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Dental pain is not beyond the categories of Wind, Fire, and Worms. There are also distinctions between Deficient Fire (Xu Huo) and Excess Fire (Shi Huo). Pain caused by Deficient Fire is slow in onset, milder during the day and heavier at night; pain caused by Excess Fire is unbearable. Pain caused by Wind is accompanied by swelling, even extending to the head and face, and blowing wind exacerbates it. Pain caused by Worms occurs fixedly in one spot, with incessant crying out due to severe pain. There are also cases of Deficient Pain fixed in one location. Although there are many treatment methods, they may be effective initially but fail upon recurrence, because the patterns of Excess and Deficiency differ. Ancient formulas include methods for treating based on upper/lower and left/right locations according to meridians, but these have been tested and found ineffective, so they are not included here.

Yudai Gao (Jade Belt Plaster): Treats Gan Qi (Infantile Malnutrition), expels Wind Evil, stops Fire pain, strengthens teeth, and treats loose teeth unable to chew food. Before sleep, rinse the mouth thoroughly with Sichuan Pepper water. Apply one piece to the gum root each time, remove the next morning. If the toxin is heavy, the color will be black; if light, yellow. Formula composition: Sheng Long Gu (Ossis Mastodi, 2 liang), Gong Fen (Lead Carbonate, 1.5 qian), Meihua Bingpian (Borneol from Plum Blossom grade, 0.25 qian), Shexiang (Moschus, 0.25 qian), Zhen Pengsha (Borax, 0.25 qian), Jing Huangla (Yellow Beeswax, 2 liang). Except for the beeswax, grind the other five herbs into fine powder and mix evenly for use. First, melt the beeswax, then immediately add the herbal powder off the fire and stir well. Pour the mixture onto cotton paper and scrape evenly with a bamboo knife. If the plaster hardens and is difficult to scrape, steam it with hot water until soft, then scrape evenly and spread on paper. Cut into strips one finger-width wide and one cun long. Store in a porcelain jar, seal tightly, and prevent air leakage. Merchants in Beijing specialize in profiting from this.

Zhuye Gao (Bamboo Leaf Plaster): Sheng Zhuye (Phyllostachys Nigra Leaves, cleaned of stems, 1 jin), Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, 4 liang), Jing Baiyan (White Salt, 6 liang). First, decoct the bamboo leaves to obtain a concentrated juice. Then, crush the ginger to extract its juice, boil together with the leaf juice, and filter out the dregs. Add the salt and boil until dry. For dental pain, apply externally once or twice for immediate cure. The effect is miraculous. It is rare and difficult to obtain in Suzhou due to frequent trading.

Another Prescription: Lao Suan (Old Garlic, 2 cloves), Qingfen (Calomel, 1 qian). Pound them together until melted and blended. Apply to Jingqu (LU8, located behind the radial pulse at the wrist crease proximal to the thumb base). Cover with a clam shell and tie securely (other coverings may also be used). Apply to the left hand for males and the right hand for females. After a short while, when a slight burning sensation is felt, remove immediately. A blister will form instantly, providing immediate relief.

Another Prescription: If the acupoint location is unknown from the above prescription, pound old garlic into a paste the size of a broad bean. Apply to the slight depression on the dorsum of the hand between the first and second metacarpal bones. This is also extremely effective.

Another Prescription: Locate the depression near the posterior aspect of the shoulder tip (at the acromioclavicular joint area). Cover with a slice of garlic. Place a moxa cone the size of a soybean on top and burn five times. For left toothache, burn the left shoulder; for right toothache, burn the right shoulder. After burning, the neck will suffer severe pain for a long time, but the toothache will never recur. For those who have failed with hundreds of prescriptions, this one works immediately. It is also an excellent formula.

Another Prescription: Gusuibu (Drynariae Rhizoma, 2 liang, sliced finely with a copper knife; also known as Mao Jiang, Hou Jiang, or Shiban Jiang; best sourced from rocks), Yanshi (Rock Salt, 5 qian), Sangshenzi (Mori Fructus, 5 qian). Decoct in a clay pot until a paste forms. Filter out all dregs. Rub on teeth morning and evening, spit out after a while. Not only does it treat toothache, but it also strengthens teeth, nourishes marrow, and removes toxic vapors from the bones. For teeth about to fall out, rubbing for one month will prevent further loosening.

Another Prescription: Chuanjiao (Sichuan Pepper, 3 fen), Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma, 2 fen; dosage must be precise, as excess causes headache radiating from the head), Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, 1 qian), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix, 1 qian). Steep all in boiling water. Hold the liquid in the mouth frequently, spit out after a moment, and repeat. Effective for all types of toothache caused by Wind, Fire, or Worms. Do not underestimate this.

Another Prescription: Zaogiao (Gleditsiae Sinensis Fructus), Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger), Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), Hanliancao (Ecliptae Herba), Huaiaozizi (Sophorae Tonkinensis Fructus), Heyetdi (Nelumbinis Petiolus), Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), Qingyan (Green Rock Salt), each 1 qian; Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), 5 fen. Grind all into powder and rub on teeth. This prescription was copied from a broken stele at Lianhua Peak on Mount Hua (Xi Yue). It has proven effective repeatedly.

Another Prescription: Wumei (Mume Fructus, burned to retain its properties) ground into powder. Add a small amount of Bingpian (Borneolum Syntheticum) and rub on teeth. Miraculous effect. Add Borneol only at the time of use to prevent volatilization.

Another Prescription: Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum, 2 qian), Hujiao (Piperis Longi Fructus, 3 grains). Grind into fine powder and apply. Extremely effective.