The genuine product is difficult to collect and often penetrates and corrodes vessels. It is rarely used in medicine nowadays, though it may be required in calcination processes. It is still commonly stored in oil-containing containers (You, qù shēng: a specific pronunciation indicating the noun form of "oil").

Additionally, raw arsenic trioxide (Sheng Pishuang) is ground, mixed with petroleum ether (Shinao You), and ground again into a paste. This paste is placed in a clamp pot, covered tightly with clean tile shards, and heated over fire. Once the pot turns red and all the oil has evaporated ("weeping away"), it is removed. The process is repeated: grinding again, adding more oil, and reheating. After two such cycles, the toxicity of the arsenic trioxide is subdued (Fu).

Chijian (Red Arrow) is the sprout of Gastrodia elata (Tianma). However, since its therapeutic applications differ from those of Tianma, later generations separated them into two distinct entities. The Classic states that the roots are harvested in the eighth month and dried in the sun; thus, it is known that Chijian refers to the sprout.

This belongs to the category of Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong). Although it is said to remove the "heart," one should merely soak it in water, drain it, ensure it is evenly moistened so that moisture penetrates the tissue, wait until it softens, and then slowly split it open to extract the heart. One must not soak it until the oily substances leach out. Those who do not understand this principle soak it in hot water for one or two hours. While it becomes soft, its aroma and flavor are entirely lost, rendering it ineffective. To then claim that the medicine is not miraculous—how can this be justified? Its efficacy in treating lung heat is predominant. Its taste is bitter; it specializes in purging but not in astringing. Therefore, it is contraindicated for those with excessive cold conditions. For other details, refer to the other two classics.

This refers to the seeds/fruits found on the roots of Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong). It treats deficiency-heat of the heart and lungs, as well as deficiency labor and pathogenic heat. The sprouts can also be brewed as a cooked tea for consumption.

The root resembles a thumb in size, is plump and solid, with brownish skin and a pungent, strong odor. It must be washed with rice wash water (Mi Gao), changed to fresh rice wash water, and soaked for two days to remove the coarse outer skin. Baizhu (White Atractylodes Rhizome) is coarse and short, slightly brownish in color, with a mild pungent and bitter taste that is not intense. Ancient prescriptions and the *Shennong Bencao Jing* only mention "Zhu" (Atractylodes), without distinguishing between Cangzhu (Cang Zhu) and Baizhu. This distinction arose because Tao Hongjing stated there were two types of Zhu. Since then, people have generally valued the white variety. Nowadays, people value it for its rarity and use only the white variety, often discarding the Cangzhu. For example, in ancient prescriptions like Pingwei San, Cangzhu is the most crucial herb, with particularly rapid efficacy. It is peculiar that many fail to realize that the original *Bencao* did not contain the name "Baizhu." Its frequent use in recent times warrants careful examination. Ji Kang said, "I heard the words left by Daoist practitioners: consuming Zhu and Huangjing allows one to live long," and there was no character "Bai" (White) included.