The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Carbuncles can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like carbuncles here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here carbuncles is often associated with sores, boils and sore throat in the pattern “Toxic-Heat”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of carbuncles we’ve identified five herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat carbuncles.
In Chinese Medicine carbuncles is a symptom for the pattern "Toxic-Heat". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Honeysuckle Flowers (Jin Yin Hua) is the king ingredient for Yin Qiao San, a formula used for Toxic-Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red
In addition to carbuncles, other symptoms associated with Toxic-Heat include sores, boils and sore throat.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Toxic-Heat is associated with health issues such as Abnormal Vaginal Discharge.
Toxic-Heat is often treated with Yin Qiao San, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Honeysuckle Flowers - Jin Yin Hua - as a key herb). Yin Qiao San belongs to the category of "external formulas for external disorders", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Disperses Wind Heat".
The top herbs in Huang Lian Jie Du Tang are Goldthread Rhizomes (Huang Lian), Baikal Skullcap Roots (Huang Qin) and Phellodendron Bark (Huang Bo)
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' of which carbuncles is a symptom.
Source date: 1617
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Spreads Lung Qi. Clears Heat. Unblocks the orifices (specifically the nose) .
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' of which carbuncles is a symptom.
The top herbs in Yin Qiao San are Honeysuckle Flowers (Jin Yin Hua), Forsythia Fruits (Lian Qiao) and Platycodon Roots (Jie Geng)
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Disperses Wind Heat. Clears Heat. Resolves Toxicity.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' of which carbuncles is a symptom.
The top herbs in Sang Ju Yin are Mulberry Leaves (Sang Ye), Chrysanthemum Flowers (Ju Hua) and Forsythia Fruits (Lian Qiao)
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Disperses Wind. Stops coughing by invigorating Lung Qi. Clears Heat.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' of which carbuncles is a symptom.
The top herbs in Bai Hu Tang are Gypsum (Shi Gao), Anemarrhena Rhizomes (Zhi Mu) and Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Clears Qi-level Heat. Drains Stomach Fire. Generates fluids. Alleviates thirst.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' of which carbuncles is a symptom.
Because it is a key herb in Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' (a pattern with carbuncles as a symptom)
Goldthread Rhizomes is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Heart, the Large intestine, the Liver, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Expels Damp-Heat especially in the Lower Burner. Eliminates Fire toxicity especially when there is associated Dampness. Acts as a sedative by eliminating Heart Fire. Eliminates Stomach Fire. Expel parasites
Because it is a key herb in Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' (a pattern with carbuncles as a symptom)
Baikal Skullcap Roots is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Heart, the Large intestine, the Lung, the Small intestine and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Expels Heat and Dampness. Clears Upper Burner Heat, especially of the Lung. Clears Heat and stops reckless movement of Blood. Clears pathogenic Heat which is upsetting the fetus. Cools the Liver, reducing Liver Yang rising syndrome.
Because it is a key herb in Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' (a pattern with carbuncles as a symptom)
Phellodendron Bark is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Bladder, the Kidney and the Large intestine.
Its main actions are: Expels Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner. Clears Kidney Yin Deficient Heat. Applied externally or toxic Fire, especially associated with Dampness.
Because it is a key herb in Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' (a pattern with carbuncles as a symptom)
Cape Jasmine Fruits is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Heart, the Lung and the Sanjiao.
Its main actions are: Clears Heat and calms spirit. Drains Damp-Heat affecting the Liver and Gallbladder. Clears Heat in the Blood and stops bleeding. Anti-inflammatory.
Because it is a key herb in Xin Yi Qing Fei Yin, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' (a pattern with carbuncles as a symptom)
Biond’S Magnolia Flowers is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Stomach and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Releases the Exterior and dispels Wind-Cold. Relieves nasal congestion.
Sores Boils Sore throat Jaundice Coughing Fever Erysipelas Eczema Edema Dysentery