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The precepts of Immortal Huang stipulate that when taking elixirs, one should not consume garlic, pomegranate seeds, pig liver, or dog head meat.

People in Shu widely cultivate chrysanthemums; their tender shoots can be used as vegetables, and flowers for medicine, which can be planted in gardens. However, some purchasers cannot distinguish them well; people in the suburbs often pick wild chrysanthemums to supply pharmacies, causing significant errors. True chrysanthemum prolongs life, whereas wild chrysanthemum drains the body's vitality. As Zhang Hua stated: "Polygonatum (Huangjing) benefits longevity, while Aconitum (Gouwen) kills." The principle is similar. (From *Mu Shu Xian Tan*)

Li Weixi, a physician from Shuzhou, was skilled in discussing the physical principles of things. He said: Both water caltrop (Lingjiao) and Chinese water chestnut (Qianshi) are aquatic plants. Water caltrop is cold in nature, while Chinese water chestnut is warm, because the flower of the water caltrop faces away from the sun, whereas the flower of the Chinese water chestnut faces the sun. He also said: Peach kernels and apricot kernels that are double-lobed will kill people. This is because peach blossoms originally have five petals; if there are six petals, the fruit often has double kernels. Most plant flowers have five petals, except for Gardenia (Zhizi) and Snowdrop (Xuehua), which have six. This likely relates to the principles of Yin and Yang. Now, if peach or apricot trees bloom with six petals and produce double kernels, it deviates from the norm, thus becoming lethal. (From *Mu Shu Xian Tan*)

Han Zhong took Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii (Changpu) for thirteen years, and hair grew on his body. On rocks, nine-jointed purple-flowered Changpu is considered superior. (From *Baopuzi*)

Those who take elixirs must avoid eating sheep blood. Even after decades of medication, a single consumption of sheep blood will render all previous efforts futile.

Superior drugs nourish life, referring to the Five Minerals (Wushi) refining the form and the Six Mushrooms (Lingzhi) extending years. Medium drugs nourish temperament, referring to Albizia Julibrissin (Hehuan) dispelling anger and Daylily (Xuancacao) forgetting sorrow. Inferior drugs eliminate disease, referring to Radix et Rhizoma Rhei (Dahuang) purging excess and Angelica Sinensis (Danggui) relieving pain. (From *Bowuzhi*)

Pumex (Piaoxiao) is ground into a fine powder. Two qian are taken, mixed with warm urine from an uncircumcised boy. Zeng Tongshi from Jinxiang, Hongzhou, recounted: When he served as Magistrate of Fengcheng, a cat in his home gave birth to one kitten while four others died in the womb, causing abdominal distension and agonizing cries. He consulted a doctor, who advised administering this medicine. The dead fetuses were expelled, and the cat survived. Later, a cow presented with similar symptoms and was also saved by this method. The doctor stated that although this was originally a human prescription, it was effective for animals. Subsequently, its use in humans proved invariably effective. (From *Xinxiao Fang*)

Duke Xia Wenzhuang had a lavish disposition and unique constitution. During sleep, his body became cold as if stiff, resembling a corpse; upon waking, he required warming for a long time before he could move. Someone saw him traveling in a carriage loaded with a large object, which turned out to be a cotton curtain made of thousands of taels of cotton wadding. He frequently consumed hot medicines such as Rhizoma Curculiginis (Xianmao), Sulfur (Liuhuang), and Concha Ostreae (Zhongru) in unquantifiable amounts. Every morning he ate congee with Ostracoderm (Zhongru). A minor official stole some and subsequently developed a severe carbuncle, nearly dying from toxicity. (From *Bitan*)