用药之法。如执权衡。若大势已退。仍用悍怕之药。为诛伐无过。失内经之旨矣。如败毒散。有表症者宜
之。多则损气。流气饮。气结胸满者宜之。多则败血。内补十宣散。在冬月可助内托之功。能移深居浅。然
燥荣泻卫之药太多。在夏月及虚之甚者。勿用。五香散。肿疡时用之。似有畅达之理。溃疡时用之。则犯
重虚之戒。护心散。能解丹石之毒。若不因此及老年病深症惫者。禁用。柳酥等丸。皆有砒、 之辈。乃取
汗之峻剂也。治初起寒热拘急疼痛脉沉细者。为毒瓦斯内陷也。宜用。若身热脉洪及已溃者。禁与。玉枢
丹。为下毒之药。无取脓之功。而体虚者已成者。勿用。垣云。一经受病。止责其一经。不可干扰余经。如流
气饮通行十二经。则诸经皆为所损矣。禁之。
辨晕 非肿痕也。真晕生于疮口之旁。如红筋之状。乃锐毒也。三二晕犹可。四五晕难医。
辨舌 舌红湿润如常者吉。青黄赤白黑胎者重。干燥碎裂疼痛者死。
辨内陷 始则高肿。至十数日内外忽平塌者。此内攻之候也。急宜托里。
肿疡之作。由胃气不从。既已溃时。则气血不足。故托里者必养脾助胃。盖为溃由胃气腐化。敛由胃气
荣养。法当纯补之也。如发热恶寒。脓多自汗。作痛者。十全大补汤。虚热少睡。饮食不甘者。黄 人参汤。
皮寒虚热。咳嗽有痰者。托里清中汤。四肢倦怠。肌肉消瘦。面黄气短者。人参养荣汤。脓多。心烦食少。发
热不睡者。圣愈汤。脾亏气弱。身凉脉细。大便溏泻者。托里温中汤。饮食不甘。恶心呕吐者。香砂六君子
汤。脾虚下陷。食少。虚热间作者。补中益气汤。肾虚作渴。不能相制心火者。加减八味丸。烦热作渴。起居
如常者。胃火也。竹叶黄 汤。
再如溃时。虚弱甚者。参术膏、八仙糕。阳虚自汗。食少者。人参膏。或六君子汤。加木香、砂仁。甚者加大附
子。泄泻肠鸣。胃虚呕逆者。参苓白术散加豆蔻、山药、木香、柿蒂。脾虚下陷。冷泻及肛门重坠者。补中益
气汤。加山药、山萸、五味子。随症增损。触类而长之也。
用药的原则，就像执掌秤杆衡量轻重一样。如果病势已经衰退，仍然使用猛烈危险的药物，这就属于诛伐无罪之人，违背了《黄帝内经》的宗旨。例如败毒散，有表证的患者适宜服用它，但服用过多会损伤正气；流气饮，气结胸满的患者适宜服用它，但服用过多会败坏血液；内补十宣散，在冬季可以使用以辅助内托的功效，能使深陷的毒邪移至浅层，然而其中燥烈伤阴、泻损卫气的药物太多，在夏季以及极度虚弱的患者身上，不要使用。五香散，在肿疡阶段使用时，似乎符合通畅达理的原理，但在溃疡阶段使用，就会触犯双重虚损的禁忌。护心散，能解丹石之毒，如果不是因为服食丹药中毒或老年病深症惫的患者，禁止使用。柳酥等丸药，都含有砒霜之类的成分，是取汗的峻猛药剂。治疗初起时出现寒热、拘急疼痛、脉象沉细的症状，这是毒瓦斯内陷的表现，适宜使用。如果是身体发热、脉象洪大以及已经溃破的患者，禁止使用。玉枢丹，是攻下毒邪的药物，没有排脓的功效，而体质虚弱且已经成脓的患者，不要使用。垣（指某医家）说：一经受病，只责治这一经，不可干扰其他经络。如流气饮通行十二经，那么各条经络都会受到损害，因此禁止使用。
辨别晕状：这不是肿胀的痕迹。真正的晕状产生在疮口旁边，像红筋一样的形状，这是锐毒的表现。出现三四个晕状还可以医治，出现四五个晕状就难以医治了。
辨别舌象：舌头红润湿润如常的是吉兆；舌苔青黄赤白黑的是重症；舌头干燥碎裂疼痛的是死证。
辨别内陷：开始是高肿，到了十几天内外突然平塌下去的，这是毒邪内攻的征兆，急需使用托里法。
肿疡的发生，是由于胃气不从所致。既然已经溃破，气血就不足，所以托里的方法必须滋养脾胃。因为溃烂是由胃气腐化所致，收敛愈合是由胃气荣养所致，治法应当纯用补益之法。如果有发热恶寒、脓多自汗、疼痛症状的，用十全大补汤；有虚热少睡、饮食不甘症状的，用人参黄芪汤（原文“黄”后缺字，据方剂名补为“芪”）；有皮寒虚热、咳嗽有痰症状的，用托里清中汤；有四肢倦怠、肌肉消瘦、面色黄、气短症状的，用人参养荣汤；脓多、心烦食少、发热不睡症状的，用圣愈汤；脾亏气弱、身凉脉细、大便溏泻症状的，用托里温中汤；饮食不甘、恶心呕吐症状的，用香砂六君子汤；脾虚下陷、食少、虚热间歇发作症状的，用补中益气汤；肾虚作渴、不能制约心火的，用加减八味丸；烦热作渴、起居如常的，是胃火，用竹叶石膏汤（原文“黄”后缺字，据方剂名补为“膏”）。
再如溃破时，虚弱严重的，可用参术膏、八仙糕；阳虚自汗、食少的，用人参膏，或者六君子汤，加木香、砂仁，严重的加大附子；泄泻肠鸣、胃虚呕逆的，用参苓白术散加豆蔻、山药、木香、柿蒂；脾虚下陷、冷泻及肛门重坠的，用补中益气汤，加山药、山萸肉、五味子。随症状增减变化，触类旁通地运用。
The principle of medication is like holding the beam of a scale to weigh things. If the major pathogenic factors have already receded, yet harsh and dangerous medicines are still used, this constitutes punishing the innocent and violates the purport of the *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon). For instance, Baidu San (Detoxification Powder) is suitable for patients with exterior syndromes; however, excessive use damages Qi. Liqi Yin (Flowing Qi Decoction) is suitable for patients with Qi stagnation and chest fullness; however, excessive use destroys Blood. Neibu Shixuan San (Internal Tonifying Ten-Auspiciousness Powder) can assist the internal support function in winter, helping to move deep-seated pathogens to superficial layers. However, it contains too many drying and dispersing herbs that damage Yin and weaken Wei Qi (Defensive Qi); therefore, it should not be used in summer or in patients with severe deficiency. Wuxiang San (Five-Aromatic Powder), when used during the swelling stage of sores, seems to follow the principle of promoting free flow; however, using it during the ulceration stage violates the taboo of causing double deficiency. Huxin San (Heart-Protecting Powder) can resolve the toxicity of cinnabar and realgar; it is contraindicated unless the patient suffers from drug-induced toxicity or is elderly with deep-seated disease and exhaustion. Wan pills such as Liusu contain arsenic-like substances and are drastic diaphoretic agents. They are suitable for early-stage conditions presenting with chills, fever, stiffness, pain, and a deep-thin pulse, indicating internal sinking of toxic heat. They are contraindicated for patients with high fever, surging pulse, or those who have already ulcerated. Yushu Dan (Jade Pivot Pill) is a purgative detoxifying agent without the effect of draining pus; it should not be used for patients with weak constitution who have already formed pus. Yuan stated: "When one meridian is affected, only that meridian should be treated; other meridians must not be disturbed." Since Liqi Yin circulates through all twelve meridians, it would damage all meridians, and thus its use is prohibited.
Distinguishing Erythema: This is not merely swelling marks. True erythema appears beside the sore opening, resembling red veins, indicating sharp toxicity. Three or four rings are treatable; four or five rings are difficult to cure.
Distinguishing Tongue Manifestations: A tongue that is red and moist as usual indicates a good prognosis. A tongue with green, yellow, red, white, or black coating indicates a severe condition. A dry, cracked, and painful tongue indicates death.
Distinguishing Internal Sinking: Initially, the swelling is high; if after ten days or more it suddenly becomes flat both inside and out, this is a sign of internal attack by pathogens. Immediate treatment with internal support methods is required.
The occurrence of abscesses (Zhongyang) results from the Stomach Qi failing to follow normal functions. Once ulcerated, Qi and Blood become insufficient. Therefore, internal support methods must nourish the Spleen and assist the Stomach. Ulceration is caused by the腐化 (putrefaction and transformation) by Stomach Qi, while healing is nourished by Stomach Qi. The method should be purely tonifying. For symptoms of fever, aversion to cold, abundant pus, spontaneous sweating, and pain, use Shiquan Dabu Tang (Complete Great Tonifying Decoction). For deficiency heat, insomnia, and poor appetite, use Huangqi Renshen Tang (Astragalus and Ginseng Decoction). For cold skin, deficiency heat, cough, and phlegm, use Tuoli Qingzhong Tang (Internal Support and Middle-Clearing Decoction). For limb fatigue, muscle emaciation, sallow complexion, and shortness of breath, use Renshen Yangrong Tang (Ginseng Nourishing Nutrient Decoction). For abundant pus, vexation, poor appetite, fever, and insomnia, use Shengyu Tang (Sage Replenishment Decoction). For Spleen deficiency, weak Qi, cool body, thin pulse, and loose stools, use Tuoli Wenzhong Tang (Internal Support and Middle-Warming Decoction). For poor appetite, nausea, and vomiting, use Xiangsha Liujunzi Tang (Aucklandia and Amomum Six-Gentlemen Decoction). For Spleen deficiency with sinking, poor appetite, and intermittent deficiency heat, use Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment Qi Decoction). For Kidney deficiency causing thirst and inability to control Heart Fire, use Jiajian Bawei Wan (Modified Eight-Ingredient Pill). For irritability, heat, thirst, but normal daily activities, this is Stomach Fire; use Zhuye Shigao Tang (Bamboo Leaf and Gypsum Decoction).
Furthermore, for severe weakness after ulceration, Shenhu Gao (Ginseng and Atractylodes Paste) or Baxian Gao (Eight-Immortals Paste) may be used. For Yang deficiency with spontaneous sweating and poor appetite, use Ren Shen Gao (Ginseng Paste) or Liujunzi Tang (Six-Gentlemen Decoction) added with Muxiang (Costus Root) and Sharen (Amomum Fruit); for severe cases, add Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root). For diarrhea with borborygmus and Stomach deficiency with reverse flow vomiting, use Shenling Baizhu San (Ginseng, Poria, and Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder) added with Doukou (Black Cardamom), Shanyao (Chinese Yam), Muxiang (Costus Root), and Shidi (Persimmon Calyx). For Spleen deficiency with sinking, cold diarrhea, and heavy sensation in the anus, use Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment Qi Decoction) added with Shanyao (Chinese Yam), Shanzhuyu (Cornus Fruit), and Wuweizi (Schisandra Berry). Adjust according to symptoms and apply these principles flexibly.