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When exposed to summer-heat and drinking excessively, the Spleen and Stomach are affected by dampness. The separation of water and grain fails, leading to cholera-like vomiting and diarrhea, and disharmony of the Zang-Fu organs.

Gancao (Licorice Root, *Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma*, 3 jin, stir-fried until scorched yellow), Ganjiang (Dried Ginger, *Zingiberis Rhizoma*, stir-fried), Xingren (Apricot Seed, *Armeniacae Semen Amarum*, peeled and tipped, stir-fried until scorched black), Rougui (Cinnamon Bark, *Cinnamomi Cortex*, peeled, avoiding direct fire, each 6 liang 4 qian). Grind into powder. Take 3 qian per dose. If feeling vexed and thirsty, mix well with well-water (*Jinghua Shui*), or it can also be taken by mixing with boiling water.

To treat the steaming damp-heat of late summer affecting the body, causing mental fatigue and lassitude in the four limbs, fever, panting, and irritability, fullness and oppression in the epigastrium, possibly accompanied by diarrhea, thirst, spontaneous sweating, and physical deficiency.

Renshen (Ginseng Root, *Panacis Quinquefolii Radix* or *Ginseng Radix*, depending on context, here likely *Panax ginseng*), Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome, *Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma*, stir-fried), Chenpi (Tangerine Peel, *Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium*), Shenqu (Medicated Leaven, *Massa Medicata Fermentata*, stir-fried), Zexie (Alisma Rhizome, *Alismatis Rhizoma, each 5 fen), Huangqi (Astragalus Root, *Astragali Radix*, honey-fried), Cangzhu (Atractylodes Lancea Rhizome, *Atractylodis Lanceae Rhizoma*, processed), Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizome, *Cimicifugae Rhizoma, each 1 qian), Gancao (Licorice Root, *Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma*), Gegen (Kudzu Root, *Puerariae Lobatae Radix, each 3 fen), Wuweizi (Schisandra Fruit, *Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus*, 9 grains, crushed).

Summer-heat injures Yuan Qi (Original Qi), causing confusion between clear and turbid qi. As stated in the *Classic*: "If turbid qi stays above, distension occurs; if clear qi sinks below, undigested food diarrhea (*Xiangxie*) occurs."

Huangqi and the two Atractylodes species serve as the guarantee for Yuan Qi; Renshen and Wuweizi act as the barrier for regulatory functions; Shengma and Gegen guide the clear qi to ascend; Shenqu and Zexie cause the turbid qi to descend; Chenpi harmonizes the Stomach; Zhi Gancao (Honey-fried Licorice) harmonizes the Middle Jiao. With the root strengthened and clear/turbid qi distinct, even if damp-heat pathogens exist, they cannot lodge. Hence, it is called Qingshu Yiqi Tang (Clear Summer-heat and Boost Qi Decoction).

To clear and dissipate summer-heat, herbs such as Bohe (Mint, *Menthae Haplocalycis Herba*), Bian Dou (Hyacinth Bean, *Lablab Album*, though often refers to *Euryale Seed* in some contexts, here likely *Lablab albus* or similar cooling bean), Xiangru (Elsholtzia Herb, *Elsholtziae Herba*), Mugua (Chaenomeles Fruit, *Chaenomelis Fructus*), Chenpi, Houpo (Magnolia Bark, *Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex*), Huashi (Talcum, *Talcum), Chuan Lianlian (Sichuan Coptis Rhizome, *Coptidis Rhizoma*), Sheng Gancao (Raw Licorice), Maidong (Ophiopogon Tuber, *Ophiopogonis Tuber*), Chi Fuling (Red Poria, *Poria with Red Mycelium*), Lianqiao (Forsythia Fruit, *Forsythiae Fructus*), Huangqin (Scutellaria Root, *Scutellariae Radix*), Heishanzhi (Black Gardenia Fruit, *Gardeniae Fructus*), Mutong (Akebia Stem, *Akebiae Caulis*), Zexie, etc., should be selected according to the specific presentation.

To clear summer-heat and regulate Yuan Qi, herbs such as Renshen, Maidong, Shengdi (Rehmannia Root, *Rehmanniae Radix*), Wuweizi, Xiangru, Bian Dou, Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome, *Coptidis Rhizoma*), Fuling (Poria, *Poria*), and Sheng Gancao, etc., should be selected according to the specific presentation.

Among all things that silently bear the burden in the world, it is dampness. The Spleen is the master of the body and suffers most from dampness; precisely because it suffers most, it is most easily invaded. If dampness accumulates in the upper part, encountering moisture turns it into phlegm; if it accumulates in the lower part, encountering moisture turns it into dysentery. When Taiyin Damp Earth governs the climate, this is dampness generated by atmospheric transformation. If continuous rain invades a deficient body, or one sleeps in low, damp places, thereby receiving earth-steaming dampness, or if sweat-soaked clothes remain long without changing, or one runs exposed to rain and dew, this is externally contracted dampness. If one indulges in melons and fruits, drinks milk and cheese, consumes wine and malt liquor, and prefers cold and raw foods, this is internally injured dampness due to diet. If the mother had damp disease, or the person is obese and prone to dampness, this is congenital dampness inherited from the parents. However, light and clear belong to Heaven, heavy and turbid belong to Earth. Therefore, those suffering from Earth-dampness will necessarily have a heavy body. The treatment method should only involve leaching out dampness and promoting urination; sweating is contraindicated. One must also avoid heating near fire to prevent dampness from invading internally and generating other diseases. Dampness belongs to the nature of Earth, but Fire-Heat can generate Earth-dampness. Thus, in summer heat, all things are moist; in autumn coolness, dampness dries up again. Dampness does not arise independently; it mostly occurs because Fire-Heat stagnates, preventing the free flow of body fluids, which then stagnate to form water-dampness. Although presenting as a dampness syndrome, it is accompanied by heat symptoms. This is why dampness and heat are interdependent.