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Any medicine with great toxicity, which must not enter the mouth, nose, ears, or eyes, as it will cause immediate death if ingested or inhaled, includes five types: First is Gougen (Gelsemium elegans), growing in Zhuya; Second is [a certain toxic substance], also known as [a certain name], resembling a black rooster, growing in mountains; Third is Yinming, red in color, attaching to trees and hanging its fruits, growing by the sea and in mountains; Fourth is Haijiang, resembling Longrui (Ranunculus japonicus), red in color, growing in the sea; Fifth is Zhenyu (Plumage of the Zhen bird), resembling a sparrow, with a black neck and red beak, feeding on Viper snakes, growing inland. Upon exposure to these toxic substances, the onset of symptoms resembles Laohuang disease (a jaundice-like condition caused by deficiency and exhaustion), manifesting as stiffness of the head and neck, back pain accompanied by aversion to cold, soreness and shivering of the four limbs, emaciated hair, withered complexion, muscle spasms and tightness, and mental distress. It may also resemble Miasma disease (Zhangbing), with chills and tremors like malaria, or high fever similar to epidemic febrile diseases, vomiting or diarrhea, and severe headache. Additionally, blackening of the teeth and a tongue that is predominantly red with some black spots are signs of poisoning.

The Li people in Lingnan have other poisons: Buqiang Yao, Lan Yao, Jiaotong Yao, Jin Yao, and Jun Yao. Poisoning by any of these five can also be fatal. However, initially, victims often do not realize they are poisoned. To determine if one has been poisoned, immediately after exposure, wash a piece of well-cooked silver with ash until clean, then rinse the mouth and teeth with a willow branch. Hold the silver in the mouth overnight while sleeping. Spit it out the next morning for observation: if the silver turns black, it indicates poisoning by Buqiang Yao; if it turns cyan-black, it indicates Lan Yao; if it shows purple spots, it indicates Jiaotong Yao. Among these three, Buqiang Yao is the most acute and toxic. If the poison is mixed into hot wine or food, abnormalities are felt within six to seven days; if mixed into cold wine or food, it takes half a month to detect. If holding the silver does not change its color, but the symptoms match those of poisoning, and one suspects poisoning and wishes to confirm it immediately, eating carp can induce the poison to manifest. Alternatively, hold silver in the mouth on an empty stomach for about two meal durations, then place it under dew. Check the silver's color the next morning; if it turns black, it confirms poisoning. Another method involves boiling an egg, peeling it, and having the patient bite the egg white. Place the bitten egg under dew; if the bite marks turn black, it confirms poisoning. It is also said that if one feels an imbalance of the Four Elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Wind), one should eat roasted chicken, lean pork, or duck meat on an empty stomach to trigger the poison's eruption, allowing for treatment and recovery. If left untreated for too long, the toxin invades the intestines and stomach, making it difficult to treat. If poisoning is confirmed and the body is not yet severely weakened, taking Daji (Euphorbiae Radix) about three cun in length will induce severe vomiting and diarrhea. If the vomitus is green, it is Jiaotong Yao; if red, it is Jin Yao; if mushroom-like substances are expelled, it is Jun Yao. Other miscellaneous poisons cause diarrhea without fixed colors, merely differing slightly from normal diarrhea.

There are two types of poisonous plants both named Danggu Cao. One type causes floating, large, and surging pulse; upon onset, the victim feels chilly and afraid of cold, has slight headache, dry heaving, tightness and urgency in the back, trismus (lockjaw), unconscious biting of the tongue, constipation of urine and feces, and bluish discoloration of the eye sockets, lips, corners of the mouth, and nails. The other type of Danggu Cao poison causes trismus and dryness, inability to speak due to tongue immobility, sensation of needle-like stabbing in the throat, intense heat in the chest, fullness in the shoulder blades, and death within less than 100 days with bluish discoloration of the body, lips, hands, feet, and nails.

Poisoning by Wutou (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) manifests with stiff throat and painful eyes, an odor of mugwort in the nose, heavy limbs, frequent vomiting, stifling heat in the abdomen, twitching of the lips, alternating blue and red complexion, leading to death after 100 days.

Generally, individuals with dark skin, prominent bones, or obesity have thick Stomach Qi and can tolerate toxins; whereas thin individuals have weak Stomach Qi and cannot tolerate toxins.