A hard lump growing out of the eyelid that is not painful when pressed and moves when pushed. A phlegm node of the eyelid is initially about the size of a rice grain, but gradually grows large to cause swelling and sagging of the eyelid. It is attributed to damp-heat brewing in the spleen and stomach.
Biomedical correspondence: chalazion.
Medicinal therapy: Transform phlegm and disperse binds. Oral: A representative formula is Stomach-Clearing Decoction (清胃汤qīng wèi tāng), which contains gardenia (Gardeniae Fructus, 山栀子shān zhī zǐ), bitter orange (Aurantii Fructus, 枳壳zhǐ ké), perilla seed (Perillae Fructus, 紫苏子zǐ sū zǐ), gypsum (Gypsum Fibrosum, 石膏shí gāo), Sichuan coptis (Coptidis Rhizoma Sichuanensis, 川黄连chuān huáng lián), tangerine peel (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, 陈皮chén pí), forsythia (Forsythiae Fructus, 连翘lián qiào), Chinese angelica tails (Angelicae Sinensis Radicis Extremitas, 当归尾dāng guī wěi), schizonepeta spike (Schizonepetae Flos, 荆芥穗jīng jiè suì), scutellaria (Scutellariae Radix, 黄芩huáng qín), saposhnikovia (Saposhnikoviae Radix, 防风fáng fēng), and raw licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix Cruda, 生甘草shēng gān cǎo). Topical: Apply raw arisaema (Arisaematis Rhizoma Crudum, 生南星shēng nán xīng) ground with vinegar, which can be frequently applied to the affected area. Large nodes are most effectively treated by surgery. A small incision made in the flesh permits the yellow phlegm node to squeezed out.