Library

(Candae Radix et Rhizoma [Gancao, Licorice Root]: The head, tail, and tips must be removed. Cut off the head and tail sections, slice into three-cun lengths, split into six or seven pieces, place in a porcelain vessel, soak with water, steam from Si hour to Wu hour, then take out and dry in the sun. Alternatively, moisten with clear water and roast, or slice and stir-fry with honey-water. For clearing heat and purging fire, use raw. Baizhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix), and Ganqi (Drynariae Rhizoma) are its guiding herbs. It is incompatible with Yuanzhi (Polygalae Radix). Pork should be avoided.)

(Shudihuang [Prepared Rehmanniae Radix]: Those as large as a thumb and solid in texture are superior. Wash with wine, dry until snapping sound is produced when broken by hand. Mix well with good-quality wine, place in a porcelain jar, seal tightly, and boil in a double boiler for one full day; this method is superior to steaming. This is called Shudihuang. Raw Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix) is simply washed with wine. It works well with Jiu (Wine), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Jiangzhi (Zingiberis Rhizoma Juice), and Suosha (Amomi Fructus). It is incompatible with Beimu (Fritillariae Bulbus). It fears Wuyi (Chrysanthemi Indici Flos). Onions, garlic, and radishes should be avoided. Prepared Dihuang processed with blood should not come into contact with copper or iron vessels, as this may cause "Kidney Xiao" (wasting-thirst syndrome of the kidney), turn hair white, damage Ying (Nutrient Qi) in men, and Wei (Defensive Qi) in women.)

(Shichangpu [Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma]: Do not use Ni Changpu (Mud Acorus) or Xia Changpu (Summer Acorus); these two resemble each other. If it resembles a bamboo root whip, has a black aura, and smells foul and fishy, it is unsuitable for medicinal use. Shichangpu growing on stones, with tender yellow, hard roots, dense nodes, where there are nine nodes per cun length, is the true variety. Scrape off the outer layer of yellow-black hard node skin using a copper knife, mix with tender mulberry branches, steam, then dry in the sun. Qinpi (Fraxini Cortex) and Qinjiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix) are its guiding herbs. It is incompatible with Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) and Didan (Thesium Chinense Herb). Yitang (Maltose), sheep blood, and iron vessels should be avoided.)

(Huanglian [Coptidis Rhizoma]: Only genuine Chuan Huanglian is effective. When broken, if there is a hollow center and the color resembles red gold, it is of good quality. Remove the rootlets, slice, separate by thickness, and soak thoroughly in ginger juice respectively. Line with cotton paper, first stir-fry with mountain loess until dry, grind finely, then stir-fry again until nearly red. Place the Huanglian slices on the paper to dry, add more ginger juice, and do not use water. Replace the paper when it burns. Repeat this process nine times. For treating bloody dysentery, stir-fry with wet Huaihua (Sophorae Tonkinensis Flos); incorporate the above methods into dysentery treatments. To treat fire in the Zang organs themselves, use raw. To treat excess fire in the Liver and Gallbladder, soak and stir-fry with pig bile. To treat deficiency fire in the Liver and Gallbladder, soak and stir-fry with vinegar. To treat fire in the Upper Jiao, stir-fry with wine. To treat fire in the Middle Jiao, stir-fry with ginger juice. To treat fire in the Lower Jiao, stir-fry with salt water or Puxiao (Mirabilite). To treat damp-heat fire in the Qi level, soak and stir-fry with Wuzhuyu Tang (Evodia Decoction). To treat latent fire within blood stasis masses, stir-fry with Ganqi water (Drynaria water). These methods are not merely for guiding the drug's action; pungent-warm properties can counteract its bitter-cold nature, and salty-cold properties can counteract its drying nature. The practitioner should deliberate carefully. Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Longgu (Fossilia Ossis Mastodi et Humeri), and Lishi (Calcium Carbonatum) are its guiding herbs. Pork should be avoided. It fears Nixi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix) and Kuandonghua (Sonchi Japonici Flos). It is incompatible with Lengshui (Cold Water), Juhua (Chrysanthemi Flos), Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), Baijiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus), Baixianpi (Dictamni Cortex), and Yuanhua (Genkwa Flos).)