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[Chi (Fermented Soybean)] Salty in flavor, warm and slightly cold in nature, non-toxic. It primarily treats polydipsia (excessive thirst), clears heat, benefits healthy qi (vital energy), and harmonizes the middle jiao (digestive system). *Yao Xing Lun* states: Honey is used as an adjuvant.

[Shen Qu (Medicated Leaven)] Sweet in flavor, greatly warm in nature. It treats wind qi within the zang-fu organs, harmonizes the middle jiao and descends rebellious qi, opens the appetite, digests retained food, primarily treats cholera-like syndromes (severe vomiting and diarrhea), qi stagnation in the heart and diaphragm, rebellious phlegm qi, relieves irritability, breaks up mass formations, tonifies deficiency, expels cold qi, removes obstructions in the stomach and intestines that prevent eating, and can induce abortion or expel "ghost fetus" (abnormal abdominal masses or pathological pregnancies). *Qian Jin Fang* states: It treats postpartum emaciation. *Shanghan Leyao* states: It treats recurrence of cold damage due to dietary indiscretion or overexertion. Shen Qu is used as an adjuvant. Non-toxic. It can digest water and grain retention and mass qi, and strengthens the spleen and stomach.

[Bian Dou (Lablab Bean)] Sweet in flavor, slightly warm in nature. It primarily harmonizes the middle jiao and descends rebellious qi. Leaves: Primarily treat persistent vomiting and diarrhea caused by cholera-like syndromes. Meng Shen states: It treats persistent vomiting and diarrhea from cholera-like syndromes; taken with vinegar, it descends qi. It also treats muscle spasms (charley horse) following vomiting and diarrhea; applying freshly crushed leaf juice stops it immediately. *Yao Xing Lun* states: White Lablab beans can be used alone. They primarily resolve all kinds of plant and wood toxins. Ri Huazi states: Neutral in nature, non-toxic. It tonifies the five zang organs. Leaves: Applied externally to treat snake and insect bites. *Shi Liao Ben Cao* states: Slightly cold in nature. It treats vomiting and rebellious qi. Those with cold conditions should avoid eating it. Leaves: Treat mass formations; boiled with vinegar. Regulates muscle spasms; leaf juice taken with vinegar.

[Dou Chi (Prepared Soybean)] Bitter in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. It primarily treats headache and aversion to cold with fever caused by cold damage, miasma and toxic pathogens, irritability and chest fullness, consumptive asthma and panting, and cold pain in both legs. *Yao Xing Lun* states: Dou Chi works well when combined with Cong Bai (Scallion Stem). It kills the toxicity of domestic animals. Bitter and sweet in flavor. It primarily treats bloody dysentery described as feeling like stabbing. It also treats sudden onset of dysentery with abdominal pain due to cold damage; decocted with Scallion Bulb. Pounded into powder, it stops sweating, primarily resolves irritability, treats epidemic febrile diseases, and induces sweating. It also treats sores and ulcers on the penis. Chen Cangqi states: Dou Chi from Puzhou is salty in flavor and non-toxic. It primarily resolves irritability and heat from deficiency consumption, harmonizes the middle jiao, induces sweating, unblocks joints, eliminates fishy odors, and treats nasal congestion due to cold damage. Meng Shen states: It can treat patients with chronic night sweats. Lightly stir-fried until fragrant and soaked in wine, taken at will, it stops the sweating. Ri Huazi states: It treats poisoning by drugs, gu qi (toxic pestilence), malaria, bone-steaming consumption (chronic wasting diseases such as tuberculosis), and dog bites.