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As for the common people using medicines, how could they know that medicines naturally possess the principles of Sovereign (Jun), Minister (Chen), Assistant (Zuo), and Courier (Shi)? Since the Sovereign and Minister roles are distinguished, is it not necessary to differentiate the mutual inhibition (Xiang Wei) and mutual destruction (Xiang Sha) constraints? Just as Mao (now known as Salt Grass, *Salicornia herbacea*) instantly dissolves when exposed to urine, eliminating the toxicity of macules and swelling; Elephant Gallbladder (*Elephantis Fel*) adheres upon waving, revealing that medicines have sentient qualities; a strange fish inserted upright becomes dry, but pouring Dog Gallbladder (*Canis Felis*) into the insertion site restores it immediately; Wu Ming (a nameless herb, morphologically resembling jade, facing upward like smelted stone, with a distinct taste) can amputate fingers while nails fall off; Sheng Shi (Holy Stone) opens blindness and brightens eyes as if clouds part from the sun; Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) stops bleeding and breaks blood stasis, with head and tail having different effects (the head stops bleeding, the tail breaks blood stasis); Rui Zi (Prunus mume seed) has different effects based on raw or cooked state; those suffering from excessive sleep or insomnia rely on Bi Dan (a bamboo steamer liner commonly used, which can desalinate salt flavor); Jiu Zhan Jiao (Honey-coated Stems of Pseudolarix, also called Jiao Jia Zhi); Iron encountering Shen Sha (Realgar or Cinnabar powder mixed with mud) turns into dust after grinding; Shi Jing (Stone processed by Crane Droppings) transforms into flying dust; seeing Orange Flower (*Citrus reticulata* peel) resembles marrow; broken strings and swords return to original state upon encountering Luan Xue (Blood of a mythical bird, used as adhesive to repair iron so it never breaks again); when seas dry and rivers wither, throwing in You Bo (Swallows) makes them float again; to make Lead resist fire, one must rely on Xiu Tian (now called Sky Repairing Stone, likely Hematite or similar); to ensure firmness, one cannot forget Zi Bei (Purple-backed Tian Kui, resembling common Malva verticillata but with purple back and green front, capable of solidifying lead forms); retaining Arsenic in the cauldron entirely relies on Zong Xin (another herb named Zong Xin, sometimes confused with Dianthus superbus or Palm Heart, mistakenly identified; grows in Chizhou, infested with insects and beasts); obtaining Ci requires Qin Hua (its herb is named Li Qi, resembling Peony, flowers are blue-green, up to three feet tall, leaves have yellow spots, bitter and astringent taste, usable for boiling Chu Huang (Realgar) to stop fire); standing to form a granary meets Chi Xu (herb named Chi Xu, now called Tiger Whisker Grass, used to boil Sand to generate fire as verification); wood remaining in the golden tripod generating fire in water cannot be done without Hua Sui (a sea beast named Hua, its marrow added to oil creates an oil that ignites upon contact with water, uncontrollable unless sprayed with wine, do not store indoors); growing teeth and gums relies on Male Rat Bone Powder (if teeth break and fail to regrow for years, take Male Rat Vertebral Column powder to rub the broken area, teeth regenerate immediately); fallen hair and eyebrows grow back upon applying Ban Xia (for fallen eyebrows and hair, crush fresh Pinellia ternata stems, extract juice, apply to bald areas, growth occurs immediately); squinted eyes correct themselves despite "Five Flowers" (Wu Jia Pi, Acanthopanacis Cortex, leaves have male/female distinction: three leaves are male, five are female; must use five-leaf variety, powdered and taken with wine, even if eyes are deviated, they become straight); flesh growth on feet tied to Tu Si Gen (for fleshy growths on feet, tie Datura root to the belt, through resonance, pain ceases permanently); wrinkled scrotum and frequent nocturia require boiling Zhu Mu at night (for frequent urination, boil one slice of Bi Xie (Dioscorea hypoglauca rhizome) at night and take it, nocturia ceases permanently); cold body and large abdomen rely on Lu E (for abdominal distension like a drum, take Lu E (Cormus sinensis) powder mixed with rice drink, distension withers immediately); blood flooding during menstruation regulated by Gua Zi (sweet melon seeds, kernels crushed, oil removed, taken with water, flooding stops immediately); frequent coughing and wheezing settled by drinking Shu Xiong (prepared Tian Xiong (Aconitum carmichaelii lateral root) powder mixed with wine, dosage one qian bi, symptoms settle immediately); generalized rash and wind-cold cured by mixing Sheng Ce (Ce Zi, side-root of Aconitum, powdered and taken with cold wine, recovery is immediate); intestinal deficiency with diarrhea and dysentery requires Cao Ling (Wu Bei Zi (Galla Chinensis) powdered, taken with boiled water, stops immediately); long-term thirst and heart vexation treated with Zhu Li (Bamboo Sap); removing masses and lumps relies on Xiao Shi (Niao Shi (Sal ammoniac) and Xiao Shi (Niter), ground together in a mortar, calcined, taken with wine, miraculous effect); increasing appetite and alcohol consumption requires brewing Lu Pu (Lu Gen (Imperata rhizome) and Hou Po (Magnolia bark) decoction); strengthening tendons and bones requires Cong Rong (Rou Cong Rong (Cistanche) and Eel powdered, pills made with Huang Jing (Polygonatum) juice, strength doubles, recorded in Ning Ji); preserving complexion and prolonging life involves steaming Shen Jin (Huang Jing juice mixed with finely ground Shen Jin, steamed in willow wood steamer for seven days, honey pills taken, complexion resembles that of a young girl); knowing the location of ulcers by tasting Yin Jiao (Yin Jiao is the condensation inside the steamer, a small amount placed in the mouth reveals the origin of internal organs and the location of pain, sufficient for diagnosis); postpartum edema cured by Gan Pi taken with wine (postpartum skin swelling, taking Gan Pi (Licorice bark) with wine heals immediately); mouth sores and cracked tongue healed by Huang Su (mouth sores and tongue cracks, coat with Huang (root yellow) and Su (Perilla leaf) roasted and powdered, held in mouth, heals immediately); brain pain nearing death stopped by Xiao Mo snuffed into nose (headache, snuff Niter powder into nose, stops immediately); heart pain nearing death quickly seeks Yan Hu (Yan Hu Suo (Corydalis rhizome) powdered, taken with wine, heals immediately). Thus, hundreds of such examples demonstrate the efficacy of medicines. I, though unworthy, encountered a enlightened era, foolishly studied medical principles. Although seeking sage methods, it is hard to exhaust the subtleties. Briefly stating the functions of herbs, how could one indulge in the secret arts of immortals? The processing, roasting, boiling, and frying of medicines cannot be recorded by year alone. To examine the original reasons, one must consult the *Hai Ji*. Ignoring my short-sightedness, I directly record the processing methods, list herbal prescriptions, divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower volumes, with three hundred items detailed below.

The above is the Preface to Lei Gong's Processing Methods, an ancient text. Although the principles are profound and archaic, the literary flow seems somewhat disjointed. It implies that since ancient times until today, many years have passed, and there are inevitably omissions. Furthermore, according to the *Ben Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), whenever prescriptions mention pills the size of fine hemp seeds, weigh four liang, compared to carp eyes; mentioning pills the size of large hemp seeds, weigh six liang, compared to carp eyes; mentioning pills the size of small beans, weigh eight liang, compared to carp eyes; mentioning pills the size of large beans, weigh ten liang, compared to carp eyes; mentioning pills the size of rabbit mushrooms (commonly called rabbit droppings), weigh twelve liang, compared to carp eyes; mentioning pills the size of parasol tree seeds, weigh fourteen liang, compared to carp eyes; mentioning pills the size of bullet seeds, weigh sixteen liang, compared to carp eyes. Fifteen white pearls serve as the standard for one bullet-sized pill. Whenever prescriptions mention using one yi to two yis to ten yis of water, each yi weighs twelve liang as the standard. Whenever mentioning one liang, one fen, one zhu, strictly use the current silk floss scale. Do not mistake four zhu for one fen, as errors will damage both the prescription and medicinal potency. Whenever mentioning powders, make only powders; pills, make only pills; or boil in wine, or use vinegar, or decoct with milk, all following uniform rules. When refining honey in prescriptions, one jin yields only twelve liang and half, or one fen is the count; if the fire is too little or too much, neither is suitable. When using fat in plaster decoctions, first refine to remove the membrane before use. When preparing various drugs, one must focus attentively, avoiding mixing; whether boiling then stewing or stewing then boiling, do not alter the order, follow the rules strictly. When preparing pills, if using honey, use only honey; if using maltose, use only maltose; if using sugar, use only sugar. Do not mix them, as it will cause purging and harm the person.