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1. In the past, when Tang Shenwei compiled *Zhenglei Bencao* (Certified Classification of Materia Medica), he collected all ancient and modern verified prescriptions and appended them. *Bencao Gangmu* (Compendium of Materia Medica) subsequently expanded this content several times over. However, the collection was too extensive and lacked detailed selection, mixing superior and inferior items without omission or discrimination. Now, from tens of thousands of prescriptions, I have carefully selected and discarded those that are dangerous, critical, harsh, fierce, counterfeit, fake, or heterodox. Those whose use causes hesitation or fear are discarded entirely. All prescriptions that are precise, detailed, authentic, mild, light, simple, and convenient, which yield immediate effects like an echo upon trial, are fully recorded. Furthermore, from major prescriptions of various schools, I have selected those that are particularly practical and effective, along with various large and small prescriptions I have personally tested for miraculous efficacy, appending them under each herb. This way, one can search for prescriptions based on symptoms and employ them freely, without fear or trepidation.

2. If physicians do not read *Bencao* (Materia Medica), they will not understand drug properties; even if they occasionally read it, forgetting it quickly renders the reading useless, leaving them ignorant of drug properties. Ignorance of drug properties means that although one may know the cold, heat, deficiency, and excess of diseases, one remains confused about the cold, heat, warm, and cool nature of drugs, and further misunderstands the incompatibilities (Xiang Fan), mutual fears (Xiang Wei), and contraindications of drugs. In such a state, attempting to treat diseases with medication will result in a mismatch between drugs and symptoms. To rescue patients from distress and alleviate suffering, potentially saving lives, would be extremely difficult. Now, I have appended carefully selected prescriptions under each herb. By using prescriptions according to symptoms and searching by category, one can locate the prescription at a glance and thereby understand the drug properties, for where the prescription lies, there lie the drug properties.

3. In treating diseases with medication, some cases show immediate recovery from minor illnesses, gradual improvement of severe illnesses, sudden worsening of minor conditions, or sudden death from critical conditions; these are due to the use of harsh and fierce major prescriptions. Conversely, some cases show slight improvement in minor illnesses, marginal efficacy in severe illnesses, non-seriousness of minor conditions, and non-critical nature of severe conditions; these are due to the use of mild and light minor prescriptions. Generally, using harsh drugs to treat disease often cures six out of ten cases, but damages four. Why? Because without great victory, there must be great defeat. Using mild drugs to treat disease often cures four out of ten cases, while six remain unharmed. Why? Because even without great merit, there is no great fault. Therefore, I have doubled the inclusion of minor prescriptions and briefly listed major prescriptions. This reflects a mindset of seeking no merit, only avoiding fault. Precisely because one seeks no specific merit, the physician's capacity for merit becomes infinite.

4. When treating diseases, physicians should constantly examine their conscience, making the absence of guilt the primary goal. Medication is like warfare; constant victory cannot be guaranteed. Xu Huixi of our dynasty, a renowned scholar from Jiangnan, guided people in the art of medicine by emphasizing caution and prudence. He advised selecting mild and clinically appropriate drugs to slightly reduce the disease severity. Even without great merit, this approach avoids causing harm. In contrast, deceiving the world to please others, knowing only how to seek profit, and indiscriminately administering heavy doses leads to irreversible errors if mistakes occur. Although the patient's family may not know, the physician's conscience cannot be free of guilt. I believe that only those with profound experience can reach such definitive conclusions. The prescriptions attached here are all mild and clinically appropriate drugs. They aim for slow therapeutic action rather than rapid results. Prescriptions and *Bencao* complement each other, providing endless benefits to the world. Physicians who practice with these will never feel guilty throughout their lives.

5. This compilation includes details in prescriptions that are not covered in *Bencao*, such as Gancao (Licorice Root) treating dysentery and wasting syndrome, or Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia Root) relieving constipation and detoxifying various poisons. Readers can infer from this that the curative functions described in *Bencao* still hold hidden secrets. Following classics to formulate prescriptions reveals further subtleties. *Bencao* and prescriptions mutually support each other, offering significant benefits. However, recent editors of *Bencao* often detail the indications of herbs while discarding relevant prescriptions, failing to understand the complementary relationship between *Bencao* and prescriptions.

6. This compilation largely excludes prescriptions containing expensive herbs. Expensive herbs are often counterfeit and costly. Spending heavily to buy fake herbs to treat genuine diseases benefits neither the doctor nor the patient. It causes harm rather than benefit, hence they are rarely recorded.

7. This compilation also does not repeatedly record herbs from remote or obscure regions. Such herbs are hard to obtain, may be damaged by rain, moisture, or insects, losing their original color, or may come from unusual origins, losing their normal characteristics. I believe that when using herbs, one must immediately check their shape and color against *Bencao*, taste their aroma, and ensure they match the standard descriptions to confirm authenticity. Only after verifying proper processing methods should they be used.

8. This compilation specifically details commonly known and frequently used herbs, as these are mostly authentic and free from counterfeits.

9. Even those not regularly studying medicine can use this book to find prescriptions based on symptoms. When encountering a patient, consult the index for the disease, then identify accompanying symptoms, and finally search the chapters for suitable prescriptions. If a prescription is unsuitable, consult the index again for another option. If still unsuitable and a major prescription is needed, modify one from the major prescriptions section. Refer to the specific section of the chosen prescription to check the cold, heat, warm, cool nature, and incompatibilities/contraindications of its ingredients. Combine this with the disease's cold, heat, deficiency, and excess patterns to guide usage. Even if efficacy is modest, serious errors are avoided. Signs of Excess-Heat include red urine, dry stool, thick tongue coating, coarse breathing, and thirst. Signs of Deficiency-Cold include clear urine, loose stool, moist tongue, weak breathing, and lack of thirst. Note that in early stages of external contraction, the tongue may also appear moist; this must be recognized.

10. Every household should keep a copy for emergencies. Even literate laypeople can find prescriptions based on symptoms. In remote areas lacking access to medicines, or in poor families lacking funds for preparation, one can refer to the symptoms in the index. The annotations mention commonly available herbs, which often serve as the Sovereign (Jun) herb in prescriptions or can be used as single-herb remedies. If ineffective, simply search for another prescription. Prescriptions can be adapted infinitely according to needs.

11. Some claim ancient prescriptions cannot treat modern diseases; this is a gross error. Diseases stem from the Six Evils (Wind, Cold, Summerheat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire) and Seven Emotions (Joy, Anger, Worry, Thought, Grief, Fear, Fright). Ask yourself: Is the weather regarding Wind, Cold, Summerheat, and Dampness different today from ancient times? Are human emotions regarding Joy, Anger, Worry, and Thought unchanged? If they were different, why do prescriptions from *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage) and *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet) work as effectively as echoes today? Why do some post-Tang and Song prescriptions work while others do not? Is Zhang Zhongjing considered modern while Tang and Song figures are ancient? No, it is not that ancient prescriptions are ineffective today, but that modern people no longer know how to correctly apply them. In compiling these major prescriptions, I have included Zhang Zhongjing’s formulas without omission, and selected the most precise ones from post-Tang and Song periods, appending them for reference and selection by practitioners.