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The top one hundred and twenty medicines serve as the Sovereign (Jun, 君) drugs. They primarily nourish life to correspond with Heaven. These medicines are non-toxic; taking them in large doses or for a long time will not harm the human body. For those wishing to lighten the body, replenish Qi, and prevent aging to prolong longevity, they should base their usage on the seven hundred and thirty names recorded in the *Zhong Jing* (Middle Classic).

Regarding the combination of Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, and Envoy (Chen, Zuo, Shi, 臣佐使) roles in medicinal prescriptions, which interact through mutual promotion and restraint to harmonize the formula, it is appropriate to use a ratio of one Sovereign, two Ministers, three Assistants, and four Envoys. Alternatively, it can be one Sovereign, three Ministers, five Assistants, and nine Envoys.

For mineral medicines such as Zi Shi Ying (Fluorite), Bai Shi Ying (Quartz), Zhu Sha (Cinnabar), Xiong Huang (Realgar), and Liu Huang (Sulfur), one must select those that are bright, lustrous, with clear texture and pure quality. Otherwise, ingestion may lead to dryness of the body, fever, dry mouth, and even death.

For herbal and mineral drugs, they must come from firm land and possess strong aroma and flavor. If not, the diseases will not be cured.

For herbs such as Ye Lang Du (Euphorbia fischeriana root), Zhi Shi (Immature Bitter Orange), Ju Pi (Tangerine Peel), Ban Xia (Pinellia Tuber), Ma Huang (Ephedra Herb), and Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia Fruit), aged and stored ones are preferred. Other herbs should simply be selected for freshness and purity.

Question: When preparing decoctions, what is the volume of water required for processing various herbal, mineral, insect, and animal drugs? What are the methods for cleaning and processing (Xiao Sha, 消杀)?
Answer: For herbal plants with roots, stems, leaves, and branches, preliminary processing is required first. Then... [Note: The original text contains significant fragmentation and noise here. Based on context, this section describes preprocessing methods.]

Herbs such as Nan Yin Yu (Aconitum brachypodum), Li Lu (Veratrum nigrum), and Zao Jiao (Gleditsia Sinensis Fruit) require roasting. Specifically, Zhi Shi (Immature Bitter Orange) should have its pulp removed, Li Lu (Veratrum nigrum) its head removed, and Zao Jiao (Gleditsia Sinensis Fruit) its skin and seeds removed.

For potent drugs such as Tian Xiong (Aconitum lateral root processed), Fu Zi (Aconite lateral root processed), Wu Tou (Aconite main root), Wu Hui (Aconite bud), and Ce Zi (Aconite lateral root unprocessed), they must be roasted in ash until slightly cracked, then peeled and weighed. If used in decoctions, pastes, or wines, they may be used raw. Raw usage also requires peeling before weighing. Break them directly into seven or eight pieces.

For half-liang (ban liang, 半两) weight drugs, specify ten washes and four breaks (likely referring to specific processing steps), then weigh for inclusion in decoctions. For pastes, wines, pills, and powders, roast in ash.

For Ba Dou (Croton Seed), remove the kernel. For Almond (Xing Ren, 杏仁), Ting Li (Descurainia Seed), and Hu Ma (Sesame), which contain oils, roast until yellow-black, grind separately into an oily paste. Observe the consistency, mix and grind until dispersed, then sieve through fine silk gauze until completely filtered. Return to the mortar and pound according to method for hundreds of strokes.

Others should be crushed. For Mai Qu (Brewer's Yeast), Rice, Da Dou Huang Juan (Fermented Soybean), Ze Lan (Lycopus Herb), and Wu Yi (Chrysanthemum indicum leaf), stir-fry last. Gan Xi (Dried Lacquer) should be stir-fried until smoke ceases. Ai Ye (Mugwort Leaf) should be stir-fried, finely torn, and dried. Pound all medicines into fine powder. Those that cannot be sieved should be mixed into the powder blend.

Shells, skins, meat, bones, horns, and tendons of turtles, sharks, and carps, as well as Deer Antler (Lu Rong, 鹿茸), require roasting. Snake Slough (She Tui, 蛇蜕) requires slight roasting. For insects like Ban Mao (Mylabris), break Sang Piao Xiao (Mantis Egg Case) and roast. Mu Li (Oyster Shell) should be roasted until yellow. Jiang Can (Silkworm) and Feng Fang (Honeycomb) require slight stir-frying.

When using She Xiang (Musk) or Xi Jiao (Rhinoceros Horn - note: modern substitutes used) in decoctions, grind into powder and add to the decoction just before administration, stirring to mix.

For pills and powders using gelatin, roast until bubbling throughout, then roast until broken. If added directly to decoctions, do not roast. For E Jiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin) in decoctions, add the dissolved gelatin juice after the decoction is finished boiling.

For Honey (Mi, 蜜), boil over fire, skim off foam, until slightly yellow, then use for pills to ensure long shelf life. The amount of foaming depends on the honey; finer is better.

For Wax in pills, melt and mix with a little honey, then combine with medicine to form pills. For Yi Tang (Maltose) in decoctions, add near the end of cooking.

Medicines suitable for pills, powders, decoctions, wine maceration, or pastes should be chosen according to their properties. Do not violate these principles.

Ancient weights only had Zhu (grain) and Liang (tael), without Fen (minute). Currently, ten grains equal one Zhu, six Zhu equal one Fen, four Fen equal one Liang, and sixteen Liang equal one Jin (catty).

[Text fragment regarding weights] Now, based on four Fen equaling one Liang, the weighing standard is fixed. In formulas using three or five ingredients, the weights are usually equal. Examining ancient formulas, the most critical aspect is the historical evolution of units, where Sheng, He, Fen, and Liang varied significantly. Numerical values were mostly in Liang, making direct comparison difficult. Some used Sheng and He, which are hard to clarify. Using the *Qian Pu* (Record of Coins) for estimation, roughly: ten Cun equal one Chi (foot), ten Chi equal one Zhang (fathom)...

Observing current rulers, they vary: Zhou Chi is eight chi, Jing Chi is one chi six cun, Huai Chi is one chi two cun, Yue Chi is one chi two cun five fen. Use a small ruler as a standard. Since the small ruler starts from San Wei, it can serve as a reference. Kai Yuan Tong Bao coins cast in the Wude year of Tang had a diameter of eight fen, equivalent to twelve and a half coins per chi. Arranging coins, twelve exceed one chi. It is unknown what ruler Tang used. Han and Tang measures for Yue (gill) and He (cup) used length distributions. If lengths are inconsistent, what basis exists? Scholars of antiquity must have explanations.

Measuring vessels: Yue, He, Sheng, Dou, Hu originated from the Huang Zhong Yue holding twelve Zhu. He holds twenty-four Zhu. Comparing with coins, four six-Zhu coins are heavier than three Kai Yuan coins. Sheng, Dou, Hu are cumulative. Han and Tang used them similarly. In Song Shaoxing era, one Sheng held 1200 Zhu. Thus, 200 ancient six-Zhu coins or 220 Kai Yuan coins equaled one Shaoxing Sheng.

Han and Tang examples used twenty-four Zhu as one Liang. Late Tang historians might have altered this. *Qian Pu* states Han had no six-Zhu coins, appearing only in Tang. Kai Yuan Tong Bao, cast in Kaiyuan De Year (likely Kaiyuan era), diameter eight fen, weight two Zhu four Lei, ten coins equal one Liang. This is hard to verify. Experts in economic history must have answers.

According to medical texts, Han dynasty decoctions: large dose over thirty Liang, small dose over ten Liang. Water: six or seven Sheng. Boil down to two or three Sheng, divided into three doses. If using ancient He measure for seven Sheng water, thirty Liang of modern herbs might not be covered. Powder doses are one Cun Bi (square inch spoonful); pill size like Sophora seed, max thirty pills. Decoction dosage seems too disparate. Example: Feng Yin Tang, one dose fifty-five Liang. Each dose uses three fingers pinch, three Sheng water, boiled three times, strained, warm drink one Sheng. Cooking method: three fingers pinch powder, ingredient amount seems excessive, which is suspicious.

Current interpretation: Han dose should use two half-Liang coins as one Liang. Compare with Shu Fu Tang. Using Han Liang, 180 Zhu, equals 22.5 Kai Yuan coins, divided into three doses, each 7.5 Qian (modern). Using Tang standard, 330 Zhu, equals 42 Kai Yuan coins, each dose 14 Qian. Roughly known. Using Kai Yuan coins, 105 Zhu, divided into three doses, each 3.5 Qian, still small dose. Large doses named "Half Liang" are numerous and hard to list. Careful study is recommended.

"Pills/powders say several Fen/Liang" refers to relative proportions, not absolute limits. E.g., daily dose three Cun Bi. Five Liang is standard for some, Tu Si Zi one Sheng equals nine Liang, She Chuang Zi one Sheng equals 3.5 Liang, Di Fu Zi one Sheng equals four Liang. This variation exists. "One Sheng of seeds" varies by density/heaviness, cannot be uniformly weighed. Take level Sheng as standard.

"Cinnamon one Chi" or "One bundle of grass" corresponds to one Sheng two He. This is inappropriate. Medicines... avoid fine particles for efficacy. Some are pounded together. Tear finely, sun-dry. If sifting herbal powder, use light silk gauze. Take with wine... Mix back in mortar, pound hundreds of times, check quantity, do not let it vary. Boil and mix, control fire. Roughly twenty Liang medicine, one Dou water, boil down to four... More water for more juice if disease requires rapid action. Less juice if more water used. Examine carefully. Divide into three doses. Second and third doses... paper... moisture.

For wine maceration, cut finely, raw... No need to wait until wine is exhausted. Residue can be dried and slightly pounded, boiled in water to drink, equivalent to a new dose, for poor people... Do not roast much, cover tightly to prevent leakage. "Time" refers to releasing heat potential to extract flavors... Roast ends until slightly yellow. Bai Zhi... Squeeze paste with new cloth. If edible... To exhaust medicinal power. Pastes containing Xiong... Until solidified, do not let settle at bottom unevenly... Burn incense, sweep clean, no chatter... Combine Kidney Qi, Shu Yu (Dioscorea), and major tonifying Five Stones... Taboos for mourners, chronic diseases, disabled, and dogs... Limits of taboos. Recently, rural families... Seeds etc. hard to pound, waste effort... Fly with wind, taste with mouths, smell with noses... After finishing doses, plus deficiency, then slander... Medicines should not be sun-dried frequently, many... Sun-dry thoroughly in strong sun, with new tiles... Years later like new. Pills/powders in porcelain... Mice cannot get them. Storage...