，多不信用，委命虚名，谅可惜也。京邑诸人，皆尚声誉，不取实录余祖世以来，务敦方药
，本有范汪方一部，斟酌详用，多获其效，内获家门，傍及亲族。其有虚心告请者，不限贵
贱，皆摩踵救之。凡所救活，数百千人。自余投缨宅岭，犹不忘此，日夜玩味，恒觉欣欣。
今撰此三卷，并效验方五卷，又补阙葛氏肘后三卷。盖欲永嗣善业，令诸子侄，弗敢失坠，
可以辅身济物者，孰复是先。
今诸药采造之法，既并用见成，非能自掘，不复具论其事，惟合药须解节度，列之如下。
草诸药所生，皆的有境界。秦、汉以前，当言列国。今郡县之名，后人所改耳。自江东
以来
，小小杂药，多出近道，气力性理，不及本邦。假令荆、益不通，则全用历阳当归，钱唐三
建，岂得相似。所以疗病不及往人，亦当缘此故也。蜀药及北药，虽有去来，亦复非精者。
又市人不解药性，惟尚形饰。上党人参，殆不复售。华阴细辛，弃之如芥。且各随俗相兢，
顺方切须，不能多备，诸族故往往遗漏。今之所存，二百许种耳。众医睹不识药，惟听市人
；市人又不辨究，皆委采送之家。采送之家，传习造作，真伪好恶莫测。所以有钟乳醋煮令
白，细辛水渍使直，黄 蜜蒸为甜，当归酒洒取润，螵蛸胶着桑枝，蜈蚣朱足令赤。诸有此
等，皆非事实，俗用既久，转以成法，非复可改，末如之何。又依方分药，不量剥除。如远
志
、牡丹，才不收半；地黄、门冬，三分耗一。凡去皮除心之属，分两皆不复相应，病家惟依
此用，不知更秤取足。又王公贵胜，合药之日，悉付群下。其中好药贵石，无不窃遣。乃言
紫石英、丹砂吞出洗取，一片经数十过卖。诸有此例，巧伪百端，皆非事实。虽复监检，终
不能觉。以此疗病，理难即效，斯并药家之盈虚，不得咎医人之浅拙也。
本草时月，皆在建寅岁首，则从汉太初后所记也。其根物多以二月、八月采者，谓春初
津润
始萌，未冲枝叶，势力淳浓故也。至秋则枝叶就枯，又归流于下。今即事验之，春宁宜早，
秋宁宜晚，其华、实、茎、叶乃各随其成熟耳。岁月亦有早晏，不必都依本文矣。经说阴干
者，谓就六甲阴中干之。依遁甲法，甲子阴中在癸酋，以药着酋地也。余谓不必然，正是不
露日曝，于阴影处干之耳。所以亦有云曝干故也。若幸可两用，益当为善。
（世人）大多不信任（这些记载），只把性命托付给虚名，这实在令人痛惜。京城里的人们，都崇尚声誉，而不追求真实的记录。
从我祖父辈以来，致力于推崇方药。原本有范汪所著的《范汪方》一部，经过斟酌并详细使用，大多获得了疗效，对内保全了家族成员，对外也惠及亲族。那些虚心请求诊治的人，不论贵贱，我们都接踵而至地救治他们。凡是被我们救活的人，有数百上千。自从退隐宅岭之后，依然不忘此事，日夜研读玩味，常常感到欣喜快乐。
如今撰写了这三卷书，加上有效的验方五卷，又补充了葛洪《肘后备急方》中缺失的三卷。大概是想要永远继承善业，让子孙侄辈不敢失传，可以作为修身养性、济世救人的方法，还有什么能比这更先的呢？
如今各种药物的采集和制作之法，既然都采用现成的成果，不能亲自去挖掘，就不再详细论述那些事情，只是说明配药时必须懂得节度（法度与分寸），列举如下：
各种草药的生长之地，都有明确的界限。秦朝、汉朝以前，应当称为列国。现在的郡县名称，都是后人改动的罢了。自从江东地区开发以来，许多细小的杂药，大多出产于附近道路沿线，其药力性质理趣，比不上原产地（本邦）。假如荆州、益州不通达，就完全使用历阳产的当归，钱唐产的三建（天雄、附子、乌头），难道能够相似吗？所以治疗疾病的效果不如前人，也是因为这个缘故。蜀地的药物以及北方的药物，虽然有往来流通，但也并非精良者。
况且市井之人不懂药性，只崇尚外形装饰。上党产的人参，几乎不再出售。华阴产的细辛，被像草芥一样丢弃。而且各自随俗竞相攀比，顺应处方急需，不能多储备，各大家族往往多有遗漏。现在所保存的，大约只有二百种罢了。众医生看到不认识的药物，只听信市井之人；市井之人又不加辨别探究，全都委托给采集运送的人家。采集运送的人家，传承学习制作方法，真伪好坏难以预测。所以有的用醋煮钟乳石使其变白，用水浸泡细辛使其变直，用蜂蜜蒸黄精使其变甜，用酒洒当归使其变得滋润，用胶将海螵蛸粘在桑枝上，用朱砂涂蜈蚣脚使其变红。诸如此类的做法，都不是事实，但世俗使用久了，反而流传成为定法，再也无法改变，无可奈何。
另外，依照处方分药时，不衡量剥除损耗的情况。比如远志、牡丹，刚采收时不到一半；地黄、麦冬，要损耗三分之一。凡是去皮、去心之类的药材，分量都不再相应准确，病家只依此使用，不知道再称取补足。还有王公贵族，在合药的时候，全部交给下属办理。其中喜好好药贵重矿石的人，无不偷偷窃取。甚至说紫石英、丹砂吞下后洗出再卖，一片石头经过几十次转卖。诸如此类的例子，巧诈虚伪的手段层出不穷，都不是事实。虽然又有监督检验，最终也不能察觉。以此类药物来治病，按理很难立即见效，这都是药商盈亏的问题，不能责怪医生医术浅薄拙劣。
《本草》中的月份，都以建寅之月（农历正月）为岁首，这是从汉代太初历以后所记录的。其中根类药材多在二月、八月采集，是说春天初时津液滋润开始萌芽，未冲犯枝叶，势力淳厚浓郁的原因。到了秋天则枝叶枯萎，汁液又回流到根部。现在根据实际经验验证，春天适宜早采，秋天适宜晚采，至于花、果实、茎、叶，则是各自随着它们的成熟时节而定。岁月也有早晚差异，不必都依照原文所述了。经书中说“阴干”的，是指借助六甲中的阴气来干燥。依据遁甲法，甲子日的阴中在癸酉，是把药物放在酉地（西方/地下阴影处）。我认为不一定这样，正是不暴露在日光下暴晒，在阴影处将其晾干罢了。所以也有说是“曝干”的。如果两者都可以通用，那就更好了。
People generally do not trust (these records), entrusting their lives to empty reputations, which is truly pitiable. The people in the capital city all value fame and reputation rather than seeking true records.
Since my grandfather's generation, we have been dedicated to promoting prescriptions and medicines. Originally, there was one volume of *Fan Wang Fang* (Prescriptions of Fan Wang) authored by Fan Wang. After careful consideration and detailed application, it yielded many effective results, benefiting our family internally and extending to relatives externally. For those who sincerely requested treatment, regardless of status or wealth, we went to save them continuously. The number of people saved by us amounted to several hundreds or thousands. Even after retiring to Zhai Ling, I never forgot this matter; day and night I studied and pondered it, always feeling joyful.
Now, I have compiled these three volumes, along with five volumes of verified effective prescriptions, and supplemented three volumes from Ge Hong's *Zhouhou Beiji Fang* (Emergency Prescriptions Kept Up the Sleeve). This is likely to perpetuate good deeds, ensuring that descendants and nephews dare not let them be lost, serving as methods for self-cultivation and aiding the world. What could be more primary than this?
Regarding the current methods of collecting and processing various drugs, since we rely on ready-made materials and cannot dig them up ourselves, I will not elaborate on those matters further. Instead, I will list the necessary measures and regulations for compounding medicines as follows:
The growing areas of various herbal medicines have definite boundaries. Before the Qin and Han dynasties, these regions were referred to as separate states. The current names of commanderies and counties are alterations made by later generations. Since the development of the Jiangdong region, many minor miscellaneous drugs mostly come from nearby areas. Their medicinal potency, nature, and principles are inferior to those of their original habitats. If Jingzhou and Yizhou were inaccessible, and one had to use solely Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis) from Liyang, or San Jian (Tian Xiong, Fu Zi, Wu Tou) from Qiantang, how could they be comparable? Thus, the therapeutic effect is inferior to that of predecessors, also due to this reason. Medicines from Shu and the North, although circulated, are not necessarily the finest.
Moreover, market vendors do not understand drug properties but only focus on appearance. Ginseng from Shangdang is hardly sold anymore. Xi Xin (Asarum) from Huayin is discarded like weeds. Furthermore, everyone competes according to local customs, following prescription needs without being able to stockpile much, leading to frequent omissions among various families. What remains today is only about two hundred species. Doctors often encounter unfamiliar drugs and rely solely on market vendors; vendors, in turn, do not investigate or distinguish, delegating everything to collectors and suppliers. Collectors and suppliers pass down preparation methods, making the authenticity and quality unpredictable. For instance, Zhong Ru (Stalactite) is boiled in vinegar to turn white; Xi Xin is soaked in water to straighten it; Huang Jing (Polygonatum) is steamed with honey to make it sweet; Dang Gui is sprinkled with wine to make it moist; Piao Xiao (Cuttlefish bone) is glued to mulberry branches; and Wu Gong (Centipede) has its legs painted red with cinnabar. All such practices are not factual. However, since they have been used by custom for a long time, they have become established methods and cannot be changed, leaving no recourse.
Additionally, when dividing medicines according to prescriptions, the loss from peeling and cleaning is not accounted for. For example, Yuan Zhi (Polygala root) and Mu Dan Pi (Moutan bark) yield less than half upon collection; Di Huang (Rehmannia root) and Men Dong (Ophiopogon tuber) lose one-third. For herbs requiring skin removal or heart extraction, the weight no longer corresponds accurately. Patients use them as is, unaware that they should weigh additional amounts to compensate. Moreover, when nobles and high officials compound medicines, they hand the task entirely to subordinates. Those fond of fine drugs and precious minerals steal them secretly. It is even claimed that Zi Shi Ying (Fluorite) and Dan Sha (Cinnabar) are swallowed and then washed out for resale, with a single piece changing hands dozens of times. Such examples reveal endless cunning and fraud, none of which are factual. Even with supervision and inspection, these cannot be detected. Using such drugs for treatment makes immediate efficacy unlikely. These issues stem from the profit margins of drug merchants and should not be blamed on the incompetence of physicians.
The months recorded in *Ben Cao* (Materia Medica) begin with the month of Jian Yin (the first lunar month), indicating records made after the Taichu calendar reform of the Han Dynasty. Root medicines are mostly collected in February or August because in early spring, sap is moist and sprouting begins before affecting branches and leaves, resulting in rich and potent energy. By autumn, branches and leaves wither, and nutrients flow back to the roots. Current practical experience confirms that spring collection should be early, and autumn collection late. Flowers, fruits, stems, and leaves are harvested according to their respective maturation times. Years may vary in timing, so one need not strictly follow the original text. Scriptures mention "drying in shade," referring to drying using the yin energy of the Six Jia cycles. According to Dunjia (Divination) methods, the yin position for Jia Zi is Gui You, implying placing medicine in the You direction (west/shadowed area). I believe this is not necessarily so; it simply means drying in the shade without direct sun exposure. Hence, some texts say "sun-dried." If both methods are acceptable, it would be better.