汤剂。煎成清液也。补须要熟。利不嫌生。并先较定水数煎蚀多寡之不同耳。去暴病用
之。
取其易升易散。易行经络。故曰汤者荡也。治至高之分加酒煎。去湿加生姜煎。补元气加大
枣煎。发散风寒加葱白煎。去膈病加蜜煎。止痛加醋煎。凡诸补汤。渣滓两剂并合。加原水
数。复煎。待熟饮之。亦敌一剂新药。其发表攻里二者。虽前药取效。不必煎渣也。从缓从
急之不同故耳。
膏剂。熬成稠膏也。药分两虽多。水煎膏宜久。渣滓复煎数次。绞取浓汁。以熬成耳。
去久
病用之。取其始蚀力大。滋补胶固。故曰膏者胶也。凡可服之膏。或水或酒随熬渣。犹酒煮
饮之。可摩之膏。或酒或醋随熬滓。宜捣数患处。此盖尽药力也。
散剂。研成细末也。宜施制合。不堪久留。恐走泄气味。服之无效耳。去急病用之。不
循
经络。只去胃中及肠腑之积。故曰。散者散也。气味浓者汤调服。气味薄者煎熟和酒服。
丸剂。作成丸粒也。治下焦之疾者。如梧子大。治中焦疾者。如绿豆大。治上焦疾者。
如粒
米大。因病不能速去。取其舒缓。逐渐成功。故曰。丸者缓也。用水丸者。或蒸饼作稀糊丸
者。取其易化。而治上焦也。用稠面和丸者。或饭糊丸者。取略迟化。能达中焦也。或酒或
醋丸者。取其收散之意。泡半夏、南星。欲去湿痰者。以生姜自然汁。取稀糊为丸。亦取其
易化也。神曲丸者。取其消食。山药糊丸者。取其涩。炼蜜丸者。取其迟化。而易循经络。
蜡丸取其难化。能固护药之味气。势力全备。直过膈而作效也。
渍酒。渍煮药酒也。药须细锉。绢袋盛之。入酒。罐密封。如常法煮熟。埋地日久。气
烈味
浓。早晚频吞。经络速达。或攻或补。并着奇功。滓滤出曝干。捣末别渍。力虽稍缓。服
亦益人。为散亦佳。切勿倾弃。
补虚损症。宜少饮。缓取效。攻风湿症。宜多饮。速取效。凡丸药用蜜。每药末一斤。
则用
蜜十二两。文火煎炼。掠去沸沫。令色黄。滴水成珠为度。再加水四两和匀。如此丸庶可晒
干。经久不坏。或用重汤熬炼成珠。尤妙。
汤剂。是指煎煮后得到的澄清液体。补益类药物需要煎熟，攻利类药物不介意煎得较生。这主要是预先确定用水量，以观察煎煮过程中水分蒸发量的不同罢了。用于治疗突发疾病。
因为汤剂容易升发、容易发散，容易在经络中运行，所以说“汤”就是“荡涤”的意思。治疗上部（至高之分）的疾病时加酒同煎；祛湿时加生姜同煎；补元气时加大枣同煎；发散风寒时加葱白同煎；治疗膈间疾病时加蜂蜜同煎；止痛时加醋同煎。凡是各种补益汤剂，将药渣两剂合并，加入原来的水量，再次煎煮，待煮熟后饮用，其效果也抵得上服用一剂新药。至于发表（解表）和攻里（泻下）两类方剂，虽然前面的药物已经取效，就不必再煎煮药渣了。这是因为病情有从缓治或从急治的不同缘故。
膏剂。是指熬制成稠厚的膏状物。虽然药物的分量较多，但用水煎煮熬膏的时间宜长。药渣要反复煎煮数次，绞取浓汁，然后继续熬制而成。用于久病。因为膏剂开始消耗的药力大，滋补作用胶固持久，所以说“膏”就是“胶结”的意思。凡是可服用的膏剂，或者用水或者用酒随药渣一起熬制，就像煮酒饮用的方法一样。可以外敷按摩的膏剂，或者用酒或者用醋随药渣熬制，适宜捣碎敷于患处。这都是为了充分发挥药效。
散剂。是指研成细粉末。适合临时配制合用，不宜长久存放，恐怕气味挥发流失，服用后无效。用于急病。散剂不循行经络，只去除胃中和肠腑中的积滞。所以说“散”就是“消散”的意思。气味浓厚的散剂用汤水调服；气味淡薄的散剂煎熟后混合酒服用。
丸剂。是指制作成丸粒。治疗下焦疾病的，如梧桐子大小；治疗中焦疾病的，如绿豆大小；治疗上焦疾病的，如米粒大小。因为疾病不能迅速去除，取其药力舒缓，逐渐见效，所以说“丸”就是“缓慢”的意思。用水泛丸的，或者用蒸饼做成稀糊丸的，取其容易化开，从而治疗上焦疾病。用稠面和丸的，或者用饭糊丸的，取消化稍慢，能到达中焦。或者用酒泛丸、用醋泛丸的，取其收敛或发散之意。泡制半夏、南星，想要去除湿痰的，用生姜自然汁，取稀糊状为丸，也是取其容易化开的特性。用神曲为赋形剂制丸的，取其消食作用；用山药糊制丸的，取其涩性；用炼蜜制丸的，取其消化缓慢，且容易循行经络；用蜡制丸的，取其难以化开，能牢固保护药物的气味，势力完备，直接通过膈部而在体内发挥作用。
渍酒。是指浸泡煮制的药酒。药物需要切碎，用绢袋装好，放入酒中，罐口密封，按照常规方法煮熟，埋在地下一段时间，使得药气猛烈、味道浓厚。早晚频繁服用，药力能迅速到达经络。无论是攻邪还是补虚，都能取得奇效。药渣滤出晒干，研成粉末另外浸泡，效力虽然稍缓，服用也对人体有益。做成散剂也很好，千万不要倾倒丢弃。
治疗虚损病症，宜少量饮用，缓慢取效；治疗风湿病症，宜多饮用，快速取效。凡是使用丸药加蜂蜜，每药末一斤，则用蜂蜜十二两，用文火煎炼，撇去沸腾时的泡沫，使颜色变黄，以滴水成珠为限度。再加水四两搅拌均匀。这样制成的丸药才可以晒干，经久不坏。或者用隔水炖的方法熬炼成珠，尤其妙好。
Decoction (Tangji). It refers to the clear liquid obtained after boiling. For tonifying herbs, they must be thoroughly cooked; for purgative herbs, it is not a concern if they are undercooked. This mainly involves pre-determining the amount of water to observe the differences in evaporation during boiling. It is used to treat acute diseases.
Because decoctions easily ascend and disperse, and readily circulate through the meridians, it is said that "Tang" (decoction) means "to sweep away" or "to cleanse." When treating diseases located at the highest part of the body, add wine for boiling; to remove dampness, add fresh ginger for boiling; to tonify Yuan Qi (Primary Qi), add Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) for boiling; to dispel wind-cold, add scallion white for boiling; to treat diseases of the diaphragm, add honey for boiling; to relieve pain, add vinegar for boiling. For all kinds of tonifying decoctions, combine the dregs of two doses, add the original amount of water, and boil again. Drink it when cooked; its effect is equivalent to taking a new dose. As for those used for releasing the exterior (Fabiao) and attacking the interior (Gongli), even if the previous medication has taken effect, there is no need to boil the dregs again. This is due to the difference between treating conditions gradually or urgently.
Paste (Gaoji). It refers to the thick paste boiled down. Although the quantity of herbs may be large, the time for boiling with water to make paste should be long. The dregs should be boiled repeatedly several times, squeezed to obtain concentrated juice, and then further boiled until formed into paste. It is used for chronic diseases. Because the initial potency of paste is strong and its nourishing action is solid and lasting, it is said that "Gao" (paste) means "glue-like" or "adhesive." For any edible paste, whether boiled with water or wine along with the dregs, it is similar to brewing wine for drinking. For pastes used for external application and massage, whether boiled with wine or vinegar along with the dregs, they should be crushed and applied to the affected area. This is done to fully utilize the medicinal power.
Powder (Sanji). It refers to herbs ground into fine powder. It is suitable for immediate preparation and mixing, and should not be stored for a long time, lest the aroma and flavor dissipate, rendering it ineffective upon consumption. It is used for urgent diseases. Powders do not follow the meridians but only remove accumulations in the stomach and intestines. Therefore, it is said that "San" (powder) means "to scatter" or "to disperse." Powders with strong aroma and flavor are taken mixed with decoction; those with weak aroma and flavor are taken boiled and mixed with wine.
Pill (Wanji). It refers to pills made into granules. For diseases of the Lower Jiao (Lower Burner), they are sized like sophora seeds (Wuzi); for diseases of the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner), like mung beans; for diseases of the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner), like rice grains. Since diseases cannot be eliminated quickly, this form is chosen for its slow-acting nature, achieving results gradually. Thus, it is said that "Wan" (pill) means "slow." Pills made with water, or using steamed dough as a稀糊 (thin paste) binder, are chosen because they dissolve easily, thus treating Upper Jiao diseases. Pills made with thick flour paste or rice paste are chosen because they dissolve slightly slower, reaching the Middle Jiao. Pills made with wine or vinegar are chosen for their intent to gather or disperse. For prepared Pinellia (Banxia) and Arisaema (Nanxing), intending to remove damp-phlegm, use fresh ginger juice to make a thin paste pill, also choosing the property of easy dissolution. Pills made with Medicated Leaven (Shenqu) are chosen for their food-digesting properties; those made with Chinese Yam (Shanyao) paste are chosen for their astringent nature; those made with refined honey are chosen for slow dissolution and ease of circulation through meridians; those made with wax are chosen for difficult dissolution, firmly protecting the drug's flavor and qi, ensuring full potency, passing directly through the diaphragm to take effect.
Steeped Wine (Zijiu). It refers to medicinal wine steeped and boiled. Herbs must be finely chopped, placed in a silk bag, put into wine, sealed tightly in a jar, and cooked according to standard methods. Bury it underground for a long time so that the qi becomes potent and the flavor rich. Swallow frequently morning and evening; the medicinal power reaches the meridians rapidly. Whether attacking pathogens or tonifying deficiency, it achieves remarkable results. Filter out the dregs, dry them in the sun, grind into powder, and steep separately. Although the potency is slightly slower, it is still beneficial to consume. Making it into powder is also good; do not discard it.
For treating deficiency and damage syndromes, drink sparingly to achieve effects slowly; for treating wind-dampness syndromes, drink more to achieve effects quickly. Whenever making honey pills, for every jin (500g) of herb powder, use 12 liang (approx. 375g) of honey. Refine over gentle heat, skim off the foam, until the color turns yellow, stopping when a drop forms a bead (in water test). Add another 4 liang of water and mix evenly. Only then can the pills be dried in the sun and preserved for a long time without spoiling. Alternatively, refining them into beads using a double-boiler method is even better.