Excerpted from Bensky:  Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, 3rd ed.

• Clears heat and drains dampness: a major herb for damp-heat in the Stomach or Intestines, which manifests as diarrhea or dysenteric disorder; damp-warmth, which presents with fever, stifling sensation in the chest, and thirst but with an inability to drink; or for damp-heat in the lower burner with painful urinary dribbling.  An auxiliary herb for damp-heat jaundice.*
• Clears heat and resolves toxicity, especially in the upper burner:  for heat patterns with high fever, irritability, thirst, cough, and expectoration of thick, yellow sputum, or hot sores and swellings.  For the latter, it can be applied topically or taken internally.*
• Clears heat and stops bleeding:  for internal heat from excess causing the blood to move chaotically.  Symptoms include vomiting or coughing of blood, nosebleed, and blood in the stool.*
• Clears heat and calms the fetus:  pacifies the Womb when the fetus is restless or kicking excessively due to heat.*
• Sedates ascendant Liver yang:  for such symptoms as headache, irritability, red eyes, flushed face, and bitter taste.*