Publication of the Compendium of Materia Medica

Correction of errors original: "Zhengwu" (正誤). is used to rectify inaccuracies, while medicinal processing original: "Xiuzhi" (脩治), the traditional methods of preparing herbs (e.g., frying, steaming) to modify their properties. is used to harmonize a substance's nature. Furthermore, where primary treatments were incomplete, appended formulas original: "Fufang" (附方). have been provided; where substances are identical in nature, appendices original: "Fulu" (附錄). have been added. One might say this approach is exhaustive.

However, there are inconsistencies in the precedents set by the original work. For instance, Earth Angelica original: "Tu Danggui" (土當歸). is actually the root of the Bleeding Heart original: "Hebaomudan" (荷包牡丹), Lamprocapnos spectabilis., yet it lacks an "Explanation of Names" or "Collected Explanations." Maidenhair Fern original: "Tiexiancao" (鐵線草). and Golden Silk Grass original: "Jinsicao" (金絲草). have "Collected Explanations" but no description of their physical appearance. The Narcissus flower original: "Shuixianhua" (水仙花). and Crucible Clay original: "Ganguoni" (甘鍋泥), material from used industrial melting pots often used in mineral medicine. are not difficult to obtain, yet their nature and flavor original: "Qiwei" (氣味), referring to the Four Qi (temperatures) and Five Flavors in Chinese pharmacology. are not recorded.

While processing methods are listed as a category, such methods are rarely found among the various entries for minerals and stones. Logically, if a substance has no primary medicinal treatments, it should not be included as a medicine; yet Sea Otter and Slippery Marrow original: "Haitai" (海獺) and "Huasui" (滑髓). are recorded without omission. Common flavors often receive many new insights and discoveries, yet among the precious or rare categories, some have not received even a single explanation. From this, it is evident that our predecessors were often overly cautious or reserved in their efforts.

Since my current compilation is intended to be concise, I have pruned original: "Shan" (芟), literally to weed or cut away. all cumbersome conventions. The medicinal substances are selected from old records original: "Chenbian" (陳編).. Where the ancients originally recorded the nature, flavor, and appearance—or where a single item has several names—I have unified these into a direct narrative without further dividing them into detailed sub-headings. There are...