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Diet is used for nourishing life, but if one does not know that the nature of substances can be contrary and mutually incompatible, and eats them indiscriminately, it may lead to disharmony of the five internal organs (Zang-Fu) in mild cases, or immediate disaster in severe cases. Thus, those who seek to nourish life may inadvertently harm it. Having reviewed various commentaries on materia medica, I find that the benefits and harms of each substance are roughly equal, leaving people unsure of what to follow. Here, I have specifically selected those substances that are contrary or incompatible, compiled them into this volume, so that those who respect life may easily consult them in their daily diet.
Written by the Old Man of Mount Hua.

Heavenly Rainwater: Sweet and bland in taste, cold in nature. Heavy rain should not be used. Continuous rain and pouring rain are called "Liao water" (floodwater), with a thin and bland taste.
Rainwater at the Beginning of Spring: Possesses the qi of spring rising and initial generation. For women who do not bear children, it is advisable for both husband and wife to drink one cup on this day to facilitate conception. This takes advantage of its meaning of nurturing all things.
Plum Rainwater: Sweet and neutral in taste. After Mangzhong (Grain in Ear), the first Ren day marks the beginning of the Plum Rain season; after Xiaoshu (Minor Heat), the first Ren day marks the end. It must be quenched in hot charcoal to detoxify. This water causes sauces to spoil easily, stains clothes causing rot, makes people sick when they inhale its qi, and causes mold on objects. It is taboo to use it for brewing wine or vinegar. To wash away dirt like plant ash lye, add plum leaves and boil the water to wash moldy clothes; the spots will then disappear.
Ye Rainwater: Ten days after Lidong (Start of Winter) marks the entry into Ye; until Xiaoxue (Minor Snow) marks the exit. All insects drink this and hibernate. It is suitable for preparing insecticidal medicines and is also called "Medicine Rain."
La Xue Water (Water from Snow in the Twelfth Lunar Month): Sweet and cold in nature. The third Wu day after Dongzhi (Winter Solstice) is La month. Seal it tightly and store it in a cool place; it will not spoil for years. Soaking grain seeds in this water makes them drought-resistant and free of insects. In banquets, it repels flies. Preserving fruits and foods in it prevents worm damage forever. Spring snow stored for a long time breeds insects and is unusable. It also spoils easily.
Ice: Sweet and extremely cold in nature. It can only be used to soak items. If consumed during summer months, it provides only temporary relief, but entering the abdomen causes cold and heat to clash, eventually leading to disease. Because it contradicts the seasonal climate, it is unsuitable. Those taking Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome), Huhuanglian (Picrorhiza Rhizome), Dahuang (Rhubarb Root and Rhizome), and Badou (Croton Seed) should avoid it.
Dew: Sweet and cool in nature. Dew on all herbs and flowers is usable. Dew collected in autumn to brew wine is named "Qiulu Bai" (Autumn Dew White), which is fragrant and crisp, considered the best. Dew on Lingxiao flower (Campsis grandiflora) damages vision if it enters the eyes.
Half-Day River Water: Refers to water accumulated in bamboo fence heads and hollow tree cavities. Long-standing water should be feared for snake and insect venom.
House Leaking Water: Bitter and extremely cold in nature, with high toxicity. Accidental ingestion causes malignant sores. Dripping into dried meat, accidental consumption leads to mass accumulation (Jia). Rainwater collected under eaves entering vegetables is toxic and should not be eaten by mistake.
Winter Frost: Sweet and cold in nature. When collecting, sweep it into bottles with chicken feathers, seal tightly, and store in a cool place; it remains unspoiled for a long time.
Hail Water: Salty and cold in nature, toxic. Consuming hail causes epidemics and wind-epilepsy syndromes. If sauce tastes abnormal, adding one or two sheng of hail water to the jar restores its original flavor.
Fang Zhu Water: Sweet and cold in nature, also known as Ming Shui (Bright Water). Fang Zhu is made of half copper and half tin, referred to as a mirror-fire device. It is neither shell nor metal/stone. Rub until hot and hold towards the moon to collect two or three he of water, resembling morning dew.
Qian Li Water (Thousand-Mile Water): Refers to flowing water from afar. Water coming from the west is called Dong Liu Shui (East-Flowing Water), sweet and neutral. Smooth-flowing water has a nature of smooth downward flow. Rapid-flowing water has a nature of swift downward movement. Reverse-flowing water has a nature of swirling upward movement. Lao Shui (Labor Water) is also called Gan Lan Shui (Sweet Ripple Water). Take two dou of flowing water, place in a large basin, and raise/lower with a ladle thousands of times until bubbles gather, then use to decoct medicine. This is because salty water is heavy; laboring it makes it sweet and light.
Well Water: Tastes vary between sweet, bland, and salty; nature is cool. Well water coming from deep underground veins is superior. In dense urban areas where sewage mixes into wells, it is unusable. It must be boiled clear, allowed to settle so impurities sink, and only the clear upper water used. If turbid from rain, grind peach and apricot kernels, mix the juice into the water, stir well, and the water clears in moments. The *I Ching* says: "Muddy well water is inedible," be cautious. Wells lined with black lead at the bottom can clear stagnation; drinking from them prevents disease. Adding Cinnabar (Dan Sha) increases longevity.
The first draw at dawn is Jing Hua Shui (Well Flower Water), capturing the true qi of Tian Yi floating on the surface, used for decocting yin-nourishing agents and alchemical pills. A Jing Water is sweet and salty, with clear qi and heavy nature.
Solar Term Water: There are twenty-four solar terms in a year, each governing half a month. The taste and aroma of water change accordingly due to the interaction of heaven and earth climates, not limited by borders. From the 1st to the 12th day of the first lunar month, each day governs one month. Each morning, take the first draw, weigh it in a bottle; heavier indicates more rain that month, lighter indicates less. Water stored during Lichun (Start of Spring) and Qingming (Clear and Bright) is called Shen Shui (Divine Water), suitable for making pill powders and medicinal wines, lasting long without spoiling. Water from Guyu (Grain Rain) taken from the Yangtze River is good for brewing wine; stored long, it becomes dark green and crisp. Water taken at noon on Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu) is effective for combining with pills. If it rains at noon on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, cut bamboo poles urgently; divine water is inside, collect it for medicine. Water from Xiaoman (Grain Full), Mangzhong (Grain in Ear), and Bailu (White Dew) is toxic. Using it for medicine, wine, vinegar, or food causes spoilage. Drinking it causes spleen and stomach diseases. Well flower water drawn at the fifth watch on Start of Autumn, drunk by young and old, cures malaria, dysentery, and hundred diseases. Water from Hanlu (Cold Dew), Dongzhi (Winter Solstice), Xiaohan (Minor Cold), and Dahán (Major Cold), plus La Day water, is suitable for soaking medicinal wines and pills, with effects similar to snow water.
Mountain Spring Water: Sweet and cold in nature. Do not use if there is black soil, toxic stones, or noxious grass above. Rushing, turbulent water causes neck diseases upon drinking. In Xunyang, suddenly hundreds of horses died; inquiry revealed that rain washed out snake/insect toxic water from valleys, which the horses drank.
Ru Xue Water (Breast Cave Water): Sweet and warm in nature. Heavier than other waters, boiling produces salt-like crystals; this is true Ru Xue liquid. Drinking it has the same effect as Zhong Ru Shi (Stalactite). Mountains with jade have moist vegetation; people near mountains live long, due to the efficacy of jade fluids.
Hot Spring: Pungent and hot in nature. Undrinkable; sulfur gas rises from below, bathing feels penetrating. Hot water can cook pig/sheep wool and eggs. Lushan has hot springs; bathe only after full meals; weak persons should avoid it. Huangshan Zhusha Quan (Cinnabar Spring) in Xin'an is slightly red in spring, suitable for tea. Lishan Stone Spring in Chang'an emits little odor. Zhusha Quan is slightly red like realgar but not hot. Springs over arsenic are toxic to bathe in; be cautious.
Seawater: Cool in nature, salty in autumn/winter, bland in spring/summer. Blue seawater is salty and slightly warm, with slight toxicity. At night at sea, water splashing sparks is saline; hence "Blue Sea." Yan Dan Shui (Salt Brine) is salty and bitter, highly toxic. One he suffices to kill livestock; humans too. Used now to curdle tofu and cook yellow substances. Those taking Cinnabar should avoid it.
Water from Ancient Tombs: Cold and toxic; accidental ingestion kills. Water from grain jars is pungent and toxic, originating from ancient tomb food jars. Washing eyes with it allows seeing ghosts; excessive intake causes chest oppression.
Whetstone Water: Washing hands with it causes tinea.
Earth Slurry: Dig a pit, pour fresh water, stir until turbid, let settle. Ingestion relieves poisoning-induced restlessness and all toxins from fish, meat, fruit, vegetables, and mushrooms.
Jiang Shui (Fermented Rice Water): Cook millet hot, throw into cold water, soak for 5-6 days. Spoiled Jiang Shui harms people. Eating with plums causes cholera-like vomiting/diarrhea. Drinking after drunkenness causes aphonia. Pregnant women eating it causes emaciated infants; excessive water intake causes sterility.
Ji Shui (Pickling Water): Sour and salty, cool in nature. Induces vomiting of phlegm/fluid and retained food. Women consuming much cause sterility.
Zeng Qi Shui (Steamer Steam Condensate): Sweet and salty. Indicates ulcer location, guides medicine to the lesion.
Shu Tang (Boiled Water): Boiled vigorously is best. Do not rinse mouth with boiling water, damages teeth. Eye patients should not bathe in hot water, aggravates heat/blindness. Frozen/stiff persons should not wash limbs with hot water, causes nail loss. Do not decoct in copper vessels; accidental ingestion damages voice. Do not drink semi-boiled water, causes bloating and qi depletion.
Sheng Shu Tang (Raw-Boiled Mixed Water): Mix of cold and boiling water, also Yin-Yang Water. For severe drunkenness or excessive fruit consumption, soaking the body in this water makes it smell of alcohol/fruit. *Bowuzhi* states: Soak to waist, eat 50 melons; to neck, unlimited. Uncertain if true.
Various Waters are Toxic: Humans are nurtured by heaven/earth qi, inheriting mountain/river qi, linking beauty/ugliness and longevity/shortevity. Metals/stones/plants follow water/soil nature; how much more so humans? Greedy springs exist, immortal wells exist, recorded in past texts, not deceiving us. *Huainanzi* says: Land generates people by type; mountain qi yields males, marsh qi yields females, water qi yields muteness, wind qi yields deafness, forest qi yields yin-deficiency, wood qi yields hunchbacks, low-lying qi yields hernias, stone qi yields strength, dangerous qi yields goiters, summer qi yields early death, winter qi yields longevity, valley qi yields numbness, hill qi yields madness, broad qi yields benevolence, ridge qi yields greed. Hard soil yields strong people, weak soil yields fragile people, clay soil yields large people, sandy soil yields small people, fertile soil yields beautiful people, barren soil yields ugly people, light soil yields greedy people, heavy soil yields slow people. Clear water yields soft voices, turbid water yields loud voices, rapid water yields flighty people, slow water yields heavy people; all correspond to their kind. *Hetu Kuodi Xiang* says: Nine provinces differ, water sources vary in hardness/weakness. Qingzhou Jue/Zheng meet, qi is light, voices urgent, water sour/bitter. Liangzhou Shang/Zheng connect, qi is brave, voices blocked, water bitter/pungent. Yuzhou Gong/Zheng meet, qi is calm, voices upright, water sweet/bitter. Yong/Ji Shang/Yu combine, qi is majestic, voices quick, water sweet/pungent. Human forms vary in thickness, lifespans in length, due to different water/soil nourishment, verifiable in North/South peoples. Knowing toxic waters to avoid is essential. Red veins in water cannot be broken; boiling wells undrinkable; throw blue stone within 30 steps to stop. Ancient/dry wells dangerous, toxic killing, summer yin qi below especially taboo. Test with chicken feather; spinning/floating means toxic. Pour hot vinegar to enter. Ancient tombs same. Do not block ancient wells, causes deafness/blindness.
Yin-ground flowing springs toxic; drinking in 2nd/8th months causes malarial fevers, leg weakness. Stagnant marsh water in 5th/6th months contains fish/turtle essence; accidental ingestion causes masses. Sand river water causes muteness. Water between two mountains yields many goiters. Flowing water with sound yields thin people. Vase water kills if drunk, especially from Wintersweet. Copper vessel overnight water undrinkable. Cooking water for face washing ruins complexion; body washing causes tinea; foot washing causes pain/sores. Sweat on copper vessels ingested causes carbuncles. Cold water head bath, hot dregs head bath cause head wind, especially taboo for women. Five-colored surface water after overnight is toxic, do not wash hands. Bathing in cold water after epidemic disease damages pericardium.
Bathing in cold water during extreme heat causes cold damage syndrome. Entering cold water after sweating causes bone bi-syndrome. Bathing in wind postpartum causes disease, often fatal. Drinking cold water in alcohol causes hand tremors. Drinking cold tea after alcohol causes alcohol fixation. Sleeping immediately after drinking water causes water fixation. Summer long travel: do not wash feet in cold water. Winter long travel: do not wash feet in hot water. Children drinking from gourd/bottle cause speech delay.
Sui Fire: Human reliance on fire-cooked food determines disease/longevity. Drilling fire for new fuel four seasons, based on annual qi without excess. Elm/Willow turn green first, so taken in Spring. Apricot/Jujube heart is red, so taken in Summer. Zao/Li wood grain is white, so taken in Autumn. Huai/Tan wood heart is black, so taken in Winter. Sang/Tan wood muscle is yellow, so taken in Late Summer.
Sang Wood Fire: Suitable for decocting all tonics; do not boil pork or loach. Do not moxa, damages muscle.
Stove Ash Fire: Called Fu Long Xi (Dragon Sitting Excrement); do not burn incense to worship gods.
Ai Fire (Moxa Fire): Best to use Yang Sui (Bronze Mirror) to catch sun's true fire; next best is drilling Huai wood. If urgent, use pure sesame oil lamp or candle flame, burn Ai stem on wick, moisten inflammatory sores until healed without pain. Fire from striking metal/stone or drilling eight woods is unusable. Eight woods: Pine fire hard to cure, Cypress fire damages spirit/sweats, Mulberry fire damages muscle, Zhe fire damages qi/vessels, Jujube fire damages internal bleeding, Orange fire damages Ying/Wei meridians, Elm fire damages bones/loses will, Bamboo fire damages tendons/eyes.