古人方剂，锱铢分两，与今不同。云一升，即今之大白盏也。云两铢者，六铢为一分，
即今
二钱半。二十四铢为一两也。云三两，即今之二两。云一两，即今之六钱半。
凡散药有云刀圭者，十分方寸匕之一，准如梧子大也。方寸匕者，作匕正方一寸，抄散
取不
落为度。钱五匕者，今五铢钱边五字者，以抄之。一撮者，四刀圭也。十撮为一勺。
凡丸药云如细麻者，即胡麻也。如黍、粟亦然，以十六黍为一大豆。如大麻子者，准三
细麻
也。如胡豆者，即今之青斑豆也，以二大麻子准之。如小豆者，今赤小豆。如大豆者，以二
小豆准之。如梧桐子者，以二大豆准之。
凡煮汤，欲微火令小沸。其水数，依方多少。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。
凡汤中用芒硝、饴糖、阿胶，须候汤熟，绞净清汁，方纳于内，再上火两三沸，烊尽乃
服。
凡汤中加酒、醋、童便、竹沥、姜汁，亦候汤熟，绞汁盏内，加入便服。
凡汤中用沉香、木香、乳香、没药，一切香窜药味，须研细末，待汤熟，先倾汁小盏内
调服
讫，然后尽饮。
凡丸散药亦先咀细片曝燥，才依方派轻重。称净分两和匀，共磨研细末。其天门冬、地
黄辈
，湿润难干者，冬春略增蚀数，捣膏搀入。夏秋亦同。众药曝燥磨之。
凡筛丸药末，用重密绢令细。若筛散草药，用轻疏绢。其丸药中，有各研磨者，虽已筛
细，
和诸药末，又必重复筛过，庶色理和同为佳。
凡丸药用蜜，每药末一斤，则用蜜十二两。文火煎炼，掠去沸沫，令色焦黄，滴水成珠
为度
，再加清水四两和匀。如此丸成，庶可爆干，经久不烂。
凡药末入蜜和匀，须令力士于石舂内杵捣千百，自然软熟，容易丸成。不然，或散或粘，
在
手弗妙。一应作糊合者，亦仿此式勿违。
凡通大便丸药，或有巴豆，或加硝、黄丸成者，必用川蜡熔化为衣，取其过膈不化，能
达
下焦，脾胃免伤，诚为良法。倘人体气壮实，毋以此拘。
凡丸药，或用朱砂末、或用金银箔为衣饰者，必须丸成乘湿粘上。
古人的方剂用量，以锱、铢、分、两计算，与现在不同。文中所说的“一升”，相当于现在的大白瓷盏。“一两”等于二十四“铢”。文中说“六铢”，就是一“分”，相当于现在的二钱半。文中说“三两”，相当于现在的二两。文中说“一两”，相当于现在的六钱半。
凡是散药中提到用“刀圭”作为计量单位的，是方寸匕（一种正方一寸的取药小勺）容积的十分之一，其大小如同梧桐子。所谓“方寸匕”，是指制作成边长一寸的正方形小勺，舀取散药不洒落为标准。用“五铢钱”边的五个字来量取散药的，称为“钱五匕”。文中说的“一撮”，等于四个“刀圭”。十“撮”等于一“勺”。
凡是丸药提到大小如“细麻”（胡麻/黑芝麻）的，就是胡麻的大小。如黍米、粟米的大小也依此类推，以十六粒黍米相当于一粒大豆的大小。如大麻子大小的，相当于三粒细麻的大小。如胡豆（蚕豆）大小的，就是现在的青斑豆，以两粒大麻子的大小来衡量。如小豆（赤小豆）大小的，就是现在的赤小豆。如大豆大小的，以两粒小豆的大小来衡量。如梧桐子大小的，以两粒大豆的大小来衡量。
凡是煎煮汤剂，要用微火使药液微微沸腾。加水量依据方剂要求而定。大致原则是：二十两药材，用水一斗，煎取四升药汁，以此为标准。然而，用于通便的汤剂宜生煎，加水少而取汁多；用于补益的汤剂宜熟煎，加水多而取汁少。
凡是汤剂中需要加入芒硝、饴糖、阿胶的，必须等汤剂煎好，滤去药渣得到清汁后，再将药物放入其中，重新上火煮沸两三滚，待药物完全溶化后服用。
凡是汤剂中需要加入酒、醋、童便（儿童尿液）、竹沥（竹子经火烤流出的汁液）、姜汁的，也要等汤剂煎好，滤出药汁倒入杯中，再加入这些辅料立即服用。
凡是汤剂中用到沉香、木香、乳香、没药等一切芳香走窜的药物，必须研成细末，等汤剂煎好后，先倒出一小部分药汁在小杯中调匀服下，然后再喝完剩余的全部药汁。
凡是制作丸散的药物，也要先切成细片晒干，然后才按照方剂称量轻重，混合均匀，共同研磨成细末。像天门冬、地黄这类湿润难干的药材，在冬春季节可略微增加一些损耗，捣烂成膏状掺入其他药粉中。夏秋季节也是如此。先将其他药材晒干研磨。
凡是筛选丸药粉末，要用厚重密实的绢布以使粉末更细。如果筛选散草药粉，要用轻薄疏朗的绢布。对于丸药中有些需要单独研磨的成分，虽然已经筛细，但在与其他药末混合后，还必须再次重复过筛，这样颜色纹理调和一致才好。
凡是丸药用蜂蜜，每药末一斤，就用蜂蜜十二两。用文火煎炼蜂蜜，撇去浮沫，直到颜色变成焦黄色，滴入水中能凝聚成珠状为度，再加清水四两和匀。这样制成的丸药，才能晒干，经久不坏。
凡是将药末与蜂蜜混合均匀，必须让力气大的人在石臼中杵捣千百次，使药蜜自然软熟，容易制成丸药。否则，丸药要么松散要么粘手，状态不佳。所有需要用糊剂合药的情况，也都仿照此法，不要违背。
凡是治疗便秘的丸药，如果含有巴豆，或者加入芒硝、大黄制成的丸药，必须用川蜡熔化后包裹成药衣，取其经过胃部不消化，能直达下焦，从而保护脾胃不受伤害，这确实是良法。如果患者体质壮实，不必拘泥于此法。
Ancient prescriptions utilized units such as zi (a small weight unit), zhu (a minute weight unit), fen, and liang for dosage, which differ from modern standards. The term "one sheng" (volume unit) referred to a large white porcelain cup. Six zhu constitute one fen, equivalent to approximately 2.5 qian in modern measurement. Twenty-four zhu make up one liang. "Three liang" in ancient texts corresponds to two liang today. "One liang" corresponds to 6.5 qian today.
When powdered medicines are measured by "dao gui," it refers to one-tenth the volume of a "fang cun bi" (a square-inch measuring spoon), roughly the size of a sophora seed (Wutongzi). A "fang cun bi" is a square-inch spoon where the powder is scooped without spilling. Using the five characters on the edge of a "five zhu coin" to scoop powder is called "qian wu bi." One "cuo" (pinch) equals four "dao gui." Ten "cuo" equal one "shao" (spoonful).
For pills described as the size of "xi ma" (sesame seeds), this refers to sesame seeds. Sizes like millet or broomcorn millet follow similar proportional logic: sixteen millet grains equal one soybean. Three sesame seeds equal one hemp seed. "Hu dou" (broad beans) refer to green speckled beans; two hemp seeds approximate their size. "Xiao dou" refers to adzuki beans. "Da dou" (soybeans) are approximated by two adzuki beans. "Wutongzi" (sophora seeds) are approximated by two soybeans.
When decocting herbal soups, use low heat to maintain a gentle boil. Water quantity depends on the prescription. Generally, twenty liang of herbs require one dou of water, boiled down to four sheng of liquid. However, laxative decoctions should be lightly cooked with less water to yield more juice; tonic decoctions should be thoroughly cooked with more water to yield less concentrated juice.
If Muxiao (Natrii Sulfas), Yitang (Maltose), or Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin) are required, they must be added only after the decoction is finished and strained clear. Reheat briefly for two or three boils until fully dissolved before consumption.
If wine, vinegar, tong bian (child's urine), zhuli (bamboo sap), or jiangzhi (ginger juice) are added, do so after the decoction is finished and strained into a cup, then mix and consume immediately.
For aromatic drugs such as Chenxiang (Aquilaria Wood), Muxiang (Aucklandia Root), Ruxiang (Frankincense), and Moyao (Myrrh), grind them into fine powder. After the decoction is ready, pour a small amount of the liquid into a cup to dissolve the powder, consume that portion first, then drink the rest of the decoction.
Herbs for pills and powders should first be sliced thin and dried. Then weigh according to the prescription, mix evenly, and grind into fine powder. For moist herbs like Tianmendong (Asparagus Root) and Dihuang (Rehmannia Root), slightly increase the weight during winter and spring to account for moisture loss, crush into paste, and mix in. This applies similarly to summer and autumn. Other herbs should be dried and ground.
Sift pill powders using heavy, fine silk gauze. For herb powders, use light, coarse silk gauze. If certain ingredients were ground separately, even if sifted fine, re-sift after mixing with other powders to ensure uniform color and texture.
For honey-pilled formulations, use twelve liang of honey per jin (16 taels) of herb powder. Refine over low heat, skim off foam, until the color turns dark yellow and drops form beads when tested in water. Add four liang of clear water and mix well. Pills made this way can be dried and stored long-term without spoiling.
Mix herb powder and honey thoroughly by pounding hundreds or thousands of times in a stone mortar by strong hands to achieve a soft, pliable consistency suitable for rolling. Otherwise, pills may be loose or sticky. Apply this method to all paste-based preparations.
For constipation-relieving pills containing Badou (Croton Seed) or combined with Xiaomangxiao (Mirabilite) and Dahuang (Rhubarb Root), coat them with melted Chuanla (Beeswax). This prevents dissolution in the stomach, allowing delivery to the lower jiao while protecting the spleen and stomach. Patients with robust constitution need not strictly adhere to this.
Pills coated with Zhusha (Cinnabar) powder or Jin/Yinbo (Gold/Silver Leaf) must be applied while the pills are still wet.