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Whenever decocting and mixing herbal medicines, one must strive for precision and specialization, distinguishing between new and old materials, identifying their geographical origins, ensuring processing methods are standardized, weights and measures are accurate, and usage is appropriate; thus, diseases will invariably be cured. If genuine and fake substances are mixed, categories do not match, cold and hot properties contradict each other, the sweet and pungent flavors of herbs and minerals are unclear, roasting and frying methods lose the inherent nature of the drugs, sieving is coarse and poor, and dosages vary significantly, although there may be a name for treating disease, there will never be a guaranteed effect of cure. Therefore, physicians must pay diligent attention and repeatedly consider details, not delegating the preparation to others. This is not only because quantities may be unequal, but also because the original intent of the formula may be lost. After pounding and mixing, quality becomes hard to discern; after being tasted by many and smelled by many, the vital essence is entirely exhausted, making it difficult to achieve therapeutic effects when used to treat illness. This reflects the fluctuations in the mixing process and should not be blamed on the superficiality or clumsiness of medical formulas; rather, careful examination is required. Furthermore, ancient prescriptions often measured herbs in zhu (a unit of weight) and liang (taels), and water in sheng (liters) and shu (units). As time passed and copies were transcribed, errors increased. Sometimes the amount of herbs was small while the water was large, or vice versa, leading to disparities in weight and volume. Without distinguishing between refined and crude preparations, how can one determine what to select or discard? Currently, additions and subtractions follow proper standards, and dosages are moderate, eliminating inconsistencies from old formulas and aligning with contemporary practices. In these formulas, whenever "fen" (part) is mentioned, it refers to two qian half as one fen; whenever "liang" is mentioned, four fen make one liang; whenever "jin" is mentioned, sixteen liang make one jin; whenever "deng fen" (equal parts) is mentioned, it does not refer to fractional weights, but implies that all herbs, regardless of their original weight, are treated as equal parts. When boiling decoctions, "large cup" of water refers to approximately one sheng; "medium cup" refers to approximately five ge; "small cup" refers to approximately three ge. Simplicity should be prioritized to avoid discrepancies, facilitating preparation and emergency use without unnecessary complexity, making it easy to understand. For herbs, whether roots, stems, branches, leaves, bark, wood, flowers, or fruits, and for insects, whether hairs, wings, skins, shells, heads, feet, tails, or bones, specific processing methods such as burning, roasting, or frying must be strictly followed according to regulations. Adhering to the formula brings blessings, while violating it brings disaster. One may need flesh without skin, or skin without flesh, or specific parts like roots, stems, flowers, or fruits. Selection and refinement must follow the prescription, removing impurities to ensure extreme cleanliness before weighing and measuring accurately. Herbs have relationships of mutual generation and neutralization, and their potency varies. The interaction between sovereign, minister, assistant, and courier herbs requires extensive knowledge of various meridians to distinguish good from bad. If a physician arbitrarily adds or subtracts ingredients based on personal opinion, ignoring prescribed dosages, the varying strengths of the drugs may conflict within the body, failing to cure the disease and instead causing mutual aggression. Conflicting herbs and minerals can cause confusion and harm, potentially more severe than swords. However, if properly harmonized, even if the disease is not completely eradicated, the five zang organs can still be balanced, preventing the worsening of the condition.

When boiling decoctions, well-water drawn at dawn should be used, ensuring it is extremely clean. The quantity of water must be precise. Maintain a gentle simmer to allow the medicinal properties to release. Care must be taken in the boiling and mixing process. For purgative decoctions, they should be prepared raw, using less water to extract more liquid. For tonic decoctions, they should be cooked thoroughly, using more water to extract less liquid, and strained through fresh cloth. Decoctions should be consumed slightly warm to facilitate digestion and downward movement; if cold, they may induce vomiting and regurgitation. When a prescription specifies taking the dose in two or three portions, the timing should ensure continuous therapeutic effect, adjusted according to the patient's strength and the severity of the illness, rather than rigidly following the text.

For preparing pill medicines, pound and sieve them using heavy, fine silk gauze until fine. Mixing with honey facilitates cooking. If preparing herbal powders, use light, fine silk gauze and mix with wine for administration to prevent clumping. Mineral drugs should also be sieved through fine silk gauze and then ground hundreds of times until the color and texture are uniform and harmonious.

Mineral drugs used in decoctions or wines should be finely pounded and sieved to the size of millet grains. They can also be evenly distributed using a kudzu root sieve, wrapped in fresh cotton, and boiled together in the decoction or wine. For pills and powders, herbs should be finely cut and dried before pounding. Some are pounded separately, others together, depending on the prescription. Moistening herbs, such as Asparagi Radix (Tianmendong) and Prepared Rehmanniae Radix (Shudihuang), should be finely cut and dried, then pounded alone until thoroughly crushed. They should be taken out, broken into smaller pieces, and dried again. In rainy weather, they can be gently dried over low heat. Once dry, let them cool slightly before pounding.

Wet herbs lose significant weight when dried; therefore, initial weights should be increased until the final powdered weight meets the standard requirement. This adjustment is not necessary for herbs used in decoctions or wines.

For soaking medicinal wines, herbs must be finely chopped, placed in raw silk bags, submerged in wine, and sealed tightly. Soak for a number of days depending on the season (cold or hot), observing the concentration and strength, then filter out. It is not necessary to wait until the wine is fully consumed. The dregs can be dried, lightly pounded, and re-soaked for drinking, or processed into powder for administration.

For preparing ointments, initially soak herbs in wine or vinegar until fully saturated, using minimal liquid. Cover tightly to prevent leakage. From morning to next morning, or sometimes just overnight, simmer gently. Use the "three ups and three downs" method to dissipate heat and release medicinal properties: bring to a boil, then remove from heat to let it settle, repeating this process. Slight undercooking is acceptable. For Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus (Xiebai), cook until the ends turn slightly yellow-brown. For Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (Baizhi) and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi), cook until slightly yellow. Pig fat should not come into contact with water; fat rendered in the twelfth lunar month is superior. Strain the ointment through fresh cloth. For edible ointments, the residue can be boiled in wine and drunk. For topical ointments, the residue should be applied to the affected area to maximize drug efficacy. Minerals such as Realgar (Xionghuang), Cinnabar (Zhusha), Moschus (Shexiang), Frankincense (Ruxiang), and Lithargyrum (Qiandan) should be separately ground into powder and added to the finished ointment, stirring rapidly until solidified, ensuring they do not sink or separate. Mercury and Lead Carbonate (Hufen) should be ground extremely fine within the ointment.

For preparing immortality and longevity pills and powders, the room must be cleaned, incense burned, and sweeping done. Silence must be maintained. Young boys should perform the pounding to ensure fineness and thoroughness, striking the mortar thousands of times, with more strikes being better. Women, children, mourners, pregnant women, those with chronic illnesses, individuals with disabilities, and livestock should not witness the process, as their presence renders it ineffective. Emergency minor decoctions are exempt from these rules.