Wind-Heat invading the Spleen and Stomach, where excessive Fire causes dryness and heat in Spleen Earth. Treatment method: For young people, only purging the Heat of the Spleen and Stomach proper organs is suitable. If the Spleen and Stomach are weak and cannot tolerate cold-cooling herbs, methods of purging the "Son" or "Mother" organs should be employed. To purge the proper organ, use Sanhuang Tang (Cinnamon Twig and Rhubarb Decoction) combined with cold-cooling agents; to purge the Son organ (Lung), use Xiefei Tang (Drain Lung Decoction); to purge the Mother organ, Bazheng San (Eight-Right Powder) and Xiexin Tang (Drain Heart Decoction) are primarily indicated. Topical application should use Qingliang San (Cooling Powder) mixed with cooling medicines, while continuing to administer Sanhuang Wan to conclude the treatment. If the accumulation persists for a long time and becomes large, excision with scissors is appropriate, followed by cauterization. For newly onset and small lesions, picking (tiao) is preferred over cauterization, and Tuanyi Juanyun San (Pterygium-Dispersing and Cloud-Retreating Powder) should be applied topically, one or two times.

Sanhuang Wan and Bazheng San: See the preceding disease sections for these formulas.

Xiefei Tang (Drain Lung Decoction): Treats Heat from the Spleen affecting the Lung Meridian, causing the White Ren (sclera) to develop Chicken Comb and Mussel Flesh; suitable for oral administration.
Sangbaipi (Pericarpium Mori Radicis Cortex, peeled, 1 liang), Digupi (Cortex Lycii Radicis, bone removed, 1 liang), Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae, 7 qian), Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae, 1 liang), Jiegeng (Radix Platycodi, 1 liang).
Grind all into powder. Take 3–4 qian per dose, decoct in water, and take after meals.

Xiexin Tang (Drain Heart Decoction): Treats Heart Heat injuring Spleen Earth, suitable for dryness-heat conditions.
Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei), Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae), Jiegeng (Radix Platycodi), Zhimu (Rhizoma Anemarrhenae), Heishen (Radix Scrophulariae, also known as Xuanshen), Madouling (Fructus Aristolochiae), Fangfeng (Radix Saposhnikoviae).
Equal parts. Decoct in water and take after meals.