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Alas, people using medicines, how could they know that there are naturally sovereign and ministerial (primary and auxiliary) roles; having distinguished the sovereign and ministerial, how could they not differentiate mutual restraint (the restraining relationship between herbs)?

Just as Mao (now known as Yanscao, Salt Grass), when touched by urine, immediately eliminates the toxicity of macules and swelling; Elephant Gallbladder, when waved and adhered, reveals that medicines possess distinct emotional affinities. A fish inserted into a tree instantly withers; applying Dog Gallbladder to it (pouring canine bile into the insertion site restores it immediately), yet it appears flourishing. Wuming (a herb resembling jade in irregular shape, stone-like on its upper surface, with a unique taste) stops pain, and after amputating a finger, it seems to remove the nail-like sensation; Shengshi (Holy Stone) opens blindness and brightens eyes, like clouds dispersing to reveal the sun. Danggui (Angelica sinensis) both stops bleeding and breaks blood stasis, with different effects for its head and tail. (The head stops bleeding, the tail breaks blood stasis). Ruiren (Bai Guo Ren / Prunus armeniaca seed) induces sleep in those who wish to sleep and cures insomnia in those who cannot, with raw and cooked forms providing immediate verification. Bi Dan Xing Lu (the grate inside a steamer used for rice, which can dilute saltiness), is like Jiu Zhan Jiao (now known as Mi Zhi Jiao Zhi or Honey-processed Zhi Jiao Branch, also called Jiao Jia Zhi). Iron encountering Shen Sha (Cinnabar) becomes soft as mud and fine as powder; stones treated with Crane Droppings turn to flying dust. Seeing Orange Flower is like consuming paste and marrow. Broken strings and swords, upon encountering Luan Blood (blood from a mythical bird), return to their original state; (Luan blood refined into glue permanently bonds broken parts without re-breaking); when seas dry and rivers wither, throwing in You Bo (Swallows) causes waves to rise immediately. To make Lead resist fire, one must rely on Xiu Tian (now called Bu Tian Shi, Sky-Mending Stone). If one desires firmness of form, how could one forget Zi Bei (Zi Bei Tian Kui, a vegetable with purple back and green front, capable of hardening lead forms)? To keep Arsenic in the cauldron, one entirely relies on Zong Xin (Zong Xin Cao, now called Shi Zhu, Stone Bamboo, not to be confused with edible □ Xin which may cause error. This herb grows in certain prefectures where insects and beasts are abundant). When Ci Huang (Realgar) meets Qin Hua (Celery Flower) (this herb is named Li Qi, shaped like Peony, with blue flowers reaching three feet tall, leaves with yellow spots, bitter and astringent taste, usable. When boiling Realgar, adding this herb immediately stops its fiery nature), it instantly turns to ash; Pao encounters Chi Xu (Red Mustache, now called Hu Xu Cao, Tiger Mustache Grass, used to boil Sandstone to stop fire, verified), keeping Wood in the Golden Cauldron. Fire generating in water cannot be achieved without Hua Sui (Sui Beast Marrow); (There is a beast in the sea named Hual, whose marrow put into oil creates an oil that ignites on water, impossible to extinguish, but quenched by spraying wine, do not collect under eaves). Growing teeth and gums relies on the powder of Male Rat Bone. (If teeth break and do not grow back for many years, take Male Rat spine bone powder, rub it on the broken area, and teeth will regenerate immediately). Falling hair and eyebrows, applying Ban Xia (Pinellia ternata) makes them grow immediately; (For falling hair and eyebrows, crush fresh Pinellia stems to extract juice, apply to bald areas for immediate growth). Strabismus (eyes deviating), corrected naturally by Wu Hua (Wu Jia Pi, Five-Acanthopanax Bark). (Wu Jia has male and female types. Three leaves are male, five are female; only five-leaf varieties should be powdered and taken with wine to correct strabismus). Flesh growth on feet is tied to Dang Gen (Liang Dang Gen root); (For flesh growths on feet, hang Liang Dang root on a belt around the waist; through resonance, pain never returns). Constricted scrotum and frequent urination (Shen Quan Duo), boiled bamboo and wood at night. (For frequent urination, boil Bi Xie alone at night and take it, preventing nocturia forever. Yi Zhi and Bi Xie constitute Suo Quan Wan). Cold body and distended abdomen rely entirely on Lu E (Cormorant); (For abdominal distension like a drum, mix Cormorant powder with rice water and take it, causing immediate shrinking). Overflowing blood during menstruation, drink mixed with Melon Seeds. (Sweet Melon Seed kernels pounded to powder, oil removed, taken with water or wine, stops immediately). Frequent coughing and counterflow qi, taken with wine and cooked Tian Xiong (Heavenly雄性). (Tian Xiong soaked in wine, one qian bi dose settles it immediately). Generalized wind rash, cold-mixed Sheng Ce Zi (Side Child, lateral shoots of Aconite). (Ce Zi powdered and taken with cold wine cures immediately). Intestinal deficiency with diarrhea and dysentery requires Cao Ling (Wu Bei Zi, Chinese Gallnut). (Powdered Wu Bei Zi taken with hot water stops immediately). Long-term thirst and vexation, suitable for Zhu Li (Bamboo Sap). Removing masses relies entirely on Xiao Shi (Niter). (Xiao Shi and Nuo Sha, i.e., Niter and Ammonium Chloride, ground together in a mortar, roasted together, taken with wine, miraculous effect). Increasing appetite and drinking capacity requires decocting Lu Gen and Hou Po. (For poor appetite and low alcohol tolerance, decoct Ni Shui Lu Gen and Hou Po together). Strengthening tendons and bones requires Cong Rong (Cistanche). (Cong Rong and Hai Ma [Seahorse] powdered, pillified with Huang Jing juice, taken to multiply strength tenfold. From *Ganning Ji*). Preserving complexion and prolonging life requires Jing Zheng Shen Jin. (Improving complexion: take natural juice of Huang Jing, mix with finely ground Shen Jin, steam in a willow wood steamer for seven days, pillify with honey, taken to restore beauty like a young woman). Knowing the location of sores, point Yin Jiao orally. (Yin Jiao is the condensation scale from the steamer; placing a small amount in the mouth reveals the origin of organ pathology, extending to the painful site, sufficient for diagnosis). Postpartum edema, Gan Pi taken with wine. (Postpartum skin floating/edema, Gan Pi taken with wine heals immediately). Mouth ulcers and cracked tongue, Huang Su (Yellow Butter/Coptis) cures instantly. (Mouth ulcers and cracked tongue: coat Huang Lian with butter, roast, powder, hold in mouth to heal). Brain pain nearing death, Nasal administration of Xiao Mo (Niter Powder). (Headache: insert Niter powder into nose, stops quickly). Heart pain nearing death, quickly seek Yan Hu (Yan Hu Suo). (Yan Hu Suo powdered, taken with wine heals immediately). Such are a hundred cases, the merit of medicines. I, unworthy, have encountered a enlightened era, mistakenly studied medical principles; though seeking sage methods, difficult to exhaust the subtleties. Briefly stating the functions of drugs, how could one indulge in immortal techniques? Regarding the processing of drugs—pao, ao, zhu, zhi—cannot record the years! To examine the original cause, one must look at *Hai Ji*.