凡毒先视其顶高起者为气盛。根束者为血盛。又视其色晕。要交会分明为元气盛。而邪无散慢也。高
肿者属阳。原无深毒。治宜托里以速其脓。忌用内消。反难作溃。漫肿平塌者元气本虚。急宜温补催毒
出外。忌用汗下。庶无变症。
初起顶平根散。色黯微肿。不热不疼。身体倦怠者逆。已成肿坚。色紫。不作脓不腐溃。惟口干。多烦躁者
逆。已溃皮烂。内坚不溃。肿仍不消。痛仍不减。心烦者逆。溃后脓水清稀。腐肉虽脱。新肉不生。色败臭秽
者死。初起元气未虚。症脉俱实者。治当迎刃而解。若惧悍怕。定不能决于危急之时。惟在中病则已。所
谓药不瞑眩。厥疾不瘳。久病元气虚者。纵有余症坏症。又当先固其本而后调之和之散之。所谓势孤
则守。本立而道生也。经云。督脉经虚从顶出。膀胱经虚从背出。阳明经虚从髭出。是知疮疡诸毒。由虚
而出也。治惟藉热以发之。虽阳症热痛。亦宜温药稍助微凉以济之。斯为稳当。
肿疡诸症。不论首尾。但见肿赤。烦躁引冷。便闭作渴。脉洪实数者。为之五实。此邪气在里。治宜攻利。如
内疏黄连汤之类以杜其源。如身凉肢冷。泻利肠鸣。呕吐食少。脉细者。为之五虚。此元气不足。治宜滋
补。如托里消毒散、十全大补汤之类。以培其本。五实者虽在严寒之时。必用大苦寒之药泻其阳以救
其阴。五虚者虽在盛暑之时。必用大辛热之药。散其阴以回其阳。经云。用寒远寒。用热远热。有假者反
之。虽违其时。
必从其症。又云。治病必察其下。为时下之宜也。
凡是疮毒，首先观察其顶部高起的是气盛。根部收束的是血盛。再观察其周围的色晕，要求界限分明，这是元气旺盛而邪气没有散漫的表现。肿势高突属于阳证，原本没有深部的毒邪，治疗应当用托里法以加速脓液形成，忌讳使用内消法，否则反而难以化脓溃破。肿势弥漫平坦塌陷的是元气本虚，急需温补以催促毒邪外发，忌讳使用发汗和泻下法，这样才能避免发生变证。
初起时顶部平坦、根部散漫、颜色暗红微肿、不热不痛、身体倦怠的，属于逆证。已经成脓但肿块坚硬、颜色紫暗、不化脓也不腐溃、只是口干且多烦躁的，属于逆证。已经溃破但皮肤腐烂、内部坚硬不溃烂、肿胀仍不消退、疼痛仍不减轻、心烦意乱的，属于逆证。溃破后脓水清稀，虽然腐肉脱落但新肉不生、色泽败坏气味臭秽的，属于死证。初起时元气未虚，症状和脉象都表现为实证的，治疗应当迎刃而解。如果畏惧凶险，在危急时刻一定不能果断决策，只要中病即止即可，这就是所说的“药不瞑眩，厥疾不瘳”（药物若不引起强烈的反应，重病就不会痊愈）。久病元气虚弱的人，即使有余症或坏症，也应当先固护根本，然后调和、消散它，这就是所说的“势孤则守，本立而道生”。经典说：督脉经虚弱，疮毒从头顶发出；膀胱经虚弱，疮毒从背部发出；阳明经虚弱，疮毒从胡须部位发出。由此可知疮疡诸毒，是由虚损而产生的。治疗只依靠温热药来发散它，即使是阳证热痛，也适宜用温药稍加微凉之品来济助平衡，这才是稳妥得当的。
肿疡的各种症状，不论病程初期还是后期，只要见到红肿、烦躁喜冷、大便闭塞口渴、脉象洪大实数，这称为“五实”，这是邪气在体内，治疗应当攻下通利，如内疏黄连汤之类，以杜绝病源。如果身体凉爽、四肢冰冷、腹泻肠鸣、呕吐食少、脉象细弱，这称为“五虚”，这是元气不足，治疗应当滋补，如托里消毒散、十全大补汤之类，以培补根本。五实证即使在严寒之时，也必须用大苦寒的药物泻其阳热以救阴液；五虚证即使在盛夏之时，也必须用大辛热的药物散其阴寒以回阳。经典说：用寒药要避开寒时，用热药要避开热时，如果有假象则相反。虽然违背了时令，但必须顺从病症。又说：治病必须察视二便情况，这是为了决定当下是否适宜使用下法。
In all cases of toxic sores, first observe the apex: if it is elevated, it indicates abundant Qi. If the base is constricted, it indicates abundant Blood. Furthermore, observe the surrounding erythema; clear and distinct boundaries indicate robust Yuan Qi (Original Qi) and that the pathogenic factor has not dispersed. High and swollen lesions belong to Yang syndromes, implying no deep-seated toxicity; treatment should employ the "Supporting the Interior" method to accelerate suppuration, avoiding internal resolution methods, as doing so would hinder ulceration. Diffuse, flat, and collapsed swelling indicates inherent deficiency of Yuan Qi; urgent warm tonification is required to urge the toxin outward, while sweating and purging methods are contraindicated to prevent complications.
If at the onset the apex is flat, the base is scattered, the color is dark with slight swelling, there is no heat or pain, and the body feels fatigued, this is a "Rebellious" (Ni) sign. If the abscess has formed but remains hard, purple in color, fails to suppurate or slough, accompanied by dry mouth and irritability, this is also a "Rebellious" sign. If after ulceration the skin rots, the interior remains hard without draining, swelling persists, pain does not diminish, and mental restlessness occurs, this is a "Rebellious" sign. If after ulceration the pus is clear and thin, although necrotic tissue sheds, new flesh does not grow, and the complexion is ruined with a foul odor, this is a fatal sign. If at the onset Yuan Qi is not deficient and both symptoms and pulse are Excess, treatment should proceed smoothly. One must not hesitate in critical moments due to fear; one should stop medication once the disease is addressed, as stated: "If the medicine does not cause dizziness/discomfort, the severe disease will not heal." For those with chronic diseases and deficient Yuan Qi, even if residual or complicated symptoms remain, one must first consolidate the root before harmonizing, dispersing, or resolving them. This is known as "When momentum is weak, defend; when the root is established, the Way arises." The Classics state: Deficiency of the Du Meridian causes sores to emerge from the vertex; deficiency of the Bladder Meridian causes them from the back; deficiency of the Stomach Meridian causes them from the beard area. Thus, it is known that various sores arise from deficiency. Treatment relies on hot/warm herbs to disperse them. Even for Yang syndromes with heat and pain, warm herbs slightly balanced with cool agents are appropriate for stability.
Regarding various symptoms of pre-ulcerative swellings, regardless of whether it is early or late stage, if redness, swelling, irritability, preference for cold, constipation, thirst, and a surging, full, rapid pulse are present, this is called "Five Excesses." This indicates pathogens inside; treatment should involve purgation and drainage, such as Neishu Huanglian Tang (Coptis Decoction for Internal Draining), to cut off the source. If the body is cool, limbs cold, diarrhea with borborygmus, vomiting, poor appetite, and a fine pulse are present, this is called "Five Deficiencies." This indicates insufficiency of Yuan Qi; treatment should involve nourishment and tonification, such as Tuoli Xiaodu San (Interior-Supporting and Toxin-Resolving Powder) or Shiquan Dabu Tang (Ten Complete Great Tonifying Decoction), to cultivate the root. For Five Excesses, even in severe cold, strong bitter-cold herbs must be used to drain Yang and save Yin. For Five Deficiencies, even in intense heat, strong acrid-hot herbs must be used to scatter Yin and restore Yang. The Classics state: "Use cold remedies avoiding cold times; use hot remedies avoiding hot times; reverse this if there are false signs." Although this may violate seasonal norms, one must follow the syndrome. It is also said: "Treating disease requires examining defecation/urination," referring to determining the appropriateness of purgation at the current time.