〔害〕小麦寒气全在皮，故面去皮则热，热则壅滞动气发渴助湿，令人体浮，皆其害也。
凡
大人脾胃有湿热，及小儿食积肝胀，皆不宜服。然北人以之代饭，常御而不为患者，此其
地势高燥，无湿热重蒸之毒。故面性温平，其功不减于稻粟耳。东南卑湿，春多雨水，其湿
热之气，郁于内，故食之过多，每能发病也。夏月虐痢人，尤不宜食。
〔利〕甘微寒，养心除烦，利溲止血，止渴收汗。浮小麦涩敛、凉心、止虚汗盗汗，治
骨蒸
劳热。麸皮与浮麦同性，止汗之功稍逊。醋拌蒸，熨腰脚折伤，风湿痹痛，胃腹滞气。能散
血止痛。面筋甘凉，解热和中。
面甘温，补虚养气，助五脏、浓肠胃，北方者良。《素问》云∶麦属火、心之谷也。
〔修治〕秋种冬长，春秀夏实，具四时中和之气。四月采，新麦性热，陈麦平和。浮麦，
即
水淘浮起者，焙用。
〔害〕气味平和，与病无忤。
〔利〕甘平安五脏，和心志，令人欢乐无忧，和血止痛，明目消肿，续筋骨，长肌肉，
杀虫
，和调心脾，得酒良。
〔修治〕采无时不拘，去粗皮炒用，入煎为末，熬膏外治并妙。
〔害〕小儿伤乳作泻，脾胃虚寒者忌之。东垣云∶牛黄入肝，治筋，中风入藏者，用以
入骨
追风。若中府中经者，误用之反引风入骨，如油入面，莫之能出，为害非轻。有平素积虚，
而一时骤脱者，景岳以非风名之，尤忌用之。
〔利〕苦甘凉，泻心主之热，摄肝脏之魂，利痰凉惊，通窍辟邪，治中风入脏，惊痫口
噤，
能入筋骨以搜风，得丹皮菖蒲良，人参为使。
[Harms] The cold nature of wheat is concentrated in the bran; therefore, when the bran is removed to make flour, the nature becomes hot. Heat causes qi stagnation, induces thirst, promotes dampness, and leads to bodily edema; these are its harmful effects.
It is generally unsuitable for adults with damp-heat in the spleen and stomach, as well as for children suffering from liver distension due to food accumulation. However, people in the North often substitute rice with wheat flour and consume it regularly without illness. This is because the North has high and dry terrain, lacking the toxic combination of heavy dampness and heat. Thus, flour has a warm and neutral nature, and its efficacy is not inferior to that of rice and millet. In the Southeast, where the terrain is low and wet and spring brings much rain, damp-heat qi stagnates internally. Consequently, excessive consumption of wheat products often triggers disease. Patients suffering from malaria or dysentery in summer should especially avoid eating it.
[Benefits] Wheat is sweet and slightly cold; it nourishes the heart, relieves vexation, promotes urination, stops bleeding, quenches thirst, and arrests sweating. Floating wheat (immature wheat) is astringent and cool; it clears the heart, stops deficiency sweating and night sweats, and treats bone-steaming consumptive fever. Wheat bran shares the same properties as floating wheat but is slightly less effective in stopping sweat. When mixed with vinegar and steamed, applied externally as a compress to waist and foot injuries, rheumatic bi-syndrome, and stagnant qi in the stomach and abdomen, it can dissipate blood stasis and relieve pain. Wheat gluten is sweet and cool; it clears heat and harmonizes the middle jiao.
Flour is sweet and warm; it tonifies deficiency, supports qi, assists the five zang organs, and thickens the intestines and stomach. Flour produced in the North is of superior quality. The *Suwen* states: "Wheat belongs to Fire and is the grain corresponding to the Heart."
[Processing] Wheat is planted in autumn, grows in winter, flowers in spring, and matures in summer, possessing the balanced qi of the four seasons. It is harvested in the fourth lunar month. New wheat has a hot nature, while old wheat is balanced. Floating wheat refers to the grains that float when washed in water; they should be roasted before use.
[Harms] The flavor and nature are mild and do not conflict with pathological conditions.
[Benefits] It is sweet and safe; it calms the five zang organs, harmonizes the mind, induces joy and freedom from worry, harmonizes blood and relieves pain, brightens the eyes, reduces swelling, strengthens sinews and bones, promotes muscle growth, kills parasites, harmonizes the heart and spleen, and works best when taken with wine.
[Processing] Harvesting time is unrestricted. Remove the coarse husk and stir-fry before use. For decoctions, grind into powder; making ointments for external application is also excellent.
[Harms] See the Liver section under Long Gu (Fossilized Bones).
[Benefits] Expels evil pathogens and treats heart diseases.
[Processing] Same as above.
[Harms] Contraindicated in infants with diarrhea caused by milk injury, and in those with deficiency-cold of the spleen and stomach. Li Dongyuan stated: Niuhuang (Calculus Bovis) enters the Liver channel and treats tendon disorders. For stroke affecting the zang organs, it is used to enter the bones and expel wind. However, if the pathogen affects the fu organs or meridians, misuse will draw wind into the bones, like oil penetrating dough, which cannot be extracted, causing significant harm. Patients with chronic deficiency who experience sudden collapse, which Zhang Jingyue termed "non-wind" syndrome, should strictly avoid using it.
[Benefits] Bitter, sweet, and cool; it drains heat from the Pericardium, secures the Hun (Ethereal Soul) of the Liver, resolves phlegm, cools and calms fright, opens orifices, expels evil, treats stroke affecting the zang organs, convulsive epilepsy with locked jaws, and enters the sinews and bones to search out wind. It works well with Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex) and Shichangpu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma), and Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) serves as the guiding herb.