酸为木化气本温，能收能涩利肝经；苦为火化气终热，能燥能坚心脏下；甘始土生气化
湿，能开缓渗从脾行；辛自金生气滞燥，能散润濡通肺窍；咸从水化气生寒，下走软坚足肾
道；淡味方为五行本，运用须知造化要。
芫花本利水，非醋不能通。绿豆本解毒，带壳不见功。草果消膨效，连壳反胀胸。黑丑
生利水，远志苗毒逢。蒲黄生通血，熟补血运通。地榆医血药，连梢不住红。陈皮专理气，
留白补胃中。附子救阴症，生用走皮风。草乌解风痹，生用使人蒙。人言烧 用，诸石火
红。入醋堪研末，制度必须工。川芎炒去油，生用痹痛攻。炮 当依法，方能专化工。知母
桑白天麦门，首乌生熟地黄分，偏宜竹片铜刀切，铁器临之便不驯。乌药门冬巴戟天，莲心
远志五般全，并宜剔去心方妙，否则令人烦躁添。浓朴猪苓与茯苓，桑皮更有外皮生，四般
最忌连皮用，去净方能不耗神。益智麻仁柏子仁，更加草果四般论，并能去壳方为效，不去
令人心痞增。何物还须汤泡之，苍术半夏与陈皮。更宜酒洗亦三味，苁蓉地黄及当归。
斑水蛭及虻虫，乌头附子配天雄；野葛水银并巴豆，牛膝薏苡与蜈蚣；三棱芫花代赭
麝，大戟蝉蜕黄雌雄；牙硝芒硝牡丹桂，槐花牵牛皂角同；半夏南星与通草，瞿麦干姜桃仁
通； 砂干漆蟹爪甲，地胆茅根都失中。
酸味由木气所化，其本性温和，具有收敛和固涩的作用，能疏通肝经；苦味由火气所化，其性质终归炎热，具有燥湿和坚阴的作用，作用于心脏及心下部位；甘味始于土气，气化过程伴随湿气，具有开通、缓和及渗湿的作用，循脾经运行；辛味源于金气，气化过程中产生滞涩与干燥，具有发散和润濡的作用，能通利肺窍；咸味从水气所化，其气生寒，下行并能软坚散结，归于肾经；淡味才是五行的根本，运用时需知晓造化的奥妙。
芫花本有通利水湿的功效，但不用醋制则不能通达药效。绿豆本有解毒之功，若带壳使用则不见功效。草果消除胀满的效果显著，但若连壳使用反而会导致胸中胀闷。黑丑（牵牛子）生用有利水作用，远志苗有毒不可误服。蒲黄生用能通血脉，炒熟后能补血并促进血液运行通畅。地榆是治疗血证的药物，若保留根梢则止血效果不佳（导致出血不止）。陈皮专门理气，若保留白色内皮则能补益胃气。附子用于救治阴寒重症，生用时能祛除皮肤风邪。草乌能解除风痹疼痛，生用会使人神志昏蒙。人言（砒霜）需烧制后使用，各种矿物药需煅至火红状态。加入醋可以研磨成粉末，炮制制度必须精细考究。川芎炒制以去除油分，生用时能攻治痹痛。炮制应当遵循法度，才能发挥药物的专一功效。知母、桑白皮、天冬、麦门冬、何首乌的生熟用法及地黄的分清，特别适宜用竹片或铜刀切片，若用铁器接触则药性变得不驯顺。乌药、门冬、巴戟天、莲心、远志这五种药材，都适宜剔除其心部才为妙用，否则会增加人的烦躁感。厚朴、猪苓、茯苓、桑白皮（此处指外皮），这四种最忌讳连皮使用，去净皮部才能不耗伤神气。益智仁、麻仁、柏子仁，加上草果这四类药材，都能通过去壳来增强疗效，不去壳会导致人心痞胀满增加。什么东西还需要汤泡处理呢？苍术、半夏和陈皮这三味。更适宜用酒洗的也是这三味：肉苁蓉、地黄及当归。
斑蝥、水蛭及虻虫，乌头、附子配天雄；野葛（断肠草）、水银并巴豆，牛膝、薏苡仁与蜈蚣；三棱、芫花、代赭石、麝香，大戟、蝉蜕及黄雌雄（指雄黄与雌黄）；牙硝、芒硝、牡丹皮、桂枝，槐花、牵牛子、皂角相同；半夏、南星与通草，瞿麦、干姜、桃仁相通；硇砂、干漆、蟹爪甲，地胆、茅根都失中（均不宜使用/属妊娠禁忌）。
Sour flavor originates from the Wood element, its nature is warm, possessing astringent and consolidating properties, benefiting the Liver meridian; Bitter flavor originates from the Fire element, its nature is ultimately hot, possessing drying and firming properties, acting on the Heart and the area below the heart; Sweet flavor begins with Earth Qi, its transformation involves dampness, possessing opening, relaxing, and渗 (percolating) properties, moving along the Spleen meridian; Pungent flavor arises from Metal Qi, its transformation involves stagnation and dryness, possessing dispersing and moistening properties, unblocking the Lung orifices; Salty flavor transforms from Water Qi, generating cold energy, descending to soften hardness, entering the Kidney pathway; The Light flavor is the root of the Five Elements, one must understand the essentials of creation in its application.
Genkwa Flos (Yuanhua) naturally promotes water metabolism, but cannot penetrate without vinegar processing. Mung Bean Seed (Lüdou) naturally detoxifies, but shows no effect if used with the shell. Tsaoko Fructus (Caoguo) effectively reduces distension, but using it with the shell causes chest fullness. Black Morning Glory Seed (Heiqiu, i.e., Pharbitidis Semen) promotes urination when raw; Zhiyao seedling is toxic and should be avoided. Polygonum Multiflorum Rootlet (Puhuang) promotes blood circulation when raw, and nourishes blood and promotes smooth flow when cooked. Sanguisorba Radix (Diyu) treats blood disorders; retaining the tips leads to uncontrolled bleeding. Citrus Reticulata Pericarpium (Chenpi) specifically regulates Qi; retaining the white mesocarp tonifies the Stomach. Aconitum Lateralis Radix Preparata (Fuzi) rescues Yin-cold syndromes; when raw, it expels wind from the skin. Aconitum Carmichaelii Radix (Caowu) resolves wind-bi pain; when raw, it causes mental confusion. Realgar (Renyan, often referring to Arsenic compounds like Realgar or Orpiment in ancient contexts, here likely Realgar/Orpiment mix or specific arsenic preparation) should be calcined before use; various mineral drugs should be calcined until red-hot. Adding vinegar allows grinding into powder; processing methods must be meticulous. Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong) should be stir-fried to remove oil; when raw, it attacks bi-pain. Processing must follow regulations to achieve specialized efficacy. Anemarrhena Rhizoma (Zhimu), Mulberry Cortex (Sangbai), Asparagus Fern Root (Tianmen Dong), Ophiopogon Tuber (Maimendong), and Polygonum Multiflorum Caulis (Shouwu) have distinct raw and prepared uses; Rehmanniae Radix (Dihuang) also distinguishes raw and prepared forms. It is best to slice them with bamboo or copper knives; contact with iron tools makes the medicinal nature unruly. Lindera Root (Wuyao), Asparagus Fern Root (Men Dong), Morinda Officinalis Root (Bajitian), Nelumbo Nucifera Plumule (Lianxin), and Polygala Root (Yuanzhi) — these five are all best when the core is removed; otherwise, they increase irritability. Magnolia Bark (Nanhou), Alisma Rhizoma (Zhuling), Poria (Fuling), and Mulberry Cortex (Sangpi, specifically the outer bark) — these four strongly avoid using the skin; removing it completely prevents depletion of Shen (Spirit). Alpinia Oxyphylla Fruit (Yizhi), Hemp Seed (Maren), Biota Seed (Baiziren), plus Tsaoko Fructus (Caoguo) — these four are effective only when shelled; not shelling causes mental palpitations and increased fullness. What substances require soaking in decoction? Atractylodes Rhizoma (Cangzhu), Pinellia Tuber (Banxia), and Citrus Reticulata Pericarpium (Chenpi). These three are also suitable for wine-washing: Cistanche Deserticola (Rongrong), Rehmanniae Radix (Dihuang), and Angelica Sinensis Radix (Danggui).
Mylabris (Ban), Leech (Shuizhi), and Horsefly (Mengchong); Aconitum Root (Wutou), Prepared Aconite Lateralis Root (Fuzi), and Prepared Aconitum Lateralis Root (Tianxiong); Gelsemium (Yege, i.e., Gelsemium elegans or similar toxic vine), Mercury (Shuiyin), and Croton Seed (Badou); Achyranthes Bidentata Root (Niuxi), Coix Seed (Yiyi), and Scolopendra (Wugong); Curcuma Zedoaria Rhizoma (Sanleng), Genkwa Flos (Yuanhua), Haematitum (Daizhe), and Moschus (She); Euphorbia Pekinensis (Daji), Cicada Slough (Chantui), and Realgar-Orpiment mix (Huang Cixiong); Natrii Sulfas (Yaniao), Natrii Sulfas Crystallizatus (Mangxiao), Moutan Cortex (Mudan), and Cinnamon Twig (Gui); Sophora Flower (Huaihua), Pharbitidis Semen (Qianniu), and Gleditsia Sinensis Fruit (Zaojiao) are the same; Pinellia Tuber (Banxia), Arisaema Rhizoma (Nanxing), and Tinospora Sinensis Stem (Tongcao); Speranskia Tuberculata Seed (Qumai), Dried Ginger (Ganjiang), and Peach Kernel (Taoren) are compatible; Natrii Chloratum Calcitum (Naosha), Dry Lacquer (Ganqi), Crab Claw Shell (Xiezhujia), Galega Root (Dichan), and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Root (Maogen) are all contraindicated (or "lost their proper place" / unsuitable).