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Heat (Shu) is a Yang pathogen. The Heart belongs to Li Fire in the Five Elements; therefore, Heat pathogens tend to invade the Heart first, following the principle of resonance between similar entities. In the sixth lunar month (Si Month), the Qi of the six Yang meridians emerges fully above ground, indicating that this Qi is floating and ascending. The Classic states: Heat...

This formula treats all conditions caused by contracting Heat Qi, characterized by steaming fever of the skin, headache with heaviness, spontaneous sweating, limb fatigue, or irritability and thirst, or vomiting and diarrhea. (Since Heat is a Yang-Heat pathogen, it causes steaming fever; Heat invariably combines with Dampness, causing spontaneous sweating; when Heat-Damp disturbs the Heart, there is irritability; when it disturbs the Lung, there is thirst; when it disturbs the Spleen, there is vomiting and diarrhea; when it steams upward to the head, there is heaviness and pain; Heat can injure Qi.)

Xiangru (Moslae Herba, 1 liang), Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, stir-fried with ginger juice), Bian Dou (Vigna Radiata Seed, fried, 5 qian), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma, stir-fried with ginger, 3 qian). Take cold. (Because Xiangru is acrid and hot, it must... [text missing] ... This is a prescription for the Hand-Shaoyin (Heart), Hand-Taiyin (Lung), Foot-Taiyin (Spleen), and Foot-Yangming (Stomach) meridians. Xiangru is acrid, warm, aromatic, and dispersing; it enters the Qi level of the Spleen and Lung, promotes the emergence of Yang Qi, and disperses... [text missing] ... clearing; if... drinking cold... then recovery... transformation... severe harm... head... leading... Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), this deduces the method of "abandoning the season to follow the syndrome" from the *Neijing*. Xiangru Yin is a formula that disperses Yang Qi and guides True Yin. If Yuan Qi is deficient, or illness results from sexual exhaustion... middle... not... middle... thirst... belongs to Heaven's Qi, often... medicine, several formulas for purging the Heart...

Removing Bian Dou from this formula yields Huanglian Xiangru Yin: It treats severe Heat in Summerheat stroke, with thirst and irritability; or hematochezia (passing fresh blood). Removing Huanglian yields Sanwu Xiangru Yin: It treats Summerheat stroke with predominant Dampness (if Heat is severe, add Huanglian to purge Heart Fire; if Dampness is severe, add Fuling and Mugua to remove Spleen Dampness). Adding Renshen, Huangqi, Baizhu, and Chenpi yields Shiwei Xiangru Yin: It treats internal injury from Summerheat-Damp, characterized by heavy head, vomiting and diarrhea, physical fatigue, and mental confusion. (Renshen is added to tonify Lung Qi; Fuling, Baizhu, Chenpi, and Gancao are added to assist the Spleen and regulate the Middle Jiao; Mugua is sour and warm, promoting diuresis to resolve Dampness and astringing to prevent collapse; it drains Wood within Earth, calms the Liver, and harmonizes the Spleen. This represents a syndrome of external contraction combined with internal injury; thus, Xiangru is used to clear Summerheat and release the exterior, while other herbs specifically regulate the Central Palace). Adding Qianghuo and Fangfeng to Sanwu Xiangru Yin treats Summerheat stroke complicated by Wind-stroke, featuring sudden collapse and convulsions. Alternatively, adding Huangqi and Shaoyao (Illness contracted in the Summer months, with convulsions of the limbs resembling wind-stroke, is named Shufeng/Summerwind). Adding Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix) to Sanwu Xiangru Yin yields Xiangru Gegen Tang: It treats cough due to Wind-cold contracted during Summerheat. Commentator Wang Ang notes: (This formula should treat diarrhea caused by Summerheat injury). Adding Fushen (Poria with Hostwood) treats Dan Nue (Tertian Malaria with heat only and no chills, attributed to Summerheat pathogen. Since Heat enters the Heart first, Fushen is added to calm the Heart). Using Xiangru, Bian Dou, Houpo, Mugua, and Gancao, plus Xiangfu, Chenpi, Cangzhu, and Zisu yields Erxiang San (Essentially combining Xiangru Yin and Xiangsu Yin into one formula; it treats external contraction... [text truncated]