Peppercorn sore

A sore growing on the inner surface of the eyelid. A peppercorn sore is attributed to local contraction of wind toxin combining with accumulated heat in the spleen channel to cause stagnation in the network vessels of the eyelid and disharmony between qì and the blood. The sore is small and looks like a zanthoxylum fruit (Sichuanese peppercorn). It is associated with roughness and dryness, aversion to light, and tearing.

Biomedical correspondence: trachoma.

Medicinal therapy: Dispel wind and clear heat; disperse stasis and free the network vessels. An appropriate formula is schizonepeta (Schizonepetae Herba, 荆芥 jīng jiè), saposhnikovia (Saposhnikoviae Radix, 防风 fáng fēng), red peony (Paeoniae Radix Rubra, 赤芍药 chì sháo yào), scrophularia (Scrophulariae Radix, 玄参 xuán shēn), tangerine peel (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, 陈皮 chén pí), cicada molting (Cicadae Periostracum, 蝉蜕 chán tuì), atractylodes (Atractylodis Rhizoma, 苍朮 cāng zhú), dictamnus (Dictamni Cortex, 白鲜皮 bái xiān pí), forsythia (Forsythiae Fructus, 连翘 lián qiào), raw rhubarb (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma Crudi, 生大黄 shēng dà huáng), officinal magnolia bark (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, 厚朴 hòu pò), licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix, 甘草 gān cǎo), and bitter lophatherum (Pleioblasti Folium, 苦竹叶 kǔ zhú yè). In severe cases, without appropriate treatment, peppercorn sores may cause disease of the eye itself.