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1. This book was originally intended for beginners. It is not a complete work. Collecting materials from various pharmacopoeias and incorporating my own views, I have compiled over five hundred eighty medicinal substances. Each substance is arranged into one or two couplets, or three or four couplets. Only those with definite properties, flavors, and therapeutic indications are discussed; all others are omitted.

2. The aim of this book is simplicity and ease of reading. Therefore, the verses for each drug are kept concise. Where meaning is not fully conveyed, additional notes are provided below each substance. Readers should study them carefully.

3. For certain substances that include multiple varieties or parts, all are listed in the table of contents for easy reference.

4. The drugs recorded in this book amount to only over five hundred eighty types, which are common daily medicines. Rarely used drugs and substances that are famous but incompletely documented are not included. Those who wish to gain a comprehensive understanding will find other books available.

5. Before each category, several sentences from Li Shizhen's *Bencao Gangmu* (Compendium of Materia Medica) are appended to broaden the learners' knowledge, following the tradition of the *Bencao Gangmu*.

6. Following the format of previous works, this book begins with several principles of medication usage. These strictly adhere to the instructions of predecessors, with slight additions and deletions, so that learners can first understand the methods of medication before reading the subsequent chapters, thereby enabling flexible application.

7. This work spanned ten years, from Dinghai to Wuxu. It has already been prefaced by distinguished scholars and published. Additionally, my other work, *Cheng Fang Bian Du* (Convenient Reading of Prescriptions), consisting of two volumes with classified annotations and commentaries, will be published subsequently.

In using medications, one must understand the Five Flavors (Wu Wei). Pungent (Xin) flavors can disperse and move horizontally; Bitter (Ku) flavors can descend and drain; Sweet (Gan) flavors can tonify and moderate; Sour (Suan) flavors can astringe; Salty (Xian) flavors can moisten downward and soften hardness. By knowing the properties of each drug in advance, one can then align treatment with the patient's condition.

In using medications, one must examine the weight of the material, whether the nature is toxic or non-toxic, and whether the qi is cold, hot, warm, cool, or neutral. Only then can one determine the appropriate dosage.

In using medications, one must understand the Five Colors (Wu Se) and Five Odors (Wu Chou). Green enters the Liver; Yellow enters the Spleen; Red enters the Heart; White enters the Lung; Black enters the Kidney. Pungent odor enters the Liver; Scorched odor enters the Heart; Fragrant odor enters the Spleen; Fishy odor enters the Lung; Rotten odor enters the Kidney. *(Note: The original text explicitly lists "Fragrant" (Xiang) under Five Odors. Based on TCM theory corresponding to the Five Zang organs mentioned earlier, Fragrant corresponds to the Spleen.)*

In using medications, one must know that light materials can float and ascend, entering the Heart and Lungs superiorly; heavy materials can sink and descend, entering the Liver and Kidneys inferiorly. Hollow structures release the exterior; solid interiors attack the interior. Branches reach the limbs; barks reach the skin; hearts and trunks travel internally through the zang-fu organs. Dry and rough materials enter the Qi level; moist and glossy materials enter the Blood level. Sour and Salty flavors do not ascend; Pungent and Sweet flavors do not descend. Cold-natured drugs do not float; Hot-natured drugs do not sink. Only then can one determine their ascending, descending, floating, and sinking characteristics for use according to the principle of similarity.

In using medications, one must distinguish between opposing (Xiang Fan), mutually fearful (Xiang Wei), mutually aversive (Xiang E), mutually facilitating (Xiang Shi), and mutually enhancing (Xiang Xu) relationships. Only drugs that are strictly opposing should not be combined; for the rest, there is no need for excessive concern. Therefore, drugs with opposing properties are listed at the end of the materia medica section, allowing one to understand the contraindications and indications of drugs.

In using medications, one must know the methods of processing and frying, as each has its specific suitability. Frying with wine promotes ascending and lifting; frying with ginger promotes warming and dispersing; processing with salt guides the drug to the Kidney and softens hardness; processing with vinegar directs it to the Liver and aids astringency; treating with child urine removes harsh properties and promotes descending; washing with rice water removes dryness and harmonizes the middle; milk moisturizes dryness and generates blood; honey moderates gently and benefits the primal qi; earth-frying utilizes earth qi to tonify the Middle Jiao (Spleen/Stomach); baking with flour suppresses harsh properties to prevent injury to the upper diaphragm; soaking in decoctions of black beans and licorice detoxifies and harmonizes the middle; coating with mutton suet or lard and roasting makes bones permeable and brittle; removing the pith prevents distension; removing the heart eliminates irritability. Understanding these processing methods enables effective clinical application.

Some medications are suitable for aging, while others are best used fresh. Aged drugs have reduced potency and dissipated fire-like properties; fresh drugs retain complete aroma and flavor and act quickly. Learners should investigate these factors so that prescriptions may be efficacious and responsive.