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The *Cishi Lun* (Treatise on Acupuncture and Pulse) states: "Qi deficiency with body heat arises from injury by summerheat, as heat injures Qi." The *Fei Lun* (Treatise on Flaccidity Syndromes) states: "If one travels far and becomes fatigued, encountering intense heat and thirst, thirst causes Yang Qi to attack internally. Internal attack leads to heat lodging in the Kidney; the Kidney is the Water organ. Now, if Water cannot overcome Fire, the bones become withered and the Marrow empty, the feet are unable to support the body, developing into Bone Flaccidity (*Gu Wei*). Therefore, the *Xia Jing* (Classic of the Lower Section) says: 'Bone Flaccidity arises from intense heat.' This refers to Damp-Heat causing Flaccidity, making the bones weak and powerless; thus, in treating Flaccidity syndromes, one exclusively selects the Yangming channel.

At this time, it is late summer, where Damp-Heat prevails overwhelmingly, steaming and blazing intensely. When humans contract it, they often experience fatigue in the four limbs, shortness of spirit, reluctance to move, chest fullness, rapid breathing, heaviness and pain in the joints; or high-pitched breath with panting, body heat with vexation, epigastric distension and痞感 (stagnation), yellow and frequent urination, loose and frequent stools, or dysentery discharging yellow pus resembling congee, or fluid resembling rice wash water; or thirst or no thirst, lack of appetite, spontaneous sweating, and heavy body; or scanty sweating, indicating that Blood was diseased first while Qi remained unaffected. Their pulse is洪缓 (Surging and Slow/Relaxed); if Dampness combats with Heat, a 迟 (Slow) pulse must be added. Although the condition may slightly improve when the Slow pulse replaces the Surging-Slow pulse, the climatic influence of summer heat and dampness remains the same. It is appropriate to treat this with a formula for clearing dryness and heat.

The *Neijing* (Inner Canon) states: "Yang Qi guards the exterior and maintains solidity; when hot, Qi leaks out." Now, Summerheat pathogen invades the Defensive Qi, causing body heat and spontaneous sweating. Huangqi (Astragali Radix, Sweet and Warm) tonifies as the Sovereign herb; Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Sweet and Slightly Warm, tonify the Middle and benefit Qi as the Minister herbs; Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), and Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma), promote urination and drain Dampness; Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) and Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), Sweet, Bitter, and Neutral, excel at releasing muscle-layer heat, further utilizing Wind herbs to overcome Dampness. Excessive Dampness prevents food digestion and causes fullness/stagnation, so Chaoqu (Fermented Wheat Mass, Sweet and Pungent) and Qingpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride, Pungent and Warm) digest food and regulate Qi. The Kidney detests dryness; urgently, one should consume Pungent substances to moisten it. Thus, Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex, Bitter, Pungent, Cold) is used; borrowing Sweet flavor to clear heat and replenish fluids, for deficiency cases, nourishing their source of transformation. Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus), and Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Sour, Sweet, and Slightly Cold, rescue the Lung Metal (Geng Metal) injured by summer heat as the Assistant herbs. Named Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang (Clear Summerheat and Benefit Qi Decoction).