药有宜丸宜散者，宜水煎者，宜酒渍者，宜煎膏者，亦有一物兼宜者，亦有不可入汤酒者，
并随药性不可过越。汤者，荡也，煎成清汁是也，去大病用之。散者，散也，研成细末是也。
丸者，缓也，作为丸粒也，不能速效，舒缓而治之也。
渍之者，以酒浸药也，有宜酒浸以助其力，如当归、地黄、知母、黄柏，阴寒之气味，假酒
力而行气血也。有用药锉细，如法煮酒密封，早晚频饮，以行经络，或补或攻，渐以取效是也。
细末者，不循经络，止去胃中及腑脏之积，及治肺疾咳嗽为宜。气味浓者，白汤调；气味薄
者，煎之，和渣服丸。治下焦之病者，极大而光且圆，治中焦者次之，治上焦者极小，面糊者，取
其迟化，直至下焦；或酒取其散；或醋取其收。如半夏、南星及利湿者，以姜汁稀糊丸，取其易化
也，汤泡蒸饼，尤易化，滴水亦然。炼蜜丸者，取其迟化而气循经络也。蜡丸者，取其能达下焦，而
治肠 等疾。
凡修合丸剂，用蜜只用蜜，用饴只用饴，勿相杂用。且如丸药，用蜡取其固护药气，欲其经久不
失味力，且过膈关而作效也。今若投蜜相和，虽易为丸，然下咽亦即散化，如何得至肠中？若或有毒
药，不宜在上化，岂徒无益，而反为
害，全非用蜡之本意。
凡炼蜜宜先掠去沫，令熬色微黄，试水不散，再熬一二沸作丸，则收潮而不粘成块也。
冬月炼蜜，炼时要加二杯水为妙，《衍义》云∶每蜜一斤，只炼得十二两，是其度数
也。和药末要乘极滚时和之，臼内捣千百杵，自然软熟，容易作条，好丸也。
凡为末，先须细切，晒燥退冷捣之，有宜合捣者，其滋润之药，如天麦冬、生熟地黄、
当归辈，先切晒之独捣。或以慢火隔纸焙燥，退冷捣之，则为细末。若入众药，少停回润
，则和之不匀也。凡湿药，燥皆大耗蚀，当先增分两，待燥称之乃准。其汤酒中不须如此。
凡合丸药用蜜，绢令细筛，散药尤宜精细，若捣丸，必于石臼中杵千百过，色理和同为佳。
凡欲浸酒，皆须细切，上绢袋盛，乃入酒密封，随寒暑日数，视其浓烈，便可漉出，不
须待酒尽也。渣则曝燥微捣，更渍饮之，亦可为散服。
凡合膏子，须令膏少之料先淹浸，先煎其汁，乃下有膏之料，煮时当杖以三上三下，以
泄其火气，勿令沸腾，不妨旋取药汁，渣须再煮，务令力尽而已。然后渐渐慢火收浓如饴，加
炼蜜，收贮瓷瓶，出火气七日二七日，听用。
凡煎摩贴之膏，或醋、或酒、或油，须令淹浸，然后煎熬，用杖三上三下，以泄其热势，令
药味得出。上之使咂咂沸，下之要沸静，良久乃上之，如有葱白及姜在内，以渐焦为度。如有附
子、木鳖者，亦令焦黄，勿令枯黑。滤膏必以新
布。
若是可服之膏，渣亦可酒煮饮之，可摩之膏，渣亦可敷，亦欲兼尽其药力也。
凡汤膏中，用诸石药皆细研之，以新绢裹之纳中。《衍义》云∶石药入散，如朱砂、钟乳
之类，用水研乳极细，必要二三日乃已，以水漂澄极细，方可服饵。岂但研细，绢裹为是。
凡草叶之药，如柏叶、荷叶、茅根、蓟根、十灰散类，必要焦枯，用器盖在地上，出火性，
存本性，倘如死灰，则白无效矣。
凡有脂膏，如桃、杏、麻仁等，须另末，旋次入众味，合研则匀。
凡汤剂中，用一切完物，俱破壳研之，如豆蔻、苏子、益智、骨脂之类。不则如米之在壳，
虽煮之终日，米终不熟。职是故也。
凡用香燥，如木香、沉香、砂仁、豆蔻，不宜久煎，点泡尤妙。
药物有适宜制成丸剂或散剂的，适宜用水煎煮的，适宜用酒浸泡的，适宜熬制成膏剂的，也有单味药兼有多种适宜形式的，还有不可入汤剂或酒剂的，这些都应根据药性而定，不可过度偏离常规。
汤剂，意为涤荡病邪，即煎煮后取清澈的药汁，用于治疗重病。
散剂，意为消散病邪，即将药材研成细末。
丸剂，意为缓和药效，将药物制成丸粒，不能迅速见效，而是通过舒缓的方式进行治疗。
所谓“渍”，即用酒浸泡药物。有的药物适宜酒浸以增强其效力，如当归、地黄、知母、黄柏等，这些药物气味阴寒，借助酒力来运行气血。有的将药物锉碎，按法煮酒并密封，早晚频繁饮用，以通行经络，或补益或攻邪，逐渐取得疗效。
对于细末（散剂），如果不循行经络，仅去除胃中及脏腑的积滞，以及治疗肺部疾病引起的咳嗽较为适宜。气味浓厚的，用白开水调服；气味淡薄的，煎煮后连渣服用。治疗下焦疾病的丸剂，做得极大且光滑圆润；治疗中焦的次之；治疗上焦的极小。用面糊制作丸剂，是取其缓慢溶解，使药力直达下焦；或用酒制丸，取其发散作用；或用醋制丸，取其收敛作用。如半夏、天南星及利湿类药物，用姜汁稀糊制丸，是取其易于消化；用汤泡蒸饼制丸，尤其容易消化，滴水制丸也是如此。炼蜜制丸，是取其缓慢溶解且药气能循行经络。蜡丸，是取其能到达下焦，治疗肠道等疾病。
凡是配制丸剂，用蜂蜜就只用蜂蜜，用饴糖就只用饴糖，不要混合使用。况且如丸药，用蜡是为了固护药气，希望它经久不失去味道和效力，并且能穿过膈关而在体内发挥作用。现在如果投入蜂蜜调和，虽然容易做成丸剂，但咽下后即会散开融化，怎么能到达肠中呢？如果有毒性的药物，不适宜在上部消化，这不仅无益，反而有害，完全违背了用蜡的本意。
凡是炼制蜂蜜，应先撇去浮沫，熬至颜色微黄，滴入水中不散开，再煮沸一两次即可制丸，这样能防潮且不粘连成块。
冬季炼制蜂蜜，熬制时加入两杯水为妙，《衍义》说：每斤蜂蜜，只能炼得十二两，这就是它的度数。
调和药末要在极热的时候进行，在臼中捣上千百杵，自然软熟，容易搓成条状，是好丸剂的标准。
凡是制成粉末，必须先细细切碎，晒干退凉后捣碎。有的适宜一起捣碎，那些滋润的药物，如天冬、麦冬、生地黄、熟地黄、当归等，先切碎晒干后单独捣碎。或者用慢火隔纸焙干，退凉后捣碎，成为细末。如果混入其他药物，稍停片刻回潮，则调和不均匀。凡是湿药，干燥后会大量损耗重量，应当先增加分量，待干燥称重后才准确。汤剂和酒剂中不需要这样做。
凡是合制丸药用蜂蜜，需用绢布细细筛过，散药尤其需要精细。如果捣制丸药，必须在石臼中捣上千百遍，色泽纹理均匀和谐为佳。
凡是想要浸酒，都必须细细切碎，装入绢袋中，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，不必等到酒尽。药渣则晒燥微捣，再次浸泡饮用，也可以作为散剂服用。
凡是合制膏剂，必须让含膏量少的材料先浸泡，先煎煮其汁液，然后加入含膏量多的材料，煮时要举杖三上三下，以泄去火气，不要让沸腾，不妨随时取药汁，药渣须再煮，务必让药力耗尽为止。然后渐渐用慢火收浓如饴糖状，加入炼蜜，储存在瓷瓶中，除去火气七天或十四天后，听候使用。
凡是煎制外用的摩贴膏，或用醋、或用酒、或用油，必须令其浸泡，然后煎熬，用杖三上三下，以泄去热势，让药味渗出。上面加热使其咂咂沸腾，下面要让它沸静，很久后再加热，如有葱白及生姜在内，以逐渐焦枯为度。如有附子、木鳖子者，也令其焦黄，不要让它们枯黑。过滤膏剂必须用新布。
如果是可以内服的膏剂，药渣也可以用酒煮饮之；如果是可以外摩的膏剂，药渣也可以外敷，也是想要充分利用药力。
凡是汤剂、膏剂中，使用各种石药都要细细研磨，用新绢包裹后纳入其中。《衍义》说：石药入散剂，如朱砂、钟乳之类，用水研磨极细，必要二三天才停止，用水漂澄极细，才可以服用。岂只是研细，用绢包裹才是正确的。
凡是草叶类的药物，如柏叶、荷叶、茅根、蓟根、十灰散类，一定要烧至焦枯，用器皿盖在地上，出掉火性，保留本性，倘若像死灰一样，那就完全无效了。
凡是含有脂膏的药物，如桃仁、杏仁、麻仁等，必须单独研末，随后依次加入其他药物，合研则均匀。
凡是汤剂中，使用一切完整物品，都要破壳研磨，如豆蔻、苏子、益智仁、骨碎补之类。不然的话，就像米在壳中，虽然煮一整天，米终究不熟。就是这个原因。
Medicines are suitable for pills or powders, for decoction in water, for soaking in wine, for making into pastes, and some single herbs may be suitable for multiple forms. Others cannot be used in decoctions or wines. These should follow the nature of the medicine and not deviate excessively. Decoctions (Tangji) mean to sweep away pathogens; they are clear juices obtained after boiling, used for serious diseases. Powders (Sanji) mean to disperse; they are finely ground herbal powders. Pills (Wanji) mean to act slowly; formed into pill granules, they do not produce rapid effects but treat conditions gradually and gently.
"Soaking" (Zi) refers to soaking herbs in wine. Some herbs are suitable for wine soaking to enhance their efficacy, such as Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), Dihuang (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata), Zhimu (Cortex Anemarrhenae), and Huangbai (Cortex Phellodendri). These have yin-cold flavors and rely on the power of wine to promote qi and blood circulation. Some methods involve chopping herbs finely, boiling them in wine according to regulations, sealing tightly, and drinking frequently morning and evening to unblock meridians, tonify or attack pathogenic factors, and gradually achieve therapeutic effects.
For fine powders, if they do not circulate through meridians but only remove accumulations in the stomach and zang-fu organs, or treat lung diseases with coughing, they are appropriate. Herbs with strong flavors are mixed with plain water; those with weak flavors are boiled and taken with dregs. For treating lower jiao diseases, pills should be large, smooth, and round; for middle jiao, smaller; for upper jiao, very small. Using flour paste for pills aims at slow dissolution to reach the lower jiao; using wine aims at dispersion; using vinegar aims at astringency. For Banxia (Rhizoma Pinelliae), Nanxing (Rhizoma Arisaematis), and damp-draining herbs, ginger juice thin paste is used for easy digestion; steamed bread soaked in soup digests even more easily; dropping water also works. Honey-processed pills aim at slow dissolution and meridian circulation. Wax pills aim at reaching the lower jiao to treat intestinal diseases.
When preparing pills, use only honey if using honey, or only maltose if using maltose; do not mix them. Wax is used in pills to protect the medicinal qi, ensuring potency remains over time and allowing passage through the diaphragm gate to take effect. If honey is added now, although it makes pill-making easier, it dissolves immediately upon swallowing, failing to reach the intestines. If toxic drugs are involved, which should not dissolve in the upper body, this would not only be useless but harmful, completely contrary to the original intent of using wax.
When refining honey, skim off foam first, boil until slightly yellow, test by dropping into water without dispersing, then boil one or two more times before making pills. This prevents moisture absorption and clumping. In winter, adding two cups of water during honey refining is advisable. "Yanyi" states: one jin of honey yields twelve liang after refining, indicating the ratio. Mix herb powder while extremely hot, pound thousands of times in a mortar until soft and ripe, easy to roll into strips, resulting in good pills.
To make powder, cut finely first, dry in sun, cool down, then pound. Some should be pounded together; moistening herbs like Taidong (Radix Ophiopogonis), Maidong (Radix Ophiopogonis), Shengdihuang (Radix Rehmanniae Recens), Shudihuang (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata), and Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) should be cut, dried, and pounded separately. Or bake slowly over paper, cool, then pound into fine powder. If mixed with other herbs and left to regain moisture, mixing will be uneven. Wet herbs lose significant weight when dried; increase dosage initially, weigh after drying for accuracy. This is not necessary for decoctions or wines.
For pill-making with honey, sieve through fine silk cloth; powders require even finer processing. Pounding pills must be done in stone mortars thousands of times until color and texture are uniform and harmonious.
For wine infusion, cut herbs finely, place in silk bags, submerge in wine, seal tightly. Depending on cold or heat days, observe concentration strength, then strain out; no need to wait until wine is exhausted. Dregs can be dried, lightly pounded, re-infused for drinking, or used as powder.
For paste preparation, materials with less paste content should be soaked first, their juice extracted, then add paste-rich materials. Stir up and down three times with a stick to release fire energy, avoid boiling, extract juice as needed. Boil dregs again until potency is exhausted. Slowly reduce with low heat to syrup consistency, add refined honey, store in porcelain jars, eliminate fire energy for seven or fourteen days before use.
For external rubbing/plaster pastes using vinegar, wine, or oil, soak first, then boil. Use stick stirring up and down three times to release heat and extract flavor. Bring to a gentle boil, let settle, repeat. If containing scallion white or ginger, cook until slightly charred. If containing Fuzi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata) or Mugua (Semen Momordicae), cook until yellow-brown, not blackened. Filter paste with new cloth.
If internal paste, dregs can be boiled in wine for drinking; if external paste, dregs can be applied externally, utilizing full medicinal power.
For decoctions and pastes, mineral drugs must be finely ground and wrapped in new silk cloth before adding. "Yanyi" notes: mineral drugs like Zhusha (Cinnabaris) and Zhongru (Concretio Silicosa) require water grinding for two to three days until extremely fine, washed and settled thoroughly before consumption. Merely grinding fine is insufficient; wrapping in silk is essential.
Herbal leaves like Baiye (Folium Platycladi), Heye (Folium Nelumbinis), Maogen (Rhizoma Imperatae), Jigen (Radix Cirsii), and Shihui San (Ten Ash Powder) must be carbonized. Cover vessels on the ground to remove fire nature while preserving intrinsic nature; otherwise, they become like dead ash and ineffective.
Oily seeds like Taoren (Semen Persicae), Xingren (Semen Armeniacae Amarum), and Haren (Semen Cannabis) must be ground separately first, then gradually mixed with other ingredients for uniformity.
Whole items in decoctions, such as Doukou (Fructus Cardamomi), Suzi (Fructus Perillae), Yizhi (Fructus Alpiniae Oxyphyllae), and Guzhi (Rhizoma Drynariae), must be cracked and ground. Otherwise, like rice in husk, boiling all day won't cook the grain inside. This is the reason.
Aromatic-dry herbs like Muxiang (Radix Aucklandiae), Chenxiang (Lignum Aquilariae Resinatum), Sharen (Fructus Amomi Rotundus), and Doukou (Fructus Cardamomi) should not be boiled long; steeping in hot water is superior.