古秤惟有铢两而无分名。今则以十黍为一铢，六铢为一分，四分成一两，十六两为一斤
。虽有子谷 黍之制，从来均之已久，依此用之。
苏恭曰∶古秤皆复，今南秤是也。后汉以来，分一斤为二斤，一两为二两。古方惟张仲
景，而已涉今秤，若用古秤，则水为殊少矣。
杲曰∶六铢为一分，即二钱半也。二十四铢为一两。古云三两，即今之一两；云二两，
即今之六钱半也。
时珍曰∶蚕初吐丝，曰忽；十忽曰丝；十丝曰厘；四厘曰累（音垒）；十厘曰分；四累
曰
字，二分半也；十累曰铢，四分也；四字曰钱，十分也；六铢曰一分（去声），二钱半也；
四
分曰两，二十四铢也；八两曰锱；二锱曰斤；二十四两曰镒，一斤半也，准官秤十二两；三
十斤曰钧；四钧曰石，一百二十斤也；方中有曰少许者，些子也。今古异制，古之一两，今
用一钱可也。
今方家云等分者，非分两之分，谓诸药斤两多少皆同尔。多是丸散用之。
凡散云刀圭者，十分方寸匕之一，准如梧桐子大也。方寸匕者，作匕正方一寸，抄散取
不落为度。钱五匕者，即今五铢钱边五字者抄之，不落为度。一撮者，四刀圭也（匕即匙也）。
药以升合分者，谓药有虚实轻重，不得用斤两，则以升平之。十撮为一勺，十勺为一合
，十合为一升。升方作上径一寸，下径六分，深八分。内散药，勿按
时珍曰∶古之一升，即今之二合半也。量之所起为圭，四圭为撮，十撮为勺，十勺为合
，十合为升，十升为斗，五斗曰斛，二斛曰石。
凡汤酒膏药云 咀者，谓秤毕捣之如大豆，又吹去细末；药有易碎难碎，多末少末，今
皆细切如 咀也。
恭曰∶ 咀，商量斟酌之也。
宗 曰∶ 咀，有含味之意，如人以口齿咀啮，虽破而不尘。古方多言
杲曰∶ 咀，古制也。古无铁刃，以口咬细，令如麻豆，煎之。今人以刀锉细尔。
凡丸药云如细麻者，即胡麻也，不必扁扁，略相称尔。黍、粟亦然。云如大麻子者，准
三细麻也。如胡豆者，即今青斑豆也，以二大麻准之。如小豆者，今赤小豆也，以三大麻准
之。如大豆者，以二小豆准之。如梧子者，以二大豆准之。如弹丸及鸡子黄者，以四十梧子
准之。
宗 曰∶今人用古方多不效者，何也？不知古人之意尔。如仲景治胸痹，心中痞坚，逆
气抢心，用治中汤。人参、术、干姜、甘草四物，共一十二两，水八升，煮取三升，每服一
升，日三服，以知为度；或作丸，须鸡子黄大，皆奇效。今人以一丸如杨梅许服之，病既不
去，乃曰药不神。非药之罪，用药者之罪也。
凡方云巴豆若干枚者，粒有大小，当去心皮秤之，以一分准十六枚。附子、乌头若干枚
者，去皮毕，以半两准一枚。枳实若干枚者，去瓤毕，以一分准二枚。橘皮一分，准三枚。
枣大小三枚，准一两。干姜一累者，以一两为正。
凡方云半夏一升者，洗毕秤五两为正。蜀椒一升，三两为正。吴茱萸一升，五两为正。
菟丝子一升，九两为正。庵 子一升，四两为正。蛇床子一升，三两半为正。地肤子一升，
四两为正。其子各有虚实轻重、不可秤准者，取平升为正。
凡方云用桂一尺者，削去皮，重半两为正。甘草一尺者，二两为正。云某草一束者，三
两为正。云一把者，二两为正。
凡方云蜜一斤者，有七合。猪膏一斤者，有一升二合也。
凡丸散药，亦先切细、曝燥乃捣之。有各捣者，有合捣者，并随方。其润湿药，如天门
冬、地黄辈，皆先增分两切曝，独捣碎更曝。若逢阴雨，微火烘之，既燥，停冷捣之。
时珍曰∶凡诸草木药及滋补药，并忌铁器，金性克木之生发之气，肝肾受伤也。
惟宜铜刀、竹刀修治乃佳。亦有忌铜器者，并宜如法。丸散须用青石碾、石磨、石臼，
其砂
凡筛丸散，用重密绢，各筛毕，更合于臼中，捣数百遍，色理和同，乃佳也。巴豆、杏
仁、胡麻诸膏腻药，皆先熬黄，捣令如膏，指 （莫结切）视泯泯，乃稍稍入散中，合研捣
散，
以轻疏绢筛度之，再合捣匀。
凡煮汤，欲微火令小沸。其水依方，大略二十两药，用水一斗，煮取四升，以此为准。
然利汤欲生，少水而多取汁；补汤欲熟，多水而少取汁。不得令水多少。用新布两人以尺
木绞之，澄去 浊，纸覆令密。温汤勿用铁器。服汤宁小沸，热则易下，冷则呕涌。
之才曰∶汤中用酒，须临熟乃下之。
时珍曰∶陶氏所说，乃古法也。今之小小汤剂，每一两用水二瓯为准，多则加，少则
减之。如剂多水少，则药味不出；剂少水多，又煎耗药力也。凡煎药并忌铜铁器，宜用银
器瓦罐，洗净封固，令小心者看守，须识火候，不可太过不及。火用木炭、芦苇为佳。其
水须新汲味甘者，流水、井水、沸汤等，各依方，详见水部。若发汗药，必用紧火，热服
。攻下药，亦用紧火煎熟，下硝黄再煎，温服。补中药，宜慢火，温服。阴寒急病，亦宜
紧火急煎服之。又有阴寒烦躁及暑月伏阴在内者，宜水中沉冷服。
凡渍药酒，皆须细切，生绢袋盛，入酒密封，随寒暑日数漉出。滓可曝燥，微捣更渍
，亦可为散服。
时珍曰∶别有酿酒者，或以药煮汁和饭，或以药袋安置酒中，或煮物和饭同酿，皆随
方法。又有煮酒者，以生绢袋药入坛密封，置大锅中，水煮一日，埋土中七日，出火毒乃
饮。
凡建中、肾沥诸补汤，滓合两剂，加水煮竭饮之，亦敌一剂，皆先曝燥。
陈藏器曰∶凡汤中用麝香、牛黄、犀角、羚羊角、蒲黄、丹砂、芒硝、阿胶辈，须细
末如粉，临时纳汤中，搅和服之。
凡合膏，初以苦酒渍令淹浃，不用多汁，密覆勿泄。云 时者，周时也，从今旦至明
旦。亦有止一宿者。煮膏当三上三下，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。中有薤白者，以两头微焦黄为候。有白芷、附子者，以小黄色为度。
以新布绞去滓，滓亦可酒煮饮之。摩膏滓可敷病上。膏中有雄黄、朱砂、麝香辈，皆别捣
如
时珍曰∶凡熬贴痈疽、风湿诸病膏者，先以药浸油中三日乃煎之，煎至药枯，以绢滤
净，煎热下黄丹或胡粉或密陀僧，三上三下，煎至滴水成珠不散，倾入器中，以水浸三日
，去火毒用。若用松脂者，煎至成丝，倾入水中，拔扯数百遍乃止。俱宜谨守火候，勿令
太过、不及也。其有朱砂、雄黄、龙脑、麝香、血竭、乳香、没药等料者，并待膏成时投
之。黄丹、胡粉、密陀僧并须水飞瓦炒过。松脂须炼数遍乃良。
凡丸中用蜡，皆烊投少蜜中搅调以和药。
杲曰∶丸药用蜡，取其固护药之气味势力，以过关膈而作效也。若投以蜜，下咽亦易
散化，如何得到脏中。若有毒药，反又害之，非用蜡之本意也。
凡用蜜，皆先火煎，掠去其沫，令色微黄，则丸药经久不坏。
雷 曰∶凡炼蜜，每一斤止得十二两半是数，火少火过，并不得用也。修合丸药，用
蜜只用蜜，用饧只用饧，用糖只用糖，勿交杂用，必泻人也。
古时的秤只有铢和两，没有“分”这个单位。现在则规定十粒黍米重为一铢，六铢为一分，四分为一两，十六两为一斤。虽然有关于子谷黍的称重标准，但长期以来大家一直统一使用这种换算方法，依照此法使用即可。
苏恭说：古时的秤都是双数制（即一斤等于两半），现在的南秤就是这种制度。从后汉以来，将一斤分为二斤（即减半），一两分为二两（即减半）。古方中只有张仲景的方子，已经涉及到了现代的秤量标准；如果按照古秤计算，那么水的用量就会显得特别少。
杲说：六铢为一分，也就是二钱半。二十四铢为一两。古人说的三两，相当于现在的一两；古人说的二两，相当于现在的六钱半。
时珍说：蚕刚开始吐丝时称为“忽”；十忽称为“丝”；十丝称为“厘”；四厘称为“累”（读音同垒）；十厘称为“分”；四累称为“字”，重二分半；十累称为“铢”，重四分；四字称为“钱”，重十分；六铢称为一分（去声），重二钱半；四分称为“两”，重二十四铢；八两称为“锱”；二锱称为“斤”；二十四两称为“镒”，相当于一斤半，折合官秤十二两；三十斤称为“钧”；四钧称为“石”，重一百二十斤；方剂中提到的“少许”，就是指一点点。古今制度不同，古方中的一两，现在用一钱即可。
现在的医生所说的“等分”，不是指重量单位的分，而是说各种药物的斤两数量都相同。这多用于丸药和散剂。
凡是散剂中提到“刀圭”的，是指方寸匕的十分之一，大小如同梧桐子。所谓方寸匕，是制作成边长一寸的正方形勺子，舀取散剂以不掉落为标准。用五铢钱边缘五个字的部位来舀取，以不掉落为标准。一撮，等于四刀圭（匕就是匙）。
药物按升、合计算的，是因为药物有虚实轻重之分，不能用斤两称量，就用升来平量。十撮为一勺，十勺为一合，十合为一升。升的形状是上口直径一寸，下口直径六分，深八分。放入散药时，不要按压。
时珍说：古时的一升，相当于现在的二合半。量器的起源始于圭，四圭为一撮，十撮为一勺，十勺为一合，十合为一升，十升为一斗，五斗称为斛，二斛称为石。
凡是汤剂、酒剂、膏药中提到“咀”的，意思是称量后将药捣碎如大豆大小，再吹去细末；药物有的易碎有的难碎，产生的细末有多有少，现在都是切成细末像“咀”一样。
苏恭说：“咀”，意为商量斟酌。
李说：“咀”，含有含味之意，就像人用牙齿咀嚼，虽然咬碎了但不成为粉尘。古方中多提到“咀”。
杲说：“咀”，是古时的制法。古代没有铁刃刀具，所以用口咬细，使其像麻豆大小，然后煎煮。现在的人用刀切碎罢了。
凡是丸药中提到如细麻大小的，就是胡麻，不必非要扁的，大致相当即可。黍米、粟米也是如此。提到如大麻子大小的，准于三粒细麻。提到如胡豆大小的，就是现在的青斑豆，准于两粒大麻。提到如小豆大小的，就是现在的赤小豆，准于三粒大麻。提到如大豆大小的，准于两粒小豆。提到如梧桐子大小的，准于两粒大豆。提到如弹丸及鸡子黄大小的，准于四十粒梧桐子。
李说：现在人使用古方大多无效，为什么呢？是不了解古人的用意罢了。例如张仲景治疗胸痹，心中痞塞坚硬，气逆抢心，使用治中汤。人参、白术、干姜、甘草四味药，共十二两，用水八升，煮取三升，每次服用一升，每日三次，以见效为度；或者做成丸药，需要如鸡蛋黄大小，都有奇效。现在的人只服如杨梅大小的丸药，病不去除，就说药不灵验。这不是药的过错，是用药者的过错。
凡是方剂中提到巴豆若干枚的，因为颗粒有大有小，应当去掉心皮后称量，以一分准十六枚。附子、乌头若干枚的，去掉皮后，以半两准一枚。枳实若干枚的，去掉瓤后，以一分准二枚。橘皮一分，准三枚。枣无论大小三枚，准一两。干姜一累的，以一兩为准。
凡是方剂中提到半夏一升的，洗净后称五两为准。蜀椒一升，三两为准。吴茱萸一升，五两为准。菟丝子一升，九两为准。葶苈子一升，四两为准。蛇床子一升，三两半为准。地肤子一升，四两为准。那些种子各有虚实轻重、无法准确称量的，取平升为准。
凡是方剂中提到用桂一尺的，削去皮后，重半两为准。甘草一尺的，二两为准。提到某草一束的，三两为准。提到一把的，二两为准。
凡是方剂中提到蜜一斤的，相当于七合。猪膏一斤的，相当于一升二合。
凡是丸散药，也要先切细、晒干后再捣碎。有的单独捣碎，有的混合捣碎，都随方剂要求而定。那些润湿的药物，如天门冬、地黄之类，都要先增加分量，切细晒干，单独捣碎后再晒。如果遇到阴雨天气，用微火烘干，既干燥后，放凉再捣。
时珍说：凡是草木药及滋补药，都忌讳使用铁器，因为金的性质克制木的生发之气，会损伤肝肾。
只宜用铜刀、竹刀修治才佳。也有忌讳铜器的，都应当依法处理。丸散必须用青石碾、石磨、石臼加工，其砂……（原文此处似有缺漏或断句问题，依文意理解为研磨过程）。
凡是筛丸散，要用厚重细密的绢，各药筛完后，再合在一起放入臼中，捣数百遍，使色泽纹理调和均匀，才好。巴豆、杏仁、胡麻等膏腻药物，都要先炒黄，捣成膏状，用手指看时不见颗粒，才慢慢加入散剂中，混合研捣散剂，再用轻疏的绢筛过，再合在一起捣匀。
凡是煮汤剂，要用微火令其小沸。水量依方剂而定，大致二十两药，用水一斗，煮取四升，以此为准。然而利水汤剂要生煮，水少而多取汁液；补益汤剂要熟煮，水多而少取汁液。不得让水过多或过少。用新布两人合作，用尺木绞压药渣，澄清去除浑浊，用纸覆盖密封。温服汤剂不要用铁器。服用汤剂宁可稍微沸腾一点，热则容易咽下，冷则会引起呕吐。
徐之才说：汤剂中使用酒，须在临熟时下入。
时珍说：陶氏所说的，是古法。现在的小小汤剂，每一两用水二瓯为准，多了就加，少了就减。如果药多水少，则药味出不来；药少水多，又煎耗药力。凡是煎药都忌讳铜铁器，宜用银器瓦罐，洗净封固，让小心的人看守，必须掌握火候，不可太过或不及。用火以木炭、芦苇为佳。水质须是新汲取且味甘的水，流水、井水、沸汤等，各依方剂而定，详见水部。如果是发汗药，必用猛火，热服。攻下药，也用猛火煎熟，下硝黄后再煎，温服。补中药，宜用慢火，温服。阴寒急病，也宜用猛火急煎服之。又有阴寒烦躁及暑月伏阴在内者，宜在水中沉冷服。
凡是浸泡药酒，都必须细切，用生绢袋盛装，入酒密封，随寒暑天数过滤取出。药渣可以晒干，微捣后再浸泡，也可以作为散剂服用。
时珍说：另有酿酒的方法，有的用药煮汁和饭酿制，有的将药袋安置在酒中，有的煮物与饭同酿，都随方法而定。又有煮酒的方法，将生绢袋装的药放入坛中密封，置于大锅中，水煮一天，埋入土中七天，除去火毒后饮用。
凡是建中、肾沥等补汤，药渣合并两剂，加水煮尽饮用，也抵得上一剂药，都要先晒干。
陈藏器说：凡是汤剂中使用麝香、牛黄、犀角、羚羊角、蒲黄、丹砂、芒硝、阿胶之类的，必须细细磨成粉，临时纳入汤中，搅和服用。
凡是合膏，起初用苦酒浸泡令其湿润，不用太多汁液，严密覆盖勿泄漏。所谓的“一时”，是一周的时间，从今天早晨到明天早晨。也有只过夜一次的。煮膏应当“三上三下”，以泄去热气，使药味得出。加热使其全面沸腾，然后放下使其沸腾静止，很久才停止。其中有薤白的，以两头微焦黄为候。有白芷、附子的，以小黄色为度。用新布绞去药渣，药渣也可用酒煮饮。摩膏的药渣可敷在病处。膏中有雄黄、朱砂、麝香之类的，都要另外捣碎如……（原文此处似有缺漏，依文意理解为极细粉末）。
时珍说：凡是熬制贴痈疽、风湿等病的膏药，先用药物浸泡油中三天再煎，煎至药枯，用绢滤净，趁热下黄丹或胡粉或密陀僧，三上三下，煎至滴水成珠不散，倾入容器中，用水浸泡三天，除去火毒后使用。如果用松脂，煎至成丝，倾入水中，拔扯数百遍才停止。都应当谨守火候，勿令太过或不及。其中有朱砂、雄黄、龙脑、麝香、血竭、乳香、没药等材料，都待膏成时投入。黄丹、胡粉、密陀僧都必须水飞或瓦炒过。松脂必须炼数遍才好。
凡是丸药中使用蜡的，都要熔化后投入少量蜜中搅拌调和以和药。
杲说：丸药用蜡，是为了保护药的气味势力，使其通过关膈而起效。如果投入蜜，咽下也容易散化，怎么能到达脏腑中。如果有毒药，反而有害，这不是用蜡的本意。
凡是使用蜜，都要先火煎，撇去浮沫，令颜色微黄，则丸药经久不坏。
雷敩说：凡是炼蜜，每一斤只得十二两半是正数，火小或火大，都不可以使用。修合丸药，用蜜只用蜜，用饴糖只用饴糖，用糖只用糖，不要混杂使用，否则会导致腹泻。
Ancient scales only had units of zhu (铢) and liang (两), without the unit of fen (分). Currently, ten grains of millet are defined as one zhu, six zhu as one fen, four fen as one liang, and sixteen liang as one jin. Although there is a standard regarding the weight of millet seeds, this method has been uniformly used for a long time and should be followed.
Su Gong stated: Ancient scales were double-counted (i.e., one jin equaled two half-jins), which is the system of the Southern scale. Since the Later Han dynasty, one jin was divided into two jins (halved), and one liang into two liangs (halved). Among ancient prescriptions, only those of Zhang Zhongjing have involved modern weighing standards; if ancient scales were used, the amount of water would appear significantly less.
Gao stated: Six zhu equal one fen, which is equivalent to 2.5 qian. Twenty-four zhu equal one liang. What the ancients called three liang corresponds to one liang today; what they called two liang corresponds to 6.5 qian today.
Shizhen stated: When silkworms first spin silk, it is called "hu" (忽); ten hu make one "si" (丝); ten si make one "li" (厘); four li make one "lei" (累, pronounced lei); ten li make one "fen" (分); four lei make one "zi" (字), weighing 2.5 fen; ten lei make one "zhu" (铢), weighing 4 fen; four zi make one "qian" (钱), weighing 10 fen; six zhu make one fen (falling tone), weighing 2.5 qian; four fen make one "liang" (两), weighing 24 zhu; eight liang make one "zi" (锱); two zi make one "jin" (斤); twenty-four liang make one "yi" (镒), equivalent to 1.5 jin or 12 liang in official measures; thirty jin make one "jun" (钧); four jun make one "shi" (石), weighing 120 jin; "a little bit" (shaoxu) mentioned in prescriptions refers to a small amount. Due to differences between ancient and modern systems, one ancient liang can be replaced by one modern qian.
When modern practitioners say "equal parts" (dengfen), they do not mean the unit fen, but rather that the weights of various herbs are identical. This is mostly used for pills and powders.
When a powder prescription mentions "daogui" (刀圭), it refers to one-tenth of a fangcunbi (square-inch spoon), roughly the size of a Sophora japonica seed. A fangcunbi is a square spoon with a side length of one inch, filled until the powder does not fall out. Using the five characters on the edge of a Wuzhu coin to scoop powder, stopping when it does not fall out, constitutes one "cuo" (撮). One cuo equals four daogui (bi is synonymous with chi/spoon).
For medicines measured by sheng (升) and he (合), since herbs vary in density and weight, jin and liang cannot be used; instead, volume measurement with sheng is employed. Ten cuo make one shao (勺), ten shao make one he, and ten he make one sheng. The sheng vessel has an upper diameter of one cun, a lower diameter of 0.6 cun, and a depth of 0.8 cun. When adding powdered medicine, do not press it down.
Shizhen stated: One ancient sheng is equivalent to 2.5 modern he. The origin of measuring vessels starts with gui (圭); four gui make one cuo, ten cuo make one shao, ten shao make one he, ten he make one sheng, ten sheng make one dou, five dou make one hu, and two hu make one shi.
When decoctions, wines, or ointments mention "ju" (咀), it means crushing the weighed herbs to the size of soybeans and blowing away the fine dust. Herbs vary in brittleness, producing varying amounts of dust; nowadays, all are finely chopped like ju.
Su Gong explained: "Ju" implies deliberation and consideration.
Li Shi-zhen explained: "Ju" carries the meaning of tasting, similar to chewing with teeth, breaking the material without turning it into dust. Ancient prescriptions often mention "ju".
Gao stated: "Ju" is an ancient method. In ancient times, without iron blades, people chewed herbs finely, like hemp or bean sizes, before decocting. Nowadays, knives are used for chopping.
When pill prescriptions mention sizes like "fine sesame" (xima), it refers to Sesamum indicum (Huma); they need not be flat, just approximately equivalent. Millet and broomcorn millet are similar. "Large hemp seeds" (damaizi) correspond to three fine sesame seeds. "Hu beans" (hudou) refer to current green mottled beans, corresponding to two large hemp seeds. "Small beans" (xiaodou) refer to current red adzuki beans, corresponding to three large hemp seeds. "Soybeans" (dadou) correspond to two small beans. "Sophora seeds" (wuzi) correspond to two soybeans. "Bullet pellets and egg yolks" correspond to forty Sophora seeds.
Li Shi-zhen noted: Why do modern applications of ancient prescriptions often fail? Because the original intent is unknown. For example, Zhang Zhongjing treated chest bi (thoracic obstruction) with central stagnation and rebellious qi using Zhizhong Tang. Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), and Gan Cao (Liquiritiae Radix) totaled twelve liang, boiled in eight sheng of water to yield three sheng. Each dose was one sheng, taken three times daily, until effective. Or made into pills the size of an egg yolk, both yielding miraculous effects. Today, people take pills the size of a waxberry; when the disease persists, they claim the medicine is ineffective. This is not the fault of the medicine, but of the prescriber.
For Ba Dou (Crotonis Fructus) specified by number, due to size variations, remove the heart and skin before weighing; one fen equals sixteen pieces. For Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) and Wu Tou (Aconiti Radix), after removing skin, half a liang equals one piece. For Zhi Shi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), after removing pith, one fen equals two pieces. For Ju Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), one fen equals three pieces. Three dates, regardless of size, equal one liang. One lei of Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) equals one liang.
For Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) specified as one sheng, after washing, five liang is standard. Shu Jiao (Zanthoxyli Pericarpium) one sheng equals three liang. Wu Zhu Yu (Evodiae Fructus) one sheng equals five liang. Tu Si Zi (Cuscutae Semen) one sheng equals nine liang. Ting Li Zi (Lepidii Semen) one sheng equals four liang. She Chuang Zi (Cnidii Fructus) one sheng equals 3.5 liang. Di Fu Zi (Kochiae Fructus) one sheng equals four liang. For seeds with variable density/weight that cannot be accurately weighed, a level sheng is standard.
For Gui (Cinnamomi Ramulus) specified as one chi, peeled, half a liang is standard. Gan Cao (Liquiritiae Radix) one chi equals two liang. A bundle of certain grasses equals three liang. A handful equals two liang.
One jin of Mi (Mel) equals seven he. One jin of Zhu Gao (Porci Adipis) equals 1.2 sheng.
Pills and powders must be finely chopped and dried before grinding. Some are ground separately, some together, according to the prescription. Moist herbs like Tian Dong (Asparagi Radix) and Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix) should have their weight increased, chopped, dried, ground separately, and dried again. In rainy weather, dry them over mild heat, cool, then grind.
Shizhen stated: All herbal and tonic medicines should avoid iron vessels, as metal (Jin) suppresses the growing energy of wood (Mu), damaging the Liver and Kidney. Copper or bamboo knives are preferred. Some also avoid copper; follow appropriate methods. Pills and powders must be processed using bluestone rollers, stone mills, and stone mortars...
When sifting pills and powders, use heavy, fine silk gauze. After sifting each herb, combine them in a mortar and pound hundreds of times until color and texture are uniform. For greasy herbs like Ba Dou, Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum), and Hu Ma (Sesami Semen), fry until yellow, grind into paste until no granules are visible under finger inspection, then gradually add to the powder mixture, grind, sift through light gauze, and mix thoroughly.
When decocting soups, use low heat to maintain a gentle boil. Water quantity follows the prescription: generally, twenty liang of herbs require one dou of water, reduced to four sheng. For purgative soups, cook lightly with less water to extract more juice; for tonic soups, cook thoroughly with more water to reduce extraction. Do not let water levels vary arbitrarily. Use new cloth and wooden rods to squeeze the dregs, clarify, cover tightly with paper. Warm soup should not be prepared in iron vessels. Take soup while slightly hot; too hot causes difficulty swallowing, too cold induces vomiting.
Zhi Cai stated: Wine added to decoctions should be added near the end of cooking.
Shizhen stated: Tao Hongjing's description reflects ancient methods. Modern small-scale decoctions use two ou of water per liang of herbs, adjusting up or down. Too much water prevents flavor extraction; too little water consumes medicinal potency. Avoid copper and iron vessels; use silver or clay pots. Clean, seal, and monitor carefully. Control fire intensity; neither too strong nor too weak. Wood charcoal or reed is best for fuel. Use fresh, sweet-tasting water (stream, well, or boiling water) as per prescription details in the Water section. Diaphoretic drugs require strong fire and hot administration. Purgative drugs require strong fire until boiling, then add Xiao Shi (Natrii Sulfas) and Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), simmer, and take warm. Tonics require slow fire and warm administration. Acute cold conditions require strong fire and rapid administration. Cold irritability or summer internal cold requires cold administration (cooled in water).
For medicinal wine infusion, herbs must be finely chopped, placed in raw silk bags, sealed in wine, and filtered after days depending on season. Dregs can be dried, lightly crushed, and re-infused or taken as powder.
Shizhen noted: Other brewing methods exist: boiling herbs with rice, placing herb bags in wine, or fermenting cooked herbs with rice, following specific methods. Another method involves sealing herb bags in jars, boiling in a large pot for a day, burying in soil for seven days to remove "fire toxicity," then drinking.
Dregs from Jianzhong or Shenli tonics can be combined from two doses, boiled with water until exhausted, and drunk, equivalent to one full dose; dregs should be dried first.
Zangqi stated: Musk (She Xiang), Cow Bezoar (Niu Huang), Rhinoceros Horn (Xi Jiao), Antelope Horn (Ling Yang Jiao), Cattail Pollen (Pu Huang), Cinnabar (Dan Sha), Mirabilite (Mang Xiao), and Donkey-hide Gelatin (E Jiao) in decoctions must be finely powdered and stirred into the decoction at the time of administration.
For preparing ointments, initially soak in vinegar (Ku Jiu) until moist, without excess liquid, covered tightly. "One shi" means one week (from morning to next morning). Some last only one night. Boiling ointments requires "three ups and three downs" to release heat and extract flavors. Bring to a rolling boil, then let settle. For Scallion White (Xie Bai), look for slight browning at ends. For Angelica Dahurica (Bai Zhi) and Aconite (Fu Zi), look for slight yellow color. Strain through new cloth; dregs can be boiled in wine. Massage ointment dregs can be applied topically. Arsenic sulfide (Xiong Huang), Cinnabar (Zhu Sha), and Musk (She Xiang) in ointments must be separately ground...
Shizhen stated: For ointments treating carbuncles or rheumatism, soak herbs in oil for three days, then fry until herbs are withered. Filter through silk. While hot, add Minium (Huang Dan), Lead Carbonate (Hu Fen), or Litharge (Mi Tuo Seng). Perform "three ups and three downs" until drops form beads in water without dispersing. Pour into containers, soak in water for three days to remove fire toxicity. If using Pine Resin (Song Zhi), fry until stringy, pour into water, stretch hundreds of times. Strictly control fire intensity. Add Cinnabar, Realgar, Borneol, Musk, Dragon's Blood, Frankincense, and Myrrh only when the ointment base is ready. Minium, Lead Carbonate, and Litharge must be water-ground or fired on tiles. Pine resin must be refined multiple times.
Wax in pills should be melted and mixed with a little honey before combining with herbs.
Gao stated: Wax in pills protects the medicinal aroma and potency, allowing passage through the diaphragm to reach organs. Honey would cause premature dispersion upon swallowing, preventing efficacy. With toxic drugs, honey could be harmful, contrary to the purpose of using wax.
Honey used in pills must be first heated, skimmed of foam, until slightly yellow, ensuring long-term preservation.
Lei Xiao stated: Refining honey yields 12.5 liang per jin; insufficient or excessive heat renders it unusable. For pill preparation, use only honey for honey-based pills, maltose for maltose-based, sugar for sugar-based; do not mix, or it will cause diarrhea.