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Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang, 麻黄) one tael, Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (Houpo, 厚朴) stir-fried with ginger juice, Vigna Angularis Seed (Bian Dou, 扁豆) stir-fried five qian, Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian, 黄连) stir-fried with ginger three qian.
Take cold.

The pathogenic factors of Summerheat (Shu, 暑), Dampness (Shi, 湿), and Fire (Huo, 火) are often indistinguishable to beginners, leading to frequent errors. I will now explain them clearly. During the summer season, Heaven's Qi descends and Earth's Qi ascends, and humans reside within this interaction. Summerheat invades from above, while Dampness attacks from below. Summerheat belongs to the Qi of Heaven, and Dampness belongs to the Qi of Earth; when the heat becomes extreme, it transforms into Fire. This constitutes the distinction among these three pathogenic factors. Within the category of Summerheat diseases, let us first discuss Summerheat symptoms. Although there are names such as Exposure to Summerheat (Mao Shu, 冒暑), Injury by Summerheat (Shang Shu, 伤暑), Collapse due to Summerheat (Zhong Shu, 中暑), and Latent Summerheat (Fu Shu, 伏暑), these merely denote slight differences in severity; they all belong to Yang Pathogens (Yang Xie, 阳邪). Those who contract Wind (Feng, 风) due to seeking coolness in summer suffer from Wind Injury (Shang Feng, 伤风); those who contract Cold (Han, 寒) due to consuming cold food in summer suffer from Cold Injury (Shang Han, 伤寒). However, their treatment differs from that of Wind or Cold injury in winter. For Wind injury contracted during summer, acrid-cool methods should be used to release the exterior; for Cold injury contracted during summer, warm herbs should be incorporated into formulas that clear and resolve Summerheat. This is the correct method. Siwei Xiangru Yin (Four-Ingredient Elsholtzia Decoction) is a formula for treating Cold-Dampness complicated by Summerheat, where Yang pathogens are suppressed, analogous to the use of Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction), Jingjie (Schizonepeta), and Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia) for Wind injury in winter. Nowadays, people mistakenly consider Xiangru (Elsholtzia) as a cooling herb. Regardless of the type of Summerheat disease, they apply it first, which is truly surprising and lamentable.

Astragali Radix (Huangqi, 黄芪) one qian, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen, 人参) one qian, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu, 白术) stir-fried five fen, Atractylodis Rhizoma (Cangzhu, 苍术) one qian, Massa Medicata Fermentata (Shenqu, 神曲) five fen (stir-fried), Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chenpi, 陈皮), Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride (Qingpi, 青皮) stir-fried with bran, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao, 甘草) roasted, Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong, 麦冬), Schisandrae Fructus (Wuweizi, 五味子), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui, 当归) washed with wine, Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai, 黄柏) fried with wine, Alismatis Rhizoma (Zexie, 泽泻) each two fen, Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Shengma, 升麻) one qian, Puerariae Lobatae Radix (Gegen, 葛根) three fen.
Decoct with Ginger (Shengjiang, 生姜) and Jujubae Fructus (Dazao, 大枣).

Qingshu Yiqi Tang (Clear Summerheat and Benefit Qi Decoction) contains a complex mixture of herbs; tonifying agents are mixed with resolving agents, ascending agents with descending agents, leaving one unsure which principle to follow. Moreover, among its indications, "chest fullness and shortness of breath" is listed; thus, Huangqi (Astragalus) and Shengma (Cimicifuga) are contraindicated. I believe that for such conditions, clearing the Heart (Xin, 心) and nourishing the Stomach (Wei, 胃), strengthening the Spleen (Pi, 脾) and promoting the discharge of Dampness (Shi, 湿) is sufficient. Why make a mountain out of a molehill? I hold Mr. Dongyuan (Li Dongyuan, 李东垣) in highest esteem, but I dare not blindly endorse his prescriptions in this regard.