The formula is used for patterns of wind heat, and damp toxins obstructing the intestines damaging blood vessels. Bleeding that occurs either before or after defecation, blood stained stool, or hemorrhoid bleeding marks this pattern. The color of the blood can be either bright or dark, the tongue is red with a yellow coating, and the pulse is rapid.

Gun Tan Wan is used to treat patterns of excess heat and obstinate phlegm. Such patterns manifest many symptoms including mania and palpitations due to fright, severe palpitations and fainting, coughing and panting while expectorating thick phlegm, vertigo and tinnitus, nodules around the neck, wriggling of the mouth and eyes, insomnia or strange dreams, sudden pain of the joints, vexation and stuffiness due to sighing and choking, and constipation. The tongue coating is yellow and thick and the pulse is slippery, rapid and powerful.

Pattern of shaoyang damp-heat marked by alternating chills and fever similar to malaria, more fever than chills, a bitter taste in the mouth, diaphragm oppression, sour and bitter regurgitation, spitting yellow sticky drool, belching, hiccups, distending pain in the chest and rib-side, yellow scanty urine, a red tongue body, a white greasy or white yellow tongue coating, and a rapid, slippery right pulse and a rapid, wiry pulse.

Suan Zao Ren Tang is indicated for deficiency of liver-blood with internal deficiency heat. The symptoms are vexation, insomnia, palpitations, restlessness, dizziness, dry throat, dry mouth, a red tongue, and a wiry, thin pulse.