Library

(Mai, Mai, Dao) Tonify deficiency, moisten the skin, but tend to obstruct Qi and promote phlegm-dampness.

Mian (Flour) (Primarily enters the Spleen channel, also enters the Liver channel). Although derived from Xiaomai (Triticum aestivum L.), its nature is significantly different from the grain itself. It has a sweet taste and warm nature, with slight toxicity. (Chen Cangqi stated: Xiaomai is sown in autumn and ripens in summer, absorbing sufficient Qi of the four seasons, thereby possessing cold, hot, warm, and cool properties. Thus, the grain is cool, Qu (fermented dough) is warm, Bran is cold, while Flour is hot; this is logical.) Ingestion can tonify deficiency and nourish Qi, moisten the skin, thicken the intestines and stomach, and can be applied externally for sores, swellings, and injuries to dissipate blood, relieve pain, stop epistaxis, and arrest hematemesis. Because its texture is sticky and moist, it can tonify various deficiencies and assist Middle Qi, benefit the thickening of the gastrointestinal tract, aid muscle injuries, and help with pain from toxic sores. However, excessive consumption can also obstruct Qi. (Anything with ascending and dispersing properties tends to cause obstruction; thus, people in the north use this together with chicken to disperse pathogens when suffering from Shanghan (Cold Damage), taking advantage of its ascending nature.) Therefore, medical texts state that Mian cannot relieve irritability. (Due to its ascending nature, it often fails to relieve irritability.) Moreover, it may induce thirst. (When Qi ascends, both irritability and thirst occur.) It also aids damp-heat. Hence, medical texts state that it cannot clear heat and instead promotes dampness and fever. Therefore, for those with Spleen deficiency without dampness or heat, ingestion is most suitable; whereas for those with dampness and heat, it is most contraindicated. For Spleen deficiency without cold or dampness, eating it provides tonification; however, for Spleen deficiency accompanied by cold and dampness, ingestion may cause harm. Aged flour is superior. (Ou Tan records: Although flour is hot in nature, if Han Shi (Cold Food Festival) flour is stored in bags and hung in ventilated places, it will not spoil even after decades, meaning its hot nature is eliminated and it becomes non-toxic. It is especially good for medicinal use.) When consuming, it is advisable to add a little vinegar. (Adding vinegar prevents the Qi from ascending.) It is incompatible with Hanjiao (Zanthoxylum bungeanum) and Luosuo (Metaplexis japonica).

(Mai, Mai, Dao) Soothe the Spleen and moisten the Lungs.

Daomi (Oryza sativa L.) (Primarily enters the Spleen channel, also enters the Lung channel). It has a sweet taste and neutral nature. Various books describe its nature as warm, cold, or cool. However, upon investigation, it belongs to Yin substances; Yin implies the accumulation of cold, so its nature is sticky and obstructive rather than smooth. Consequently, ingestion causes drowsiness, bodily weakness, flaccidity of the limbs, and dizziness when wind pathogens arise. Even if fed to kittens, it causes their legs to curl and prevents walking; if fed to horses, it makes their steps heavy and difficult to move; if pregnant women consume it mixed with meat, it hinders fetal development. If one claims its nature is warm and hot, ingestion should naturally bring mild, warming, unblocking, and activating benefits, how could it be so Yin-congealed and cloying! Some argue that brewing wine makes it hot, and making sugar is even hotter, and it induces sores and boils; how can one say it is not warm? Yet, consider that Da Dou (Soybean) is also warm in its raw state, but becomes cool when processed into Chi Dou (Fermented Soybean). This shows that Daomi is not inherently warm; its warmth arises only through fermentation. As for medical texts claiming it tonifies the Middle and boosts Qi, treats deficiency-cold diarrhea, reduces urination, arrests spontaneous sweating, and erupts smallpox, these effects are due to its sticky and obstructive nature causing retention in the Middle Jiao, leading to upward obstruction without descending. This is unlike Renshen (Ginseng) and Huangqi (Astragalus), whose primary nature is warm tonification combined with unblocking and activation, lacking such severe Yin stagnation. (Generally, substances that are stagnant are not necessarily warm, and warm substances are not necessarily stagnant; this is the principle.) It can be called "soothing the Middle," but calling it "warming the Middle and generating heat" is untenable. It can be said to be suitable for Middle deficiency, but saying it is suitable for deficiency-cold is equally unjustifiable. It is contraindicated for the elderly, children, and those with chronic illness.