Long ovoid to ovoid, slightly compressed, 1.5-2.5 cm long, 0.5-1.3 cm in diameter. Externally with irregular longitudinal wrinkles numerous raised small maculaters, and longitudinal furrow on each of the two surfaces. Apex acute, bearing a small fruit stalk or its scar at the base. “Qingqiao” mostly indehiscent, externally greenish-brown, with less small greyish-white maculaters, texture hard; seeds numerous, yellowish-green, slender, winged at one side. “Laoqiao” dehiscent from apex or to two segments, outer surface yellowish-brown or reddish-brown, inner surface mostly pale yellowish-brown, smooth, with a longitudinal septum. Texture brittle; seeds brown, mostly fallen off. Odour, slightly aromatic; taste, bitter.

Carbuncles, boils, lymphadenitis, mastitis, erysipelas; upper respiratory infection; febrile diseases at the early stage and at the stage with high fever, dire thirst, delirium and maculation; acute urinary infection with oliguria.

1.Reducing intense heat and eliminating virulent substances:

It is used to treat the febrile diseases at beginning stage accompanied with fever, slight aversion of wind, eruptions and so on. The drug being light in its weight and having functions of reducing evil heat from superficies,it is often in combination with such drugs for eliminating virulent heat or dispersing heat from the superficies as Flos Lonicerae, Herba Menthae, etc; to treat heat syndrome due to invasion of the chest and diphragm by evil heat accompanied with fidgets, it can be combined with Radix Scutellariae; to treat those with fever, fidgets and unconsciousness, it may be combined with Cornu Rhinoceri or Flos Lonicerae, Folium Isatidis, Radix Scutellariae, etc.; to treat pyogenic skin infections or mastitis, et., with Flos Lonicerae, Herba Violae, Herba Taraxaci, Flos Chrysanthemi Indici, etc. In short, the drug is an indispensable drug for treating diseases due to virulent heat, and often combined with Flos Lonicerae in clinical pratice.

2.Eliminating fire and dispersing mass:

To treat scrofula due to tuberclosis, it is often combined with Radix Scrophulariae, Spica Prunellae, etc. Besides, it is also used to treat anaphylactic purpura in combination with Radix Paeoniae Rubra 10g, Herba Ephedrae 6g, Radix Glycyrrhizae 6g, for decoction.