Bone trough wind

A sore in front of the ear that eventually affects the bone trough, i.e., the tooth bed. It is heralded by dull pain under the skin stretching into the sinew and bone; it starts as a small node that grows to the size of a walnut. If it bursts, it does not heal easily, and discharges pus that is foul-smelling and sometimes clear and thin. If it persists, rotten bone is discharged, and the gums swell and become purple-black in color, and bleed. In severe cases, the movement of the jaw is inhibited, the tooth bed putrefies, and teeth fall out. It is attributable to wind-fire toxin in the hand lesser yáng (shào yáng) or foot yáng brightness (yáng míng) stomach channel, which can be exacerbated by spleen yáng vacuity that prevents expulsion of the toxin.

Medicinal therapy: Dispel wind, disperse fire, and resolve toxin with Yáng-Upbearing Fire-Dispersing Decoction (升阳散火汤 shēng yáng sàn huǒ tāng). Persistent cases can be treated with Aconite Center-Rectifying Decoction (附子理中汤 fù zǐ lǐ zhōng tāng) or Harmonious Yáng Decoction (阳和汤 yáng hé tāng) to expressing the toxin.