《仙傳外科祕方》Vol. 7

This is a collection of secret surgical formulas compiled by the Daoist priest Zhao Yizhen (Daoist name: Yuanyangzi) during the Yuan Dynasty, documenting specialized treatments for scrofula (lymphatic tuberculosis).

For treating chronic scrofula that fails to heal, first secure the affected area with a band, then apply moxibustion starting from the lowest tubercle. For each tubercle treated, place a slice of garlic over it after moxibustion. After five to seven cones (a unit of moxibustion measurement), cease the treatment and immediately apply a medicinal plaster. The plaster should be replaced daily, with rapid results observed.

The secret plaster formula consists of the following ingredients ground into fine powder: green vitriol (2.5 liang, stir-fried until yellow), frankincense, sandalwood, scorpion (or aromatic knots as substitute), myrrh, chalcanthite (discontinue once granulation begins), calomel (use sparingly), snake gallbladder (optional), and musk (used only for ulcerated sores, not in early stages). For every half liang of this powder, mix with five liang of bean flour and blend with rice vinegar into a paste. Spread this on oiled paper and apply to the affected area. If new tissue fails to regenerate, add granulation-promoting herbs.

The Five-Aromatics Forsythia Powder is indicated for various heat-toxin accumulations, nodules, scrofula, carbuncles, and malignant sores. The formula includes eaglewood, forsythia, frankincense, cimicifuga, rhubarb, loranthus, clove, belamcanda, angelica pubescens, akebia, notopterygium, licorice, musk, and costus root. Astragalus may also be added. For each dose, take four qian of the mixture, decoct in two bowls of water until reduced to 80% volume, and consume warm after meals until toxins are expelled. Adjust ingredients like bamboo sap or mirabilitum based on symptoms. The dregs can be boiled for topical washing.

The Six-One Powder (also called Beneficial Origin Powder) is a fast-acting remedy for early-stage scrofula, providing rapid relief upon administration.

This text records several medicinal formulas and administration methods for treating external ailments.

The first prescription combines one liang of talcum powder with two qian of licorice, ground into medicinal powder. For each dose, take one and a half qian mixed with rice water—administer once before sleep and again at midnight.

Another formula uses four qian each of schizonepeta spike, stiff silkworm, and black morning glory, along with twenty-eight blister beetles (with heads, legs and wings removed, stir-fried with glutinous rice until the grains turn yellow—discard the beetles and use only the fried rice). Grind these ingredients into fine powder. At the fifth watch (just before dawn), take one qian with warm wine. Observe urination afterward—if toxins are expelled, the treatment works. If nothing passes on the first day, repeat the dose on the second day. Should it remain ineffective by the third day, first drink thin white glutinous rice porridge at the fifth watch before taking the medicine again. Alternatively, one qian of amber powder taken with rush stem decoction can aid detoxification. For unrelenting abdominal pain after ingestion, drink raw cold tea as relief; severe pain may be alleviated with saposhnikovia root crushed in water. Special caution: these medicines must not be overdosed.

For treating wind-toxin nodules and scrofulous swellings, the text prescribes Burdock Seed Pills: one liang each of slightly fried burdock seeds and fleeceflower root, two liang each of dried mint and realgar, two qian each of bezoar and musk—all bound with seven pieces of gleditsia extract into wutong seed-sized pills. Take twenty pills per dose with astragalus decoction.

Post-scrofula recovery calls for Four Saints Powder: equal parts seaweed, cassia seeds, notopterygium root, and dianthus spike ground into powder. Take two qian per dose with rice water.

Finally, the text explains throat disease pathology: the throat, a vital passage connecting to the stomach governing respiration, accumulates heat-toxins in the diaphragm to generate wind disorders—manifesting as throat ulcers, swelling, obstruction, or even "double tongue" (sublingual edema). Treatment must first dispel wind-phlegm to restore throat patency.

This passage describes several medicinal formulas for treating throat swelling, sores, and related conditions. It first explains that unresolved heat toxins (pathogenic heat in the body) can become dangerous, potentially causing palatal abscesses (suspended carbuncles) or cold-induced organ dysfunction leading to swallowing difficulties, requiring targeted treatment based on symptoms.

The first formula, called "Toxin-Transforming Internal Support Powder," specifically treats throat swelling and cheek inflammation caused by wind-heat ascending, along with tonsillitis (double or single moth swelling), tongue root swelling (double tongue), and tongue stiffness (wooden tongue). The prescription includes scrophularia root, akebia stem, raw rhubarb, lophatherum, gardenia fruit, raw rehmannia root, and rush pith, crushed and decocted in water for warm consumption. In emergencies, one may mix water with oil, adding gleditsia powder and plant ash for swallowing.

The second formula, "Sophora Root Decoction," primarily treats throat swelling and obstruction. It contains sophora root (detoxifying), wound-healing herbs, gardenia fruit, lophatherum, mugwort leaves, and rush pith. Alcohol drinkers may decoct it in wine, while others use water. Contraindicated for pregnant women. Those with throat ulcers should take five to six consecutive doses after recovery to prevent recurrence.

The third prescription, "Throat-Blowing Wind-Dispelling Powder," addresses various throat disorders: ulcerative swelling, throat spasms (constricted throat wind), tonsillitis (single/double moth), acute throat wind, foreign fiber inhalation, and tongue root swelling. Ingredients include chalcanthite, borneol, herbal snow powder, stir-fried silkworm, bitter clove, and rush pith, ground fine for blowing into the throat. Severe cases may receive it nasally. For excessive phlegm, use fresh mugwort mashed with rice vinegar as a gargle.

An alternative remedy involves packing alum powder into a winter-slaughtered pig's gallbladder, drying it, then grinding the alum for throat application. Chronic sufferers may prevent recurrence through moxibustion therapy.

Method for Treating Lockjaw:

The best remedy uses a single stem of Jiulongchuan (also known as golden hairpin herb). Peel and crush the root, wrap it in cotton cloth, and tie it to the end of chopsticks. First, rub the affected jaw area five or six times to loosen the locked jaw; then rub the throat area five or six times to expel phlegm. Afterward, stir-fry salt until hot, grind it into a fine powder, wrap it in cotton cloth, and apply it to the affected area for a complete recovery. If symptoms recur after eating, crush fresh ginger, mix it with roasted soapberry pods and powdered salt, dip the cotton-wrapped ginger into the mixture, and rub the area five or six times for relief.

Prescription for Acute Throat Blockage:

Crush rice vinegar and ginger together and pour it into the throat to break open throat sores for immediate effect. Adding Guchuicao (drumstick herb) and Tuniuxi (Achyranthes root) with Wuyao (Lindera root) enhances efficacy. Crush these two herbs fresh to extract their juice, and take with vinegar. For severe cases, administer through the nose to induce vomiting of phlegm. Alternatively, dry the herbs, grind them into powder, and decoct with rice vinegar for oral use.

Ruisheng Powder specifically treats acute throat wind (a critical condition involving throat swelling and obstruction), characterized by progressive throat blockage, inability to swallow, locked jaw, and unconsciousness. The formula includes:

• Realgar (Xionghuang)
• Fresh Lilu (black false hellebore)
• Alum (Baifan)
• Soapberry pods (Yazao), peeled and roasted until yellow
• Seven scorpion tails

Grind all ingredients into a fine powder. Blow a small amount into the nostrils to induce vomiting of stubborn phlegm for recovery. Another method involves decocting Baiyao (a white medicinal herb) and Shandougen (Sophora root) into a liquid, gargling to remove phlegm, then swallowing one or two mouthfuls.

Remedy for Rabid Dog Bites:

Immediately after being bitten, drink half a cup of clear vegetable oil to cleanse the heart and detoxify. Quickly stir-fry realgar with Banmao (blister beetle, removing head, wings, and legs), grind into powder, and take one beetle's worth daily with wine and realgar. Continue for 49 days, drinking minimal cold water during this period. Vegetable oil may also be consumed until toxins are expelled via urine. If urination is blocked, increase the dosage. If abdominal pain occurs after detoxification, immediately take Qingdian (indigo plant dye) mixed with cold water or decocted coptis (Huanglian) to neutralize toxins. Avoid hot-natured foods during treatment. Do not let the wound heal naturally—if unbroken, cauterize it to release blood and toxins. If bloody urine appears, the condition is incurable.

Critical Note: Treatment for rabid dog bites must begin within a year or ideally within 100 days; otherwise, the toxin becomes untreatable upon onset.

This passage describes several secret formulas for treating acute internal injuries. The first method revives patients who appear deceased but retain residual warmth in the chest area: boil one jin of pagoda tree flowers with two large bowls of wine and water until reduced to one and a half bowls, then administer warm through the patient's clenched teeth. After approximately one shichen (two hours), feed the patient warm congee to restore vitality. During treatment, avoid cold water, mutton, and other foods that may induce "wind toxins" (pathogenic factors in Chinese medicine).

For recurrent conditions resistant to conventional treatment, use this potent prescription: separately grind five qian of high-quality realgar and five qian of musk into fine powder, mix with wine into two cups of medicinal liquor. If the patient resists, administer by pinching the nose to force ingestion. After administration, allow natural sleep without disturbance until toxins are expelled, then repeat one dose for full efficacy.

Three external applications are also provided: First, crush peeled apricot kernels with kalimeris roots, cleanse the wound with scallion-boiled water before application (apricot kernels alone suffice). Second, grind fifty shelled castor beans with well water (drawn at dawn's first bucket) into paste, apply after saline cleansing. Third, apply tiger bone oil directly to affected areas for rapid relief.