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Injury by dampness leads to dysfunction of the limbs and joints, the tongue coating gradually turns yellow, thirst with a desire to drink, dark red urine accompanied by vexation and grievance. This is dampness restraining and heat steaming. It is appropriate to use Puerariae Radix (Ge Gen), Trichosanthis Radix (Hua Fen), Scutellariae Radix (Huang Qin), Akebia Caulis (Mu Tong), Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Xing Ren), Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (Hou Po), Talcum (Hua Shi), Sojae Preparata (Dou Juan), Phragmitis Rhizoma (Lu Gen), and Lophatheri Herba (Dan Zhu Ye) to clear the Lung and regulate dampness.

The preceding clause describes half-dampness and half-heat, thus bitter-pungent cool resolution is suitable. In this clause, heat exceeds dampness, gradually scorching the fluids of the Lung, with a momentum like a spreading fire. Therefore, the limbs and joints are not smooth, there is thirst, yellow tongue coating, vexatious heat, and dark red urine; the yin fluids in the body are all being consumed. How can one again mix warm-drying herbs to damage Qi and fluids? One should only use Puerariae Radix and Trichosanthis Radix to clear the Upper Jiao, Scutellariae Radix and Akebia Caulis to unblock the meridians, Armeniacae Semen Amarum and Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex to move Spleen Qi, and Talcum, Phragmitis Rhizoma, Sojae Preparata, and Lophatheri Herba, which are sweet, cool, and light-leaching, to clear the Qi level, so as to avoid damaging Yin and stirring wind.

Injury by dampness causes vexatious steaming and body pain, yellow tongue coating with a crimson tip, and a large and surging pulse. This is Qi-level heat in the Yangming channel. It is appropriate to use Cangzhu Baihu Tang (Cangzhu White Tiger Decoction) plus Forsythiae Fructus (Lian Qiao), Scrophulariae Radix (Yuan Shen), Armeniacae Semen Amarum, Thunbergia Caulis (Tong Cao), Phragmitis Rhizoma, and Talcum to clear Qi and transform heat.

The preceding clause had heat exceeding dampness, but dampness still lingered, so within the cooling and light-leaching formulas, a little bitter-warm herb was added to move Spleen Yang. In this clause, dampness gradually transforms into heat, and heat exceeds dampness. The pathogen transmits to Yangming, causing steaming heat and restlessness; pressing upon and invading the Ying (Nutritive) level of the Heart, the tongue tip gradually becomes crimson, and the pulse gradually becomes large and surging. This indicates the pathogen is at Yangming and is about to enter Ying. Therefore, Baihu Tang is used with Scrophulariae Radix and Forsythiae Fructus to clear Qi-level heat, combined with Talcum, Phragmitis Rhizoma, and Thunbergia Caula, which are sweet, cool, and light-leaching, to drive out damp-heat. Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma) is still used because the body still has pain, indicating that residual pathogens remain.

When damp-heat does not resolve, the tongue coating is yellow and fresh crimson, with mental confusion and delirious speech, and a large and rapid pulse. This is Qi and Blood blazing and steaming, with heat sinking into the Ying level of the Heart. It is appropriate to use Yunu Jian (Jade Woman Decoction) plus Forsythiae Calyx (Lian Qiao Xin), Scrophulariae Calyx (Yuan Shen Xin), fresh Dendrobii Caulis (Shi Hu), fresh Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma (Shi Pu), green Lophatheri Folium (Qing Zhu Ye), and Niuhuang Wan (Calculus Bovis Pill) to clear both Qi and Blood.

This clause involves complete transformation of dampness into heat, affecting both Qi and Blood. Heat at the Qi level causes yellow tongue coating; once it scorches the Blood level, the color becomes fresh crimson; and when it blazes the Ying level of the Heart, mental confusion and delirious speech occur. Therefore, Sheng Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix) in Yunu Jian is used to cool the Blood, Shigypsum (Gypsum Fibrosum) to clear Qi, Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) and Shi Hu to nourish Stomach Yin, Lian Qiao and Yuan Shen to clear internal heat, Shi Pu and Zhu Ye to clear the Heart, and Niuhuang Wan to open orifices. The goal is to achieve clear Qi and lucid spirit, preventing heat from scorching fluids and leading to convulsions and syncope.