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The *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) originated in the era of Yan Di (Flame Emperor) and is the ancestor of medicine. Yi Yin used the *Bencao Jing* to compile the *Tangye Jingfa* (Classic of Decoctions), and Zhang Zhongjing further expanded the *Tangye* to establish specific treatment methods. Later figures such as Tao Hongjing, Li Xun of the Tang Dynasty, and Chen Cangqi, although producing numerous materia medica works, could not surpass these predecessors. As time passed, right and wrong inevitably became confused; those who truly grasped the essence of the classics were Wang Bing (styled Dongheng) and Zhu Zhenheng (styled Danxi), while those who mastered the essentials were Gu'an and Jiezhai. Therefore, I summarize the symbolic properties of drugs at the beginning and classify them into three grades (Upper, Middle, Lower) at the end. The songs and mnemonics of predecessors have been modified, not for the sake of labor, but out of reverence so as not to deviate even slightly from the intent of the classics. The *Zhinan* states: "Without reading the Materia Medica, how can one know drug properties? If one sticks rigidly to drug properties, one will certainly fail to recognize diseases; even if one recognizes the disease, one may not yet know the method." If one can exhaustively understand the *Suwen* (Basic Questions), one knows what pathogenic qi has affected the body, and thus knows which flavor of medicine to select.

Heaven possesses Yin and Yang, manifesting the Six Qi (Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire), which are honored by the Three Yin and Three Yang channels.
Warmth, coolness, cold, and heat circulate through the four seasons;
Spring and summer warmth and heat belong to Heaven's Yang Qi; Autumn and winter coolness and cold belong to Heaven's Yin Qi. Yang Qi ascends, Yin Qi descends.
Earth possesses Yin and Yang, transforming the Five Flavors (Sour, Bitter, Sweet, Pungent, Salty), which correspond to the growth, transformation, and storage of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.
Sour, bitter, pungent, sweet, salty, and bland flavors arise from this.
Pungent, sweet, and bland belong to Earth's Yang Qi; sour, bitter, and salty belong to Earth's Yin Qi. Yang Qi floats, Yin Qi sinks. Sour flavor arises in the East, corresponding to Wood Qi and Spring Qi, entering the Liver with a warm nature; bitter flavor arises in the South, corresponding to Fire Qi and Summer Qi, entering the Heart with a hot nature; sweet flavor arises in the Center, corresponding to Earth Qi and the four seasons, its qi combining warmth, coolness, cold, and heat, its flavor combining pungency, saltiness, sourness, and bitterness, its fundamental qi being neutral, its fundamental flavor sweet, entering the Spleen and Stomach; pungent flavor arises in the West, corresponding to Metal Qi and Autumn Qi, entering the Lungs with a dry nature; salty flavor arises in the North, corresponding to Water Qi and Winter Qi, entering the Kidneys with a cold nature; bland is the root of the five flavors, so the Materia Medica does not list bland separately.
However, where there is generation, there is transformation: Wood flavor transforms into Sweet, Fire flavor into Pungent, Earth flavor into Salty, Metal flavor into Sour, and Water flavor into Bitter; their correspondence to the Zang-Fu organs remains the same. The classics state: "Heaven feeds humans with Five Qi, Earth feeds humans with Five Flavors." Five Qi enter through the nose and store in the Heart and Lungs; Five Flavors enter through the mouth and store in the Intestines and Stomach.

Pungent disperses, Sour astringes, Bland渗利 (percolates and drains); Salty softens, Bitter purges, Sweet moderates and harmonizes.
Drugs inherently possess five flavors, entering the five Zang organs to tonify or drain. Pungent dispersal refers to dispersing stagnation in the exterior and interior; Sour astringency refers to gathering scattered Qi; Bland percolation refers to percolating internal dampness and promoting urination; Salty softening refers to softening severe dryness and constipation due to great heat; Bitter purging refers to draining ascending fire; Sweet moderation refers to moderating extreme heat or cold.

Sour and bitter induce vomiting and purging, belonging to Yin as flavors; Pungent and sweet disperse, belonging to Yang as Qi, light in nature.
Furthermore, Salty flavor induces vomiting and purging, belonging to Yin; Bland flavor percolates and drains, belonging to Yang. Some drugs possess two or three flavors, or one or two natures, leading to distinctions between light/clear and heavy/turbid, and differences in the concentration of Qi and flavor.
Light and clear forms image proximity to the upper part,
Flavor-thin substances, like tea. Clear Yang exits through the upper orifices, following the nature of Heaven which is close to the upper.
Heavy and turbid forms image proximity to the lower part.
Flavor-concentrated substances, like Rhubarb (*Da Huang*). Turbid Yin exits through the lower orifices, following the nature of Earth which is close to the lower. Yang transforms Qi, Yin forms substance; this applies to all things.
Clear within clear promotes sweating through the interstices, representing the most concentrated Yang among Yang flavors:
Aconite (*Fu Zi*) has concentrated Qi, belonging to Yang within Yang, thus generating heat.
Clear within turbid solidifies the limbs, caused by thin Qi representing Yin within Yang.
Poria (*Fu Ling*) is bland, belonging to Yang in Heaven. Yang should ascend, why does it promote urination and descend? The classics state: Thin Qi is Yin within Yang, therefore Poria promotes urination and descends. However, in descending, it still retains the nature of Yang, hence it enters the Hand Taiyang channel.
Turbid within turbid travels to the five Zang organs, representing Yin within Yin via concentrated flavors;
Rhubarb (*Da Huang*) has concentrated flavor, belonging to Yin within Yin, thus purging downward.
Turbid within clear returns to the six Fu organs, representing Yang within Yin via thin flavors.
Ephedra (*Ma Huang*) is bitter, belonging to Yin on Earth. Yin should descend, why does it induce sweating and ascend? The classics state: Thin flavor is Yang within Yin, therefore Ephedra induces sweating and ascends. However, in ascending, it does not contradict the nature of Yin, hence it enters the Hand Taiyin channel.

How to treat external contraction by the Six Excesses? Wind requires Pungent-Cool, Heat requires Salty-Cold, Fire follows the Heat treatment.
Dampness requires Bitter-Hot, Cold requires Sweet-Hot; Bitter-Warm dries and overcomes, assisted by Pungent-Sour.
Wind regulation corresponds to the Liver and Spring Wood, the way of Sour generation. When失常 (abnormal), disease occurs. If Wind excesses internally, treat with Pungent-Cool, assist with Sweet-Pungent, moderate with Sweet, disperse with Pungent. Heat regulation corresponds to the Heart and Summer Fire, the way of Bitter growth. When abnormal, disease occurs. If Heat excesses internally, treat with Salty-Cold, assist with Sweet-Bitter, astringe with Sour, disperse with Bitter. Dampness regulation corresponds to the Spleen and Earth, the way of Sweet central transformation. When abnormal, disease occurs. If Dampness excesses internally, treat with Bitter-Hot, assist with Salty-Hot, dry with Bitter, drain with Bland. Dryness regulation corresponds to the Lungs and Autumn Metal, the way of Pungent gathering. When abnormal, disease occurs. If Dryness excesses internally, treat with Bitter-Warm, assist with Sweet-Pungent, moisten with Pungent, purge with Bitter. Cold regulation corresponds to the Kidneys and Winter Water, the way of Salty storing. When abnormal, disease occurs. If Cold excesses internally, treat with Sweet-Hot, assist with Bitter-Pungent, disperse with Pungent, firm with Bitter. Generally, the five flavors Sour, Bitter, Sweet, Pungent, and Salty are the roots of the five Zang organs. The four seasons and five elements generate transformations, each following its proper path; deviation causes disease. Ancient sages established methods to control changes; for example, if Wind excesses internally, it is Liver Wood abnormality, with Fire blazing subsequently, treated with Pungent-Cool, using Pungent Metal to overcome Wood and Cool Water to extinguish Fire. The rest follow this pattern. Although the *Neijing* says "Wind excesses internally" and also "Wind excesses and prevails," regarding the Qi in the Earthly Branches, it is called "excesses internally"; regarding the Qi ruling the Heavenly Stem, it is called "prevails." This applies to all Six Excesses, and the treatment principles are the same. If the guest pathogen overcomes the host, drain the guest and tonify the host; if the host overcomes the guest, drain the host and tonify the guest. Treat according to urgency.

Internal injury distinguishes deficiency and excess based on suffering and desire.
Liver suffers from tension, urgently eat Sweet to moderate it, e.g., Licorice (*Gan Cao*); Liver desires dispersion, urgently eat Pungent to disperse it, e.g., Ligusticum (*Chuan Xiong*); Tonify with Pungent, e.g., Asarum (*Xi Xin*); Drain with Sour, e.g., White Peony (*Bai Shao*). Heart suffers from flaccidity, urgently eat Sour to astringe it, e.g., Schisandra (*Wu Wei Zi*); Heart desires softening, urgently eat Salty to soften it, e.g., Mirabilite (*Mang Xiao*); Tonify with Salty, e.g., Alisma (*Ze Xie*); Drain with Sweet, e.g., Ginseng (*Ren Shen*), Licorice (*Gan Cao*). Spleen suffers from dampness, urgently eat Bitter to dry it, e.g., Atractylodes (*Bai Zhu*); Spleen desires relaxation, urgently eat Sweet to relax it, e.g., Licorice (*Gan Cao*); Tonify with Sweet, e.g., Ginseng (*Ren Shen*); Drain with Bitter, e.g., Coptis (*Huang Lian*). Lungs suffer from rebellious Qi, urgently eat Bitter to purge it, e.g., Scutellaria (*Huang Qin*); Lungs desire gathering, urgently eat Sour to gather it, e.g., White Peony (*Bai Shao*); Tonify with Sour, e.g., Schisandra (*Wu Wei Zi*); Drain with Pungent, e.g., Mulberry Root Bark (*Sang Bai Pi*). Kidneys suffer from dryness, urgently eat Pungent to moisten it, e.g., Anemarrhena (*Zhi Mu*), Phellodendron (*Huang Bo*); Note: Opens interstices, generates fluids, unblocks Qi. Kidneys desire firmness, urgently eat Bitter to firm it, e.g., Anemarrhena (*Zhi Mu*); Tonify with Bitter, e.g., Phellodendron (*Huang Bo*), Drain with Salty, e.g., Alisma (*Ze Xie*). For deficiency/excess tonification/draining of the five Zang organs: Liver deficiency is tonified with Tangerine Peel (*Chen Pi*), Ginger (*Sheng Jiang*), etc. The classics say: "Tonify the mother when deficient." Water generates Wood, Kidney is the mother of Liver; Kidney belongs to Water. To tonify the Kidney, use Prepared Rehmannia (*Shu Di Huang*). If there are no other symptoms, only insufficiency, use *Shen Qi Wan* (Kidney Qi Pill). Excess is drained with White Peony (*Bai Shao*); if no other symptoms, use *Xie Qing Wan* (Drain Green Pill). Excess drains the child; Heart is the child of Liver, use *Gan Cao Xie Xin Tang* (Licorice Decoction to Drain the Heart). Heart deficiency is tonified with Fried Salt; "Tonify the mother when deficient," Wood generates Fire, Liver is the mother of Heart. Liver belongs to Wood; Heart belongs to Fire. Tonify with Ginger (*Sheng Jiang*); if no other symptoms, use *Zhu Sha An Shen Wan* (Cinnabar Calming Spirit Pill). Excess is drained with Licorice (*Gan Cao*); if no other symptoms, severe cases use single *Huang Lian Tang*, mild cases use *Dao Chi San*. Spleen deficiency is tonified with Licorice (*Gan Cao*), Jujube (*Da Zao*), etc.; excess is drained with Immature Bitter Orange (*Zhi Shi*); if no other symptoms, deficiency uses *Yi Huang San*, excess uses *Xie Huang San*. Heart is the mother of Spleen, tonify Heart with Fried Salt. Lung is the child of Spleen, drain Lung with Mulberry Root Bark (*Sang Bai Pi*). Lung deficiency is tonified with Schisandra (*Wu Wei Zi*); excess is drained with Mulberry Root Bark (*Sang Bai Pi*); if no other symptoms, excess uses *Xie Bai San*, deficiency uses *E Jiao San*. Lung deficiency tonifies Spleen Earth, tonifying the mother; excess drains Kidney Water, draining the child. Kidney deficiency is tonified with Prepared Rehmannia (*Shu Di Huang*), Phellodendron (*Huang Bo*); drained with Salty Alisma (*Ze Xie*). Kidneys have tonification but no draining; use *Shen Qi Wan* (Kidney Qi Pill). Lung is the mother of Kidney because Metal generates Water, so only tonify Lung with Schisandra (*Wu Wei Zi*).

Ascending, descending, floating, and sinking follow general laws.
Liver governs Spring, from Zi hour to Mao hour, Yin within Yang; Wind medicines correspond, such as Saposhnikovia (*Fang Feng*), Notopterygium (*Qiang Huo*), Cimicifuga (*Sheng Ma*), Kudzu (*Ge Gen*), rising from Earth to Heaven, these are thin-flavored drugs. Pungent tonifies, Sour drains; Warm tonifies, Cool drains. Heart governs Summer, from Mao hour to Wu hour, Yang within Yang; Hot medicines correspond, such as Aconite (*Fu Zi*), Aconitum (*Wu Tou*), Ginger (*Jiang*), Cinnamon (*Gui*), Red Bean (*Hong Dou*). They embody the Qi and flavor of Fire; Fire's concentrated, floating, dispersing, and sinking nature, concentrated Qi is prominent. Salty tonifies, Sweet drains; Hot tonifies, Cold drains. Lungs govern Autumn, from Wu hour to You hour, Yang within Yin; Dry medicines correspond, such as Poria (*Fu Ling*), Polyporus (*Zhu Ling*), Alisma (*Ze Xie*), Akebia (*Mu Tong*), receiving from Heaven and descending to Earth, these are thin-Qi drugs. Sour tonifies, Pungent drains; Cool tonifies, Warm drains. Winter governs Kidneys, from You hour to Zi hour, Yin within Yin; Cold medicines correspond, such as Rhubarb (*Da Huang*), Scutellaria (*Huang Qin*), Coptis (*Lian*), Phellodendron (*Huang Bo*), Stephania (*Fang Ji*). They embody the Qi and flavor of Water; Water's concentrated transformation, floating and sinking, concentrated flavor is prominent. Bitter tonifies, Salty drains; Cold tonifies, Hot drains. Spleen governs Late Summer transformation, Sweet tonifies, Bitter drains; Qi varies in Cold, Hot, Warm, Cool, each suitable as appropriate, see detailed classification notes later. The classics say: "Tonification and draining depend on flavor, changing Qi with the seasons." Whenever "tonification" is mentioned, it uses Pungent-Sweet-Warm-Hot agents, assisting the ascending-floating of Spring-Summer, corresponding to Liver-Heart in the human body; whenever "draining" is mentioned, it uses Sour-Bitter-Cold-Cool and Bland-percolating agents, assisting the descending-sinking of Autumn-Winter, corresponding to Lungs-Kidneys in the human body. Following the season: Spring warmth suits Cool, Summer heat suits Cold, Autumn coolness suits Warm, Winter cold suits Hot; Day follows ascending, Night follows descending; Sunny follows Hot, Cloudy follows Cold. However, if disease opposes the season, Summer may use Hot, Winter may use Cold, e.g., releasing the exterior does not avoid Heat, attacking the interior does not avoid Cold, because they do not stay in the middle. Similarly, for Cold Damage, although Summer may use Pungent-Hot; for alcohol injury and chronic heat, although Winter may use Bitter-Cold, these are temporary uses. Regarding the patient's condition: Disease in the upper suits ascending, disease in the lower suits descending, disease in the exterior suits floating, disease in the interior suits sinking, Cold disease treats with Hot, Heat disease treats with Cold; changes are countless. Thus, ascending, descending, floating, and sinking should be followed; this means not harming the year's Qi and not violating Heavenly Harmony; Cold, Hot, Warm, Cool should oppose the disease; this means regulating Qi to achieve balance, how can one adhere to a single principle!

Diseases below the waist and trunk are lowered by tips; diseases above the mid-body are reduced by roots;
For drugs with roots in the soil, the upper half has Qi and pulse ascending, sprouting as the root. The lower half has Qi and pulse descending, entering the soil as the tip. Disease in the Middle Jiao uses the stem, Upper Jiao uses the root, Lower Jiao uses the tip. The classics say: Roots ascend, tips descend.
Horizontal movement in arms and hands relies on Pungent dispersal,
Of the five flavors: Sour stops and astringes, Salty stops and softens hardness, Bitter goes straight and purges, e.g., Phellodendron (*Huang Bo*), Rhubarb (*Da Huang*); Pungent moves horizontally and disperses, e.g., Cinnamon Twig (*Gui Zhi*); Sweet moves upward and releases, e.g., Licorice (*Gan Cao*).

Is it difficult to assign meridians and guiding agents?
The poem says: Small Intestine and Bladder belong to Taiyang, Achillea (*Hao Ben*), Notopterygium (*Qiang Huo*) are their home; Sanjiao, Gallbladder, Liver, and Pericardium, Shaoyang and Jueyin rely strongly on Bupleurum (*Chai Hu*). Large Intestine, Yangming, and Foot Stomach, Kudzu (*Ge Gen*), Angelica Dahurica (*Bai Zhi*), Cimicifuga (*Sheng Ma*) are appropriate; Taiyin Lung meridian starts in the Middle Jiao, Angelica Dahurica (*Bai Zhi*), Cimicifuga (*Sheng Ma*), Scallion White (*Cong Bai*) are their home. Spleen meridian differs slightly from Lung, Cimicifuga combined with Angelica Dahurica is detailed; Shaoyin Heart meridian is dominated by Angelica Pubescens (*Du Huo*), Kidney meridian benefits from Angelica Pubescens plus Cinnamon (*Gui*). Using these drugs as guides to unblock meridians, how can disease reach the vital organs? However, these are mostly guiding drugs for external contractions and miscellaneous syndromes; for internal injury and deficiency, one must seek them within the aforementioned five Zang organ deficiency/excess tonification/draining drugs.

Monarch, Minister, Assistant, and Envoy harmonize without mutual antagonism. Upper Grade drugs (120 types) serve as Monarchs, primarily nourishing life to correspond to Heaven, non-toxic, taken in large amounts and long-term to lighten the body and prolong life. Middle Grade drugs (120 types) serve as Ministers, primarily nourishing nature to correspond to Humanity, non-toxic or toxic, suppressing disease and tonifying deficiency, used with discretion. Lower Grade drugs (120 types) serve as Assistants and Envoys, primarily treating disease to correspond to Earth, highly toxic, removing cold and heat, breaking accumulations, not to be taken long-term. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* has 365 types, corresponding to the 365 degrees of the celestial sphere; later Tao Hongjing added 365 types, totaling 720 types. This classifies Monarch/Minister based on toxicity. If formulating prescriptions: the drug treating the main pathogen is Monarch, assisting the Monarch is Minister, guiding the Minister is Assistant/Envoy. For example, treating wind with Saposhnikovia (*Fang Feng*) as Monarch, treating upper heat with Scutellaria (*Huang Qin*) as Monarch, middle heat with Coptis (*Huang Lian*) as Monarch, treating dampness with Stephania (*Fang Ji*) as Monarch, treating cold with Aconite (*Fu Zi*) as Monarch. Depending on accompanying symptoms, use assistants to treat them. If constitution is weak and pure Bitter-Cold cannot be used purely, use Pungent-Hot as a guide to monitor and control it. Generally, drugs for nourishing life and nature use One Monarch, Two Ministers, Three Assistants/Envoys. Drugs for treating disease use One Monarch, Two Ministers, Nine Assistants/Envoys. It is essential that Monarch, Minister, Assistant, and Envoy cooperate harmoniously like father, son, brother; if the main treatment is similar and flavors resemble old formulas, minor antagonisms and fears are not strictly observed. If major antagonisms and fears exist in the same formula, regret will surely follow. To remove accumulations, monitoring controls remain, so as not to kill; this is not for beginners to use recklessly. General rules for drug use: For resolving wind-cold, use Saposhnikovia (*Fang Feng*) as Monarch, Licorice (*Gan Cao*), Atractylodes (*Bai Zhu*) as Assistants; wind suits Pungent dispersal. For resolving cold damage, use Licorice (*Gan Cao*) as Monarch, Saposhnikovia (*Fang Feng*), Atractylodes (*Bai Zhu*) as Assistants; cold suits Sweet release. For sudden red and swollen eyes, use Saposhnikovia (*Fang Feng*), Scutellaria (*Huang Qin*) to drain fire as Monarch, Coptis (*Huang Lian*), White Peony (*Bai Shao*) to harmonize blood as Assistants, combined with meridian-specific drugs; for chronic dim vision, use Prepared Rehmannia (*Shu Di Huang*), Angelica Sinensis (*Dang Gui*) as Monarch, Saposhnikovia (*Fang Feng*), Notopterygium (*Qiang Huo*) as Ministers, Licorice (*Gan Cao*), Chrysanthemum (*Ju Hua*) as Assistants. For dysentery with abdominal pain, use White Peony (*Bai Shao*), Licorice (*Gan Cao*) as Monarch, Angelica Sinensis (*Dang Gui*), Atractylodes (*Bai Zhu*) as Assistants. For blood in stool/urine, differentiate heat by Sanjiao; for watery diarrhea, use Poria (*Fu Ling*), Atractylodes (*Bai Zhu*) as Monarch, White Peony (*Bai Shao*), Licorice (*Gan Cao*) as Assistants. For various winds, use Saposhnikovia (*Fang Feng*) as Monarch, symptom-specific drugs as Assistants. For cough, use Schisandra (*Wu Wei Zi*) as Monarch, Pinellia (*Ban Xia*) if phlegm, E-Jiao (*E Jiao*) if wheezing, Scutellaria (*Huang Qin*) if heat/no heat, differing only in dosage. For difficult urination, use Phellodendron (*Huang Bo*), Anemarrhena (*Zhi Mu*) as Monarch, Poria (*Fu Ling*), Alisma (*Ze Xie*) as Assistants. For dampness in Lower Jiao, use Gentiana (*Long Dan Cao*), Stephania (*Fang Ji*) as Monarch, Licorice (*Gan Cao*), Phellodendron (*Huang Bo*) as Assistants. For hemorrhoids and fistulas, use Atractylodes (*Cang Zhu*), Saposhnikovia (*Fang Feng*) as Monarch, Licorice (*Gan Cao*), White Peony (*Bai Shao*) as Assistants. For various sores, use Coptis (*Huang Lian*), Angelica Sinensis (*Dang Gui*) as Monarch, Licorice (*Gan Cao*), Scutellaria (*Huang Qin*) as Assistants. For malaria, use Bupleurum (*Chai Hu*) as Monarch, guiding drugs based on the meridian of onset time as Assistants. There are only eighteen pairs of incompatible drugs, let me tell you one by one: Ginseng (*Ren Shen*), White Peony (*Bai Shao*), Sand Ginseng (*Sha Shen*), Asarum (*Xi Xin*), Polish Privet (*Xuan Shen*), and Purple Ginseng (*Zi Shen*), Sophora (*Ku Shen*), Salvia (*Dan Shen*) and the previous drugs, once seen with Veratrum (*Li Lu*), kills instantly; White Lily Bulb (*Bai Ji*), Ampelopsis (*Bai Lian*), and Pinellia (*Ban Xia*), Trichosanthes (*Gua Lou*), Fritillaria (*Bei Mu*), these five are true; do not see Aconite (*Wu Tou*) and Aconitum (*Wu Hui*), meeting one reverses the other swiftly as a god; Great Euphorbia (*Da Ji), Genkwa (*Yuan Hua*), and Seaweed (*Hai Zao*), Kansui (*Gan Sui*) above reverse Licorice (*Gan Cao*). If vomiting poison or intestinal turning, commonly used ones are not good; Beeswax (*Mi La*) must not meet Scallion (*Cong*), Abalone Shell (*Shi Jue Ming*) must not meet Mica (*Yun Mu*); Veratrum (*Li Lu*) must not be invaded by Wine (*Jiu*), if humans offend it, all becomes bitter. Furthermore, Realgar (*Liu Huang*) is originally the essence of Fire, Mirabilite (*Pu Xiao*) contends upon seeing it; Mercury (*Shui Yin*) must not meet Arsenic (*Pi*), Wild Wolfbane (*Ye Lang Du*) fears most Melilotus (*Mi Tuo Seng*). Croton (*Ba Dou*) nature is fierce and supreme,偏偏 (specifically) does not go along with Morning Glory Seed (*Qian Niu*); Clove (*Ding Xiang*) must not meet Goldthread (*Yu Jin*), Nitre (*Ya Xiao*) hard to combine with Beijing Sedge (*Jing San Leng*). Sichuan Aconite (*Chuan Wu*), Grass Aconite (*Cao Wu*) do not go with Rhinoceros Horn (*Xi*), Ginseng (*Ren Shen*) again avoids Trogoderma (*Wu Ling Zhi*); Official Cinnamon (*Guan Gui*) is good at regulating cold Qi, if meeting Hematite (*Shi Zhi*), it is deceived. Generally, compounding looks at compatibility and incompatibility, processing, roasting, frying, popping must not be mixed up.

Seven Formulas and Ten Categories have mechanisms;
Seven Formulas: Large Formula (One Monarch, Two Ministers, Nine Assistants) is used when diseases have concurrent syndromes; or when disease is in Liver/Kidney below and distant, taking large doses frequently is also a Large Formula. Small Formula (One Monarch, Two Ministers) is used when diseases have no concurrent syndromes; or when disease is in Heart/Lungs above and near, taking small doses frequently is also a Small Formula. Slow Formula has five types: Slow formula of Sweet moderation, e.g., sugar/honey, Jujube (*Da Zao*), Licorice (*Gan Cao*), taking sweetness to change separation; Slow formula of Pills, Qi movement is slow; Slow formula of non-toxic root treatment, effect is naturally slow; Slow formula of many ingredients, e.g., exterior-interior drugs in same dose, or ascending-descending drugs in same dose, mutually restricting each other, displaying their abilities without allowing toxicity to run rampant; Slow formula of tonifying upper/treating upper, Heart/Lung diseases do not dislike frequent and small doses. Urgent Formula has five types: Urgent formula for urgent disease attack, e.g., stroke with locked jaw, using *Xu Ming Tang*; Urgent formula of urgent/drastic drug nature, e.g., urinary/fecal obstruction, borrowing *Bei Ji Wan*; Urgent formula of decoction/powder scouring, easy to scatter downwards; Urgent formula of toxic drug nature treating branch, sweating/vomiting/purging agents are this type; Urgent formula of tonifying lower/treating lower, Liver/Kidney diseases do not dislike frequent and large doses. Odd Formula has two types: Single-drug Odd Formula, using one substance; Number-combining Yang-number Odd Formula, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 are all Yang numbers, so Odd Formula suits purging not sweating. Any entering Yang division is also called Odd. Even Formula has two types: Ancient Compound Even Formula, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 are all Yin numbers, so Even Formula suits sweating not purging. Any entering Yin division is also called Even. Compound Formula has two types: Two/Three Formula Compound, e.g., *Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang* adding Forsythia (*Lian Qiao*), Scutellaria (*Huang Qin*), Gardenia (*Shan Zhi*), Mint (*Bo He*) becomes *Liang Ge San*; e.g., Saposhnikovia (*Fang Feng*), Schizonepeta (*Jing Jie*), Gypsum (*Shi Gao*), Talc (*Hua Shi*), Platycodon (*Jie Geng*), Ligusticum (*Chuan Xiong*), Ephedra (*Ma Huang*), Angelica Sinensis (*Dang Gui*), White Peony (*Bai Shao*), Atractylodes (*Bai Zhu*) becomes *Fang Feng Tong Sheng San*; Balanced-weight Compound Formula, *Wei Feng Tang* is this type. Ten Categories: Xu Category removes obstruction, Ginger (*Jiang*), Citrus (*Ju*) types, used for stagnation not dispersing; Tong Category removes stasis, Tetrapanax (*Tong Cao*), Stephania (*Fang Ji*) types, used for retention not moving; Bu Category removes weakness, Ginseng (*Ren Shen*), Mutton (*Yang Rou*) types, used for Qi/Blood weakness; Xie Category removes closure, Lepidium (*Ting Li*), Rhubarb (*Da Huang*) types, used for closure with excess; Qing Category removes solidity, Ephedra (*Ma Huang*), Kudzu (*Ge Gen*) types, used for Qi solidity with closed interstices; Zhong Category removes timidity, Magnetite (*Ci Shi*), Iron Powder (*Tie Fen*) types, used for floating Qi and unsettled spirit; Hua Category removes adhesion, Okra (*Dong Kui*), Elm Bark (*Yu Pi*) types, used for Qi adhering to meridians and obstructed bowels/bladder; Se Category removes collapse, Oyster Shell (*Mu Li*), Dragon Bone (*Long Gu*) types, used for Qi collapse with enuresis, fecal incontinence, seminal emission, blood loss; Zao Category removes dampness, Mulberry Root Bark (*Sang Bai Pi*), Adzuki Bean (*Chi Xiao Dou*) types, used by Upper/Middle/Lower and Exterior/Interior; Shi Category removes withering, Purple Quartz (*Zi Shi Ying*), White Quartz (*Bai Shi Ying*) types, used for Qi/Blood withering; Also Han Category removes heat, Mirabilite (*Xiao*), Rhubarb (*Huang*) types; Re Category removes cold, Cinnamon (*Gui*), Aconite (*Fu*) types.

Decoctions, powders, pills, dan preparations require equal proportions,
Drugs suitable for paste decoction, water decoction, wine soaking, pill, powder forms, some suitable for multiple forms. But ancients bit finely, making coarse powder like hemp/millet seeds,