初起如疥，形如粉刺，或小泡、或疙瘩，结肿不散者顺。疮肿不作寒热，亦不恶心，饮食有味，手足温暖
者顺。形已成疮肿肉不肿，四围白色，多痛少痒作脓者顺。已溃出脓，疮仍高肿，肉色鲜明，根内红活渐平者
顺。
初起似疔非疔，软慢灰色，四边疮根平蹋漫肿者凶。未发前先作寒热如疟，恶心不食，后出疮如蚊迹蚤斑，
或青紫黑泡，软陷无根，腐烂深孔，气粗足冷者逆。疮形似鱼脐，顶凹灰白，软慢相兼，脉细身冷者多逆。
已成肉肿疮不肿，根脚走散，疮顶空腐，血水气秽死。凡疔项之以上针刺不疼，项之以下灸之不痛俱死。
已经走散，头、面、耳、项俱肿，烦躁脉细、痰动喘急者死。日久原疮无迹，走散之处仍复作脓，脉数唇焦终
死。病虽险恶，岁运顺者可活，疮虽微险，岁运逆者常危。
初生项之以上者，必先针刺，以去恶血，庶毒不攻内。初发项之以下者，必先艾灸，以杀其势，庶不侵良
肉。发热恶寒，身体拘急，六脉紧数，邪在表也，宜汗散之。身体发热，口燥咽干，脉实有力，二便秘涩者宜
下之。针刺之后，疮不作腐，边肿
不消，仍加插药，内亦补托。初起误灸，致毒走黄不住者，急当随走处砭去恶血。发热干呕，心烦作渴，闷乱
神昏，解毒清心，托里护膜。溃后气血受伤，神怯食少，睡卧不宁，助脾胃，敛神气。将愈后气血渐复，饮食
当进，仍作渴者，急滋养肾水。
初起时症状像疥疮，形状像粉刺，或是小水泡、疙瘩，结成肿块而不消散的，属于顺证。疮肿不伴有寒热往来，也没有恶心感，饮食有味道，手足温暖的，属于顺证。疮形已经形成，肿胀局限在疮部而周围肌肉不肿，四周颜色发白，疼痛多于瘙痒并化脓的，属于顺证。溃破后流出脓液，疮口仍然高肿，肉色鲜明，根部红润鲜活且逐渐平复的，属于顺证。
初起时似疔非疔，质地软慢，颜色灰暗，四周疮根平坦塌陷、漫无边际的，属于凶证。未发作前先出现像疟疾一样的寒热交替，恶心不想吃东西，随后发出的疮像蚊子叮咬的痕迹或跳蚤咬的斑点，或者是青紫黑色的水泡，柔软下陷没有根基，腐烂成深孔，呼吸粗重、足部冰冷的，属于逆证。疮形像鱼肚脐一样，顶部凹陷呈灰白色，质地软慢兼杂，脉象细微、身体寒冷的，大多为逆证。
如果肌肉肿胀但疮本身不肿，疮根扩散走散，疮顶空虚腐败，流出血水且气味腥臭的，主死。凡是生在项部以上的疔疮，针刺时不觉疼痛；生在项部以下的疔疮，艾灸时不觉疼痛的，都主死。如果毒气已经走散，头、面、耳、项部全部肿胀，烦躁不安、脉象细微、痰多气喘急促的，主死。病程日久，原来的疮迹消失，走散的地方又重新化脓，脉象急数、嘴唇焦枯的，最终死亡。病情虽然险恶，但如果当年的岁运（运气学说中的气候规律）顺遂，可以存活；疮势虽然轻微危险，但如果当年的岁运逆乱，常常处于危重状态。
生于项部以上的疔疮，必须先进行针刺，以排出恶血，使毒邪不至于攻入内脏。初发于项部以下的疔疮，必须先进行艾灸，以遏制其势头，使毒邪不侵蚀健康肌肉。如果出现发热恶寒、身体拘挛紧急、六脉紧数的症状，说明邪气在表，应当用发汗的方法疏散邪气。如果身体发热、口燥咽干、脉象实而有力、大小便闭塞涩滞的，应当用泻下的方法治疗。
针刺之后，如果疮口不腐坏，边缘肿胀不消退，仍需插入药线引流，内服药物也要配合补益托毒之法。初起时误用艾灸，导致毒气走黄不止的，应当立即在走黄之处用砭石刺破，放出恶血。如果出现发热、干呕、心烦口渴、神志昏乱的症状，应当解毒清心，托里护膜。溃破后气血受损，精神怯弱、食欲减少、睡卧不宁的，应当扶助脾胃，收敛神气。将痊愈时气血逐渐恢复，饮食应当进补，如果仍然感到口渴，应当紧急滋养肾水。
At the initial stage, if the lesion resembles scabies or acne, appearing as small blisters or nodules that form a swelling without dissipating, it is a favorable prognosis (Shun). If the swelling does not present with chills and fever, nor nausea, and the patient retains appetite and has warm hands and feet, it is a favorable prognosis. Once the lesion is formed, if the swelling is confined to the sore while surrounding flesh remains unswollen, with a white periphery, more pain than itching, and suppuration occurs, it is a favorable prognosis. After ulceration, if pus is discharged, the sore remains elevated and swollen, the tissue color is bright and fresh, and the root becomes ruddy and gradually flattens, it is a favorable prognosis.
If at the onset the lesion appears neither like a Ding nor distinctively so, being soft, slow-growing, and grayish, with flat, sunken, and diffuse roots extending widely, it is an ominous sign (Xiong). If before the eruption there are chills and fever resembling malaria, nausea, and anorexia, followed by eruptions resembling mosquito bites or flea marks, or blue-purple-black blisters that are soft, sunken, and rootless, with deep rotting cavities, coarse respiration, and cold feet, it is an adverse prognosis (Ni). If the lesion resembles a fish's navel, with a concave, grayish-white apex, mixed softness and slowness, fine pulse, and cold body, it is mostly an adverse prognosis.
If the surrounding flesh swells but the sore itself does not, with the root spreading diffusely, the apex becoming hollow and necrotic, discharging bloody fluid with a foul odor, death ensues. For Ding lesions above the neck, if needling causes no pain; and for those below the neck, if moxibustion causes no pain, death ensues. If the pathogen has already spread, causing swelling of the head, face, ears, and neck, accompanied by restlessness, fine pulse, phlegm accumulation, and rapid panting, death ensues. If after a long duration the original sore trace disappears, yet the area of spread begins to suppurate again, with a rapid pulse and scorched lips, death ultimately follows. Although the disease is perilous, if the annual cosmic influence (Sui Yun) is favorable, survival is possible; although the sore is slightly dangerous, if the annual cosmic influence is unfavorable, the condition is often critical.
For Ding lesions arising above the neck, pricking (needling) must be performed first to expel evil blood, preventing the toxin from attacking the interior. For newly erupted Ding lesions below the neck, moxibustion must be applied first to suppress their momentum, preventing them from invading healthy flesh. If there is fever, aversion to cold, bodily stiffness and urgency, and tight, rapid pulses in all six positions, indicating the pathogen is in the exterior, sweating methods should be used to disperse it. If there is bodily fever, dry mouth and throat, strong and forceful pulses, and constipation of both bowels and bladder, purgative methods should be used.
After needling, if the sore does not necrose and the peripheral swelling does not subside, inserting medicinal wires is necessary, and internal medicine should support the healthy Qi and expel toxins. If moxibustion was mistakenly applied at the onset, causing the toxin to spread uncontrollably (Zou Huang), immediate scarification (Bian) should be performed at the site of spread to release evil blood. If fever, dry retching, mental restlessness, thirst, confusion, and coma occur, detoxification and heart-clearing methods should be employed to support the interior and protect the membranes. After ulceration, when Qi and Blood are damaged, manifesting as timidity, poor appetite, and restless sleep, strengthening the Spleen and Stomach and consolidating the Spirit is required. As recovery approaches and Qi and Blood gradually restore, diet should be advanced; if thirst persists, nourishing Kidney Water urgently is necessary.