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Diseases have distinctions between the root (Ben) and the branch (Biao), and medicines have differences in weight and potency. Medicines with heavy potency that address the main disease serve as the Sovereign drug (Jun Yao); those with light potency serve as the Minister (Chen Yao) and Assistant (Zuo Shi) drugs to assist. The method of formulating prescriptions follows this principle, thereby ensuring efficacy. Furthermore, in the entries of Materia Medica, classification also follows the Sovereign-Minister model: medicines that nourish life are classified as Sovereign, those that nourish nature/temperament as Minister, and those that treat diseases as Envoy. When these medicines are combined into a prescription, the one with strong potency addressing the primary disease is the Sovereign; those assisting the Sovereign are Ministers; and those coordinating with the Ministers are Envoys. Balancing weight and lightness is a temporary expedient; adhering to systems and combining formulas appropriately is the eternal rule of ancient and modern times. However, the principles of rules and compasses are already found in classical texts; adapting to changes requires always seeking the mean (Zhong).

Medicines may act alone, not being combined with other drugs in a formula, yet independently capable of expelling pathogens or tonifying deficiency, such as the Single Ginseng Decoction (Dushen Tang) and Single Platycodon Decoction (Dujie Tang) recorded in medical books. However, there are cases where combination is suitable to mutually promote efficacy; how can the principles of "Mutual Fear" (Xiang Wei) and "Mutual Aversion" (Xiang E) be ignored? "Mutual Aversion" refers to when one drug's toxicity or effect is disliked by another (reducing efficacy); "Mutual Fear" refers to when one drug possesses a capability that suppresses another's toxicity or harshness. These two do not cause deep harm. Although I may aversion it, it holds no hostility; it fears me because I can subdue it. For example, Realgar (Niuhuang) is averse to Dragon Bone (Long Gu), but Dragon Bone becomes more effective with Realgar; Rhubarb (Dahuang) fears Saposhnikovia (Fangfeng), but Rhubarb's efficacy increases with Saposhnikovia. This illustrates the point. "Mutual Opposition" (Xiang Fan) means the two drugs are like enemies and must never be combined, similar to how Orpiment (Cihuang) and Lead White (Hufen) darken when mixed by painters. "Mutual Killing" (Xiang Sha) means using a specific drug to eliminate the toxicity of another, such as using Realgar (Xionghuang) to treat snake venom, or using Stephania (Fangji) to counteract Realgar toxicity.

Qibo stated: Qi has variations in quantity, forms have fluctuations in prosperity and decline, treatments vary in slowness and urgency, prescriptions differ in size, diseases vary in distance (depth/location), symptoms differ in interior/exterior, and treatments vary in lightness/heaviness. The Seven Prescriptions (Qi Fang) are distinct yet all aim to cure the disease. Their formulations differ to suit appropriateness. "Prescription" (Fang) means method/law; law is used to regulate substances; thus, formulating prescriptions must be based on these principles.

Large Prescription (Da Fang): Formulated with 1 Sovereign, 3 Ministers, and 9 Assistants. It has two applications: First, when a disease has concurrent syndromes and the pathogen is not singular, requiring more than one or two herbs, a Large Prescription is suitable. Second, for treating the Kidney and Liver, which are located lower and further away, a large dosage administered in one dose is appropriate. Regarding distance by organ location, Kidney/Liver are far, Heart/Lung are near; regarding exterior/interior, the body surface is far, the interior is near.

Small Prescription (Xiao Fang): Formulated with 1 Sovereign, 2 Ministers, and 4 Assistants. It has two applications: First, when there are no concurrent syndromes and the pathogen is singular, treatable with one or two herbs, a Small Prescription is suitable. Second, for treating the Heart and Lung, which are located upper and near, a small dosage taken slowly and frequently is appropriate. Generally, Kidney/Liver are distant and require many herbs, resulting in slow-moving qi; constrained, they cannot reach the lower body quickly. Thus, a large dosage with few herbs is used to ensure focused, rapid descent. Heart/Lung are near; few herbs result in urgent downward movement, preventing ascent. Thus, a small dosage with many herbs is used to facilitate dispersion and upward movement. Wang Bing's statement that the Lung takes 9, Heart 7, Spleen 5, Liver 3, and Kidney 1 reflects the generative numbers of the Five Zang Organs.

Slow Prescription (Huan Fang): Treatment should be gradual. Tonifying the upper or treating upper diseases requires a slow formulation. Methods involving exterior release, sweating, or purging may also require slowness. Slowness implies thin aroma/flavor, necessitating frequent, small doses. Its five applications are: 1) Using sweet flavors to moderate, e.g., sugar, honey, dates, okra, Licorice, to retain action in the diaphragm. 2) Using pills, which act slower than decoctions or powders. 3) Combining many herbs, so no single herb dominates its nature. 4) Using non-toxic herbs, resulting in gentle attack. 5) Using herbs with thin aroma/flavor, which primarily tonify the upper body; by the time they reach the lower body, their power has faded. This is the method for tonifying/treating the upper.

Urgent Prescription (Ji Fang): Treating external pathogens requires urgency. Tonifying the lower or treating lower diseases requires an urgent formulation. Exterior release, sweating, or purging may also require urgency. Urgency implies dense aroma/flavor, necessitating large, single doses. Its four applications are: 1) Urgent purging with heat-clearing herbs for constipation due to dryness-heat, delirium, and mania. 2) Urgent dispersal for wind-stroke causing jaw lock and unconsciousness. 3) Using toxic herbs for rapid attack, inducing vomiting or diarrhea to seize the major pathological trend. 4) Using herbs with dense aroma/flavor, which descend directly without losing power, for tonifying/treating the lower. Wang Bing said: If the disease is in the Kidney but Heart Qi is deficient, medicine should pass through quickly without nourishing the Heart, as Kidney medicine might oppress the Heart, worsening Heart deficiency. The examples of upper/lower and far/near are similar. Wan Su said: The Sage treats the upper without offending the lower, treats the lower without offending the upper, and treats the middle without offending either. To punish the innocent is called great confusion.

Odd Prescription (Qi Fang): Formulated with 1 Sovereign and 2 Ministers (odd number). Used for near diseases, lower diseases, and anything in the Yang aspect. Two applications: 1) Single herb acting alone, e.g., Single Ginseng Decoction. 2) Near diseases suitable for odd prescriptions, e.g., 1 Sovereign/2 Ministers or 2 Sovereigns/3 Ministers (summing to Yang numbers), suitable for purging rather than sweating. Odd prescriptions have weak power; purging is easy, so odd numbers are suitable. Even prescriptions involve excessive internal attack of drug toxicity; hence, sweating should not use odd numbers, purging should not use even numbers. Wang Tai argued: Sweating herbs need even numbers to generate enough Qi for outward emission; purging herbs need odd numbers to avoid excessive toxicity damage. Purging is naturally swift; single action ensures focused power, descending directly and quickly. Sweating is difficult; combined action dilutes power to a mild level. Zhang Zhongjing's Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) uses three herbs (odd) for sweating, while Dachengqi Tang (Major Order the Qi Decoction) uses four herbs (even) for purging. Why? Is the urgency of sweating/purging determined by potency magnitude rather than the odd/even count of herbs?

Even Prescription (Ou Fang): Formulated with 2 Sovereigns and 4 Ministers (even number). Used for distant diseases, sweating, and anything in the Yin aspect. Three applications: 1) Pairing two herbs, e.g., Chenfu Tang. 2) Combining two formulas, e.g., Weiling Tang. 3) Distant diseases suitable for even prescriptions, e.g., 2 Sovereigns/4 Ministers or 4 Sovereigns/6 Ministers (summing to Yin numbers), suitable for sweating rather than purging. Wang Andao said: Even prescriptions have balanced, strong power. Sweating often requires even numbers because odd numbers lack sufficient outward-emitting Qi. There are numerical odd/even distinctions and herbal ingredient odd/even distinctions. Heaven's Yang aspect is odd; e.g., Shengma Tang is small and non-descending, considered odd due to its heavenly nature. Earth's Yin aspect is even; e.g., Tiaoweichengqi Tang descends but does not ascend, considered even due to its earthly nature.

Compound Prescription (Fu Fang): If the Odd Prescription fails, use the Even Prescription; if the Even Prescription fails, use the Odd Prescription again. "Fu" means repetition or layering. Jiegu said: Ten tonifications with one purge, several purges with one tonification, to maintain the balance of unblocking and obstructing. Two applications: 1) Combining two or three formulas, e.g., Guizhi Er Yuebi Yi Tang. 2) Equal proportions, e.g., Weifeng Tang with equal parts. "Repeated Fu" refers to combining multiple formulas. "Repetitive Fu" refers to switching from Odd to Even if the former fails.

Wang Bing said: Viscera positions vary in height, Fu Qi varies in distance, diseases differ in exterior/interior, and medicines vary in weight/lightness. Single prescriptions are Odd, Compound prescriptions are Even. Heart/Lung are near, Kidney/Liver are far, Spleen/Stomach are central, Intestines/Bladder/Gallbladder have varying distances. With high insight, one weighs appropriateness: Odd formula with Even dosage, or Even formula with Odd dosage. Near diseases with Even formulas require numerous doses; distant diseases with Odd formulas require fewer doses. Standard dosages: Lung 9, Heart 7, Spleen 5, Liver 3, Kidney 1. Prefer light over heavy, benign over toxic, small over large. If the Odd Prescription fails, use the Even Prescription; if the Even Prescription fails, use drugs with similar Qi to the disease to resolve it. Minor heat is resolved with cold; minor cold with heat. Major cold/heat will repel contrary Qi. Different sounds do not resonate; different Qi do not combine. Therefore, reverse assistants (Zuo Yao) are used to harmonize Qi, mixing cold and heat so they start similar but end different. Counter-treatment (Zheng Zhi) opposes the disease; Following-treatment (Fan Zhi) follows the disease. Reverse assistance is a form of Following-treatment. If heat is below but cold pathogens block above, add hot herbs as assistants to cold herbs; after crossing the diaphragm, heat dissipates, then cold acts. If cold is below but floating fire blocks above, add cold herbs as assistants to hot herbs; after crossing the diaphragm, cold dissipates, then heat acts. This is the subtlety of "using cold with hot" and "using hot with cold."