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Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus): It receives the Qi of clear Yang and inherits the nature of Metal and Water; therefore, its taste is bitter and acrid, its nature is neutral (originally stated as "ping" but contextually clarified as cold later, here translated based on standard properties: bitter, acrid, slightly cold), and it is non-toxic. Its aroma and flavor are both thin, making it light, clear, and ascending in nature; it belongs to Yin containing Yang. It enters the Hand-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, and also the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. Due to its acrid-cool and clearing-upward nature, it disperses stagnant and knotted heat. It is a key herb for treating various types of Lin syndrome (dysuria) and sores, as well as swelling and toxicity caused by damp-heat.

Lianqiao disperses guest-heat (external pathogenic heat) in the Heart Meridian, damp-heat in the Spleen and Stomach, and stagnant heat in other meridians. It possesses both the merit of clearing heat and the wonder of dissipating nodules. It treats all carbuncles and toxins resulting from blood stasis and Qi stagnation due to damp-heat, five types of Lin syndrome with alternating chills and fever, scrofula (tuberculous lymphadenitis), malignant sores from smallpox, knotted heat, and insect toxins.

Indications (Reference combined with Smallpox/Rash diseases): Clears various fire pathogens, relieves vexillary heat in the five centers (palms, soles, and chest), disperses heart-meridian toxic heat in smallpox, treats carbuncle swellings caused by wind-heat and Yang-toxin, residual toxins after smallpox resolution, and dissipates stagnation while removing dampness.

Commentary: Lianqiao has a bitter taste and cold nature, capable of draining stagnant fire from the six meridians, yet it is primarily a drug entering the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. The Heart governs Fire; when Heart-fire is cleared, all other Zang organs are cleared. All pain and sores/ulcers belong to Heart-fire; thus, practitioners specializing in sores regard it as an essential herb. However, excessive use may weaken the Stomach and reduce appetite, so those with insufficient Spleen and Stomach function should use it with caution. Furthermore, it clears heat without tonifying; it should not be taken after carbuncles or ulcers have ulcerated, nor by those whose fire-heat stems from deficiency.

Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma): Born inheriting the dry Qi of the Earth and the winter Qi of Heaven, its taste is sweet and salty, its nature is cold, and it is non-toxic. In herbs for promoting urination via the Spleen and Stomach, it should be used raw. In herbs for nourishing Yin and promoting urination, it should be stir-fried with salt water. In the Ba Wei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Replenishing Pill) for warming and tonifying, it should be stir-fried with salt wine.

Zexie removes sweating in the yin regions, strongly promotes urination, drains latent water-dampness, and mildly nourishes new fluids. It is a sacred herb for treating hematuria, seminal emission, dysentery, edema, removing dampness, and quenching thirst; it is also considered an immortal pill for unblocking Lin syndrome and promoting diuresis. In Wu Ling San (Five-Ingredient Powder for Draining Fluids), it is used to move dampness; in Ba Wei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Replenishing Pill), it is used to guide the formula into the Kidney Meridian. Long-term use can lighten the body, but excessive use causes blurred vision. In Rehmanniae Radix (Shu Di Huang) formulas for tonifying the Kidney, Zexie must be included. Zexie drains damp-fire from the Kidney, allowing tonifying herbs to take effect effectively. Thus, ancient physicians always included draining herbs alongside tonifying herbs; this is the subtlety of opening and closing. If there is only tonification without draining, there will be harm from excessiveness. Only in cases of collapse and severe deficiency is the force of strong tonification necessary, allowing no delay. Bian Que said: "Excessive use causes eye problems in patients," because it promotes urination and drains the Kidney. Therefore, it is contraindicated for patients without dampness, those with Kidney deficiency causing seminal emission, or those with deficient eyesight and unclear vision.

Indications (Reference combined with Smallpox/Rash diseases): Primarily tonifies Yin and nourishes Blood, drives away stagnant water in the Bladder and Triple Burner. It is used when smallpox patients present with red and scanty/difficult urination.