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(When processing and using, there are often counterfeits. There are three verification methods: The first verification, place half a zhu (an ancient unit of weight) in a copper vessel overnight. By the next morning, the area touching the Asafoetida (Asafoetida) should turn white like silver amalgam, without any red color. The second verification, place one zhu in the natural juice of Wudoucao (a plant, referring to its fresh juice) overnight. By the next morning, it should resemble the color of fresh blood. The third verification, place one zhu upright on a pomelo tree to dry. If it is genuine Asafoetida, it will turn black upon drying. Those that turn black have weak potency; those that turn yellow and have a soft, glutinous texture have the strongest potency. When using Asafoetida, first grind it into powder in a clean mortar, then filter it over a hot wine vessel, and subsequently use it as prescribed.)

(Harvest when flowers bloom and ears form in August or September. Remove the roots but keep the leaves. Dry in the shade, avoiding fire exposure. The dosage can reach ten liang, but one must never consume Baishantao (a type of fruit) for life.)

(Remove the heart and skin. Soak in wine overnight, drain, bake until dry, finely chop, and use.)

(Flowers that have not yet opened are of superior quality. Remove the stems and calyxes. Soak in licorice water for a short period, sun-dry, and use. Almond (Amygdalus Communis Seed) serves as an guiding herb. It works well with Periplocae Radix (Ziwan). It is incompatible with Scrophulariae Radix (Xuanshen), Gleditsiae Sinensis Fructus (Zaojiao), and Natrii Nitras (Xiaoshi). It opposes Fritillariae Bulbus (Beimu), Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang), Magnoliae Flos (Xinyi), Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin), Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian), Forsythiae Fructus (Lianqiao), and Celosiae Semen (Qingxiang).)

(Self-cultivated varieties are genuine. Processing with wine yields good results.)

(When using, harvest and sun-dry. Split open with a copper knife, remove the woody core, finely chop to the size of soybeans, mix with clear wine, steam from Si hour (9-11 AM) to Wei hour (1-3 PM), take out, and sun-dry. Leaves that are broad and thick are of superior quality. Avoid garlic and Coriandrum Sativum (Huisui/Parsley). It can neutralize Arsenic Trioxide (Pi). It opposes Cuscutae Semen (Tusizi), Fritillariae Bulbus (Beimu), and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (Dahuang).)

(Remove the hairs. Soak in rice vinegar for one day. Slice, stir-fry, or boil until cooked, then bake until dry before incorporating into medicine.)

(Water levigation removes impurities. Green material containing calcined mineral powder is used. For internal administration, it should be levigated cleanly. Another method uses juice extracted from green cloth instead of water.)

(Those that are reddish, resemble Curcuma Longa (Jianghuang), and have plump bellies like cicadas are of good quality. Genuine ones dissolve into water when placed in raw chicken blood. Grind into juice and add to the medicine just before consumption.)

(It has patterns resembling green bamboo stripes on the surface, is smooth and greasy, and tastes extremely bitter. Do not crush it together with other herbs immediately. This herb should first be crushed into powder separately. After all other herbs are powdered, then incorporate it into the mixture.)

(Produced in the streams and ravines of Maoshan. Those with golden-yellow granules are of superior quality. Boil in vinegar and slice.)

(Those that are not oily, free from insect damage, and have non-wrinkled skin are excellent. Make flour from glutinous rice, use hot water to knead and wrap around Amomum Fruit (Doukou). Roast in sugar ash until the rice dumpling turns焦yellow and cooked. Then remove the rice flour. Do not let it contact copper or iron vessels.)

(Only stir-fry and grind after the decoction is finished. Add to the pot, bring to a boil one or two times, then remove. Use for making pills. Wait until all other herbs are finely powdered before mixing. Do not store overnight.)

(Slightly stir-fry, blow off the husks, grind, and use. The method for soups and pills is the same as for White Cardamom (Baidoukou). With Santalum Album (Baitanxiang) and Amomum Fruit (Doukou) as guides, it enters the Lung meridian. With Ginseng (Renshen) and Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus (Yizhi) as guides, it enters the Spleen meridian. With Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai) and Poria (Fuling) as guides, it enters the Kidney meridian. With Halloysitum Rubrum (Chishizhi) and Halloysitum Album (Baishizhi) as guides, it enters the Large and Small Intestines. It works well with Terminalia Chebulae Fructus (Hezi), Euphorbiae Lathyridis Semen (Baiwuyi), and Trionycis Carapax (Biejia).)