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(Looks like dried willow branch heart, black outside and yellow inside; when broken, dust comes out like smoke is authentic. Contraindications and aversions are the same as Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), avoid iron.)

(Authentic ones have a sweet taste, yellow color, single petal, smooth center; remove the stem before use. Gouqigen (Lycii Radicis Cortex), Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex), Qingxiangye (Qingxiangzi Folium) act as guiding herbs.)

(Those soaked in rice wash water to remove oil should be wrapped in mountain loess, steamed and sun-dried nine times, then washed clean, peeled, sliced, and sun-dried. Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) and Diyu (Sanguisorbae Radix) act as guiding herbs. Avoid peaches, plums, sparrow meat, Chinese cabbage, and green fish.)

(Produced in Maoshan, fine texture with a sugary aroma and sweet taste is authentic. Soak extremely clean in rice wash water, scrape off the skin, mix with black soybeans and steam; then mix with honey wine and steam again; then mix with human milk and steam thoroughly, for three times in total. During steaming, must be baked and dried extremely dry so that the qi penetrates fully. Contraindications are the same as Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma).)

(Wash extremely clean with rice wash water, slightly sun-dry, pick out barnyard grass seeds, grind five or six times, soak in wine overnight, boil slowly until dry, remove shell with wooden mallet. Another method: boil in wine for one day and night, pound into cakes, sun-dry, then grind again until fine. Another method: grind together with white paper strips until fine. Shuyu (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) and Songzhi (Pinus Resina) act as guiding herbs. Benefited by wine. Averse to fungi.)

(Sun-dried after wine soaking and steaming; those longer than two chi five cun are superior. Those from Shu region and Huaqing are good. Averse to fireflies, tortoise shell, Luying (Euphorbiae Humifusae Herba). Fear Baiqian (Adenophorae Radix). Avoid beef.)

(Those with red flowers are good. Avoid iron. Can be used to moderate Sanhuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Scutellariae Radix, Coptidis Rhizoma) and Pishi (Realgar).)

(When using Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), stems long and soft, skin reddish-yellow, must come from Pingzhou Pingxian (i.e., current Yinzhou Yinxian). Where it grows on the west side, white cranes and green cranes fly there; this is where Chaihu's fragrance rises straight to the clouds. If passersby smell it, they feel refreshed. This type of Chaihu treats bone-steaming fever, does not enter exterior-releasing formulas. To remove beard and hair from the head, do not let it touch fire, otherwise it becomes ineffective immediately. Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) acts as a guiding herb. Averse to Zaojia (Gleditsiae Sinensis Spina). Fear Nüwan (Polygala Tenuifolia Radix) and Lilu (Veratrum Nigrum Rhizoma).)

(Those cut open showing white flesh are good. Wash with water, scrape off dark/black skin and beard/dirt with a bamboo knife, finely chop, soak in sweet bamboo juice to moisten, sun-dry in the midday sun for use. Guiding herbs, aversions, and fears are the same as Chaihu.)

(Finely chop and mix with Yinyanghuo (Epimedii Folium), sun-dry after two days, remove Yinyanghuo before use. This is a method used by alchemists/herbalists to treat "rabbit-induced heart vexation." Ordinary usage is merely peeling or roasting. Mao shi (likely referring to a specific part or herb, contextually ambiguous but listed as guiding) acts as a guiding herb.)

(Green ones are good. For treating dysentery, stir-fry with vinegar.)

(Self-harvested black-colored ones are good. Sellers often substitute Tinglizi (Descurainiae Semen), so distinction is necessary. Use leaves, do not use pistils or stems. When entering tonifying formulas, wash clean with rice wash water and steam; when entering diuretic or diarrhea-treating formulas, stir-fry and powder. Changshan ( Dichroae Radix) acts as a guiding herb.)