治疡之要，未成者必求其消。治之于早，虽有大证，而可以消散于无形，病者不以为功
，医者亦可省许多手续。此良医之用心，而亦治医之最上乘也。惟是消肿之法，最为细密。
一病有一病之来源，七情六淫，三因各异。若不能于病之本探其源而治之，则断无消散之希
望。而或者乃仅仅于部位上形色上求之，抑末矣。如病本外因，则风寒暑湿之侵淫，既各随
其感触而成疡患。如病本内因，则气血痰郁之壅滞，亦流注于经隧而发大痈。故凡退肿消毒
之大法，以治外感，则有风者疏其风，有热者清其热，有湿有寒者理其湿、祛其寒。以治内
伤，则气滞者理其气，血瘀者行其血，痰凝饮积者导其痰、涤其饮。正本清源，无一非退消
之良剂。
此外惟有五志之火，七情之郁，其来以渐，结为坚肿。如乳癖、乳岩、失荣、石疽等证
，则由来已久，蒂固根深，虽有养液和荣、软坚流气之良法，而苟非病者摆脱尘缘，破除烦
恼，怡情悦性，颐养太和，则痼疾难疗，必无希冀；而其余诸证，批 导 ，孰不
。然必辨之也精，斯识之也确，因端竟委，探本穷源，已非庸耳俗目之头痛医头，脚痛治脚
之所能望其项背矣。
肿疡治疗，总以消散为第一要义。能于消肿各法，随证分治，纵有大证，亦可衰减其势
。所谓大化为小，小化为无。病者隐受其惠于不知不觉之中，医者亦有功而不居。仁人之用
心，不当如是耶。至不得已而消之不尽，或治之已晚，内已酿脓，势必不能全退。于斯时也
，内服煎剂，亦惟以消散为主；仍须分别病因，根据上条退消各法，随证用药。盖以中虽成脓
，而四周之肿犹在，故仍以消肿为急，置其脓成于不问。庶几余肿既消，即成溃亦必不巨。
万不当早用透达之药，令其迅速蒸脓，攻孔日大，收敛费时。山甲片、皂角针走窜极迅，透
脓极易。未成脓者，早用之即易蒸脓，不能全散。惟阴寒之证，坚块漫肿，借其流动之势，
亦可消散凝滞。若有脓成肉里，深藏不透，则用此并加川芎，能使肿势高突，透达于外，提
深就浅，亦是一法。惟肿疡苟非真气大衰之人，必无用补之法。一投补剂，助桀为虐。俗子
不知，误于张洁古黄 为疮家圣药一句，动辄乱投，致令轻证化大者不可枚举，害人不浅。
而治疡者皆不知其弊，良可浩叹。
治疗外科疮疡的关键，在于疮疡未成脓时，必须力求使其消散。在早期进行治疗，即使症状严重，也能将其无形地消散，患者不会觉得这是功劳，医生也可以省去许多繁琐的治疗步骤。这是良医的用心之处，也是治疗医学中的最高境界。然而，消肿的方法最为细致精密。每一种病都有其特定的病因，七情（喜、怒、忧、思、悲、恐、惊）和六淫（风、寒、暑、湿、燥、火）以及三因（内因、外因、不内外因）各不相同。如果不能从疾病的根本探求源头并加以治疗，就绝对没有消散的希望。而有些人仅仅在病变部位的形色上寻求对策，这就舍本逐末了。如果病因是外感，那么风寒暑湿的侵袭，都会随着感触的不同而形成疮疡。如果病因是内伤，那么气血痰郁的壅滞，也会流注于经络隧道而引发大痈。因此，凡是退肿消毒的大法，针对外感病，有风邪的疏解风邪，有热邪的清除热邪，有湿邪或寒邪的调理湿邪、祛除寒邪。针对内伤病，气滞的调理气机，血瘀的活血化瘀，痰凝饮积的引导痰浊、涤荡水饮。正本清源，无一不是退消疮疡的良好方剂。
除此之外，只有五志之火（由情绪波动引起的火热），七情之郁，其发病逐渐形成，结聚为坚硬的肿块。如乳癖（乳腺增生）、乳岩（乳腺癌）、失荣（颈部恶性肿瘤）、石疽（硬结性肿瘤）等证候，由来已久，根深蒂固，虽然有滋养阴液、调和营卫、软坚散结、行气导滞的良好方法，但如果不能使患者摆脱世俗牵挂，破除烦恼，怡情悦性，调养太和之气，那么顽固的疾病难以治愈，必定没有希望；而对于其他各种证候，疏导化解，谁又能说没有效果呢？然而必须辨别得精细，才能认识得准确，探究事物的始末，探求根本源头，这已经不是庸医俗眼那种“头痛医头，脚痛治脚”所能比得上的了。
治疗肿疡（未溃破的疮疡），总以消散为第一要义。能够根据各种消肿方法，随证分治，即使是大证，也可以衰减其势头。所谓将大的化为小的，将小的化为无。患者在不知不觉中隐受其惠，医生也有功劳却不居功。仁人的用心，不应当是这样吗？到了不得已而消散不尽，或者治疗已晚，内部已经酿脓，势必不能完全消退。在这个时候，内服汤剂，也仍以消散为主；仍然需要分别病因，根据上述退消各法，随证用药。因为虽然内部已成脓，但四周的肿胀仍然存在，所以仍以消除肿胀为急务，暂时搁置对成脓的处理。这样或许余肿既消，即使溃破也不会很大。万万不要过早使用透达的药物，令其迅速蒸腾化脓，导致溃破孔洞日益扩大，收敛愈合费时费力。穿山甲片、皂角针走窜速度极快，透脓极易。在未成脓时，过早使用它们就容易蒸腾化脓，不能全部消散。只有对于阴寒性质的证候，坚块漫肿，借助其流动之势，也可以消散凝滞。如果有脓成于肌肉深处，深藏不透，则使用此药并加入川芎，能使肿势高突，透达于外，提深就浅，也是一种方法。但是，肿疡如果不是真气大衰的人，一定不能用补益的方法。一旦投用补剂，就是助桀为虐。世俗之人不知道这一点，误信张洁古（张元素）说黄芪是疮家圣药这句话，动辄乱投，致使轻证变成重证的例子不可枚举，害人匪浅。而治疗疮疡的人都不知道其中的弊端，实在令人浩叹。
The key to treating surgical sores (Yang Ke) lies in seeking resolution when the lesion has not yet suppurated. Treating it early, even if the symptoms are severe, allows for its dissolution into nothingness; the patient does not perceive this as a merit, and the physician can save much trouble. This is the intention of a good physician and represents the highest level of medical treatment. However, the method of reducing swelling is most meticulous. Each disease has its own origin; the Seven Emotions (Qing Zhi), Six Evils (Liu Yin), and Three Causes (San Yin) vary differently. If one cannot probe the source from the root of the disease to treat it, there is absolutely no hope of resolution. Some merely seek solutions based on the location and appearance, which is neglecting the root for the branch. If the cause is external, the invasion of Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, and Dampness will form sores according to the specific contact. If the cause is internal, the stagnation of Qi, Blood, Phlegm, and Depression will flow into the meridians and collaterals, causing large carbuncles. Therefore, the general principles of reducing swelling and detoxifying, for external conditions, involve dispersing Wind if present, clearing Heat if present, and regulating Dampness or dispelling Cold if present. For internal injuries, regulating Qi stagnation, moving Blood stasis, guiding Phlegm condensation, and washing away Fluid accumulation are employed. By rectifying the root and clearing the source, all these constitute excellent agents for resolution.
Besides, only the Fire of the Five Wills and the Depression of the Seven Emotions arise gradually, knotting into hard swellings. Conditions such as Ru Pi (Breast Lump), Ru Yan (Breast Cancer), Shi Rong (Loss of Glory/Neck Tumor), and Shi Ju (Stone Abscess) have existed for a long time, with deep roots and firm foundations. Although there are good methods to nourish Yin fluids, harmonize Ying (Nutritive) Qi, soften hardness, and promote Qi flow, unless the patient can cast off worldly ties, break through vexations, cultivate their temperament, and nurture Taihe (Great Harmony), stubborn diseases are difficult to cure, and there is no hope. As for other conditions, who could say that guidance and resolution are ineffective? However, differentiation must be precise to ensure accurate understanding, tracing the beginning to the end, probing the root and exhausting the source. This is far beyond what mediocre physicians with vulgar eyes, who "treat the head when the head hurts and the foot when the foot hurts," can aspire to.
The treatment of Zhong Yang (Swollen Ulcer/Pre-ulcerative stage) generally regards resolution as the primary principle. By applying various methods of reducing swelling according to the syndrome, even major conditions can have their momentum attenuated. It is said that the large becomes small, and the small becomes nothing. The patient receives benefits unknowingly, and the physician achieves merit without claiming credit. Is this not the intention of a benevolent person? When resolution is impossible or treatment is delayed, and pus has already formed internally, complete regression is inevitable. At this time, internal decoctions should still focus on resolution; etiology must be distinguished, and medications chosen according to the aforementioned methods of reduction. Since although pus has formed internally, swelling remains around it, reducing swelling is urgent, while the formation of pus is temporarily set aside. Thus, once residual swelling subsides, even if ulceration occurs, it will not be extensive. One must never use penetrating/dispersing drugs too early to hasten pus formation, which would lead to progressively larger openings and prolonged healing times. Shan Jia Pian (Pangolin Scales) and Zao Jiao Zhen (Gleditsia Sinensis Thorn) penetrate rapidly and facilitate pus discharge easily. Using them early before pus formation promotes premature suppuration and prevents full resolution. Only in cases of Yin-Cold syndromes with hard masses and diffuse swelling can their flowing nature help dissipate stagnation. If pus is formed deep within the flesh and cannot penetrate outward, using these herbs plus Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome) can elevate the swelling, bring it to the surface, and lift the deep to the shallow, which is also a valid method. However, for Zhong Yang, unless the patient suffers from a severe deficiency of True Qi, tonification methods must not be used. Administering tonics aids the pathogen. Laypeople, unaware of this, mistakenly follow Zhang Jiegu's statement that Huang Qi (Astragalus Root) is the sacred medicine for sores, indiscriminately prescribing it, turning mild conditions into severe ones in countless instances, causing great harm. Physicians treating sores often ignore these drawbacks, which is truly lamentable.