Esoteric Meanings of the Grotto Heavens, Vol. 5

Ghost Fire Cinnabar

original: 鬼火丹 (Guǐhuǒ Dān). In Traditional Chinese Medicine, "Cinnabar" refers to a category of acute, red, spreading skin eruptions, similar to what modern medicine calls erysipelas or cellulitis. "Ghost Fire" suggests a rapid, flickering spread like a phantom flame.

Ghost Fire Cinnabar first appears as a red swelling on the face, which then gradually spreads from the head downward until the entire body is also red and swollen. This condition is caused by "internal wind-heat" Wind-heat (風熱): A diagnostic pattern where external pathogens or internal imbalances cause symptoms like fever, redness, and inflammation within the Hand and Foot Yang Ming meridians The Yang Ming meridians are the Stomach and Large Intestine pathways, which are traditionally considered "rich in blood and Qi" and prone to high heat.

Treatment should involve the use of White Tiger Decoction original: 白虎湯 (Báihǔ Tāng), a famous classical formula for clearing intense heat from the "interior" or organ level to drain heat from the Stomach. Additions such as Saposhnikovia Root, Schizonepeta, Peppermint, Mulberry Root Bark, and Kudzu Root should be included to disperse the "wind" and lead it out through the skin and pores.

One might ask: Since the Large Intestine is also hot, why not drain the fire of the Large Intestine specifically? This is because the fire in the Stomach is more severe than that in the Large Intestine; if the Stomach fire is dispersed, the Large Intestine fire will naturally dissipate as well, making specific treatment for the latter unnecessary. Additionally, it is especially effective to use Prostrate Dragon Powder original: 伏龍散 (Fúlóng Sǎn), traditionally made from "Stove Core Earth," the scorched clay from the center of an old wood-burning stove ground into a fine powder and mixed with egg whites for topical application.

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White Tiger Modified Decoction

A traditionally handed-down formula for treating Ghost Fire Cinnabar