It is bitter and slightly cold in nature and enters the heart, lung and gall bladder meridians, with the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying, dispersing knots and eliminating carbuncles. It is often used for fever or heat toxicity in febrile diseases. It can be used in combination with honeysuckle for the initial onset of warm disease or external wind-heat. For warm fever with high fever, irritability and thirst, it can be used in combination with Scutellaria baicalensis and gypsum. When heat enters the camp, the symptoms include heat, irritability, delirium or faint rash, it is often used in combination with Radix et Rhizoma Polygonati and Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng. Forsythia is also used for sores and swelling, canker sores and scrofulous tuberculosis. It is often used in combination with dandelion, guajia, dahurica, etc. Scrofula and tuberculosis can be used in combination with Xia Ku Cao, Zhe Bei, etc. to clear heat and detoxify and disperse nodules.