凡合和汤药，务在精专，甄别新陈，辨明州土，修制合度，分两无差，用得其宜，病无
不愈。若真假非类，冷热相乖，草石昧其甘辛，炮炙失其体性，筛罗粗恶，分剂差殊，虽有
疗病之名，永无必愈之效。是以医者必须殷勤注意，再四留心，不得委以他人，令其修合。
非但多少不等，兼以失本方意，捣和之后，妍丑难明，众口尝之，众鼻嗅之，精气一切都尽
，而将疗病，固难得效。此盖是合和之盈虚，不得咎医方之浅拙，宜加审察。又，古方药味
，多以铢、两，及用水皆言升数，年代绵历浸远，传写转见乖讹，或分两少而水数多，或水
数多而分两少，轻重不等，器量全殊，若不别其精粗，何以明其取舍？今则加减合度，分两
得中，削旧方之参差，合今时之行用。其方中凡言分者，即二钱半为一分也。凡言两者，即
四分为一两也。凡言斤者，即十六两为一斤也。凡言等分者，非分两之分，即诸药斤两多
少，皆同为等分也。凡煮汤，云用水大盏者，约一升也；一中盏者，约五合也；一小钟者，
约三合也。务从简易，庶免参差，俾修合煎调，临病济急，不更冗繁，易为晓了也。凡草有
根、茎、枝、叶、皮、骨、花、实，诸虫有毛、翅、皮、甲、头、足、尾、骨之属，有须烧
、炮、炙，生熟有定，一如其法，顺方者福，逆方者殃。或须肉去皮，或须皮去肉，或须根
、茎，或须花、实，依方拣炼，事褫理削，极令净洁，然后称定分两，勿得参差。药有相生
相杀，气力有强有弱，君臣相使，若不广通诸经，则不知有好有恶。或医自以意加减，不依
方分两，使诸药石强弱相欺，入人腹中不能治病，更相攻击，草石相反，使人迷乱，力甚刀
剑。若调和得意，虽未能去病，犹得安和五脏，于病无所增剧也。
凡煮汤，当以井花水，极令净洁。其水数多少，不得参差。常令文火小沸，令药味出，
煮之调和，必须用意。然则利汤欲生，少水而多取。补汤欲熟，多水而少取，用新布绞之。
服汤宁小热，即易消下，若冷，即令人呕逆。云分再服、三服者，要令势力相及，并视人之
强弱，病之轻重，为进退增减之，不必悉依方说也。
凡捣、罗丸药，用重密绢令细，于蜜中和则易熟。若罗草药为散，以轻细绢，于酒中调
服则不泥。其石药，亦用细绢罗，然后研理数百过，视色理和同为佳也。
凡汤、酒中用诸石药，皆细捣，罗之如粟米，亦可以葛筛令调，并新绵裹，汤、酒中同
煎。凡合丸、散药，先细切、曝燥乃捣之。有各捣者，有合捣者，并随方所言。其润泽药，
如天门冬、干地黄之类，并细切、曝，独捣令遍碎，更出细擘曝干，若逢阴雨，亦可以微火
烘之，既燥，小停，冷乃捣之。
凡湿药，燥皆大耗，当先增分两，须得屑乃称之为正，其汤，酒中不须如此也。
凡渍药酒，皆须细锉，用生绢盛之，乃入酒密封，随寒暑日数，视其浓烈，便可漉出，
不必待服至酒尽也。滓可曝燥微捣，更渍饮之，亦可为散服。
凡合膏药，初以酒或醋渍令淹浃，不用多汁，密复勿泄，从今旦至明旦，亦有止一宿者
，微火煎之，令三上三下，以泄其热势，令药味得出，上之使匝匝沸，乃下之，使沸静良久
乃止，宁欲小小生。其中有薤白者，以两头微焦黄为度。有白芷、附子者，亦令小黄色也。
猪肪，皆勿令经水，腊月者弥佳。绞膏，以新布绞之。若是可服之膏，膏渣亦可酒煮饮之。
可摩之膏，膏渣则宜以敷病上，此盖欲兼尽其药力故也。膏中用雄黄、朱砂、麝香、乳香、
铅丹之辈，皆别研如粉，候膏毕乃可投中，以物疾搅，至于凝强，勿使沉聚在下不调。有水
银、胡粉者，于膏中研令极细。
凡修炼神仙延年丸、散，皆须先净其室，烧香扫洒，勿令浪语，当使童子捣之，务令细
熟，杵数可至千万过，以多为佳。勿令妇女、小儿、丧孝、产妇及痼疾、六根不具之人及六
畜见之，皆不效也。其逐急诸小汤药，则不在此例。
凡是调和汤药，务必做到精细专一，甄别药材的新旧，辨明产地的优劣，炮制加工合乎法度，分量没有差错，使用得当，疾病没有不痊愈的。如果药材真假混杂、类别不符，寒热性质相违背，草木石药的甘辛气味不明，炮炙方法失去了药物的本性，筛选粗糙恶劣，剂量差异悬殊，虽然具有治疗疾病的名称，却永远不会有必定痊愈的效果。因此，医生必须殷勤注意，反复留心，不得委托给他人去制作。这不仅是因为分量多少不一，更因为会失去原方的意图，捣碎混合之后，好坏难以分辨，众人品尝、众人嗅闻，精气完全耗尽，用来治疗疾病，固然很难见效。这大概是调和过程中的盈亏问题，不能归咎于医方浅薄拙劣，应当加以审慎考察。另外，古方中的药味，多以铢、两计算，用水也以升、数计量，年代久远，传抄翻刻更加出现错误，有的分量少而水量多，有的水量多而分量少，轻重不等，容器量具完全不同，如果不辨别其精粗，怎么能明白其中的取舍？现在则加减合乎法度，分量适中，删削旧方的参差，结合当今通行的用法。方中凡是说“分”的，就是二钱半为一分；凡是说“两”的，就是四分为一两；凡是说“斤”的，就是十六两为一斤；凡是说“等分”的，不是指分量的分，而是指各种药材的斤两多少，都作为等分处理。凡是煮汤，说用“大盏”水的，约为一升；“中盏”的，约为五合；“小钟”的，约为三合。务必遵循简易原则，以免参差，使调制煎煮，在临病急救时，不再冗繁，容易理解。凡是草药有根、茎、枝、叶、皮、骨、花、实，各种虫类有毛、翅、皮、甲、头、足、尾、骨等部位，有的需要烧、炮、炙，生熟有定规，完全依照方法，顺应方剂则得福，违背方剂则遭殃。或者需要肉去皮，或者需要皮去肉，或者需要根、茎，或者需要花、实，依照方剂拣选炼制，去除杂质，极力求洁净，然后称定分量，不得参差。药物有相生相杀的关系，气力有强有弱，君臣佐使相互配合，如果不广泛通晓各经药理，就不知道有好有坏。如果医生凭主观意愿随意加减，不依照方剂的分量，使得各种药物强弱相互欺压，进入人体腹部后不能治病，反而相互攻击，草木石药相反，使人迷乱，危害甚于刀剑。如果调和得当，虽然未能去除疾病，也还能安和五脏，对病情不会增加严重性。
凡是煮汤，应当使用井花水（清晨汲取的井水），极力求洁净。水量多少，不得参差。经常保持文火微沸，使药味析出，煮制调和，必须用心。然而，泻下之汤宜生，水少而取汁多；补益之汤宜熟，水多而取汁少，用新布绞取。服用汤药宁可稍热，即易于消化下行，如果冷，就会令人呕吐逆气。说分两次服、三次服的，要令药力衔接，并视人的强弱、病的轻重，进行进退增减，不必完全依照方书所说。
凡是捣、罗丸药，用厚重细密的绢筛使其细腻，在蜜中调和则容易煮熟。如果将草药罗成散剂，用轻细绢筛，在酒中调服则不粘腻。那些石药，也用细绢筛过，然后研磨数百遍，看色泽纹理和谐统一为最佳。
凡是汤剂、酒剂中使用的各种石药，都要细捣，筛得像粟米一样大小，也可以用葛布筛使其均匀，并用新绵包裹，在汤、酒中同煎。凡是合制丸、散药，先细切、晒干后再捣碎。有分别捣碎的，有混合捣碎的，都随方剂所言执行。那些润泽的药，如天门冬、干地黄之类，都细切、晒干，单独捣至粉碎，再取出细细掰开晒干，如果遇到阴雨天气，也可以用微火烘干，既干燥后，稍停片刻，冷却后再捣。
凡是湿药，干燥后重量都会大量消耗，应当先增加分量，直到成为粉末才称之为正量，其用于汤、酒中的则不需要这样。
凡是浸泡药酒，都必须细锉，用生绢盛装，然后放入酒中密封，根据寒暑天数，观察其浓烈程度，就可以滤出，不必等到酒喝完。药渣可以晒干微捣，再次浸泡饮用，也可以做成散剂服用。
凡是合制膏药，起初用酒或醋浸泡使其透彻，不用多汁，严密覆盖勿漏气，从今天早晨到明天早晨，也有只过一夜的，用微火煎煮，令其三上三下，以泄去热气，使药味析出，加热使其频频沸腾，然后放下，使沸腾静止很久才停止，宁可稍微带点生性。其中如果有薤白的，以两头微微焦黄为限度。如果有白芷、附子的，也令其呈小黄色。猪脂，都不要接触生水，腊月制作的更好。绞取膏药，用新布绞取。如果是可内服的膏，膏渣也可以用酒煮饮。如果是外用的膏，膏渣则适宜敷在患处，这大概是想兼尽药力的缘故。膏中如果用雄黄、朱砂、麝香、乳香、铅丹之类的，都分别研成粉末，等膏制成后再投入，用器具快速搅拌，直到凝固强硬，不要使其沉淀聚集在下部不调匀。如果有水银、胡粉的，在膏中研磨至极细。
凡是修炼神仙延年丸、散，都必须先清洁房间，烧香打扫，不要闲谈，应当让童子来捣药，务必令其细熟，杵击次数可达千万次，以多为佳。不要让妇女、小儿、丧孝之人、产妇以及久病患者、六根不具之人及六畜看见，否则都不见效。那些急症用的小汤药，则不在此例。
Whenever decocting and mixing herbal medicines, one must strive for precision and specialization, distinguishing between new and old materials, identifying their geographical origins, ensuring processing methods are standardized, weights and measures are accurate, and usage is appropriate; thus, diseases will invariably be cured. If genuine and fake substances are mixed, categories do not match, cold and hot properties contradict each other, the sweet and pungent flavors of herbs and minerals are unclear, roasting and frying methods lose the inherent nature of the drugs, sieving is coarse and poor, and dosages vary significantly, although there may be a name for treating disease, there will never be a guaranteed effect of cure. Therefore, physicians must pay diligent attention and repeatedly consider details, not delegating the preparation to others. This is not only because quantities may be unequal, but also because the original intent of the formula may be lost. After pounding and mixing, quality becomes hard to discern; after being tasted by many and smelled by many, the vital essence is entirely exhausted, making it difficult to achieve therapeutic effects when used to treat illness. This reflects the fluctuations in the mixing process and should not be blamed on the superficiality or clumsiness of medical formulas; rather, careful examination is required. Furthermore, ancient prescriptions often measured herbs in zhu (a unit of weight) and liang (taels), and water in sheng (liters) and shu (units). As time passed and copies were transcribed, errors increased. Sometimes the amount of herbs was small while the water was large, or vice versa, leading to disparities in weight and volume. Without distinguishing between refined and crude preparations, how can one determine what to select or discard? Currently, additions and subtractions follow proper standards, and dosages are moderate, eliminating inconsistencies from old formulas and aligning with contemporary practices. In these formulas, whenever "fen" (part) is mentioned, it refers to two qian half as one fen; whenever "liang" is mentioned, four fen make one liang; whenever "jin" is mentioned, sixteen liang make one jin; whenever "deng fen" (equal parts) is mentioned, it does not refer to fractional weights, but implies that all herbs, regardless of their original weight, are treated as equal parts. When boiling decoctions, "large cup" of water refers to approximately one sheng; "medium cup" refers to approximately five ge; "small cup" refers to approximately three ge. Simplicity should be prioritized to avoid discrepancies, facilitating preparation and emergency use without unnecessary complexity, making it easy to understand. For herbs, whether roots, stems, branches, leaves, bark, wood, flowers, or fruits, and for insects, whether hairs, wings, skins, shells, heads, feet, tails, or bones, specific processing methods such as burning, roasting, or frying must be strictly followed according to regulations. Adhering to the formula brings blessings, while violating it brings disaster. One may need flesh without skin, or skin without flesh, or specific parts like roots, stems, flowers, or fruits. Selection and refinement must follow the prescription, removing impurities to ensure extreme cleanliness before weighing and measuring accurately. Herbs have relationships of mutual generation and neutralization, and their potency varies. The interaction between sovereign, minister, assistant, and courier herbs requires extensive knowledge of various meridians to distinguish good from bad. If a physician arbitrarily adds or subtracts ingredients based on personal opinion, ignoring prescribed dosages, the varying strengths of the drugs may conflict within the body, failing to cure the disease and instead causing mutual aggression. Conflicting herbs and minerals can cause confusion and harm, potentially more severe than swords. However, if properly harmonized, even if the disease is not completely eradicated, the five zang organs can still be balanced, preventing the worsening of the condition.
When boiling decoctions, well-water drawn at dawn should be used, ensuring it is extremely clean. The quantity of water must be precise. Maintain a gentle simmer to allow the medicinal properties to release. Care must be taken in the boiling and mixing process. For purgative decoctions, they should be prepared raw, using less water to extract more liquid. For tonic decoctions, they should be cooked thoroughly, using more water to extract less liquid, and strained through fresh cloth. Decoctions should be consumed slightly warm to facilitate digestion and downward movement; if cold, they may induce vomiting and regurgitation. When a prescription specifies taking the dose in two or three portions, the timing should ensure continuous therapeutic effect, adjusted according to the patient's strength and the severity of the illness, rather than rigidly following the text.
For preparing pill medicines, pound and sieve them using heavy, fine silk gauze until fine. Mixing with honey facilitates cooking. If preparing herbal powders, use light, fine silk gauze and mix with wine for administration to prevent clumping. Mineral drugs should also be sieved through fine silk gauze and then ground hundreds of times until the color and texture are uniform and harmonious.
Mineral drugs used in decoctions or wines should be finely pounded and sieved to the size of millet grains. They can also be evenly distributed using a kudzu root sieve, wrapped in fresh cotton, and boiled together in the decoction or wine. For pills and powders, herbs should be finely cut and dried before pounding. Some are pounded separately, others together, depending on the prescription. Moistening herbs, such as Asparagi Radix (Tianmendong) and Prepared Rehmanniae Radix (Shudihuang), should be finely cut and dried, then pounded alone until thoroughly crushed. They should be taken out, broken into smaller pieces, and dried again. In rainy weather, they can be gently dried over low heat. Once dry, let them cool slightly before pounding.
Wet herbs lose significant weight when dried; therefore, initial weights should be increased until the final powdered weight meets the standard requirement. This adjustment is not necessary for herbs used in decoctions or wines.
For soaking medicinal wines, herbs must be finely chopped, placed in raw silk bags, submerged in wine, and sealed tightly. Soak for a number of days depending on the season (cold or hot), observing the concentration and strength, then filter out. It is not necessary to wait until the wine is fully consumed. The dregs can be dried, lightly pounded, and re-soaked for drinking, or processed into powder for administration.
For preparing ointments, initially soak herbs in wine or vinegar until fully saturated, using minimal liquid. Cover tightly to prevent leakage. From morning to next morning, or sometimes just overnight, simmer gently. Use the "three ups and three downs" method to dissipate heat and release medicinal properties: bring to a boil, then remove from heat to let it settle, repeating this process. Slight undercooking is acceptable. For Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus (Xiebai), cook until the ends turn slightly yellow-brown. For Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (Baizhi) and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi), cook until slightly yellow. Pig fat should not come into contact with water; fat rendered in the twelfth lunar month is superior. Strain the ointment through fresh cloth. For edible ointments, the residue can be boiled in wine and drunk. For topical ointments, the residue should be applied to the affected area to maximize drug efficacy. Minerals such as Realgar (Xionghuang), Cinnabar (Zhusha), Moschus (Shexiang), Frankincense (Ruxiang), and Lithargyrum (Qiandan) should be separately ground into powder and added to the finished ointment, stirring rapidly until solidified, ensuring they do not sink or separate. Mercury and Lead Carbonate (Hufen) should be ground extremely fine within the ointment.
For preparing immortality and longevity pills and powders, the room must be cleaned, incense burned, and sweeping done. Silence must be maintained. Young boys should perform the pounding to ensure fineness and thoroughness, striking the mortar thousands of times, with more strikes being better. Women, children, mourners, pregnant women, those with chronic illnesses, individuals with disabilities, and livestock should not witness the process, as their presence renders it ineffective. Emergency minor decoctions are exempt from these rules.