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According to the *Qianjin Fang* (Thousand Golden Prescriptions): The method for grinding herbs involves burning incense, sprinkling water and sweeping to ensure cleanliness, refraining from idle chatter, and having young boys perform the grinding. It is essential to grind them until they are fine and well-processed, adhering to specific counts of pestle strikes. This ensures that all requests are fulfilled, disasters are averted, evil influences are reduced, patients recover, and even the dead may be revived.

When compounding formulas such as Shenqi Wan (Kidney Qi Pill), Shuyu San (Shuyu Powder), preparations for treating the "Five Great Worms," Daxie Xiang Wan (Large Musk Pill), Jinya San (Gold Tooth Powder), and Da Jiujian Gao (Large Wine-Decoction Paste), women, children, and postpartum women must not be present. Difficult-to-grind herbs that require excessive effort should be discarded secretly. Dust and foul odors must be excluded; coarse particles flying in the wind can contaminate the preparation. [Text fragmentary].

Generally, herbs should not be sun-dried repeatedly or exposed excessively to wind and sunlight, as this diminishes their potency and renders them useless; this should be well understood. Herbs not used immediately should be stored during clear weather... [Text fragmentary] to avoid wind-strike. Even after a year, they remain like new. Pills and powders should be stored in porcelain vessels, sealed with wax to prevent leakage, ensuring they remain unspoiled for thirty years. Almonds and seeds should be stored in earthenware vessels... [Text fragmentary].

The general rule for storing herbs is to keep them four chi above the ground to prevent moisture from the earth from affecting them.

After herbs have been processed, roasted, or fried, they should be weighed according to the prescription. Raw herbs should not be weighed directly.

For processing, kernels of fruits should have their tips and red skins removed; those with two kernels should be sliced. For Fuling (Poria) and Shaoyao (Peony Root), white varieties are preferred; for purgative purposes, red varieties are used.

Dendrobium (Shihu) should be broken by hard pressing before being placed in the mortar; otherwise, it cannot be ground thoroughly. Achyranthes Bidentata (Niuxi) and Dendrobium (Shihu) used in decoctions should be torn into pieces. [Text fragmentary] soaking.

For bark of Zhiqiao (Bitter Orange), Houpo (Magnolia Bark), Gancao (Licorice), Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig), Huangbai (Phellodendron Bark), as well as hair, feathers, shells, teeth, claws, hooves, carapaces, tortoises, turtles, mackerel, carp... [Text fragmentary].

When wine is used in decoctions, it should be added just before completion. When Shexiang (Musk), Xijiao (Rhinoceros Horn - note: substitute with Buffalo Horn in modern practice), Lurong (Deer Antler), Yangjiao (Sheep Horn), Niuhuang (Calculus Bovis), Puhuang (Pollen Typhae), or Zhusha (Cinnabar) are used in decoctions... [Text fragmentary] when the decoction is ready.

Fresh Maidong (Ophiopogon Tuber) and Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger) used in decoctions should be sliced, pounded three times, wrung out three times to extract juice. After the decoction is prepared and strained, the juice should be added and boiled for five to six boils, following the specified volume measurements... [Text fragmentary] do not.

Silver powder (Yin Qian) should be mixed with mercury to form an amalgam.

Mineral drugs such as Ruxiang (Frankincense) should be ground with a jade pestle and water for three days and nights, washed and refined until extremely fine. Maiya (Sprouted Hordeum), Qu (Medicated Leaven), Dazao (Soybean), Huangjuan (Yellow Bean Sprouts)... [Text fragmentary], Zelan (Eupatorium), Wuyi (Toona Seed), Jiangcan (Silkworm), Ganqi (Dried Lacquer), Fengfang (Honeycomb) should all be lightly stir-fried.

The *Bencao* states: In old prescriptions for decoctions, wines, and pastes, the term "Ju" (chewing/biting) means pounding the weighed herbs to the size of soybeans, then blowing away the fine dust. This differs in meaning from... [Text fragmentary].

The *Ge Shi Fang* states: "Ju" should be finely sliced. Current practices often slice roughly, which is less effective than true "Ju." Are there no fines, only granules mixed into... [Text fragmentary] pills... [Text fragmentary] drying reduces weight by one-third. This is not necessary for decoctions and wines. For sifting pill ingredients, use heavy, dense silk to make them finer than for dense pills, aiding digestion; for powders, use light, loose silk for herbal drugs. If taken with wine, it prevents caking; mineral drugs also use fine silk, sifted to the consistency of pill ingredients. After sifting pills and powders, return them to the mortar and pound/hundreds of times until the color and texture are uniform. (Note: *Fan Wang Fang* states: mix with honey and pound thoroughly.) For mineral drugs used in decoctions, wines, and pastes, grind finely like millet grains. Sift through kudzu cloth to blend, and wrap separately in fresh cotton. Realgar and Cinnabar should be ground to a fine powder.

When boiling decoctions, use low heat to maintain a slight boil. Water quantities should follow the prescription approximately. Generally, use one dou of water for herbs to yield four sheng of decoction as a standard. However, for purgative decoctions, use less water to retain potency; for tonic decoctions, use more water to fully extract. Observe the result carefully; it is better to use less water. Use a new cloth. Two people should use a wooden rod to press and clarify, removing turbidity. Cover tightly with paper to prevent steam escape. Warm in hot water bath without letting water enter the vessel. Serve warm; slightly hot is easier to swallow, cold may cause vomiting. Divide into two or three doses based on the strength of the medicine and the patient's condition, adjusting as needed rather than strictly following the prescription. (Note: *Xin Zhu* states: Adjust based on disease severity and patient frailty; up to four or five doses are acceptable, hence "not strictly following the prescription.") For medicinal wines, steep according to seasons, checking concentration daily; strain when strong enough, do not wait until the wine is exhausted. (Note: *Xin Zhu* states: Winter 7 days, Spring/Autumn 5 days, Summer 3 days. For winter brewing, 7 days is required. Store in porcelain bottles covered with paper. Feb/Mar/Aug/Sep 5 days; Apr/May 3 days; Jun/Jul varies. Initial steeping uses 5 sheng of wine for 2 days. Take twice daily; if wine runs out, add 1 sheng daily. Do not let wine turn sour. Follow standard methods in Spring/Autumn.) For tonics like Jianzhong and Shenli, residue from two doses can be boiled again with added water and consumed entirely, equivalent to a new dose. Poor people should follow this. Herbs should be dried first.

For making pastes, initially soak in vinegar to moisten, using minimal liquid, and cover tightly. (Note: Annotation states: Moistening allows acid and herbs to blend; no need for excess liquid.) "Zhou Shi" (One full day) means from dawn to next dawn, or sometimes half a day (dawn to dusk). Boil three times up and three times down to release flavors. Bring to boil, then remove; let settle, then bring to boil again. Aim for slight undercooking. For recipes with Xiebai (Garlic Allium), cook until ends are slightly yellow-brown; for Baizhi (Angelica Dahurica) and Fuzi (Aconite Root), aim for slight yellow color. (Note: *Xin Zhu* states: Paste should be slightly undercooked; overcooking reduces potency.) Pig fat should not touch water; December fat is best. Strain paste with new cloth. Residue can be boiled in wine and drunk slightly or applied topically.

Realgar and Cinnabar in pastes should be ground separately to flour-like fineness, added after straining the paste, stirred vigorously until dry and firm, preventing settling.

For Dahuang (Rhubarb) in decoctions/wines, coarse chopping is sufficient. Soak in water overnight before boiling. [Text fragmentary].

For Mahuang (Ephedra) in decoctions, boil separately for two to three boils to remove foam, replenish water to original amount, then add other herbs; otherwise, it causes irritability. [Text fragmentary].

Whole items in decoctions should be torn open, e.g., dried dates, Gardenia, Trichosanthes Seeds. Fine-seeded items should be crushed, e.g., Cornus Officinalis, Schisandra... [Text fragmentary] thinly sliced. Mang... [Text fragmentary].

For Maidong (Ophiopogon), slightly moisten and remove the heart. (Note: *Xin Zhu* states: Lightly roast and remove heart; current practice does not moisten before removing heart...) [Text fragmentary].

For Tianxiong, Fuzi, Wutou, Wu Hui, Cizi used in decoctions/pills/powders, roast in ash until slightly cracked, scrape off black skin, then weigh. Only... [Text fragmentary] otherwise... [Text fragmentary] wash complete... [Text fragmentary] say... [Text fragmentary] Fang roast as per Jian method, scrape off scorched skin.) For glue in pills/powders, roast until uniformly dry and bubbling, then grind; re-roast any unpenetrated parts. (Note: *Qianjin Fang* states: Duankxia Tang uses glue directly without roasting. Also: If already finely crushed, no need to roast; roasting in... is also acceptable...) [Text fragmentary].

For honey, boil on fire to remove foam until slightly yellow, ensuring pills last long. Quantity depends on honey purity. (Note: ... [Text fragmentary]) [Text fragmentary].

For Ban Dou, Xing Ren, Tao Ren, Ting Li, Hu Ma, and other oily/greasy herbs in pills/powders, fry until yellow-black, grind separately. Make into a paste-like consistency... [Text fragmentary] exhaust... [Text fragmentary] hundreds... [Text fragmentary].

For Guizhi, Houpo, Duzhong, Qinpi, Mulan, etc., scrape off the soft, rough outer bark, weighing only the inner fragrant part. Fuling, Zhuling... [Text fragmentary] Bai... [Text fragmentary] root hairs... [Text fragmentary].

Ye Langdu, Zhishi, Ju Pi, Ban Xia, Mahuang, Wuzhuyu should be aged. Others should be fresh and refined. (*Fan Wang Fang*... [Text fragmentary] say... [Text fragmentary]).

*Lue Yan Fang* states: Honey, beeswax, paste, marrow types should be melted into decoctions and mixed. Also, blood and wine used in decoctions should be added just before completion. However... [Text fragmentary].

*Ge Shi Fang* states: Wherever "powder" is stated directly, it means grind and sift.