A welling-abscess in the exterior of the body. External welling-abscesses are characterized by clearly circumscribed redness, swelling, heat, and pain; they are easily dispersed, easily form pus and rupture, and easily heal.
Medicinal therapy: Both oral and topical treatments can be given.
Oral: In the early stages, disperse wind and clear heat, quicken the blood and move stasis using Immortal Formula Life-Giving Beverage (仙方活命饮xiān fāng huó mìng yǐn). Upper body welling-abscesses are largely attributable to wind-heat and can be treated by Arctium Flesh-Resolving Decoction (牛蒡旁解肌汤niú bàng jiě jī tāng); lower body welling-abscesses are largely attributable to damp-heat and can be treated with Fish Poison Yam Toxin-Transforming Decoction (萆薢化毒汤bì xiè huà dú tāng). If there is a concurrent exterior pattern, Schizonepeta and Saposhnikovia Toxin-Vanquishing Powder (荆防败毒散jīng fáng bài dú sǎn) can be used to resolve the exterior and disperse evil. For repletion heat interior patterns, Internal Coursing Coptis Decoction (内疏黄连汤nèi shū huáng lián tāng) can be used. Welling-abscesses that are slow to suppurate can be treated with Pus-Outthrusting Powder (透脓散tòu nóng sǎn). Excessive discharge of pus can be treated by supplementing blood and qì.
Topical: In the early stages, clear heat and disperse swelling with Golden Yellow Powder (金黄散jīn huáng sǎn), Jade Dew Powder (玉露散yù lù sǎn), or Tai Yi Plaster (太乙膏tài yǐ gāo). After pus has formed, the welling-abscess should be cut open and Five-to-Five Elixir (五五丹wǔ wǔ dān) or Nine-to-One Elixir (九一丹jiǔ yī dān) should be applied to raise pus and dispel putridity. When the discharge of pus ceases, use Flesh-Engendering Powder (生肌散shēng jī sǎn) or Flesh-Engendering Jade and Red Paste (生肌玉红膏shēng jī yù hóng gāo) to engender flesh and promote closure.