Discussion: Heat sores (Re Chuang) originate from excessive heat, with wind pathogen taking advantage of the situation to invade. Hence, they are specifically termed "Heat Sores." This is because yang excess leads to exterior heat, and physical exertion causes the couli (pores and skin texture) to become loose. When there is exterior heat coupled with loose couli, pathogens easily invade.

[Formula: Huang Tang]
Indications: Sores/ulcers; dispelling wind-heat.
Ingredients: Huangqi (Astragali Radix, crushed, 1.5 liang), Shengdihuang (Rehmanniae Radix Recens, 4 liang), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, honey-fried and crushed), Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix, de-hearted and baked), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix, black heart removed, each 1.5 liang), Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum, crushed), Xiong (Chuanxiong Rhizome), Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, crushed and stir-fried), Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, sliced and baked, each 1 liang), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma, processed with ginger juice, 0.5 liang).
Process these twelve ingredients, crushing them to the size of hemp seeds. For each dose, take 5 qianbi (approx. 5-10g depending on era measurement, here kept as unit), add 1.5 zhan of water and 7 leaves of Zhuye (Bamboo Leaf). Decoct until 1 zhan remains, filter dregs, and take warm on an empty stomach. Repeat in the evening.

[Formula: Zhizi Tang]
Indications: Exterior heat excess syndrome; sores erupting on the body, or carbuncles/furuncles; difficulty in urination and defecation.
Ingredients: Zhiziren (Gardeniae Semen, 0.5 liang), Zhi mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, baked), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, honey-fried and crushed), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix, black heart removed, each 1 liang), Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, crushed and stir-fried, 2 liang).
Coarsely grind and sieve these five ingredients. For each dose, take 5 qianbi, add 1.5 zhan of water. Decoct until 1 zhan remains, filter dregs, add Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas, 1 qianbi), and take warm on an empty stomach. The goal is bowel movement; if not achieved, repeat the dose.

[Formula: Maidong Tang]
Indications: Sudden onset of heat sores on the body.
Ingredients: Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix, de-hearted and baked, 2 liang), Chi (Faber Semen, stir-fried, 1 fen), Renshen (Ginseng Radix, 3 fen), Sangbaipipi (Mori Cortex, crushed, 1.5 liang), Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus, coarse bark removed, 0.5 liang), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, honey-fried and crushed, 1 liang).
Coarsely grind and sieve these six ingredients. For each dose, take 5 qianbi, add 1.5 zhan of water and 3 cun of cut Congbai (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus). Decoct together until 1 zhan remains, filter dregs, and take on an empty stomach. Repeat in the evening.

[Formula: Er Shen Wan]
Indications: Heat sores.
Ingredients: Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), Wutou (Aconiti Radix, split, roasted, peel and umbilicus removed), Heshouwu (Polygoni Multiflori Radix, each 2 liang), Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix, 2 liang), Dingxiang (Caryophylli Flos, 1 fen).
Grind these five ingredients into powder, mix with wheat paste to form pills the size of Sophora seeds. Take 20-30 pills per dose, on an empty stomach, washed down with salted water. Three times daily.

[Formula: Dahuang San for External Application]
Indications: Heat-toxin carbuncles and swelling.
Ingredients: Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, crushed and stir-fried), Chixiaodou (Phaseoli Semen Rubrum, each 2 liang), Duanshi (Calcined Alumen, 1 liang).
Grind these three ingredients into a powder. Mix with strong vinegar to form a paste. Apply to the sore. Three to five times daily until healed.

[Formula: Mulanpi Gao]
Indications: Heat sores.
Ingredients: Mulanpi (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix), Shegan (Belamcandae Rhizoma), Shechuangzi (Cnidii Fructus, each 1 liang), Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma, whiskers removed, each 1.5 liang), Huangbo (Phellodendri Cortex, coarse bark removed), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix, black heart removed), Yelangya (Spiraeae Folium), Shanzhizi (Gardeniae Fructus, each 1 liang), Zhuzhi (Porcine Fat, 2 jin).
Except for the fat, finely crush the remaining ten ingredients to the size of hemp seeds. First, boil the porcine fat until bubbling. Add the herbs and simmer until Baizhi turns yellow-red. Filter through cotton cloth to remove dregs. Store in a porcelain jar. Apply to sores. Three to five times daily until healed.

[Formula: Huanglian Tang for Washing]
Indications: Heat pathogen not dissipating; fine sores erupting on the body; persistent heat.
Ingredients: Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma, whiskers removed, 4 liang), Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas, 4 liang).
First, decoct Huanglian in 1 dou of water to obtain 7 sheng. Filter dregs, then add Mangxiao. Wash the sores while warm. If it cools, re-warm and wash again. Three to five times daily until healed.

[Formula: Xiong San for External Application]
Indications: Heat sores with abundant pus.
Ingredients: Xiong (Chuanxiong Rhizome), Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, raw), Bailian (Tinosporae Radix), Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma, whiskers removed), Huaipi (Moriae Cortex, crushed), Longgu (Fossilia Ossis Mammi, fire-burned, each 0.5 liang).
Grind these seven ingredients into a powder. Apply to the sores. Three to five times daily.

[Formula: Shechuangzi San for External Application]
Indications: Heat sores.
Ingredients: Shechuangzi (Cnidii Fructus), Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata, each 0.5 liang), Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix, washed), Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, raw), Mutong (Akebiae Caulis, crushed), Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, washed), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma, whiskers removed, each 1 liang), Yelangya (Spiraeae Folium, 0.5 liang).
Grind these eight ingredients into a powder. Mix with pig fat from the twelfth lunar month as needed. Apply to the sores. Three to five times daily.

[Formula: Dahuang San for External Application]
Indications: Heat sores.
Ingredients: Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, raw ground into powder), Xiaoshi (Natrii Nitras, ground, each 0.5 liang), Heijiao (Colla Corii Asini, 1 fen).
First, grind Dahuang and Xiaoshi into powder. Use 0.5 he of vinegar to melt the gelatin. Mix the powder with the melted gelatin to form a paste. Apply to the affected area. Three to five times daily until healed.

[Formula: Xiaoshi Water Soaking Method]
Indications: Heat sores with unbearable pain.
Ingredients: Xiaoshi (Natrii Nitras, ground into powder).
Roll paper into a rope-like shape, thick as a finger. Stack it on the swollen area. Fill the stack with Xiaoshi powder. Pour fresh cold water over it using a spoon. Stop when a cold sensation is felt and pain subsides. Three to four times daily until healed.

[Formula: Water Injection Method]
Indications: Heat-toxin carbuncles and swelling.
Make a hole in the bottom of a clay pot. Fill with water and spray/inject onto the affected area. Stop when a cold sensation is felt. Immediately apply egg white (Jizi Bai) to the area. Three to five times daily until swelling resolves.

[Formula: Qiezi Jiao Method]
Indications: Heat sores.
Take one raw eggplant. Cut off the top two parts to make the opening small. Remove about one-third of the pulp inside, shaping it like a small jar. Place it inverted over the swelling (cupping method). The swelling will subside. If pus has already formed, repeat this method until healed.

[Formula: Sheng Diyu Gen Tang for Washing]
Indications: Heat sores.
Ingredients: Shengdiyu Gen (Sanguisorbae Radix, 2 jin, washed and chopped).
Finely chop the single ingredient. Decoct in 1 dou of water to obtain 5 sheng. Filter dregs. Wash the sores with the warm liquid. Re-warm if it cools. Twice daily until healed.

[Formula: Neisai San]
Indications: Large sores where heat has subsided but pus and blood continue to flow; weakness and pain in the sore tissue; used for draining pus.
Ingredients: Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix, forked parts removed), Baifuling (Poria, black skin removed), Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix, crushed and stir-fried), Yuanzhi (Polygalae Radix, heart removed), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, honey-fried and crushed), Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Xiong (Chuanxiong Rhizome), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, sliced and baked), Huangqi (Astragali Radix, crushed and stir-fried, each 1 liang), Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus, coarse bark removed, 0.5 liang), Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, two pieces, split, roasted, peel and umbilicus removed), Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, coarse bark removed).
Grind these fourteen ingredients into a powder. Take 2 qianbi mixed with wine. Three times daily, once at night.