辛，温，有毒。重一两以上矮而孔节稀者佳，生用，则发散熟用则峻补生用去皮脐熟，
用以水浸过，炮令
去皮脐，切片，炒黄色去火毒用，或童便浸一日，去皮切作四片，童便及浓甘草汤同
尽为度，烘干。地胆为使，畏防风、黑豆、甘草、人参、黄 、绿豆、乌韭、童便、
恶蜈蚣、忌豉汁。李中立曰∶市肆售者有以盐水浸之，取其润湿体重买者，当以体
顶圆正底、平者为良。杨天惠附子记曰∶附子之品有七，实本同而末异，其初种之
头，附乌头而旁生者为附子，又左右附而偶生者为 子，又附而长者为天雄，又附
天佳，又附而上者为侧子，又附而散者为漏蓝子，皆脉络连贯如子附母，而附子以
专附名，自余不得与焉。凡种一而子六七以上则其实皆小，种一而子二三则其实稍
而子特生则其实特大，此其凡也。附子之形以蹲坐正节角少为上，有节气多鼠乳者
不正而伤缺风皱者为下，附子之色，以花白为上，
以丰实过握为胜，而漏蓝、侧子园人以乞役夫，不
闽浙宜之，陕辅之贾才市其下者，闽浙之贾才市其中者，其上品则
喜奇，故非得大者不厌，然土人有知药者云，小者固难用，要之半两以上皆良
可此言近之。
李濒湖曰∶别有草乌头、白附子，故俗呼此为黑附子、川乌头以别之。
味辛，性温，有毒。重量在一两以上、形体矮小且孔节稀疏的附子品质最佳。生用具有发散作用，熟用则具有峻猛的补益作用。
生用时需去皮和脐；熟用时，先用水浸泡，炮制至能去除皮和脐的程度，切片后炒至黄色以去除火毒；或者用童便浸泡一天，去皮后切成四片，再用童便及浓甘草汤共同煮至尽为度，最后烘干。
以地胆作为引经药（为使）。畏防风、黑豆、甘草、人参、黄芩、绿豆、乌韭、童便；恶蜈蚣；忌食豉汁。
李中立说：市场上出售的附子，有的商家用盐水浸泡，使其湿润且体重，购买者应当选择顶部圆润端正、底部平坦的为佳品。
杨天惠在《附子记》中说：附子的品类有七种，其实本相同而末端形态各异。最初种植的头，依附于乌头旁生的称为附子；又左右依附而偶生的称为[缺字，推测为“侧子”或类似名称]；又依附而长的称为天雄；又依附天雄而佳的称为[缺字]；又依附而上长的称为侧子；又依附而散的称为漏蓝子。它们的脉络连贯如同儿子依附母亲，而“附子”因专门依附而得名，其余品种不得与此并列。
凡是种植一株产生六七颗以上的果实都较小，种植一株产生二三颗的果实稍大，若单独生长一颗则果实特别大，这是一般规律。
附子的形状以蹲坐状、正直、节角少为上品，有节气多、鼠乳状、不正、伤残、风皱的为下品。附子的颜色，以花白色为上品，以丰满结实超过手握程度为胜。漏蓝子和侧子被园人用来乞求役夫使用，不被重视。闽浙地区的商人只收购中等品质的，陕西等地的商人只收购下等品质的，闽浙地区的商人只收购中等品质的，其上品则[缺字，意为喜爱/追求]奇特，所以不是大的不能满足需求。然而当地懂药的人说，小的固然难用，但总之半两以上的都是良材，这话比较接近真理。
李时珍说：另有草乌头、白附子，所以俗呼此药为黑附子、川乌头以作区别。
Pungent, warm, toxic. Those weighing one tael or more, with a short stature and sparse pores and nodes are of the best quality. Raw usage disperses pathogenic factors, while cooked usage provides potent tonification.
For raw use, remove the skin and navel. For cooked use, soak in water until the skin and navel can be removed, slice, stir-fry until yellow to eliminate "fire toxicity," or soak in child's urine for one day, remove skin, cut into four pieces, and decoct together with strong licorice soup until dry, then dry thoroughly.
Diell (Bupleurum longiradiatum) is used as an guiding herb (Shi). It is opposed by Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Doukou (Glycine max), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Lvdou (Phaseoli Semen), Wujiu (Allium tuberosum var. ramosum), Tongbian (Uterine Urine); it is inimical to Wugong (Scolopendra); avoid Douchi (Sojae Semen Praeparatum).
Li Zhongli stated: Merchants often soak Aconitum carmichaelii in salt water to increase weight and moisture. Buyers should select those with a round, upright top and flat bottom as superior.
Yang Tianhui, in his "Record on Aconite," stated: There are seven types of Aconitum products. Although they share the same origin, their terminal forms differ. The initial head planted, which grows laterally attached to the main root (Wutou), is called Fuzi. Those growing laterally and occasionally are called [missing character]. Those that grow elongated while attached are called Tianxiong. Those attached to Tianxiong and of high quality are called [missing character]. Those growing upward while attached are called Cizi. Those growing scattered while attached are called Louzansi. Their meridians are connected like offspring attached to the mother. "Fuzi" is named specifically for its attachment nature, whereas the others do not share this distinction. Generally, if one plant produces six or more tubers, they are small; if it produces two or three, they are slightly larger; if a single tuber grows independently, it is exceptionally large. This is the general rule.
Regarding shape, those sitting squarely, straight, with few nodes and angles are superior. Those with many nodes, resembling mouse breasts, irregular, damaged, or wrinkled by wind are inferior. Regarding color, mottled white is superior. Plumpness exceeding what can be grasped by hand is considered excellent. Louzansi and Cizi are used by gardeners for menial labor and are undervalued. Merchants in Min and Zhe regions only trade medium-grade ones; merchants in Shaanxi and other areas trade inferior ones; merchants in Min and Zhe trade medium ones. Superior grades are sought for their rarity/uniqueness, so only large ones satisfy demands. However, local knowledgeable people say that although small ones are difficult to use, those over half a tael are good. This statement is close to the truth.
Li Shizhen stated: There are also Caowutou (Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix) and Baifuzi (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma), hence this drug is commonly referred to as Heifuzi (Black Aconite) or Chuanwutou (Chuan Aconite) for distinction.