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Jiangshui (Fermented Grain Water) is made by fermenting millet or stored rice. It tastes sweet and sour, with a slightly warm nature. It awakens sleepers, eliminates irritability, aids digestion, relieves thirst, harmonizes the zang-fu organs, smooths and whitens the skin, cures cholera when drunk, and heals diarrhea and dysentery.

Indications (referencing *Douzhen Hecan*): Among pox-rash diseases, it is suitable for patients suffering from extreme thirst to drink Jiangshui.

Wheat (Xiaomai) inherits the neutral qi of the four seasons, hence its sweet taste and slightly cold nature, and it is non-toxic. However, the cold nature resides primarily in the bran; thus, removing the bran leaves the grain hot. This illustrates the principle that "grains belong to Metal while bran has a hot nature, wheat belongs to Yang while bran has a cool nature," as all things contain the complete Taiji. Wheat enters the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. When there is heat in Shaoyin, dryness, thirst, and dry throat occur; resolving the heat in Shaoyin naturally stops these symptoms. The Heart and Small Intestine are exterior-interior pairs; when the zang qi is clear, fu diseases are eliminated, so wheat promotes urination. The Liver and Heart have a mother-son relationship; the son organ can enrich the mother organ, so wheat nourishes Liver qi. Its sweet-cold nature travels through the Heart and Small Intestine meridians, benefiting and cooling the blood, thus treating hematuris and spitting blood. Qu (fermented starter) is warm, so it digests food and stops dysentery; flour is hot, so it cannot clear heat or relieve irritability. For medicinal use, northern origin is superior. In the north, frequent frost and snow make the earth qi dense, reducing the warm nature of the grain. Thus, northerners use it as a staple rice substitute without illness, because they live in high, dry terrain free from damp-heat toxicity, and the flour's nature is mild and flat. Therefore, it thickens the intestines and stomach, strengthens qi and strength, tonifies various deficiencies, and assists the five zang organs, with true efficacy comparable to rice and millet. In the southeast, the terrain is low and damp, with abundant spring rains. Damp-heat accumulates within humans and objects, so eating wheat there often causes disease, stirring qi, inducing thirst, promoting dampness, and causing edema. It is especially contraindicated during summer months for malaria and dysentery. Fumai (Floating Wheat) refers to the grains that float when washed in water. It stops spontaneous sweating and night sweats, with northern varieties being best. Hanshimian (Cold Food Noodles) are prepared by storing flour in paper bags on Cold Food Day, hanging them in ventilated places for decades without spoiling, thereby removing their hot nature and toxicity. Qiaomian (Buckwheat Flour) greatly supplements vitality, solidifies the intestines and stomach, and eliminates accumulated filth in the abdomen over years. It should not be consumed long-term, and one must avoid eating it with pork or mutton.

Wheat nourishes Heart and Liver qi, stops red leakage (such as hematuria) and red spitting (such as hemoptysis), unblocks strangury, promotes urination, clears heat, and relieves irritability and thirst. Fushuimai (Withered Floating Wheat) refers to grains that wither prematurely before maturing. It nourishes the heart, clears heat, and miraculously consolidates deficiency sweating. When pounded into bran, it solidifies the large intestine and stops diarrhea. When soaked in water to make paste, it digests retained food and removes bloating. Made into noodles, it satisfies hunger without fatigue, assists the five zang organs, increases qi and strength, thickens the intestines and stomach, and smooths and whitens the skin. However, its hot nature may stir wind, which can be resolved by drinking radish juice. Maifen (Wheat Starch) is the starch precipitated from washing bran flour. It reduces carbuncles and swelling, treats burns, and when charred and mixed with vinegar, effectively reduces swelling. The stems and leaves of wheat are called Maisui (Wheat Ears), which treat jaundice caused by alcohol and yellow eyes. The black mold on the wheat seedlings, specifically the withered parts, is called Mianu (Wheat Slave), which expels epidemic heat toxins.