凡诸草木虫鱼，各有相宜地产；气味功力，自异寻常。奈有因惮远路艰难，取近所
产充用，殊不知，功力缓紧略殊者，倘倍加犹足去病，如气味纯驳大异者，若妄饵，必
致损人。他如齐州半夏、华阴细辛、银夏柴胡、甘肃枸杞。茅山玄胡索、苍术，怀庆干
山药、地黄、歙白术、绵黄 、上党参、交趾桂，每擅名因地，地胜药灵。更宜家园
者，勿杂山谷，自产菊花、桑根皮是尔。或宜山谷者，难溷家园所栽，芍药、牡丹皮为
然。云在泽取滋润，泽旁匪止泽蓝叶也。云在石取清洁为上，岂特石菖蒲乎？东壁土
及各土至微，打亦据理，千里水并诸般水极广，烹必合宜，总不悖于《图经》，才有益于药剂。
草木根梢，收采惟宜秋末春初，春初则津润始萌，未充枝叶。秋末则气汁下降，悉
归本根。然茎叶花实各有所宜，采未老枝茎，汁正充溢，摘将开花蕊，气尚包藏，实
收已熟味纯，叶采新生力倍，入药诚妙。治病方灵，其诸玉石禽兽虫鱼，或取无时，或
收按节，各有深义，宜谨遵根据。
凡药藏贮，宜常提防。见雨久着火频烘，遇晴明向日旋晒，粗糙悬架上，细腻置
潭中。人参须和细辛，冰片必同灯草，麝香宜蛇皮裹，硼砂共绿豆收，生姜泽老沙藏。
山药候干灰窑，沉香真檀香甚烈，包纸须重，茧水腊雪水最灵，埋阱宜久。其法甚多，类推隅反。
凡是各种草木、虫鱼，都有各自适宜生长的产地；其气味和药效力量，自然与寻常不同。无奈有人因为害怕远路艰难，就选取就近出产的药材来充数使用，却不知道，药效强弱略有差异时，如果加倍服用还足以治病；但如果气味纯正与否差异巨大，若随意服用，必定会损害人体健康。其他如齐州的半夏、华阴的细辛、银夏的柴胡、甘肃的枸杞、茅山的玄胡索和苍术、怀庆的干山药和地黄、歙县的白术、绵黄的黄芪、上党的党参、交趾的肉桂，每样都因产地优越而享有盛名，地气好则药性灵验。更适宜在自家园圃种植的，不要混杂在山谷中采集，自产的菊花、桑根皮就是这类。或者适宜在山谷中采集的，难以混淆在家园里栽种的，芍药、牡丹皮就是这类。说在水泽中采集是为了取其滋润，水泽旁边不只有泽蓝叶（一种可制染料的植物）；说在石缝中采集是为了取其清洁至上，难道只有石菖蒲吗？东壁土以及其他各类土壤虽然细微，但打取也依据道理；千里水以及各种水源极其广泛，烹煮时必须合乎宜忌，总归不能违背《本草图经》的原则，这样才能对药剂有益处。
草木的根梢，采收只适宜在秋末春初进行。春初时节，津液滋润开始萌动，尚未充盈枝叶；秋末时节，气汁下降，全部回归到根部。然而茎、叶、花、果实各有适宜的采收时机：采摘未老化的枝茎，是因为汁液正充盈溢满；摘取即将开放的花蕊，是因为香气尚且包藏在内；果实要等成熟后味道纯正时采收；叶子要采新生长的，效力加倍，入药确实奇妙，治疗疾病方能灵验。至于玉石、禽兽、虫鱼等，有的随时可以获取，有的按季节采收，其中都有深意，应当谨慎遵循根据。
凡是药物的贮藏保管，应当经常提防变质。遇到下雨久了就要频繁用火烘烤，遇到晴朗明亮天气就要对着太阳旋转晾晒。粗糙的药材悬挂在架子上，细腻的药材放置在深潭或容器中。人参须和细辛，必须同冰片和灯草一起存放；麝香适宜用蛇皮包裹；硼砂要和绿豆一起收藏；生姜要用湿沙储藏；山药要等到干燥后放入灰窑保存；沉香和真檀香气味非常浓烈，包装纸必须厚重；茧水、腊雪水最灵验，埋藏于井阱中适宜长久保存。这种方法很多，可以类推举一反三。
For all herbs, insects, and fish, there are specific regions where they grow best; their aroma and medicinal potency naturally differ from the ordinary. However, some people, deterred by the hardships of long journeys, use locally produced substitutes, unaware that while a slight difference in potency can be compensated for by increasing the dosage, a significant disparity in purity of aroma and nature, if ingested recklessly, will inevitably harm the human body. For instance, Banxia (Pinellia Rhizome) from Qizhou, Xixin (Asarum Root) from Huayin, Chaihu (Bupleurum Root) from Yinxi, Gouqi (Lycium Fruit) from Gansu, Yansuhuo (Corydalis Rhizome) and Cangzhu (Atractylodes Rhizome) from Maoshan, Shanyao (Dioscorea Rhizome) and Dihuang (Rehmannia Root) from Huaqing, Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) from She, Huangqi (Astragalus Root) from Mian, Renshen (Codonopsis Root) from Shangdang, and Rougui (Cinnamon Bark) from Jiaozhi, each gains its fame from its superior origin, where good earth yields potent medicine. Those suitable for home cultivation should not be confused with wild-harvested ones, such as Ziju (Chrysanthemum Flower) and Sangbaipi (Morus Root Bark). Conversely, those suited for mountain valleys cannot be mixed with garden-grown varieties, such as Shaoyao (Peony Root) and Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex). Gathering from marshes aims to obtain moisture, not just Zelan Ye (Isatis Leaf); gathering from rocks aims for cleanliness, not just Shichangpu (Acorus Rhizome). Dongbi Tu (Soil from East-facing Walls) and other soils, though minute, are collected according to principle; Qianli Shui (Water from distant sources) and various waters are extensive, but must be used appropriately in decoction, strictly adhering to the *Bencao Tujing* (Illustrated Materia Medica), to benefit the prescription.
The harvesting of roots and tips of herbs is most suitable in late autumn or early spring. In early spring, fluids are moist and beginning to sprout, not yet filling the branches and leaves; in late autumn, qi and juices descend, returning entirely to the roots. However, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits each have their optimal harvesting times: picking young stems ensures full juice content; plucking buds about to bloom retains the enclosed aroma; fruits should be harvested when ripe for pure flavor; fresh leaves possess doubled efficacy, making them truly excellent for medicinal use and effective in treating diseases. As for minerals, birds, beasts, insects, and fish, some are available at any time, others are seasonal, each carrying profound meaning, which should be carefully followed.
Regarding the storage of medicines, constant vigilance is required. After prolonged rain, frequent heating is necessary; on sunny days, rotate them for sun-drying. Coarse materials should be hung on racks, while fine materials should be placed in deep containers. Ginseng whiskers and Asarum should be stored together with Borneol and Juncus effusus; Musk is best wrapped in snake skin; Borax should be stored with Mung beans; Ginger should be buried in wet sand; Dioscorea should be dried and stored in ash kilns; Agarwood and Sandalwood have strong aromas and require thick paper wrapping; Cocoon water and snow from the twelfth lunar month are highly efficacious and should be buried in wells for long-term preservation. There are many such methods, which can be understood by analogy.