For example, some herbs were not poisonous at all when they were taken alone. They could even strengthen the physical fitness of the user.
However, if some herbs were taken together, they would immediately have an extremely violent reaction and turn into poison.
For example, there were herbs that could enhance the effects of other poisons.
There were also some herbs that specialized in curing one type of poison.
This was to test the medicinal properties of an alchemist.
In fact, this was one of the most difficult parts of being an alchemist. To be able to become a grandmaster-level alchemist, one's pharmacology would not be bad.
Generally, those below Grandmaster were unable to break through to the level of Alchemy Grandmaster. Most of the time, it was because they did not understand the medicinal principles.
This kind of thing was not something that could be mastered by memorizing.