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Each herb possesses its own specific nature, flavor, and efficacy. That a certain herb can treat a specific disease, and that ancient formulas utilize it for that purpose, is self-evident. However, one herb is not used in only one formula; it is also effective when used in other formulas. Why is this? It is because the functions of an herb are not limited to a single aspect. In one formula, its strength in one area is utilized; in another formula, its strength in a different area is utilized. If one truly understands the actual efficacy of an herb, one can naturally align with the patient's condition and harness its power. By later generations, the number of diseases treated by a single herb has increased significantly, yet it remains effective. This is because the ancients had not fully comprehended these aspects, and later practitioners learned through repeated trials. Consequently, the herbal properties recorded in materia medica throughout history have multiplied several times compared to those noted in *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica). This is precisely why. Nevertheless, among these additions, some are appropriate while others are not; they do not match the precision and relevance of every word in *Shennong Bencao Jing*. Similarly, although both *Fuzi* (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) and *Ganjiang* (Zingiberis Rhizoma) are hot-natured herbs, the heat of *Fuzi* differs fundamentally from that of *Ganjiang*; likewise, although both *Shigao* (Gypsum Fibrosum) and *Huanglian* (Coptidis Rhizoma) are cold-natured herbs, their coldness is distinctly different. A single misapplication leads to immediate disaster. This is because the ancients' method of using herbs did not rely solely on their cold, hot, warm, cool, tonifying, or purging natures. Sometimes they utilized the herb's qi, sometimes its flavor, sometimes its color, sometimes its shape, sometimes the direction of its growth, or sometimes its specific preference. These herbs might seem unrelated to the cold, hot, warm, cool, tonifying, or purging nature of the disease, yet upon administration, they often yield miraculous effects. Such instances in ancient formulas are too numerous to enumerate. Practitioners must seek the profound meaning in every word of *Shennong Bencao Jing* and cross-reference it with the various formulas of Zhang Zhongjing. Only then will the sage's refined principles become clear. Furthermore, when formulating prescriptions oneself, one must employ ingenious ideas and deeply penetrate the pathogenesis, thereby ensuring that no disease in the world is incurable.

There exist deceitful physicians in the world who covet patients' wealth, seeking immediate results while disregarding life and death. Such prescriptions are termed "Jie Ji" (Plundering Formulas). A "Jie Ji" employs heavy and drastic drugs to forcibly intercept pathogenic factors. When pathogenic factors invade the human body, they cannot be expelled instantly; they must be gradually eliminated and expelled outward to be completely eradicated. Now, if one desires immediate results within a day, one inevitably resorts to using drastic drugs like *Mao Yan* (a potent herb), engaging in direct conflict with the pathogens; or one uses drastic tonifying drugs to suppress and inhibit the pathogens. If the drugs are fierce and harsh, the pathogens may temporarily subside, but the healthy qi (Zheng Qi) is also damaged; if the drugs are drastically tonifying, the healthy qi suddenly surges, causing the pathogens to sink inward. For a short time, it may seem effective, but once the drug's force dissipates, the pathogens return, and the primordial qi (Yuan Qi) is severely compromised. For example, if a patient suffers from severe fever, instead of dispersing the heat, one uses heavily cold-natured drugs to suppress it. If there is severe abdominal pain, without investigating the cause, one uses aromatic and drying drugs to counteract it. If diarrhea and dysentery are severe, without eliminating stagnation, one uses astringent drugs to block it. These belong to the category of drastic and harsh methods. If pathogens are abundant and one administers large doses of *Renshen* (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) and *Fuzi*, causing a sudden surge of yang qi, the disease manifestations may temporarily recede, and the spirit may briefly settle. However, after one or two days, the healthy qi merges with the pathogens, inadvertently assisting them and allowing them to wreak havoc more fiercely. This belongs to the category of drastic tonification. Such harmful techniques are used by deceitful physicians to deceive patients and extort money in five out of ten cases. Ignorant physicians, unaware of the truth, imitate this behavior and harm others, accounting for the other five out of ten cases. Physicians must reflect upon themselves, and patients' families must exercise due diligence.