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Non-toxic.

Douchi (Fermented Soybean) is indicated for headache, alternating chills and fever, miasma and malignant toxins, irritability, chest and epigastric fullness and oppression, deficiency-type labor with panting and gasping, pain and coldness in both legs. It also eliminates toxins from livestock fetuses and various poisons (Recorded by Famous Physicians).

[Origin] Tao Hongjing stated: This is a common item in food. During spring and summer when the weather is unharmonious, after steaming and frying, it can be soaked in wine and taken; this is excellent. Following Kang Bo's method, first knead with vinegar and wine, then steam and sun-dry until dry. Mix with sesame oil, then steam and sun-dry again. Repeat this process three times. Finally, mix with ground Sichuan peppercorn and dried ginger powder to consume with meals; this surpasses modern oil douchi. Douchi produced in Xiangyang and Qiantang is fragrant, beautiful, and rich. Taking the center part is even better (Shiliao says): The douchi juice from Shanfu is far superior to ordinary douchi. To make Huangzheng (Yellow Steamed Soybean), ferment soybeans. For every dou (a unit of volume) of soybeans, use four sheng of salt and four liang of Sichuan peppercorn. Ferment for three days in spring, two days in summer, and five days in winter until half-cooked. Add five liang of fresh ginger; this is both clean and refined, surpassing Huangzheng fermented in horse manure (Chen Cangqi said): Douchi from Puzhou tastes salty and its preparation method differs from other douchi; its flavor is intense. Shanzhou also produces douchi juice that does not spoil over years and greatly clears irritability and heat. In medicinal use, it is not like using only the center of modern douchi, because modern douchi centers lack salt.

[Harvest] Sun-dried.
[Medicinal Part] Center of douchi.
[Color] Black.
[Taste] Bitter.
[Nature] Cold, with draining properties.
[Aroma/Flavor profile] Thin qi, strong taste, Yin nature.
[Odor] Fragrant.
[Main Actions] Induces sweating, clears irritability and heat.
[Adjuvant] Works well with vinegar (Xi).
[Preparation] Crush before use.
[Treatment] (Yaoxing Lun says): Stops bloody dysentery feeling like stabbing. Use one sheng of douchi, soak in water just enough to cover it. Boil for one or two boils, squeeze out the juice, and take in one dose. Alternatively, stir-fry into powder to stop sweating and treat epidemic febrile diseases with irritability. For wind-cold pathogenic factors attacking the chest causing sores, crush and form into pills to take (Rimazishi says): Treats Gu Qi (poisonous miasma), malaria, bone-steaming consumption, and dog bites (Chen Cangqi said): Puzhou douchi resolves irritability, heat toxins, alternating chills and fever, deficiency-labor, regulates the middle jiao, induces sweating, opens joint passages, and treats nasal congestion due to Shanghan (Cold Damage). Shanzhou douchi juice greatly clears irritability and heat. (Tangye Bencao says): Relieves mental restlessness and discomfort (Ao Nao). (Bielu says): For mouth and tongue sores and chest/diaphragm pain, hold fine powder of scorched douchi in the mouth overnight for cure. Also removes insect stings/bites; chew good douchi center thoroughly and apply to the wound. Soon, hairs will appear in the douchi, indicating cure; if not seen, continue chewing and applying day and night until hairs appear. Also treats heart palpitations/oppression caused by broken limbs/fractures and sprains. Soak three sheng of douchi in two sheng of water, squeeze juice, and drink for cure. Also treats Qu Lu (earwig) urine sores; crush douchi and apply externally. For back carbuncles/abscesses, whether ulcerated or not, use three sheng of aromatic douchi, add a little water, mash into paste, apply as a cake (three fen thick) on the swelling. Do not cover existing holes. Place moxa cones on top of the douchi cake and moxibustion until warm but not burning skin. Change immediately if hot/painful. As symptoms decrease and comfort increases, moxibustion twice daily. If fluid drains from pre-existing holes, it cures. Also treats red and white dysentery; stir-fry douchi until slightly charred, crush, and take one ge per dose, three times daily, effective. Also treats bleeding from tongue pores like needle pricks; take one sheng douchi, three sheng water, boil, strain, take one sheng, three times daily. Also treats children's alternating chills/fever and evil qi invasion; make wet douchi into egg-sized pills, rub on cheeks, palms, and soles six to seven times, then rub on heart area and umbilicus while chanting spells. Break pill afterwards; if fine hairs are found, discard them on the road, and it cures. Also calms the fetus; taking douchi juice is excellent. Also treats malignant sores; apply powder of stir-fried douchi, curing within three to four applications.

[Combined Treatments] Steam/fry douchi, soak in wine, apply residue to treat Hongjiaojiao (Gouty arthritis/swollen lower legs); cures. ○ One sheng douchi combined with one handful of cut Scallion White (Xiebai), three sheng water. Boil Xiebai first, add douchi, boil until soup turns black, remove douchi, divide into two doses. Take again if not cured. Treats sudden dysentery and abdominal pain due to Shanghan. ○ Mash rotten douchi (one part) with earthworm wet mud (two parts), grind with water, apply to penile sores/pain. Change when dry. Avoid hot food, alcohol, vegetables, garlic. ○ Lightly fry one sheng douchi until fragrant, soak in three sheng clear wine for three days. Take juice at any temperature as preferred. Treats chronic night sweats. If not cured, prepare another three liang dosage to stop it. ○ Combine equal parts of douchi and Scallion White (half sheng each), two sheng water. Boil to obtain one sheng, take in one dose. Treats alcohol intoxication. ○ Steam douchi combined with Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome (Baizhu) for wine infusion; regular consumption wards off epidemic warmth. ○ One sheng douchi combined with fourteen crushed Gardenia fruits (Zhizi), three sheng water. Decoct to obtain one sheng, divide into three doses. Treats severe heart vexation and heat after taking medicine for Shanghan. ○ Five sheng Douchi Heart, nine steams and nine sun-dries, combined with one dou of wine, soak overnight. Drink freely on an empty stomach according to tolerance. Treats wind-toxin causing leg/knee spasms and joint pain. ○ Wrap douchi in yellow clay, bake until cooked, cool, remove, powder douchi, mix with pure vegetable oil, apply to infant head malignant sores; cures. ○ Combine equal parts douchi and Garlic, mash evenly, form pills like wu zi (walnut seeds). Take thirty pills with salt water. Treats persistent lower blood from Zang Du (visceral toxin) and bloody dysentery. ○ Half sheng lightly fried douchi combined with one and a half sheng wine, boil for five to seven boils. Take while slightly warm as desired. Treats toxic vapors attacking hands/feet and body edema after Shanghan. ○ Char douchi until smoke ceases, powder, mix with oil, apply to infant Dan Du (erysipelas) with broken sores and yellow fluid discharge.

[Detoxification] Resolves Chinese herbal medicine toxicity.