Powder-Flower Sores and Skirt-Hem Sores

Powder-Flower Sores original: "粉花瘡" (Fenhua chuang); likely referring to acne rosacea or pustular acne. grow on the face in pits and clusters of lumps. They occur because the Lungs have been affected by wind-heat In traditional medicine, a combination of environmental "wind" and internal "heat" that causes sudden, red, or itchy skin eruptions.. These sores are most common in women, primarily because the practice of threading original: "絞面" (Jiaomian); an ancient method of hair removal using twisted threads. exposes the face to cold winds. This causes the "heat in the blood" to become stagnant rather than circulating freely, resulting in "powder-pustules" where dampness and heat settle together.

Skirt-Hem Sores original: "裙邊瘡" (Qunbian chuang); likely referring to varicose ulcers or dermatitis around the ankles. also occur in women, appearing on the inner or outer ankle bones. These are caused by wearing skirts that are too short to block the wind, or by a lack of caution in the inner chambers original: "房幃" (Fangwei); a euphemism for sexual activity or postpartum recovery.. This leads to coldness in the feet, which prevents damp-heat from circulating. When this energy stagnates and congeals, it produces these growths.

The lumps of Powder-Flower sores are milder than those of the Skirt-Hem variety. This is because dampness in the upper body is easier to disperse and heat in the upper body is easier to resolve, whereas the damp-heat in the lower body is not easily cleared. Therefore, Powder-Flower sores only require external treatment to be resolved, but Skirt-Hem sores must be combined with internal medicine to achieve a successful result.

Two Pine Powder Listed hereafter original: "二松散" (Ersong San).

Great Wind Ointment Listed hereafter original: "大風膏" (Dafeng Gao); "Great Wind" often refers to leprosy or severe skin diseases in historical texts.

Five-Color Decoction Transmitted by the True Lord Wu Peng for the internal treatment of Skirt-Hem sores original: "五色湯" (Wuse Tang); Wu Peng is a legendary shaman-physician from Chinese antiquity.