汤，煎成清液也。补虚要熟，利不嫌生，去暴病用之，取其易升易散，易行经
络，故曰汤者荡也。治至高之分加酒煎，去湿加生姜，补元气加大枣，发散风寒加葱
白，去膈病加蜜煎，止痛加醋。凡补汤，须煎渣滓两汁可服。其发表攻里二者，惟煎头
汁取效，不必煎渣，盖有生熟缓急之不同耳。
膏，熬成稠膏也。药分两须多，水煎熬宜久，渣滓复煎数次，绞聚浓汁，共合熬
成。去久病用之，服其如饴，力大滋补胶固，故曰膏者胶也。复有敷痈疮肿之膏，熬
法固一，惟可服之膏，则或酒或水随熬；敷痈之膏，必或油或醋煎液耳。
散，研成细末也。宜旋制合，不勘久留，恐走泄气味，服之无效耳。去急病用
之，但不循经络，只去胃中及脏腑之积，故曰∶散者，散也。其服法，则气味浓者白汤
调服，气味薄者煎熟和渣服。
丸，作成圆粒也。治下焦疾者，如梧桐子大；治中焦疾者，如绿豆大；治上焦疾
者，如米粒大。因病不能速去，取其舒缓逐渐成功，故曰∶丸者，缓也。然有用水丸
者，或作稀糊丸者，取其易化，而理以治上焦也。用稠面糊或饭丸者，取略迟化，能达
中焦也。或酒或醋丸者，取其收散之意也。犯半夏南星，欲去湿痰者，以生姜汁丸，制
其毒也。神曲糊丸者，取其消食，山药糊丸者取其止涩，炼蜜丸者取其迟化而气循经
络，蜡丸取其难化，能固护药之气味，势力全备，直过鬲而作效也。
渍，酒渍煮药酒也。药须细锉，绢袋盛之，人可能留，封如用法。煮熟地埋日
久，气烈味脓，早晚类吞，经络速达，或攻或补并着奇功。渣漉出晒干，微捣末别渍，
力虽稍缓，服亦化之，为散亦佳，切勿轻弃。补虚损症，宜少饮，旋取功效；攻风诸
症，宜多饮，速见奇能。勿令至醉及吐，则大损人也。
汤剂，是将药物煎煮后得到的清澈液体。补益虚损的药物宜久煎至熟，而用于祛邪利湿的药物则不介意生用。治疗突发急症时使用汤剂，是取其药性易于升发、易于发散、易于通行经络的特点，所以说“汤”有涤荡之意。治疗上部疾病时加酒同煎，去除湿气时加生姜，补益元气时加大枣，发散风寒时加葱白，治疗膈间病症时加蜂蜜同煎，止痛时加醋。凡是用于补益的汤剂，必须将药渣再次煎煮，使头汁和二汁合并服用。至于用于发表（解表）和攻里（通腑）的药物，只需煎取第一次的药汁即可见效，不必再煎药渣，这是因为药物的生熟程度不同，导致药效发挥的速度有缓急之别。
膏剂，是将药物熬制成稠厚的膏状物。用药的分量通常较多，用水煎熬的时间宜长，药渣需反复煎煮数次，过滤浓缩药汁，最后合并熬制成膏。用于治疗慢性久病，因其质地如饴糖般粘稠，药力宏大且滋补固摄，所以说“膏”即“胶”的意思。此外还有外敷痈疮肿毒的膏药，虽然熬制方法基本一致，但内服的膏剂可根据情况用水或酒来熬制；而外敷痈疮的膏剂，则必须用油或醋来煎煮提取。
散剂，是将药物研磨成细粉末。应当随制随用，不宜长期存放，恐怕气味挥发流失，服用后无效。用于治疗急症，其特点是不循行于经络，主要清除胃中及脏腑内的积滞，所以说“散”即消散之意。其服用方法为：气味浓郁的散剂用温水调服，气味淡薄的散剂煎熟后连同药渣一起服用。
丸剂，是制作成圆粒状的药剂。治疗下焦疾病的，大小如梧桐子；治疗中焦疾病的，大小如绿豆；治疗上焦疾病的，大小如米粒。因为疾病不能迅速去除，取其药性舒缓、逐渐起效的特点，所以说“丸”即“缓”慢之意。然而也有用水泛制的丸剂，或用稀面糊制成的丸剂，是取其易于化开，从而作用于上焦。用稠面糊或米饭制作的丸剂，是取其化开稍慢，能到达中焦。用酒或醋泛制的丸剂，是取其收敛或发散之意。遇到半夏、天南星等药材，若想去除湿痰，可用生姜汁泛丸，以制约其毒性。用神曲糊泛丸，是取其消食导滞之功；用山药糊泛丸，是取其止涩收敛之效；用炼蜜泛丸，是取其缓慢化开且药气能循行经络；用蜡泛丸，是取其难以化开，能牢固保护药味，使药力完备，直接通过膈部而在体内发挥作用。
渍剂，是用酒浸泡并煮制的药酒。药物需切碎，装入绢袋中，放入酒中浸泡，密封后按法使用。煮熟后埋入土中日久，药气猛烈，味道醇厚，早晚吞服，药力可迅速通达经络，无论是攻邪还是补虚都能取得奇效。将药渣滤出晒干，轻微捣碎后再次浸泡，药力虽稍缓，服用后也能吸收，制成散剂也很好，切勿轻易丢弃。治疗补益虚损的症状，宜少量饮用，很快就能见效；治疗风邪引起的各种症状，宜多饮，能迅速显现神奇功效。切勿饮酒至醉或呕吐，那样会严重损害人体。
Decoction (Tang) refers to the clear liquid obtained after boiling herbs. For tonifying deficiency, herbs should be boiled thoroughly until cooked; for promoting diuresis and removing dampness, raw preparation is acceptable. Decoctions are used to treat acute diseases because their medicinal properties are easy to ascend, disperse, and circulate through the meridians. Hence it is said: "Decoction" implies sweeping or cleansing. When treating disorders in the upper jiao, add wine for decoction; to remove dampness, add fresh ginger; to tonify primordial qi, add Chinese date (Jujubae Fructus); to dispel wind-cold, add scallion white (Allii Fistulosi Caulis); to treat disorders of the diaphragm, add honey for decoction; to relieve pain, add vinegar. For all tonifying decoctions, the dregs must be boiled again, and both the first and second infusions should be taken together. However, for formulas that release the exterior or purge the interior, only the first infusion is needed for efficacy, as there is no need to boil the dregs further, due to differences in the degree of cooking which affects the speed of action.
Electuary (Gao) refers to a thick paste made by simmering herbs. The dosage of herbs is usually large, requiring prolonged water decoction. The dregs are boiled several more times, filtered, and the concentrated juices are combined and simmered into a paste. It is used for chronic diseases because its texture is like maltose, possessing strong tonic and consolidating power. Hence it is said: "Electuary" means glue or gum. There are also external plasters for sores and swellings. While the general method of preparation is similar, internal electuaries may be prepared with either water or wine, whereas external plasters for sores must be prepared with oil or vinegar extracts.
Powder (San) refers to herbs ground into fine powder. They should be prepared freshly and not stored for long periods, lest the aroma and flavor dissipate, rendering them ineffective. Powders are used for urgent conditions; they do not follow the meridian pathways but primarily eliminate accumulations in the stomach and zang-fu organs. Hence it is said: "Powder" means dispersing. The method of administration varies: powders with strong aroma and flavor are mixed with warm water for ingestion, while those with mild aroma and flavor are boiled and taken with the dregs.
Pill (Wan) refers to round granules formed from herbal ingredients. For diseases of the lower jiao, pills are made the size of Sophora seeds (Sophorae Semen); for middle jiao diseases, the size of mung beans (Phaseoli Radiati Semen); and for upper jiao diseases, the size of rice grains. Since diseases cannot be cured quickly, pills are used for their slow, gradual effect. Hence it is said: "Pill" means slow. Some pills are made using water (water-hollowed pills) or thin starch paste, chosen for their ease of dissolution to act on the upper jiao. Pills made with thick starch paste or rice dissolve slightly slower, allowing them to reach the middle jiao. Pills made with wine or vinegar are chosen for their astringent or dispersing effects. When using Pinellia Rhizoma Preparatum (Banxia) or Arisaema Cum Bile (Nanxing) to resolve damp-phlegm, ginger juice is used to make pills to mitigate their toxicity. Pills made with Medicated Leaven Paste (Shenqu) are chosen for their food-digesting properties; those made with Chinese Yam Paste (Shanyao) for their astringent effect; those made with refined honey for their slow dissolution and ability to guide qi through the meridians; and those made with beeswax for their resistance to dissolution, which protects the medicinal properties, ensuring full potency reaches beyond the diaphragm to take effect.
Steeped Wine (Zhi) refers to medicinal wine made by steeping and boiling herbs in alcohol. Herbs should be finely chopped, placed in a silk bag, submerged in wine, sealed, and processed according to instructions. After boiling, burying the container in soil for an extended period intensifies the aroma and enriches the flavor. Consumed morning and evening, the medicinal power rapidly reaches the meridians, achieving remarkable results whether attacking pathogens or tonifying deficiency. The remaining dregs can be filtered out, dried, lightly crushed, and re-steeped. Although the potency is slightly weaker, it is still effective when ingested and can also be made into a powder. Do not discard them lightly. For tonifying deficiencies, drink sparingly to achieve quick results; for attacking wind-related syndromes, drink more to see rapid miraculous effects. Avoid drinking to intoxication or vomiting, as this severely damages the body.