药有五形。（金木水火土即五行）五气。（香臭臊腥膻）五色。（青赤黄白黑）五味。（酸
苦甘辛
咸）五性。（寒热温凉平）五用。（升降浮沉中）凡使用。别阴阳补泻。酌君臣佐使。不待言
矣
。凡作汤液。用水各别。火欲缓。恒令小沸。利汤欲生。补汤欲热。凡用诸香诸角丹砂芒硝
蒲黄阿胶等。须另研。俟汤熟去 。纳入和服。加酒亦然。凡服药。疾在胸膈以上者。食后
服。在心腹以下者。食先服。在四肢血脉者。宜空服而在旦。在骨髓者。宜饱满而在夜。凡
云等分者。多寡相等。云方寸匕者。匕匙也。匙挑药末。不落为度。正方一寸也。刀圭者。
寸匕十之一也。一钱匕。匕大如钱者。五匕。将五铢钱取药。仅当五字不落。盖一钱之半。
又云一字是也。一撮者。四刀圭也。
兹于解要内药。及制方同用之药。宜音释者。并列之。
何首乌同诸药治血痢。内有草石蚕（见本草纲目菜部。即甘露了。气平。主除风破血。和五
脏。虫部另有石蚕。生溪涧石上。一名石蠹。气寒。主五癃石淋。除热解结。石部又有石蚕
。生海岸。状如蚕。其实石也。气热。主石淋血结。治金疮。三者世皆罕用也。）葳蕤（音威
蕊。）紫菀（宛郁二音。别有白菀。）秦艽（音交。以根作罗纹相交结者良。故名。）柴胡（柴旧
作茈。茈别音紫。在此自读柴也。）硝（入水即消。又能消化诸物。故名。俗作硝。）山楂（俗
作查。）牡荆子（即黄荆。与叶如杏之蔓荆异。）饴（音移。米糖也。）饧（徐盈切。即饴也。
）香薷（音殊。此读柔。本作茅。）茹芦（音如闾。茜草也。）凡使黄柏地黄忌铁器（二味。肾经
药也。钱仲阳曰。肾有补而无泻。又曰。虚者补其母。实者泻其子。肾乃阴中之少阴为涵养
真元之水脏。忌铁。盖防伐木泻肝。恐子能令母虚也。）赝品宜辨 龙骨（古矿灰充。）麝（荔
核搀。）轻粉（石膏搀。）藿香（茄叶搀。）黄精（莱菔搀。）郁金（黄姜充。）防己（木通充。）款
冬（枇杷蕊充。）阿胶（广胶入荞麦面充。）麒麟竭（松脂搀。）龙脑香（番硝搀。）肉苁蓉（盐松
梢充。）虎骨（驴胫充。）元胡索（小半夏煮黄充。）草豆蔻（草仁充。）南木香（西芎充。）钟乳（
煮令白。）细辛（水渍使直。）当归（酒洒取润。）枸杞（蜜拌令甜。）琥珀（旧用鸡子鱼 伪造
令更能吸芥。或云枫脂为之本具粘性也。）人参（赝品不止荠尼。近有首尾真参。中插土参
。曾被欺。咀试味带苦辣也。）此外未易枚举。宜细察之。方免因误致损也。
药物具有五种形态。（金、木、水、火、土，即五行）五种气味。（香、臭、臊、腥、膻）五种颜色。（青、赤、黄、白、黑）五种味道。（酸、苦、甘、辛、咸）五种药性。（寒、热、温、凉、平）五种作用趋向。（升、降、浮、沉、中）。凡是使用药物，必须辨别阴阳的补泻作用，斟酌君、臣、佐、使的配伍关系，这就不必多说了。
凡是煎煮汤液，用水各有讲究。火候要缓，经常保持微沸状态，这样有利于生发汤气；补益类的汤剂要趁热服用。凡是使用各种香料、角类、丹砂、芒硝、蒲黄、阿胶等药材，需要单独研磨，等到汤剂煎好去渣后，再纳入调和服用。加入酒的情况也是如此。
凡是服药，病位在胸膈以上的，应在饭后服用；病位在心腹以下的，应在饭前服用；病位在四肢血脉的，适宜空腹并在早晨服用；病位在骨髓的，适宜饱腹并在夜间服用。
凡是说“等分”的，指多少数量相等。所谓“方寸匕”，是指匕匙，用匙挑取药末，以不掉落为限度，其形状正方一寸。所谓“刀圭”，是方寸匕的十分之一。“一钱匕”，是指匕的大小如铜钱，用五铢钱取药，刚好覆盖五个字而不掉落，大约是一钱的半数，也就是所谓的“一字”。“一撮”，是四个刀圭的量。
这里将需要解释读音和含义的药物，以及在制方中常同用的药物，一并列出。
何首乌配合其他药物治疗血痢。其中提到的草石蚕（见《本草纲目》菜部，即甘露子，气平，主治祛风破血，调和五脏。虫部另有石蚕，生长在溪涧石头上，一名石蠹，气寒，主治五种淋证及石淋，清热散结。石部又有石蚕，生长在海岸，形状像蚕，其实是石头，气热，主治石淋血结，治疗金疮。这三种东西世间都很少使用。）葳蕤（音威蕊。）紫菀（宛、郁二音，另有白菀。）秦艽（音交，以根部呈罗纹状交错结者为佳，因此得名。）柴胡（古字旧作茈，茈另读紫音，在此自读柴也。）硝（入水即消溶，又能消化诸物，因此得名，俗写作硝。）山楂（俗写作查。）牡荆子（即黄荆，与叶子像杏树的蔓荆不同。）饴（音移，米糖。）饧（徐盈切，即饴糖。）香薷（音殊，此处读柔，本名茅茹。）芦（音如闾，茜草也。）凡使用黄柏、地黄时忌用铁器（这两味是肾经药物。钱仲阳说：肾有补而无泻。又说：虚则补其母，实则泻其子。肾乃阴中之少阴，是涵养真元的水脏，忌铁，大概是防止伐木泻肝，恐怕子能令母虚。）
赝品应当辨别：龙骨（古矿灰冒充。）麝香（荔枝核掺杂。）轻粉（石膏掺杂。）藿香（茄叶掺杂。）黄精（莱菔根冒充。）郁金（黄姜冒充。）防己（木通冒充。）款冬花（枇杷蕊冒充。）阿胶（广胶掺入荞麦面冒充。）麒麟竭（松脂掺杂。）龙脑香（番硝掺杂。）肉苁蓉（盐渍松梢冒充。）虎骨（驴胫骨冒充。）元胡索（小半夏煮黄冒充。）草豆蔻（草仁冒充。）南木香（西芎冒充。）钟乳石（煮至变白。）细辛（水浸使其挺直。）当归（酒洒使其湿润。）枸杞（蜜拌使其变甜。）琥珀（旧时用鸡蛋壳、鱼伪造，使其更能吸附芥子，有人说枫脂做的本来就有粘性。）人参（赝品不止荠尼一种，近来有用真参首尾，中间插入土参的，曾被欺骗，咀嚼试味带有苦辣味。）此外难以一一列举，应当仔细考察，以免因误用而致损伤。
Medicinal substances possess five forms. (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, i.e., the Five Elements) five odors. (Fragrant, foul, musky, fishy, mutton-like) five colors. (Green, Red, Yellow, White, Black) five flavors. (Sour, Bitter, Sweet, Acrid, Saline) five natures. (Cold, Hot, Warm, Cool, Neutral) five actions. (Ascending, Descending, Floating, Sinking, Central). In general usage, one must distinguish between Yin and Yang tonification and purgation, and carefully consider the roles of Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, and Courier in prescription composition; this need not be elaborated upon.
When preparing decoctions, water selection varies. The fire should be gentle, maintaining a constant slight boil to preserve the vital qi of the decoction; decoctions for tonification should be taken hot. When using various aromatic herbs, horns, Cinnabar (Zhusha), Mirabilite (Mangxiao), Poria cocos sclerotium (Puhuang), Donkey-hide gelatin (Ejiao), etc., these must be ground separately. After the decoction is cooked and strained, the powdered ingredients are added and mixed before ingestion. The same applies when adding wine.
Regarding administration timing: if the disease is located above the chest and diaphragm, take medicine after meals; if below the heart and abdomen, take before meals; if in the four limbs and blood vessels, take on an empty stomach in the morning; if in the bone marrow, take after fullness at night.
"Equal parts" means equal quantities. "Square-inch bi" refers to a spoon-like measure; filling it with powdered herb without spilling defines the limit, square at one inch. "Dao gui" is one-tenth of a square-inch bi. "One-qian bi" is a spoon as large as a coin; taking herb with a Wu-zhu coin covers five characters without falling, approximately half a qian, also called "one zi." "One tuo" equals four dao gui.
Herein are listed medicinal items requiring phonetic explanation or clarification, along with those commonly used together in prescriptions.
Polygonum multiflorum (Heshouwu) combined with other herbs treats bloody dysentery. Included is Grass Silkworm Bean (Caoshican) (see *Bencao Gangmu*, Vegetable Section, also known as Ganluzi; nature neutral; governs dispelling wind and breaking blood stasis, harmonizing the five Zang organs. Another Shicao in the Insect Section grows on stream rocks, named Shidu; nature cold; governs five types of strangury and lithiasis, clears heat and resolves nodules. Another Shicao in the Stone Section grows on coasts, resembling a silkworm but is stone; nature hot; governs lithiasis and blood stasis, treats traumatic injuries. These three are rarely used today.) Ophiopogon japonicus (Weirui, pronounced Wei-rui). Aster tataricus (Ziwan, pronounced Wan-yu; there is also Baiwan). Gentiana macrophylla (Qinjiao, pronounced Jiao; best when roots show cross-grained patterns, hence the name). Bupleurum chinense (Chaihu; ancient character was Zi, pronounced Zi, here read as Chai). Natrii Sulfas (Xiao, dissolves in water and digests other substances, hence the name; vulgarly written as Xiao). Crataegus pinnatifida (Shanzha, vulgarly written as Cha). Vitex rotundifolia seed (Mujingzi, i.e., Huangjing, distinct from Vitex agnus-castus leaves which resemble apricot). Malt syrup (Yi, pronounced Yi, rice sugar). Starch syrup (Xing, pronunciation Xu-ying, i.e., Yi). Elsholtzia splendens (Xiangru, pronounced Shu, here read Rou; originally Mao). Rubia cordifolia (Luru, pronounced Ru-lv, i.e., Qiancao). When using Phellodendron amurense (Huangbai) and Rehmannia glutinosa (Dihuang), avoid iron vessels (These two are Kidney channel herbs. Qian Zhongyang stated: The Kidney has tonification but no purgation. Also: Tonify the mother when deficient, purge the son when excess. The Kidney is the Lesser Yin within Yin, the water organ nurturing true Yuan Qi. Avoid iron to prevent damaging Wood and purging Liver, lest the son cause the mother to become deficient.)
Counterfeits should be identified: Rhinocerotis Cornu (Longgu) filled with ancient mine ash. Moschus (She) adulterated with lychee seeds. Calomelas (Qingfen) adulterated with Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao). Agastache rugosa (Huoxiang) adulterated with eggplant leaves. Polygonatum sibiricum (Huangjing) substituted with Radish (Laifu). Curcuma wenyujin (Yujin) substituted with Turmeric (Huangjiang). Stephania tetrandra (Fangji) substituted with Akebia quinata stem (Mutong). Farfarae Flos (Kuandong) substituted with Loquat flower bud (Pipa rui). Ejiao made with Guang glue and buckwheat flour. Dracaena cochinchinensis (Qilinjie) adulterated with Pine resin (Songzhi). Borneolum Syntheticum (Longnao) adulterated with saltpeter (Fanxiao). Cistanches deserticola (Roucongrong) substituted with salted pine tips. Panthera tigris bone (Hugu) substituted with donkey shin bone. Corydalis yanhusuo (Yuanhusuo) substituted with boiled and yellowed Pinellia ternata (Xiaobanxia). Broussonetia papyrifera fruit? No, Cardamomum tsao-ko (Caodoukou) substituted with grass kernels. Costus root (Nanmuxiang) substituted with Ligusticum chuanxiong (Xixiong). Halloysitum (Zhongru) boiled until white. Asarum heterotropoides (Xixin) soaked in water to straighten. Angelica sinensis (Danggui) sprinkled with wine to moisten. Lycium barbarum (Gouqi) mixed with honey to sweeten. Succinum (Hupo) formerly forged with chicken eggs/fish to mimic static attraction of mustard seeds; some say maple resin, which is naturally sticky. Ginseng (Renshen) counterfeits include not only Shepherd's purse (Jini); recently, genuine ginseng ends with earth-filled middle inserted; chewing reveals bitter-spicy taste. Other instances are too numerous to list; careful inspection is advised to avoid harm from misuse.