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If using toxic drugs to treat diseases, start with a dose as small as millet grains. Stop when the disease is gone; if not gone, double the dose; if still not gone, increase to ten times, taking recovery as the limit.

For diseases located above the chest and diaphragm, slow administration is appropriate.

Generally speaking, ancient prescriptions for treating diseases all used decoction methods. Among hundreds or thousands of prescriptions, there was not one that used powder forms. Modern physicians fail to distinguish between decoctions and powders, and their theories are often heterodox.

Typically, pills are the size of sophora seeds, twenty per dose, not exceeding thirty or forty. As for powders, the minimum is a "dao gui" (a tiny measure) or five qian bi, and the maximum is a fang cun bi (a square-inch scoop). Is it that decoctions must be taken in large quantities while boiled powders and pills are taken in small amounts? Later generations do not understand the measurement systems of jin, liang, sheng, and he, nor do they know the methods of preparing liquid medicines and boiled powders. Now following old examples, we generally stipulate: take 25 liang of herbs, add one sheng of water, boil initially, and obtain 1.5 sheng of modern volume, then remove the dregs.

For any deficiency damage, regardless of age, supplementation should be performed as needed, with dosage determined by judgment. For medications for hemorrhoids and fistulas, one must be cautious about consuming pork, chicken, fish, and oils.

When taking medicine, one must avoid raw, cold, sour, and slippery foods, as well as pork, dog meat, chicken, fish, fats, wheat products, garlic, and fruits. For major tonifying pills and powders, one must strictly avoid stale, rancid, or lingering foods.

Regarding injuries... [Text fragment]

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And regarding sexual activity and emotions, the efficacy of medicinal treatment relies heavily on dietary regulation and recuperation, which contributes more than half of the therapeutic effect. Therefore, patients must focus on recuperation and moderation. Such moderation can lead to longevity, not merely curing the disease.

When taking purgative decoctions or various pills, powders, and wines, if food is required at mealtime, first give a mouthful of cold vinegar drink, wait a moment, and then eat. When a person suddenly encounters wind pathogens... [Text fragment]

If the decoction is continuous, stop the decoction after two days, supplement oneself with soups, and recuperate the four limbs. If recovered, stop the medication and gradually recuperate.

Take decoctions again to attack the pathogen, taking recovery as the limit. For wind diseases treated with decoctions, unless profuse sweating occurs, the wind will not leave. Therefore, in formulas for various winds, such as Xizhou Xuming Decoction using eight liang, Yuebi Decoction using six liang, and Da/Xiao Xuming Decoctions using one, three, or four liang, it is known that without sweating... [Text fragment]

In a sealed room, one must not casually take decoctions, as this only leads to self-harm. The condition will only worsen, not improve. For those over fifty years old, strictly avoid using Five Minerals Powder (Wushi San). Throughout the four seasons, take one or two sheng every morning, warm, and never cease for life. And at certain times... [Text fragment]

Duck meat, etc., and there will be no disease.