〔 曰〕凡使，惟中为妙，到膝即仰，到腰即俯。使子勿使叶，使根勿使茎，四件若同
使，翻然成痼疾。采得叶，用七岁儿七个溺，浸七日七夜，漉出晒干。
〔 曰〕凡使勿用红蒿并邪蒿，二味真似角蒿，只是此香而角短尔。采得，于槐砧上细
锉用之。
〔时珍曰〕凡用，微炒香，亦或蒸熟，烈日曝燥，舂簸去壳，取仁用。
〔 曰〕凡采得，去茎叶，只用实。以布拭去薄壳令净，拌酒蒸，从巳至申，曝干用。
〔时珍曰〕茎、叶、花、子皆可用。
〔 曰〕凡采得根，横切锉之，又去向里硬筋。以酒浸一伏时，焙干，入药用。
〔 曰〕凡采得漏芦，细锉，以生甘草相对拌蒸之，从巳至申，拣出晒干用。
〔 曰〕凡用根，先刮去粗皮，杵细，以苦酒拌一夜，漉出，日干细杵用。
〔 曰〕凡用拣净，以酒拌蒸，待有白霜重出，以布拭去，焙干捣粉用。
〔大明曰〕入药炒熟，捣去刺用，或酒拌蒸过用。〔 曰〕凡采得去心，取黄精，以竹
刀细切拌之，蒸从巳至亥时出，去黄精，阴干用。
〔 曰〕凡使勿用革牛草，真相似，其革牛草腥涩。凡使白 荷，以铜刀刮去粗皮一重
，细切，入砂盆中研如膏，取自然汁炼作煎，新器摊冷，如干胶状，刮取用之。
[Lei Xue said] When used, the middle part of the stem is best; when it reaches knee height, it grows upward, and when it reaches waist height, it bends downward. Use the stem but not the leaves; use the root but not the stem. If all four parts are used together, it may lead to chronic, intractable diseases. For collected leaves, soak them in the urine of seven seven-year-old boys for seven days and nights, then drain and sun-dry.
[Lei Xue said] Do not use Hong Hao (Red Mugwort) or Xie Hao (Evil Mugwort). These two resemble Jiao Hao (Horned Mugwort), differing only in that this herb has a stronger fragrance and shorter horn-like structures. After collection, finely chop on a locust wood cutting board for use.
[Li Shizhen said] For medicinal use, stir-fry lightly until fragrant, or steam until cooked, then dry under strong sunlight. Pounding and winnowing should be performed to remove the husks, using only the kernels.
[Lei Xue said] After collection, remove stems and leaves, using only the fruits. Wipe clean with cloth to remove thin shells, mix with wine, steam from Si hour (09:00-11:00) to Shen hour (15:00-17:00), then sun-dry for use.
[Li Shizhen said] Stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds are all usable.
[Lei Xue said] For collected flowers, remove stamens, outer husk skin, and pedicels. Steam from Si hour (09:00-11:00) to Wu hour (11:00-13:00), then sun-dry for use.
[Lei Xue said] Before use, heat an iron mortar and pestle until red hot, then pound the material.
[Lei Xue said] For collected roots, cut transversely and chop finely, then remove the hard internal fibers. Soak in wine for one Shi period (two hours), bake dry, and use medicinally.
[Lei Xue said] For collected Lou Lu (Rhaponticum uniflorum), chop finely, mix with equal parts of raw Gan Cao (Licorice Root), steam from Si hour (09:00-11:00) to Shen hour (15:00-17:00), select and sun-dry for use.
[Lei Xue said] For roots, first scrape off the rough bark, pound finely, mix with Ku Jiu (Bitter Wine/Vinegar) overnight, drain, sun-dry, and pound finely for use.
[Li Shizhen said] For medicinal use, wash thoroughly, soak in wine overnight, sun-dry, then steam or stir-fry before use.
[Li Shizhen said] Stir-fry before use. To treat Shan Qi (Hernia), stir-fry after mixing with vinegar.
[Lei Xue said] Select cleanly, mix with wine and steam. When white frost reappears on the surface, wipe off with cloth, bake dry, and pound into powder for use.
[Meng Shen said] Stir-fry until cooked and pound out thorns before use, or mix with wine, steam, and then use.
[Lei Xue said] After collection, remove the core, take Huang Jing (Polygonatum Rhizome), slice thinly with a bamboo knife, mix, steam from Si hour (09:00-11:00) to Hai hour (21:00-23:00), remove Huang Jing, and dry in shade for use.
[Lei Xue said] Do not use Ge Niu Cao (Leptotaenia Radix), which looks similar but has a fishy and astringent odor. For Bai He (Lily Bulb), scrape off one layer of rough bark with a copper knife, slice thinly, grind in a clay mortar until paste-like, extract natural juice, refine into a syrup, spread on new vessels to cool until resembling dry glue, then scrape and use.