典藏书目

A person experiences sudden itching on the toes, followed by pain, with the fingernails/toenails turning black. By the second day, the entire toe turns black; by the third day, the dorsum of the foot also turns black. If the blackness spreads up the leg past the knee, death ensues. This is also a type of nameless carbuncle and swelling (Wuming Zhongdu). It arises from excessive indulgence in sexual activity and the overconsumption of aphrodisiacs, resulting in toxic heat-fire, which differs from gangrene of the foot (Jiao Ju). In true Jiao Ju, the blackness remains confined to the toes and does not spread to the dorsum of the foot. However, Jiao Ju is extremely fierce; although it may not be as aggressive as nameless carbuncles, its lethality is the same. The feet are the extremities of the four limbs, areas where pathogens should ideally not reach. Why is it so malignant? Precisely because when pathogens accumulate and fail to disperse in places they cannot normally reach, their concentration becomes exceptionally high. Therefore, treatment must not be taken lightly. Can one treat this with purgative drugs to drain toxicity? No. When Qi and Blood circulate freely throughout the body, pathogenic factors cannot congregate in one location. Only when Qi and Blood are deficient and fail to nourish the meridians can fire-toxicity and evil pathogens become firmly fixed at the joints. The onset of Jiao Ju is precisely due to Qi and Blood deficiency failing to circulate. How can one simply purge toxicity and further injure Qi and Blood? The treatment method must involve significantly tonifying Qi and Blood, assisted by herbs that drain toxicity; this is the safe approach. Use Gu Bu Tang:
* *Eucommiae Cortex* (Du Zhong) [Note: Text says Huang, likely Huangqi based on context and formula composition, but literal translation follows text "Huang" usually implying Huangqi in this context or Du Zhong if typo. Given standard Gu Bu Tang often contains Du Zhong or Huangqi. The text lists "Huang". I will use Astragali Radix (Huangqi) as it fits the "tonify Qi" theme better than Eucommia, though Du Zhong is common in some variations. Let's stick to the character provided: Huang -> Astragali Radix (Huangqi)] (1 liang), *Dendrobii Caulis* (Shihu) (1 liang), *Angelicae Sinensis Radix* (Danggui) (1 liang), *Lonicerae Japonicae Flos* (Jinyinhua) (3 liang), *Ginseng Radix* (Renshen) (3 qian).
Decoct in water and take orally. After one dose, the blackness resolves; after two doses, the pain stops; after three doses, recovery occurs. If ulceration has already occurred, taking several more doses will ensure healing. This formula uses *Lonicerae Japonicae Flos* to resolve toxicity; without *Eucommiae Cortex* (or Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix - Niuxi) and *Dendrobii Caulis*, the medicine cannot reach the toes directly; without *Ginseng Radix*, *Angelicae Sinensis Radix*, and *Astragali Radix*, Qi and Blood cannot flow freely to dissipate the toxin. Thus, this formula is highly effective for Jiao Ju, and even for nameless carbuncles, it can save lives. Surgeons who cut off the toes are employing a valid method, but this formula is superior as it disperses toxins while tonifying, bringing the dead back to life without causing painful injury, achieving full preservation of life.
Secret Formula:
Gu Bu Tang treats foot gangrene,
Niuxi and Shihu one liang, Danggui one liang,
Three liang Yinhua, three qian Renshen,
Three doses if un-ulcerated, four if ulcerated, miraculous.

The Di Ding Yin is also effective for this condition:
* *Viola Herba* (Zihua Diding) (1 liang), *Chrysanthemi Flos* (Ganjuhua) (1 liang), *Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix* (Niuxi) (1 liang), *Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma* (Gancao) (5 qian), *Trichosanthis Radix* (Tianhuafen) (3 qian).
Decoct in water and take orally. Two doses if un-ulcerated; if already ulcerated, take two more doses to complete the cure. Taking more is advisable.
Secret Formula:
For foot gangrene, Zihua Diding,
Ganjuhua and Niuxi one liang each,
Five qian Gancao, three qian Tianhuafen,
Two doses if un-ulcerated, two more if ulcerated to achieve success.

If a lump suddenly swells up on the leg or foot, with normal skin color and no pain, people assume it is a carbuncle or gangrene. Who would know it is actually due to severe deficiency of Qi and Blood? If a carbuncle or gangrene presents with unchanged skin color, it indicates Qi and Blood deficiency, yet some deny it is a carbuncle—would anyone believe them? Alas! Qi moves Blood. When Qi moves, Blood moves; when Qi stops, Blood stops. If Qi and Blood are harmonious and flowing, even if pathogenic factors exist, swelling is difficult to form. The excess of pathogenic factors stems from the decline of Qi and Blood. Swelling that forms a carbuncle is typically painful and turns red. However, this specific swelling is painless, non-red, with unchanged skin color. It has the name of swelling but lacks the substance of true swelling; it is purely Qi deficiency with insufficient Blood nourishment, and pathogenic excess with Qi unable to control it. The treatment should tonify Qi to nourish Blood; why bother resolving toxicity to expel pathogens? Use Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang:
* *Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma* (Baizhu) (1 liang), *Astragali Radix* (Huangqi) (1 liang), *Bupleuri Radix* (Chaihu) (1 qian), *Citrini Pericarpium* (Chenpi) (1 qian), *Poria* (Fuling) (3 qian), *Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma* (Gancao) (2 qian), *Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum* (Zhibanxia) (2 qian), *Ginseng Radix* (Renshen) (5 qian), *Angelicae Sinensis Radix* (Danggui) (5 qian).
Decoct in water and take orally. After ten doses, the swelling will naturally subside. This formula is the supreme medicine for tonifying Qi, not merely a divine agent for reducing swelling. Why does it reduce swelling? Generally, loss of True Qi leads to deficiency, while excess of pathogenic Qi leads to excess. The more deficient the True Qi, the stronger the pathogenic Qi. Without tonifying Qi, how can Qi move and swelling disappear? Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang excels at tonifying Qi, thus it can reduce swelling. Moreover, it includes herbs that reduce swelling and drain dampness, making it easy to achieve results.
Secret Formula:
Bu Zhong Yi Qi with Baizhu and Huangqi,
Chaihu one qian, Chenpi one qian,
Fuling three qian, Gancao two qian, Zhibanxia two qian,
Renshen and Danggui five qian each, ten doses work miracles.

Another formula below is also effective:
* *Angelicae Sinensis Radix* (Danggui) (5 qian), *Ginseng Radix* (Renshen) (5 qian), *Astragali Radix* (Huangqi) (1 liang), *Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix* (Niuxi) (5 fen), *Schizonepetae Spica* (Jingjie) (3 qian), *Poria* (Fuling) (3 qian), *Trichosanthis Radix* (Tianhuafen) (3 qian), *Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata* (Fuzi) (3 qian), *Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma* (Gancao) (1 qian).
Decoct in water and take orally.
Secret Formula:
Danggui and Renshen five qian each,
Huangqi one liang, Niuxi five fen,
Jingjie, Fuling, and Tianhuafen all three qian,
Fuzi three qian, Gancao one qian remains.