Iron Well Barrier，From *Outline of Surgical Treatise on Abscesses*, citing a formula by Zhu Langxian.，For boils and carbuncles with severe, diffuse, boundless swelling, where the roots spread in all directions and the toxin does not concentrate; or for sores arising between joints and flexural areas that produce pus and generate toxin.
Iron Well Barrier
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Formulas Name : Iron Well Barrier
Chinese Name : 铁井阑
Drug Formulation
Large gallnuts (remove worm-eaten fragments, lightly roast until clumped, allow to cool, then grind into a fine powder) 3 liang; dried toad fat (dried, ground into a fine powder) 5 qian;Gamboge 3 liang (first melt in good vinegar over low heat in a copper ladle; strain through silk to remove dregs before use), Alum 1 liang (ground), Bile Alum 8 qian (ground), Rhubarb 2 liang, Soapberry 2 liang, Bletilla 2 liang, Mountain Arisaema 2 liang, Aconite 1 liang.
Source
From *Outline of Surgical Treatise on Abscesses*, citing a formula by Zhu Langxian.
Processing
First, simmer the last five ingredients in 2 large bowls of aged rice vinegar over low heat until thickened, then strain out the residue. Mix in the vinegar and simmer together with the gambir until a paste forms. Once extremely thick, mix in the finely ground five-fold alum, toad venom, and the two types of alum until well blended. Remove from heat, then add 3 qian of finely ground musk and pound until uniform. Form into tablets, air-dry in the shade, and store.
Benefits
For boils and carbuncles with severe, diffuse, boundless swelling, where the roots spread in all directions and the toxin does not concentrate; or for sores arising between joints and flexural areas that produce pus and generate toxin.
Instructions for Use
When ready for use, grind the ointment with vinegar into a thick paste and apply it all around the base of the sore. If it dries, moisten it with vinegar; wash it off after one day and reapply. To redirect the toxin to one side, apply the ointment to one side as described above; the swollen area where the ointment is applied will subside, while the toxin will concentrate on the untreated side, ensuring that the joints remain unharmed.
Copyright: Excerpt from From *Outline of Surgical Treatise on Abscesses*, citing a formula by Zhu Langxian., Copyright belongs to the Original Author and all original sources, This article was shared by DeDe on August 31, 2026, Please credit the source and include a link to the original article when reposting.
Terminology Proofreading: [Cheng Bo] | August 31, 2026 Reviewed by: [Wang Zhongxiang, Associate Chief TCM Physician (China)] | August 31, 2026
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Iron Well Barrier,For boils and carbuncles with severe, diffuse, boundless swelling, where the roots spread in all directions and the toxin does not concentrate; or for sores arising between joints and flexural areas that produce pus and generate toxin.