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The *Biography of Specialists in Arts* in the *Book of Later Han* records that Hua Tuo was proficient in herbal prescriptions. His prescriptions rarely exceeded a few types of herbs; he accurately knew their weights (fen and zhu units) without needing to use scales. For acupuncture, he selected no more than a few acupoints, typically seven, eight, or nine. If a disease manifested deep within the body where needles and herbs could not reach, he would have the patient drink wine and take Mafei San (Hemp Boiling Powder) until they were intoxicated and unconscious. He would then incise the abdomen and back to remove accumulated masses; if the disease was in the intestines or stomach, he would cut, boil, and wash them to remove pathological impurities, then suture the wound and apply Sheng Gao (Divine Ointment). The wound would heal in four or five days, and the patient would fully recover within a month. It is precisely because of these skills that Mr. Hua was renowned as a divine physician among the people. It is said that Mr. Hua had a tranquil and indifferent nature, enjoyed reading medical texts, and frequently traveled to famous mountains and secluded caves, often gaining insights. One day, after drinking, he rested in front of an ancient cave on Gongyi Mountain. Suddenly, he heard people discussing methods for treating diseases. Surprised by their uniqueness, he stealthily approached the cave to eavesdrop. Soon, someone said, "Hua Sheng [Mr. Hua] is nearby; his technique can be passed on to him." Another replied, "This person is greedy and lacks compassion for living beings; how can we pass it on?" Hearing this, Mr. Hua became even more startled and leaped into the cave. He saw two old men wearing clothes made of tree bark and hats woven from straw. Mr. Hua respectfully bowed before them and said, "I just heard the worthy ones discuss medical arts, so much so that I forgot to return home. Moreover, this has always been my passion. My only regret is that I have not yet encountered a method that can be verified for efficacy, leaving me feeling inadequate. I hope the worthy ones will consider my sincere intentions and grant me enlightenment; I shall never forget your kindness in my lifetime." The elder seated at the head said, "We do not begrudge the technique, but we fear it may become a burden to you in the future. If you can treat all people equally regardless of status, wealth, or nobility, do not seek financial gain, are not afraid of labor or hardship, and prioritize compassion for the elderly and relief for the poor, then we can transmit it to you to save you from disaster." Mr. Hua bowed again and thanked them, saying, "I shall not forget a single word of the wise teachings and will abide by them all." The two elders smiled and pointed to the eastern cave, saying, "There is a book case on the stone bed; take it yourself. Leave our dwelling quickly and do not show it to common people; keep it secret." When Mr. Hua obtained the book and looked back, the old men had vanished. He timidly left the cave, but suddenly disappeared from sight. Clouds collapsed and rain poured down, causing the stone cave to crumble. After reading the formulas contained therein, which seemed mostly strange, he sincerely applied them in practice, achieving miraculous effects. Thus, Mr. Hua's great fame in the world was truly due to the secret formulas granted by immortals. Fearing the loss of these secret formulas, Mr. Hua personally copied them, carrying the copy in his bag for easy reference when needed, while hiding the original book at home. Once, he treated Cao Cao for a chronic headache that did not heal. Wanting to return home due to homesickness, he asked Cao Cao for permission to go back to retrieve his prescription, using his wife's illness as an excuse. He failed to return within the agreed period. Cao Cao repeatedly summoned him with letters and ordered local authorities to send him back. Relying on his skills and disliking such matters, Mr. Hua still refused to come. Cao Cao became furious, sent someone to investigate, discovered that his wife's illness was feigned, and had him arrested and imprisoned for interrogation. Mr. eventually confessed. Xun Yu pleaded, "Hua Tuo's medical skills are indeed exquisite, and human lives depend on him; he should be spared and forgiven." Cao Cao did not agree and ultimately executed him. Before his death, Mr. Hua handed a scroll to the prison guard, saying, "This can save lives." The guard, fearing the law, dared not accept it. Mr. Hua did not insist, requested fire, and burned it. Consequently, the world believed that Mr. Hua's secret formulas were lost forever. However, unknown to the public, although the handwritten copy was destroyed by fire, the original version hidden at home remained intact. Moreover, rare books in the world certainly do not remain obscure indefinitely. After hundreds of years of transmission, this book came into the hands of Sun Zhenren (Sun Simiao). Zhenren was deeply immersed in classics and particularly fond of medical texts. Upon seeing this compilation, he found its treatment methods more precise than those in his own works, *Qianjin Yaofang* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) and *Qianjin Yifang* (Supplement to Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold). He therefore organized the contents chronologically, filled in gaps and omissions, stored them in a chest, and passed them down to his descendants. Thus, Mr. Hua's secretly transmitted ancient formulas reappeared in the world, appearing even more logically sound and appropriate than the original. I have long favored the arts of Xuanyuan Huangdi (Yellow Emperor) and Qibo, and especially enjoy reading ancient medical texts. In the year Renchen, I briefly traveled to Bozhou in Anhui and stayed at the Yao residence. On a rainy day with nothing to do, the host, Mr. Yao Jiqian, brought out his collection of old books for me to appreciate and kill time. Suddenly, amidst a pile of ancient papers, I discovered this manuscript. Its paper and ink were dim, exuding an antique charm, immediately recognizable as an object over a thousand years old. Upon examining its content, I saw that the treatment methods recorded seemed strange but were actually grounded in profound principles. Furthermore, the formulas for Mafei San (Hemp Boiling Powder) and Sheng Gao (Divine Ointment) recorded in the book were particularly desired by the world, eagerly awaited for inspection. I urgently urged Mr. Yao to have it printed. If this book spreads widely in the future, allowing patients to find treatments according to the text without relying on mediocre doctors, its benefit to humanity would far surpass that of merely providing medical care or medicine. Mr. Yao agreed and wished to borrow my words to add weight to the publication. Therefore, I unhesitatingly narrate the origin of this book as follows.
Preface by Huixi Laoren (Old Man of the Meandering Stream), Xu Dachun, at Mo Hai Lou in Bozhou, Mid-Autumn Month of the 27th Year of Qianlong (Renchen), aged sixty-nine.