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Diseases are related to life and death; if there is even a slight error in treatment, it will be too late to regret. Therefore, engaging a physician to treat illness is entrusting one's life and death to them; how can one not exercise extreme caution in selection! If there is no person who is truly trustworthy, it is better to refrain from taking medicine and leave it to fate. Yet people of the world neglect this aspect, relying solely on hearsay without investigating the physician's actual academic background or therapeutic efficacy. Upon hearing others' praise, they immediately engage the physician for treatment. When the medicine proves ineffective, they do not reflect at all; instead, the condition worsens day by day. They blame the difficulty of curing the existing disease but do not blame the physician for causing delays or errors. Who knows that if the medicine indeed targets the disease (Zhong Bing), although rapid recovery may not occur, there must inevitably be some signs of improvement. Not only does it produce results after administration, but there are indications even during the intake. For instance, when treating heat diseases with cooling medicines or cold diseases with warming medicines, one finds the aroma pleasant and appealing, and upon entering the mouth, it feels harmonious and comfortable. Conversely, if the medicine does not target the disease, its smell becomes repulsive, and once ingested, it causes internal restlessness and discomfort. The *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) states: "When facing a patient, inquire about what brings them comfort." This is a true principle. Nowadays, people trust a single physician and remain unrepentant until death; the reason is inexplicable, perhaps due to predestined factors in the unseen realm. There is also the opposite scenario: upon hearing casual remarks, one requests a trial; before the prescribed dose is finished, another physician is consulted. Sometimes several physicians are engaged in a single day, each presenting different theories, leading to confusion and lack of direction. At such times, even a highly skilled physician cannot argue against the majority to avoid slander and jealousy, and thus merely agrees with others. It must be understood that the progression and transformation of diseases follow specific timelines, and the replacement of prescriptions follows a certain sequence. Randomly administering drugs ultimately leads to untreatable conditions. Although these two situations differ in nature, their harmful consequences are identical. Only those who do not pursue empty fame but seek practical effects, who examine and observe with precision and clarity, and who make decisive judgments based on circumstances, can be said to treat life and death not as a game.

The ancient sages established formulas and medicines specifically for treating diseases. Any formula that effectively targets the disease is considered a secret prescription; there are no other miraculous drugs. Taking medicine when not ill will eventually cause harm due to excessive bias or imbalance. If one needs tonification due to weak Qi and Blood, one must select mild and pure substances, assessing the body's constitutional biases and providing slight support. Formulas marketed as secret prescriptions or miraculous techniques, especially those that are extremely hot or strongly tonifying, were fabricated by past individuals to deceive people and invariably harm life. Furthermore, there are bizarre prescriptions created through bribery by wealthy individuals. I once encountered a noble young man who sought a longevity formula from me. I replied, "Try to find someone who has achieved longevity and show them to me, then I can create a longevity formula. If no one achieves longevity, then no such formula exists in the world." He showed displeasure. At that time, an old physician happened to be in his household, so he obtained the formula from him. He arrogantly told me, "Mr. [Name] has already given me the longevity formula; why are you being stingy?" I examined the formula and found it consisted of gathering various blood-tonifying and warming herbs from across the country, making the preparation method complex to impress the senses. I privately asked the old physician, "From whom did you learn this longevity formula?" The old physician said, "Do not laugh at me. You are not one who engages in worldly affairs. What can the wealthy not obtain? They only fear losing longevity while indulging their desires. Thus, whenever they meet a famous physician, they demand this formula. If I do not know it, how can I practice my profession? I did not intend to deceive them; it is simply necessary to accommodate societal expectations." Eventually, he received substantial remuneration. From this, I realized that all secret prescriptions circulated in the world belong to this category. These are merely the remnants of the practices of the Marquis of Wen Cheng and Wuli during the Han Dynasty. One must never believe they can truly grant longevity; rather, they accelerate death. I record this to awaken those in the world who seek longevity by hunting for secret prescriptions.