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(Soybean) enters the Kidney channel, dispels wind, clears heat, promotes urination, directs Qi downward, invigorates blood, and resolves toxicity.

Black Soybean (specifically enters the Kidney channel). Flavor: sweet; Nature: neutral. Color: black; Texture: moist and glossy. According to its shape resembling the kidney, it is originally a grain of the Kidney. Among soybeans, black ones particularly communicate with the Kidney channel. When guided by salt, the bean can directly enter the Kidney channel. Li Shizhen stated: "Beans come in five colors; only black beans belong to Water nature and are cold in temperature. The Kidney is the channel of Cold Water; therefore, it can treat water disorders, reduce distension, direct Qi downward, control wind-heat, invigorate blood, and resolve toxicity. This is what is meant by 'like attracts like'." Thus, medical texts state that taking this substance makes the skin lustrous, nourishes the bones, stops thirst, and generates fluids. Is this not its power to tonify the Kidney? For bodily and facial edema, unremitting watery diarrhea, and wet, ulcerated chickenpox lesions, resolution occurs upon taking this. Is this not its power to enter the Kidney and eliminate water? For stiffness and pain in the head and neck, sudden loss of voice due to stroke, elimination occurs. Is this not its power to control wind? (This refers to deficient wind. If purely external wind strikes internally, this method is unnecessary.) For Hong Kong foot (podagra/swollen feet) attacking the heart, or sudden chest and hypochondriac pain, single administration of this substance yields efficacy. Is this not its power to direct Qi downward? For heat-toxicity attacking the eyes, or breast cancer (breast mass with fever), healing occurs. Is this not its power to clear heat? For hematochezia, bloody dysentery, fractures, and falls, good results are obtained. Is this not its power to invigorate blood? For wind-induced paralysis, sores and scabies, erysipelas, and snake/centipede venom, resolution occurs. Is this not its power to resolve toxicity? However, its moist texture and cloying nature mean excessive consumption causes heaviness of the body. (Chen Cangqi said: "Soybeans are naturally neutral. Roasted, they are extremely hot; boiled, very cold; made into fermented bean curd (douchi), extremely cold; made into paste or raw yellow sprouts, neutral. Cows eating them become warm; horses eating them become cold. Within one substance, usage varies greatly.") Adding Licorice Root (Gancao) resolves the toxicity of all medicines.

(When raw, Soybeans promote dispersion and excretion; when cooked, they cause stagnation.)

Yellow Soybean (specifically enters the Spleen channel). Medical texts state that although the flavor is sweet, excessive consumption leads to Qi stagnation, phlegm generation, and coughing. Yet other texts say it broadens the middle, directs Qi downward, benefits the large intestine, and reduces water retention, edema, and toxins. These principles seem contradictory. It is understood that when texts mention sweetness causing stagnation, they refer to the effect after roasting, where Qi does not disperse. When texts mention broadening the middle and directing Qi downward, they refer to the raw, unroasted state. Generally, substances when raw promote dispersion and excretion; when cooked, they cause congestion and stagnation. Although Yellow Soybean is sweet and warm in nature, when raw, its Water Qi has not dispersed, and excessive consumption may harm through excessive dispersion. Therefore, beans must be distinguished as raw or cooked, and treatments differ between tonification and purgation. (Chen Cangqi said: "Soybeans are naturally neutral; roasted, they are extremely hot.") Hence, texts record that for accidental ingestion of poisons, one should crush raw beans, grind them, and drink the water to induce vomiting. For various fungal toxins that cannot be vomited, a concentrated decoction should be drunk. To test for internal abscesses and foul-smelling toxin abdominal pain, chewing raw yellow soybeans is advised; if the taste is sweet without nausea, it indicates true signs of upper abscess formation or mid-jiao foul-toxin miasma. Only residual toxins from smallpox causing abscesses are treated by (roasting black beans, grinding to powder, and mixing with green sesame oil for application); wind-scales after smallpox are treated by (washing with decoction of bean husks); sores after smallpox are treated by (burning yellow soybeans to black, grinding to powder, and applying with sesame oil); swelling ulcers and back sores are treated by (soaking raw, grinding finely, mixing dregs, heating, and applying). Some are treated by decocting or roasting to powder. For tonification, cooked beans are required. However, they must be consumed in small amounts to be suitable. If taken excessively without restraint,弊端 such as phlegm generation, Qi stagnation, and coughing will inevitably appear. Soybean oil is pungent, sweet, and hot, differing slightly in aroma and flavor from the bean itself. It can be applied to sores and scabies, and resolves carbuncle toxins. Mugwort ash burned to gray can be used to cauterize malignant nevi and remove bad flesh. Beans are contraindicated with pork.