This is for damp-heat collecting in the lower burner, specifically the Bladder, causing painful urinary dribbling or urinary retention.  Commonly, there is a history of overindulgence in spicy, sweet, or rich foods, or overconsumption of alcohol.  Damp-heat in the Bladder manifests as turbid, dark urine that is scanty, difficult to pass, and painful.  The urine will become dark red if there is injury to the blood vessels.  If especially severe, the patient may be unable to urinate and will experience lower abdominal distention and pain. This formula does not contain da huang and, therefore, heat is not being drained through the stool.

Historically, Ba zheng san is derived from Qu mai san (Dianthus Powder), a formula for bloody or painful urinary dribbling.  Ba zheng san itself "treats pathogenic heat in the Heart channel in both children and adults, [as well as] all collections of toxin."