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Wheat is sweet in taste, neutral in nature, with a cool skin, and non-toxic.

[Invention] The *Suwen* (Basic Questions) states that wheat belongs to the grain of Heart Fire. Zheng Xuan said that wheat has a shell-like covering and belongs to Wood. Xu Shen said that wheat belongs to Metal; when Metal is prosperous, it grows, and when Fire is prosperous, it dies. These three theories differ. The *Bielu* (Supplementary Records of Famous Physicians) states that wheat nourishes Liver Qi, which aligns with Zheng's theory. Sun Simiao stated that wheat nourishes Heart Qi, which aligns with the *Suwen*. Referring to its functions—relieving irritability, quenching thirst, stopping sweating, promoting urination, and stopping bleeding—all these address diseases of the Heart, so the *Suwen* should be taken as the standard. Su Gong said that when making wheat decoction, the bran should not be allowed to split; if it splits, the nature becomes warm and cannot clear heat and quench thirst. This indicates that in prescriptions, wheat is used primarily for the power of its outer bran, while retaining its internal warm nature to assist efficacy. I observe: Among the five grains, only wheat receives the ascending energy of Spring earliest, thus being regarded as the chief of the five grains. Examining the superiority or inferiority of its nature depends on the differences produced by northern and southern soils: Northern wheat is warm in nature; consuming it supplements Qi and adds strength. Southern wheat is hot in nature; consuming it promotes dampness and generates phlegm. Therefore, northerners use it as a substitute for rice, which greatly benefits people, nourishes Liver Qi, removes external heat, stops irritability and thirst, promotes urination, stops leakage of blood and spitting of blood, and enables women to conceive. In the south, where the climate is low-lying and damp, long-term consumption causes fever due to local climatic differences. Dry flour benefits the Stomach and strengthens the Liver; wet flour generates phlegm and promotes dampness, especially those newly made in early summer. New wheat has a soft nature and strongly promotes damp-heat. Wheat changed in color due to rain during harvest causes nausea when eaten and damages Stomach Qi. Bran is fibrous and cold in nature; it can stir up Liver Wind and Spleen Qi, and is hardest to digest. For injuries caused by it, only Caoguo (Black Cardamom) can eliminate it. To treat pain caused by wandering Qi, mix bran with strong vinegar, stir-fry until hot, place in a bag, and apply as a compress. Wheat flour is obtained by washing away the veins from the bran and clarifying. The *Jishan Tang Fang* (Accumulated Good Hall Formulas) contains Wulong Gao (Black Dragon Ointment) for treating all types of swelling and toxicity before ulceration: use aged wheat flour, stir-fry until black, mix with vinegar to form a paste, boil until like lacquer, store in a porcelain jar. When using, spread on paper, cut a hole, and apply to the site; the swelling will subside naturally, and the medicine will fall off on its own. Applying a mixture of mulberry leaves after frost and Rhubarb powder with honey is even better. Floating wheat is light and void, resembling the Lung, and can consolidate night sweats by dispersing heat from the skin and interstices. Mainu (Wheat Mold) refers to the black mold appearing on wheat just before ripening. Zhu Gong used Mainu Wan to treat Yang Du (Yang Toxicity), Wen Du (Warm Toxicity), heat-thirst, macules, and mania. The formula uses wheat mainu, dust from above beams, coal from under the cauldron, and soot from the chimney, mixed in equal parts with Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin), Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang), Natrii Sulfas (Xiaoming), and Natrii Sulfatis Oxidatus (Dashuang). Grind into powder, make pills with honey the size of a bullet, dissolve one pill in water and take orally. Recovery occurs with sweating or mild diarrhea, taking the imagery of transformation through fire. Dae Mai (Barley) is also known as Mou Mai; it strengthens the Stomach and transforms food, treats polydipsia and clears heat, and long-term consumption increases strength and walking ability. Barley products have a warming middle and digestive function. However, sprouted barley heavily depletes Kidney Qi and is contraindicated for those with frequent urination. Wang Haogu stated: Maiya (Sprouted Barley) and Shenqu (Medicated Leaven) are suitable for people with deficient Stomach Qi. Zhao Yangkui said this is unverified. Nowadays, maltose production requires sprouted barley to transform, showing its damaging to the middle and digestive-dispersing nature. For postpartum breast swelling and reluctance to nurse, half an ounce of Maiya added to Siwu Tang stops lactation immediately, revealing its essence-consuming nature. Que Mai (Oat) is also called Du Lao Cao; it benefits the Liver and harmonizes the Spleen. The *Danfang* prescribes soaking this herb with bitter gourd leaves in vinegar, cooking thoroughly, placing it outside the teeth in the mouth to compress, changing when cold, re-compressing when hot. Then take a copper vessel, soak the cooked herb and leaves in water, and gargle the painful tooth while hot. Worms can be expelled, three fen long; older ones are yellow, younger ones white; many cases yield dozens, few yield twenty or thirty. This is from the *Qianjin Fang*. Buckwheat is sweet and neutral, stirs wind and causes fever, refines turbid residues and stagnation in the intestines and stomach, descends Qi and widens the intestines, treats leukorrhea and cloudy urine, and is suitable for those with excess Qi and damp-heat. Meng Shen’s claim that it supplements Qi and strength is likely incorrect. Stir-fried until charred and taken with hot water treats Jiaochang Sha (intestinal colic) and abdominal pain. For pediatric erysipelas with redness and swelling, apply with vinegar. However, northern buckwheat is superior; southern buckwheat is bitter and inferior, unsuitable for consumption, causing wind stirring and dizziness with long-term use. It must not be eaten with pork or mutton, as it causes beard and eyebrow loss, nor with yellow croaker. Its stalks burned to ash and leached produce alkali, used to process lime, capable of removing facial nevi and malignant flesh.