Supporting Therapy
Supporting therapy helps the infected area to commence the healing process in suppurative and ulcerous diseases. Physicians focus on promoting the liquefaction of the abscess to facilitate pus drainage, in order to localize the infected area and control further spreading. TCM physicians will further identify whether the body's resistance is capable of sustaining the pus formation process, if not, then invigorating healthy energy should also be incorporated. Signs for health energy deficiency are wounds with a flat or sunken margin and difficult to heal, low-spirited, a pale face, and the pulse is rapid and forceless.
Commonly selected herbs in supporting therapy include astragalus root, pilose asiabell root, largehead atractylodes rhizome, angelica root, white peony root and Chinese honeylocust spine. A sample prescription: Powder for Promoting Pus Drainage (tou nong san). The prescription aims at enabling the abscess to mature and rupture, which is suitable for an unruptured abscess or an abscess that hasn't drained properly after rupture.
