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There are many deceptions in the drug market, which must be investigated in detail. Calcitriol (Zhongru Shi) is boiled with white beeswax to increase weight; Asarum (Xixin) is soaked in water to add weight; Angelica sinensis (Danggui) is sun-dried with wine to appear moist; Lycium barbarum (Gouqi) is mixed with honey to become sweet; Sepia endoconcha (Piaoxiao) is glued onto mulberry branches; Centipede (Wugong) has cinnabar applied to its legs to make them red. These are methods of passing off inferior goods as high-quality ones, using fake items to confuse the real. Shepherd's purse root (Ji Cai) is used to mimic Panax ginseng (Renshen); Akebia stem (Mutong) is mixed with Stephania root (Fangji); Ash from ancient tombs is claimed to be fossilized bone (Sigu Longgu); Alfalfa root (Muxu Gen) is passed off as Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus (Tuhuangqi); Musk (Shexiang) is adulterated with crushed lychee seeds; Agastache rugosa (Huoxiang) is mixed with eggplant leaves; Gypsum fibrosum (Shigao) is ground and mixed with Calomelas (Qingfen) to increase weight; Cichorium intybus (Kuyi) is used instead of Chrysanthemum morifolium (Juhua); Curcuma wenyujin (Yujin) is actually Curcuma longa (Jianghuang); Glehnia littoralis (Tudanggui) is merely labeled as Angelica pubescens (Duhuo); Pinellia ternata (Xiaobanxia) is boiled until yellow and called Corydalis yanhusuo (Yansuhu); Young pine tips (Nen Songshao) are salt-moistened and called Cistanche deserticola (Congrong); Cardamom (Caodoukou) uses only the kernel; Costus root (Nanmuxiang) is substituted with a plant called Youdai. Boiled chicken eggs and mackerel枕bones are skillfully used to simulate Amber (Hupo); Guang gelatin is made by frying buckwheat flour black and adding it to boiled gelatin to mimic Donkey-hide gelatin (Ejiao); Loquat flower buds (Pipa Rui) replace Farfara flos (Kuandonghua); Donkey feet bones are molded to imitate Tiger bone (Hugu); Pine resin is stirred into Dried blood of Dracaena (Qilinjie); Sweet potato stems are inserted with Borneolum Syntheticum (Longnaoxiang). Can mulberry root bark (Sanggen Baipi) from the trunk be authentic? Is peony root bark (Mudan Genpi) from branches truly genuine? Such deceptive tricks are endless. Originally intended to cure diseases, they反而 lead to death. This is indeed a matter of critical importance; if treated as a trivial detail, one must investigate meticulously to avoid violating medical principles and causing harm.

Ancient people bit herbs to crush them, hence the term "bitting" (Yaoju). Today, knives replace teeth, relying on grinding, yet still called "sliced bits" (Zupian), not forgetting the origin. When preparing various drugs for slicing, proper methods are required: some are slightly moistened with water, others slightly roasted with fire; wet ones wait to dry, hard ones wait to soften; sliced thinly and evenly to avoid fragments. It is still taboo to grind too much and store for long periods, lest the aroma dissipate and efficacy be lost; grinding just before use ensures rapid effect. Roots and tips have different therapeutic targets and must not be confused. The part growing upward from the seedling is the root, with qi and blood flowing upward; the part hanging down into the soil is the tip, with qi and blood flowing downward; the middle section is the body, with qi and blood staying central. For upper jiao diseases, the body is used; for lower jiao diseases, the tip is used, because roots ascend, tips descend, and the center remains stable. When taking any medicine, one should avoid eating the "heart" (core) of the herb, as it may contain toxins.

The processing of medicines values moderation. Insufficient processing makes efficacy hard to achieve; excessive processing slows potency and loses aroma. Fire processing includes four types: calcining, soaking, roasting, and stir-frying. Water processing includes three types: steeping, soaking, and washing. Combined water-fire processing includes steaming and boiling. There are many compounding methods, but they follow one principle: Wine processing promotes ascending; Ginger processing promotes dispersing; Salt processing directs to the Kidney and softens hardness; Vinegar processing enters the Liver meridian and aids in treating pain; Child urine processing removes inferior properties and guides downward; Rice wash water processing removes dryness and harmonizes the middle; Milk processing moisturizes dryness and helps generate yin blood; Honey processing is sweet and slow-dissolving, boosting primal yang; Wall earth processing steals true qi to rapidly tonify the middle jiao; Bran stir-frying suppresses harsh nature to prevent injury to the upper diaphragm; Mung bean soup and Licorice decoction soaking and drying detoxify and neutralize; Sheep suet or pork lard coating and burning allows salty penetration into bones for easy fracture; Removing the pith prevents bloating; Removing the heart eliminates irritability. For heat patients, raw herbs are mostly used; for deficiency-cold patients, honey-roasted or wine-stir-fried herbs are suitable.