今人有疮疡，不审元气虚实，病之表里，病者多喜内消，而医者即用十宣散及
败毒饮、流气饮之类。殊不知十宣散虽有参 ，然防风、白芷、浓朴、桔梗皆足以
耗气，况不分经络时令，气血多少，而概用之乎？败毒散乃发表之药，果有表证，亦
止宜一二服，多则元气反损，其毒愈盛，虽有人参，莫能补也。况非表证而用之乎？流
气饮乃耗血之剂，果气结膈满，亦止宜二三服，多则血气愈伤，夫血气凝滞，多由
营卫气弱，不能营运，岂可复用流气饮以益其虚，况诸经气血多寡不同，而流气饮
通行十二经，则诸经皆为所损，反为败证，虽有 归，亦难倚仗，若服之过度，则气
虚血耗，何以成脓，苟不察其由，而泛投克伐之剂，能无危乎！此三方者，其不可
轻用亦明矣。
河间云∶凡疮止于一经，或兼二经者，止当求责其经，不可干扰余经也。
夫疮疡之证，当察经之传受，病之表里，人之虚实，而攻补之。假如肿痛热渴，
大便秘结者，邪在内也，疏通之。肿 作痛，寒热头痛者，邪在表也，发散之。
肿痛甚者，邪在经络也，和解之。微肿微痛，而不作脓者，气血虚也，补托之。漫
肿不痛，或不作脓，或脓成不溃者，气血虚甚也，峻补之。色黯而微肿痛，或脓成
不出，或腐肉不溃者，阳气虚寒也，温补之。若泥其未溃，而概用败毒，复损脾胃，
不惟肿者不能成脓，而溃者亦难收敛，七恶之证蜂起，多致不救。丹溪云∶肿疡内
外皆壅，宜以托里表散为主。如欲用大黄，宁无孟浪之非，溃疡内外皆虚，宜以托里
补接为主。如欲用香散，未免虚虚之失，治者审之。
现在的人患有疮疡，不审察患者元气的虚实以及病邪在表在里的情况，患者大多喜欢内消疗法，而医生就立即使用十宣散以及败毒饮、流气饮这类方剂。殊不知十宣散虽然含有参（人参），但防风、白芷、浓朴、桔梗这些药材都足以耗损元气，更何况不分经络归属和时令季节、气血盛衰的情况，一概使用呢？败毒散是发表（发散表邪）的药物，果真有表证，也只适宜服用一到两剂，服多了则元气反而受损，毒邪更加旺盛，即使有人参，也无法起到补益作用。更何况没有表证却使用它呢？流气饮是耗伤血气的方剂，果真是气结胸膈胀满，也只适宜服用二到三剂，服多了则血气更加受伤。血气凝滞，多由营卫之气虚弱，不能正常营运所致，怎么可以再用流气饮来加重其虚损呢？况且各条经络的气血多少不同，而流气饮通行于十二经脉，那么所有经络都会受到损害，反而导致病情恶化成为败证，即使有当归，也难以依靠它来补救，如果服用过度，就会导致气虚血耗，凭什么还能化生脓液？如果不考察病因，而泛泛投用克伐（攻伐正气）的药剂，能不危险吗！这三张方子，不可以轻易使用的道理也就很明白了。
河间（刘完素）说：凡是疮疡只涉及一条经络，或者兼涉两条经络的，只应当追究该经络的病机，不可干扰其他经络。
疮疡的证候，应当观察经络的传变、病邪在表在里、人体的虚实，从而决定攻法或补法。假如出现肿痛、发热、口渴、大便秘结的症状，说明邪气在体内，应当疏通之。肿胀发作疼痛，伴有寒热、头痛的症状，说明邪气在体表，应当发散之。肿痛严重的，说明邪气在经络中，应当和解之。微肿微痛，且不化脓的，是气血虚弱，应当补托之。漫肿不痛，或不化脓，或脓成但不溃破的，是气血极度虚弱，应当峻补之。颜色暗红且微肿微痛，或脓成但不排出，或腐肉不溃烂的，是阳气虚寒，应当温补之。如果拘泥于疮疡未溃破，而一概使用败毒药物，又会损伤脾胃，不仅肿胀处不能化脓，而且已溃破处也难以收敛，七恶（危重证候）之证蜂拥而起，大多导致无法救治。丹溪（朱震亨）说：肿疡（未溃破的疮疡）内外皆壅塞，宜以托里透脓、解表散邪为主。如果想要使用大黄，恐怕会有鲁莽之失；溃疡（已溃破的疮疡）内外皆虚弱，宜以托里补接为主。如果想要使用香燥行气之药，未免犯下“虚虚”（使虚者更虚）的错误，治疗者务必审慎。
Nowadays, people suffering from sores and ulcers (Chuangyang) do not examine the deficiency or excess of Yuan Qi (Primordial Qi) or whether the pathogen is in the exterior or interior. Patients often prefer internal resolution therapies, and physicians immediately prescribe formulas such as Shixuan San (Ten Acupoints Powder), Baidu Yin (Poison-Resolving Decoction), and Liuqi Yin (Qi-Flowing Decoction). Little do they know that although Shixuan San contains Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), and Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix) are all capable of depleting Qi. Moreover, how can one indiscriminately apply these without considering the meridians involved, seasonal timing, and the relative abundance or scarcity of Qi and Blood? Baidu San (Poison-Resolving Powder) is a formula for releasing the exterior. Even if there is indeed an exterior syndrome, it should only be taken for one or two doses; taking more will damage Yuan Qi, causing the toxin to become more intense, rendering the presence of Renshen ineffective for tonification. How much worse is it to use it when there is no exterior syndrome? Liuqi Yin is a formula that depletes Blood and Qi. Even if there is truly Qi stagnation with chest fullness, it should only be taken for two or three doses; taking more will further injure Qi and Blood. Qi and Blood stagnation often results from weak Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi failing to circulate properly. How can one use Liuqi Yin to exacerbate this deficiency? Furthermore, since the amount of Qi and Blood varies among different meridians, and Liuqi Yin circulates through all twelve meridians, it will damage all meridians, leading to a deteriorating condition (Bai Zheng). Even with Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), reliance on it is difficult. If taken excessively, it leads to Qi deficiency and Blood depletion, making pus formation impossible. If the cause is not investigated and attacking/depleting agents are administered indiscriminately, can one avoid danger? Thus, it is clear that these three formulas should not be used lightly.
Hejian (Liu Wansu) stated: "Whenever a sore involves only one meridian, or two meridians, one should seek the pathology within those specific meridians and not interfere with the others."
In cases of sores and ulcers, one must observe the transmission along meridians, the location of the pathogen (exterior/interior), and the patient's constitution (deficiency/excess) to determine whether to attack or tonify. For example, if there is swelling, pain, heat, thirst, and constipation, the pathogen is in the interior; one should unblock and drain it. If there is swelling, pain, aversion to cold, fever, and headache, the pathogen is in the exterior; one should disperse and release it. If swelling and pain are severe, the pathogen is in the meridians; one should harmonize it. If there is slight swelling and pain without pus formation, it indicates Qi and Blood deficiency; one should tonify and support. If there is diffuse swelling without pain, or failure to form pus, or pus formed but not ulcerated, it indicates severe Qi and Blood deficiency; one should strongly tonify. If the color is dark with slight swelling and pain, or pus formed but not discharged, or necrotic flesh not sloughing off, it indicates Yang Qi deficiency and cold; one should warm and tonify. If one rigidly adheres to the idea that the sore has not yet ulcerated and indiscriminately uses poison-resolving drugs, it will further damage the Spleen and Stomach. Not only will the swollen area fail to form pus, but the ulcerated area will also struggle to heal. The seven adverse syndromes (Qi E) will arise simultaneously, often leading to untreatable conditions. Danxi (Zhu Zhenheng) said: "For a tumor/sore (Zhongyang) where both interior and exterior are obstructed, the primary treatment should be supporting the interior and releasing the exterior. To use Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) would likely be rash. For an ulcer (Kuyang) where both interior and exterior are deficient, the primary treatment should be supporting and connecting the interior. To use aromatic/dispersing herbs would inevitably commit the error of 'making the deficient even more deficient.' Physicians must exercise caution."