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The *Suwen* (Basic Questions) states: distension and fullness in both hypochondriac regions, startle during sleep, and inability to urinate. It also says: dull pain at the Qimen (LR-14) acupoint indicates liver abscess; slight elevation of the flesh in that area also indicates liver abscess. However, it does not elaborate in detail. Later, Chen Yuangong stated: If a person is prone to depression and anger, causing distension and fullness in both hypochondriac regions, accompanied by aversion to cold and fever, followed by hypochondriac pain that cannot be touched, this is due to excessive fire scorching the liver blood, leading to sores on the liver lobes. The pathology is on the left, not the right. The skin over the left hypochondrium must show red, purple, and five-color changes; treat with Huaguan Xiaodu Decoction (Liver-Purifying and Toxin-Expelling Decoction). Danxi treated it with Fuyuan Tongqi Powder (Restoring Flow and Promoting Qi Powder) and Chaihu Qinggan Tang (Bupleurum Liver-Clearing Decoction), and after ulceration, used Bazhen Tang (Eight-Treasure Decoction) and Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) to tonify the spleen and kidneys. Although these methods are generally comprehensive, they remain insufficiently detailed, clear, and appropriate.

The liver meridian enters the pubic region from the inner thigh, circles the external genitalia, reaches the lower abdomen, pierces through the liver and diaphragm, spreads into the hypochondrium, and ends at Qimen (LR-14). Liver qi stagnation causes distension and inability to urinate. Liver disease triggers fright and alarm; when the hun (ethereal soul) fails to reside within, there is frequent startle during sleep. Therefore, when liver qi is exuberant, both hypochondria hurt; when angry fire moves, it scorches liver blood; when blood coagulates and qi obstructs, liver swelling and abscess form, rendering the area untouchable. This indicates toxin accumulation but no pus formation yet. If the skin shows red or purple coloration, it signifies that internal pus has formed and toxins are manifesting externally. People who habitually drink alcohol often suffer from this condition. Alcohol entering the stomach causes the liver to become horizontal and the gallbladder to float; when the liver becomes horizontal, qi and blood cannot flow smoothly, and phlegm-turbidity from the stomach flows laterally into the hypochondrium. Phlegm, qi, and blood mix and knot together to form an abscess. Those suffering from sprains or traumatic injuries may also develop this condition. Trauma causes qi stagnation, which leads to blood stasis; if unresolved for a long time, it also develops into an abscess. Children may also present with this disease. In children, the onset is due to phlegm-heat entering the liver collaterals, starting with cough followed by hypochondriac swelling. However, in the early stage, because no obvious abscess has formed, physicians often diagnose it merely as liver qi stagnation. Ninety percent use pungent, aromatic, qi-consuming herbs. Only when hypochondriac swelling becomes pronounced do they realize an abscess has formed. At this point, breathing is difficult, turning the body is impossible, and the area is untouchable; the symptoms are clear and definite. How can physicians rely on their supposed omnipotence, diagnose solely by pulse, and treat it as liver qi stagnation, thereby causing significant delay and harm? When liver fire is severe, the pulse is wiry and rapid; when complicated by blood stasis, the pulse is wiry and choppy; when complicated by phlegm, the pulse is wiry and slippery. The treatment is completely different from that for liver qi stagnation. Many have been harmed by this misdiagnosis; hence, I earnestly debate this issue. One must examine carefully during clinical practice. I hereby list the prescriptions below and record several verified cases for reference.

Prescription 1: Huaguan Xiaodu Decoction (Liver-Purifying and Toxin-Expelling Decoction)
Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Yinhua (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos), Heizhi (Gardeniae Fructus Carbonized), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma).
Here, Danggui and Baishao enter the liver to nourish blood; Gancao moderates the liver; Zhizi clears liver heat; Yinhua detoxifies and calms the liver. Pain ceases naturally as blood is nourished.

Prescription 2: Chaihu Qinggan Tang (Bupleurum Liver-Clearing Decoction)
Treats rising angry fire, aversion to cold with intolerance to heat, and wind-heat sores of the liver and gallbladder.
Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Nanshashen (Glehniae Radix), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Heizhi (Gardeniae Fructus Carbonized).

Prescription 3: Fuyuan Tongqi Powder (Restoring Flow and Promoting Qi Powder)
Treats qi and blood stagnation caused by sprain or trauma, with pulling pain in the waist and hypochondrium.
Xiaohuixiang (Foeniculi Fructus), Yanhu (Corydalis Rhizoma), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Zhi Jiapian (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum Praeparatum), Bai Chou (Momordicae Semen), Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix).

Prescription 4: Liuwei Dihuang Tang (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Decoction)
Treats fever, emaciation, and rapid pulse after the ulceration of a liver abscess; takes this to nourish the liver and kidneys.
Dashengdi (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), Shanyurou (Corni Fructus), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Danpi (Moutan Cortex), Huaiyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma).

Prescription 5: Bazhen Tang (Eight-Treasure Decoction)
Treats prolonged ulceration of liver abscess with deficiency of both qi and blood, and weak pulse.
Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Shengdi (Rehmanniae Radix), Dangshen (Codonopsis Radix), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Fuling (Poria), Zhigancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle).

Prescription 6: Qinggan Huoyu Tang (Liver-Clearing and Blood-Activating Decoction)
Treats hypochondriac pain from sprain, with blood stasis congealing in the collaterals and rib swelling.
Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chishao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), Xinjiang (Safflower-infused Silk), Taoren (Persicae Semen), Qingpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride), Guang Yujin (Curcumae Longae Rhizoma), Shen Sanqi (Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Zhiqiao (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), Sugeng (Perillae Caulis), Zelan (Lycopus Herba), Walengzi (Arcae Concha).

Prescription 7: Shugan Liuqi Yin (Liver-Soothing and Qi-Flowing Decoction)
Treats early-stage liver abscess with tugging pain in the left hypochondrium and difficulty breathing.
Sugeng (Perillae Caulis), Zhiqiao (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), Tongcao (Tetrapanacis Medulla), Guang Yujin (Curcumae Longae Rhizoma), Yanhu (Corydalis Rhizoma), Qingpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride), Foshou (Citrus Sarcodactylis Fructus), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Wuyao (Linderae Radix), Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma).

Prescription 8: Shuyu Ditang Tang (Depression-Relieving and Phlegm-Cleansing Decoction)
Treats liver abscess after six or seven days, with slight hypochondriac swelling, possibly accompanied by cough and constipation.
Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Foshou (Citrus Sarcodactylis Fructus), Juhong (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Louren (Trichosanthis Semen), Guang Yujin (Curcumae Longae Rhizoma), Fuling (Poria), Sugeng (Perillae Caulis), Zhiqiao (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), Shen Sanqi (Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), Zhuru (Bambusae Caulis in Taenia).

Modified Jinlingzi San (Goldbell Pepper Powder)
Chuanlianzi (Meliae Fructus), Yanhu (Corydalis Rhizoma), Qingpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride), Chishao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Heizhi (Gardeniae Fructus Carbonized), Zhiqiao (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), Tongcao (Tetrapanacis Medulla), Juhong (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium).