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(Jishi, also known as Jitou.)
[Flavor and Nature]
Sweet, neutral, astringent, non-toxic.
[Indications]
Treats Bi syndrome caused by dampness, involving pain in the lower back, spine, and knees. Tonifies the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner), eliminates acute illnesses, benefits essence and qi, strengthens willpower, and makes the ears and eyes clear. Long-term consumption lightens the body, prevents hunger, and promotes longevity. Opens the stomach, aids qi, stops thirst, benefits the Kidneys, treats urinary incontinence, spermatorrhea, leukorrhea (white turbid discharge), and vaginal discharge. Excessive consumption by children may inhibit growth. Raw consumption may induce wind-cold qi. Overconsumption is detrimental to the Spleen and Stomach and is difficult to digest. Consumed as powder, it is more beneficial than [other grains].

[Flavor and Nature]
Bitter, sweet, slightly cold, non-toxic. It belongs to Yang within Yin. Its action can ascend and descend. Enters the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian.
[Indications]
Treats sores and ulcers. Promotes urination, stops thirst, aids digestion, and clears phlegm-heat. Ascending action clears the head and eyes. It can also dissipate summerheat and resolve alcohol and food toxicity. For rich foods like pastries, roasted meats, and other heavy flavors, consuming [it] is beneficial. However, long-term and excessive consumption damages Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) and Essence, causing blood to fail to manifest luster in the complexion. As stated in the "Preface to Tea," it resolves stagnation and unclogs obstructions; its benefit for one day is temporarily good, but it depletes essence and emaciates qi, causing significant lifelong burden. One must be cautious.

[Flavor and Nature]
Salty, warm and slightly cold, non-toxic. It is the chief of the five grains. It causes people to become fat.
[Indications]
Treats Xiao Ke (Wasting and Thirsting Syndrome) and clears heat. Benefits qi, harmonizes the Middle Jiao, tonifies deficiency and weakness, strengthens blood vessels, improves complexion, solidifies the Five Zang Organs, transforms grain and food, and stops diarrhea. It does not disturb wind qi. Long-term consumption makes the skin fat, white, and smooth. Made into flour, it is superior to wheat flour, lacking dryness and heat. Flour harmonizes the Stomach, stops thirst, aids digestion, and treats distension and fullness. Long-term consumption prevents hair from turning white. Mixed with針砂 (Needle Sand) and Mo Shizi (Moss Stone), it can dye hair black. It expands the chest and directs qi downward, cools blood, resolves accumulation, and promotes appetite. Barley has a neutral, cool, slippery, and greasy nature. For patients suffering from Chan Hou Feng (Coiling Throat Wind) who cannot swallow, making this flour into a thin paste for swallowing helps support Stomach Qi. Roasted consumption involves fire and can generate heat diseases. Cooked as rice, it is beneficial. Raw consumption harms the human body.

(When using Puhuang, do not use Songhuang or Huanghao. These two look exactly alike, differing only in flavor and inducing vomiting. True Puhuang must be baked through three layers of paper until yellow, steamed for half a day, and then dried again for best results. Use raw to break blood and reduce swelling; use stir-fried to tonify blood and stop bleeding.)
[Flavor and Nature]
Sweet, neutral, non-toxic.
[Indications]
Treats cold and heat conditions of the Heart, Abdomen, Bladder, and Lower Jiao. Promotes urination, stops bleeding, and resolves blood stasis. Long-term consumption lightens the body, benefits qi and strength, and prolongs life. Treats bloody dysentery, epistaxis (nosebleed), hematemesis (vomiting blood), hematuria (blood in urine), and melena (bloody stool). Promotes water pathways, unblocks collaterals, stops metrorrhagia (uterine bleeding) in women, treats leukorrhea and irregular menstruation in women, and addresses abdominal pain caused by blood and qi stagnation. For pregnant women with threatened abortion due to bleeding, blood syncope, blood disorders, postpartum uterine contraction pain (Erzhen Qi Tong), traumatic blood obstruction, pus drainage, sores, boils, migratory wind, and toxic swelling, it promotes lactation, stops seminal emission, cools blood, invigorates blood, and stops various pains in the heart and abdomen. Puhuang is a herb entering the Blood aspect of the Hand-Jueyin and Foot-Jueyin meridians. Therefore, it treats blood disorders and pain. Raw form moves blood, while cooked/stir-fried form stops bleeding. When used together with Wulingzhi (Trogopterus Dung), it treats all kinds of abdominal and cardiac pain.