Internal expression

Also expression. Pushing (toxin) outward from within; one of the three main methods of treating sores (see sore³). It involves the use of qì and blood-supplementing medicinals to support right qì, express the toxin, and prevent it from falling inward. It includes two forms:

Patterns

Expressing toxin and outthrusting pus (托毒透脓 tuó dú tòu nóng):This method is used for midstage sores when toxin is exuberant, but right qì has not yet been damaged, and the sore has still not burst. The treatment uses medicinals such as astragalus (Astragali Radix, 黄芪 huáng qí), Chinese angelica (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, 当归 dāng guī), chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma, 川芎 chuān xiōng), pangolin scales (Manitis Squama, 穿山甲 chuān shān jiǎ), Dahurian angelica (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, 白芷 bái zhǐ), and gleditsia thorn (Gleditsiae Spina, 皂角刺 zào jiǎo cì).

Supplemental expression (补托 bǔ tuō): This method is used when right qì vacuity prevents the expulsion of toxin so that the sore becomes flat with a broad root, and either fails to burst or bursts to produce only a thin scant discharge without abatement of swelling and accompanied by generalized heat, devitalized essence-spirit, yellow facial complexion, and a forceless rapid pulse. It makes use of medicinals such as astragalus (Astragali Radix, 黄芪 huáng qí), white atractylodes (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, 白朮 bái zhú), poria (Poria, 茯苓 fú líng), codonopsis (Codonopsis Radix, 党参 dǎng shēn), mix-fried licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix, 甘草 gān cǎo), Chinese angelica (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, 当归 dāng guī), white peony (Paeoniae Radix Alba, 白芍药 bái sháo yào), gleditsia thorn (Gleditsiae Spina, 皂角刺 zào jiǎo cì), Dahurian angelica (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, 白芷 bái zhǐ), lonicera (Lonicerae Flos, 金银花 jīn yín huā), forsythia (Forsythiae Fructus, 连翘 lián qiào), platycodon (Platycodonis Radix, 桔梗 jié gěng), and tangerine peel (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, 陈皮 chén pí).

Etymology

Chin 内 nèi, internal; 托 tuō, hold up, support. Gently pushing out (toxin) by internally acting medicinals.