Life-Saving Pill，*Introduction to Medicine*, Volume 8.，For boils and abscesses on the back, carbuncles, mastitis, anal abscesses, all types of unexplained swellings and toxic sores, and umbilical wind in children.
Life-Saving Pill
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All references in this article to TCM syndrome differentiation, herbal medicines, teas, and decoctions are intended to promote TCM culture and are provided solely for educational and reference purposes.
Formulas Name : Life-Saving Pill
Chinese Name : 赛命丹
Drug Formulation
3 qian of toad venom, 3 qian of cinnabar, 3 qian of realgar, 3 qian of bile alum, 3 qian of dragon’s blood, 3 qian of frankincense, 3 qian of myrrh, 5 fen of centipede,5 fen of musk, 6 qian of Asarum, 6 qian of whole scorpion, 6 qian of cicada exoskeleton, 6 qian of pangolin scales, 6 qian of dried silkworm, 6 qian of soapwort, 5 fen of white alum (roast with a small amount of salt until dry; discard the salt), and 5 fen of camphor.
Source
*Introduction to Medicine*, Volume 8.
Processing
Grind the above ingredients into a fine powder. On the Dragon Boat Festival, mix with wine paste to form pills the size of mung beans.
Benefits
For boils and abscesses on the back, carbuncles, mastitis, anal abscesses, all types of unexplained swellings and toxic sores, and umbilical wind in children.
Instructions for Use
Take 3 pills at a time, washed down with 1 small zhong of scallion wine. Cover yourself with a blanket to induce sweating; if sweating does not occur, take another pill. After taking the medicine, eat plain rice porridge to aid recovery.
Note
Avoid cucumbers, watercress, and all wind-inducing foods.
Copyright: Excerpt from *Introduction to Medicine*, Volume 8., Copyright belongs to the Original Author and all original sources, This article was shared by DeDe on August 30, 2026, Please credit the source and include a link to the original article when reposting.
Terminology Proofreading: [Cheng Bo] | August 30, 2026 Reviewed by: [Wang Zhongxiang, Associate Chief TCM Physician (China)] | August 30, 2026
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Life-Saving Pill,For boils and abscesses on the back, carbuncles, mastitis, anal abscesses, all types of unexplained swellings and toxic sores, and umbilical wind in children.