The compounding of medicines involves Sovereign (Jun), Minister (Chen) roles. Human constitutions vary between deficiency (Xu) and excess (Shi). The method of taking medicine differs according to the severity of the condition; the young and old follow different paths, and the strong and weak are distinct. Some conditions are suitable for tonification (Bu), others for purgation (Xie); some are suitable for administration as a decoction (Tang).

Regarding taking medicine before or after meals: If the disease is in the four limbs and blood vessels, it is appropriate to take medicine on an empty stomach in the morning. If the disease is in the bone marrow, it is appropriate to take medicine when full at night. Generally, the therapeutic potential of medicine and the qi of food should not clash. Take medicine after food has digested, and eat after the medicinal qi has dispersed. Through such regulation, the five Zang organs will be harmonized. This depends not only on the variety of medicinal formulas but also on the regulation of timing. The current discussion of "before eating" or "after eating" refers to this principle.

When taking decoctions, they should be taken slightly warm to facilitate digestion. If the decoction becomes cold, there should be a sufficient interval between doses, such as walking for the distance of ten li before taking the next dose. If the interval is too short, the previous dose has not yet been absorbed, and the new dose interferes, inevitably leading to vomiting and reflux. Therefore, one must ask the patient whether the medicine in the abdomen has dissipated before administering further doses.

When taking pills, if they are for tonification, they should be sized like paulownia seeds. Start with twenty pills per dose, gradually increasing to a limit of forty pills per dose. Excessive amounts will harm the body.

Taking famous/expensive herbs yields little benefit. When taking medicinal wines, the qi of the wine and the medicine should remain connected without interruption; interruption renders the medicinal power ineffective. The amount consumed should follow individual tolerance, stopping when efficacy is achieved. One must avoid becoming excessively drunk to the point of vomiting, which severely damages the body.

When treating diseases with medicine, initially consume only millet and broomcorn millet (light foods). Stop this restriction when the disease is cured; if not cured, double the adherence; if still not cured, adhere for ten times, taking cure as the goal. A formula consisting of only one or two single herbs—can it compare to harsh substances like Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root) and Yuanhua (Kadsura Flower)? Thus, for such cases, dosage must be carefully measured.

When taking decoctions, accompanying foods like porridge, meat, and vegetables must be thoroughly cooked. Cooked food is easy to digest and compatible with medicine. Raw food is hard to digest and impairs medicinal efficacy. Meals should be small and frequent, chewed thoroughly.

The way to save the world lies in nothing greater than medicine. In removing disease, nothing precedes drugs. Humans exist within the changes of the Five Elements and Four Qi, while diseases arise from external pathogens such as heat, dampness, wind, and cold. Medicines are classified into three grades... Acting rashly from one's own mind is highly imprudent. Hence the saying, "Do not take medicine from a physician whose family has not practiced for three generations." This statement is indeed credible. Should one not ponder this carefully? Furthermore, one should not use medicines unavailable locally, those that are expensive and hard to purchase, or rare treasures like pearls. Even if wealthy, one may find no source; if poor, one lacks funds. Seeking medicine from distant lands or rigidly adhering to ancient formulas without flexibility and discernment leads to failure. Since the disease is deep, how can medicine treat it? Therefore, physicians must discard shortcomings and leverage strengths, simplify complexity, act with flexibility, adjust dosages according to circumstances, weigh appropriateness, modify additions and subtractions properly, observe the severity of the disease, and prescribe with precision. Only then can one be called a superior physician (Shang Gong).

Medicines have Sovereign (Jun), Minister (Chen), Assistant (Zuo), and Envoy (Shi) roles to mutually guide, absorb, and harmonize. It is appropriate to use one Sovereign, two Ministers, three Assistants, and five Envoys; or one Sovereign, three Ministers, and nine Assistants/Envoys... They must interact... Salty and Sweet flavors... Fresh/New...