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(Recorded in the Middle Category of *Bencao Bie Lu*)
[Correction] *Bencao Shiyi* (Supplement to Materia Medica) merged wheat grains and wheat seedlings into one category.
[Names] Lai.
Li Shizhen said: "Lai" is also written as "Liu". Xu Shen's *Shuowen Jiezi* states: Heaven descends auspicious wheat, coming once and arriving twice, resembling the shape of awns and thorns; it is what Heaven bestows.
Like walking with feet, hence the character "Mai" (Wheat) consists of "Lai" (Come) and "Sui" (Walk slowly). "Sui" sounds like "Sui", meaning walking with feet. The *Book of Songs* says: "Bestowing upon me Mou Mai." It further states: "Lai" symbolizes its fruit, while "Sui" symbolizes its root. In Buddhist scriptures, wheat is called "Jia Shi Cuo".
[Collection of Explanations] Song Ben said: Barley and wheat are sown in autumn, grow in winter, bolt in spring, and bear fruit in summer, possessing the harmonious Qi of all four seasons; thus they are esteemed among the five grains. In warm southern regions, they can be sown in spring and harvested in summer. However, compared to those sown in autumn, they lack sufficient Four Qi and thus possess toxicity.
Li Shizhen said: Northerners scatter wheat seeds widely, while Southerners sow them in clumps. Northern wheat has thin skins and high flour content, whereas Southern wheat is the opposite. Some say: mixing collected wheat with silkworm excrement prevents insect damage. Others say: crushing Xanthium fructus before the Start of Autumn and drying/storing it together also prevents insects. After Autumn, worms have already hatched. Wheat nature dislikes dampness; thus, prolonged rain and waterlogging cause many grains to remain immature.

Xiao Mai (Tritici Semen)
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, slightly cold, non-toxic. Enters the Shaoyin and Taiyang meridians.
Zhen Quan said: Neutral, slightly toxic.
Meng Gong said: When decocting Xiao Mai soup, the bran must not split. If it splits, the nature becomes warm and cannot clear heat or relieve irritability/thirst.
Zang Qi said: Xiao Mai is sown in autumn and matures in summer, receiving ample Four Qi, encompassing cold, heat, warm, and cool properties. Hence, wheat grains are cool, yeast is warm, bran is cold, and flour is hot; this is logical. White wheat flour from west of the He and Wei rivers is also cool because it is sown in spring, lacking two seasons' Qi.
Li Shizhen said: New wheat is hot in nature; aged wheat is neutral.
[Indications] Clears external pathogenic heat, relieves irritability, thirst, and dry throat, promotes urination, nourishes Liver Qi, stops leakage bleeding and spitting blood. Facilitates conception in women (*Bencao Bie Lu*). Nourishes Heart Qi; suitable for Heart diseases (Sun Simiao). Decocted and drunk, treats sudden Lin syndrome (Kou Zongshi). Roasted to powder and taken internally, kills roundworms in the intestines (*Yaoxing Lun*). Aged wheat decocted and drunk stops deficiency sweating. Charred retaining its property, mixed with oil and applied externally, treats various sores, scalds, and burns (Li Shizhen).
[Elucidation] Li Shizhen said: According to *Suwen*: Wheat belongs to Fire and is the grain of the Heart. Zheng Xuan said: Wheat has a husk/shell, belonging to Wood. Xu Shen said: Wheat belongs to Metal, growing when Metal is prosperous and dying when Fire is prosperous. These three theories differ. However, *Bencao Bie Lu* states that wheat nourishes Liver Qi, aligning with Zheng's view. Sun Simiao stated that wheat nourishes Heart Qi, aligning with *Suwen*. Examining its functions—relieving irritability, quenching thirst, stopping sweat, promoting urination, and stopping bleeding—all relate to Heart disorders; therefore, *Suwen* should be the standard. Xu Shen based his theory on timing, Zheng Xuan on morphology, while *Suwen* focused on efficacy and nature, hence the different conclusions.
Zhu Zhenheng said: In famine years, using wheat as a substitute for grain requires thorough drying, moistening with a little water, pounding off the bran, and cooking into rice/food to avoid the adverse effects of flour-induced heat.
[Attached Prescriptions] Two old, five new.
Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst) with irritability: Eat wheat as rice or porridge (*Xin Jing*).
Elderly with Five Types of Lin Syndrome, fever, and abdominal fullness: One sheng of wheat, two liang of Tong Cao, three sheng of water; decoct to one sheng and drink for cure (*Feng Qin Shu*).
Goiter in the neck: Soak one sheng of wheat in one sheng of vinegar, dry, and powder. Wash seaweed, powder three liang, mix evenly. Take one fang cun bi with wine, three times daily (*Duan Ju Fang*).
Head sores near eyebrows: Char wheat until carbonized, powder, mix with oil, and apply (*Rumen Shiqin*).
Vitiligo/Tinea: Spread wheat on stone, press with red-hot iron to extract oil, and apply; very effective (*Yixue Zhengchuan*).
Scalds/Burns without open sores: Stir-fry wheat until black, powder, add Nifen (Calomel), mix with oil, and apply. Avoid cold water to prevent rotting (*Xiuzhen Fang*).
Intestine prolapse from metal wounds: Decoct five sheng of wheat in nine sheng of water to obtain four sheng. Filter through silk cloth, let cool completely. Have patient lie on mat, hold liquid in mouth to facilitate intestinal retraction. For ten days, consume only light soups. Avoid startling/disturbing to prevent death (*Liu Juanzi Guiyi Fang*).

Fu Mai (Floating Wheat - grains that float during washing, roasted before use).
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, salty, cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Tonifies Qi, clears heat, stops spontaneous and night sweats, treats bone-steaming deficiency heat and women's labor-heat (Li Shizhen).

Mai Fu (Wheat Bran)
[Indications] Treats epidemic heat sores, scald/burn ulcers, traumatic bruising/blood stasis; stir-fried with vinegar and applied externally (*Rihua Bencao*). Mixed with flour to make cakes, stops diarrhea/dysentery, harmonizes middle jiao, clears heat, and strengthens the body. Steamed hot with vinegar, placed in bags, and used for moxibustion-like warming on cold/injured waist/legs of humans or horses to stop pain and dissipate blood stasis (Zang Qi). Vinegar-steamed and applied to rheumatic bi-pain of hands/feet, cold-damp Hong Kong foot (gouty arthritis); alternate applications until sweating occurs; highly effective. Powdered and taken orally, stops deficiency sweating (Li Shizhen).
[Elucidation] Li Shizhen said: Bran is the wheat skin. It shares the same nature as Floating Wheat but has weaker antiperspirant efficacy because Floating Wheat lacks the fleshy part.
For body pain, ulcerated sores, or infants with smallpox sores that cannot touch the bedsheet, wrap bran in padded quilts for sleeping support; its cool and soft nature makes this an excellent method.
[Attached Prescriptions] Seven new.
Deficiency/Night Sweats: *Weisheng Baojian*: Powder roasted Floating Wheat. Take 2.5 qian with rice water, three times daily. Or decoct as tea. Alternative: Cooked pig snout lips sliced and dipped/eaten (*Hu Shi Fun Ren Fang*).
Postpartum Deficiency Sweating: Equal parts wheat bran and Oyster Shell, powdered. Mix with pork broth juice, take 2 qian, twice daily.
Qi Migration Pain: Stir-fry bran with strong vinegar until hot, bag, and apply as compress (*Shengsheng Bian*).
Eliminate Scars: Use barley bran in spring/summer, wheat bran in autumn/winter; sift powder, mix with lard/suet, and apply (*Zonglu*).
Infant Eyebrow Sores: Char wheat bran, powder, mix with wine, and apply.
Hematuria: Fragrant-roasted wheat bran, dip in fatty pork meat and eat (*Jixuan*).

Mian (Wheat Flour)
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, warm, slightly toxic. Cannot clear heat or relieve irritability (*Bencao Bie Lu*).
Da Ming said: Nature causes stagnation and heat, mildly agitates Wind Qi, triggers Dan Stone toxicity.
Simiao said: Overconsumion prolongs chronic conditions and adds pathogenic Qi. Adversely interacts with Sichuan pepper and radish.
[Indications] Tonifies deficiency. Long-term consumption solidifies flesh, thickens intestines/stomach, and strengthens strength (Zang Qi). Nourishes Qi, supplements insufficiency, assists Five Zang organs (*Rihua Bencao*). Mixed with water, treats human heatstroke and horse lung-heat (Kou Zongshi). Applied externally to carbuncles/swelling/trauma, dissipates blood and stops pain. Raw consumption benefits large intestine. Mixed with water, stops epistaxis and hematemesis (Li Shizhen).
[Elucidation] Shen said: Flour with heat toxicity often appears dark/old due to stone dust from millstones. Pounding and eating it directly is better.
Zang Qi said: Flour is generally hot; only second-milled flour is cool because it retains more bran. West of He/Wei, white wheat flour is cool due to spring sowing lacking two seasons' Qi.
Ying said: Southeast is low/damp with spring rains; wheat absorbs moisture without sweating, causing thirst, wind agitation, dampness, and heat upon consumption. Northwest is high/dry with less rain; wheat stays dry and is stored in cellars to sweat; Northerners have robust constitutions with little dampness, so frequent consumption causes no illness.
Li Shizhen said: Northern flour is warm (no thirst upon eating); Southern flour is hot (causes irritability/thirst); Western flour is cool. This is due to local geography/climate. Consuming Sichuan pepper or radish resolves toxicity (see Radish entry). Medical formulas often use Feiluo Mian (fine sifted flour) to avoid stone dust and ensure mild nature. Aged wheat flour boiled and eaten is non-toxic. Flour fermented with distiller's grains induces disease/sores; only steamed buns made from it are easily digested. Note: Li Pengfei's *Yanshou Shu* states North has frost/snow so flour is non-toxic; South has little snow so flour is toxic. Gu Yuanqing's *Yanbao Outan* states Jiangnan wheat flowers bloom at night (inducing disease), while Jiangbei blooms by day (suitable). Fish/rice suit Jianghuai; mutton/flour suit Jingluo; these are regional preferences. Although flour is hot, Cold Food Day flour hung in paper bags in wind remains unspoiled for decades, losing its heat/toxicity, making it excellent for medicine.
[Attached Prescriptions] Six old, twenty-three new.
Heat/Thirst/Chest Oppression: Mix one liang flour in one cup warm water, drink (*Shengji Zonglu*).
Sudden Death from Heatstroke: Mix one scoop flour in well water, ingest (*Qianjin Fang*).
Night Sweats: Make wheat flour pills, boil and eat empty-stomached or before bed. Next morning take Miaoxiang San for effect.
Internal Trauma/Hematemesis: Lightly stir-fry Feiluo Mian, mix with Beijing ink juice or lotus node juice, take 2 qian (*Yixue Jicheng*).
Severe Epistaxis (mouth/nose bleeding): Mix white flour with salt, cold water, take 3 qian (*Pujifang*).
Gu Poison/Hematemesis: Two he of wheat flour, mix with water, ingest; evacuation occurs within half a day (*Guangji*).
Persistent Hiccups/Vomiting: Mix flour with vinegar, make 20-30 pills, boil in hot water, drain, soak in grain wash water, swallow 2-3 when warm. Stop if hiccups cease; otherwise repeat at night (*Bingbu Shouji*).
Cold Dysentery (White Stool): Stir-fried flour, one fang cun bi added to porridge. Treats severe diarrhea (100 stools/day) refractory to doctors (*Waitai Mi Yao*).
Uncontrolled Diarrhea/Dysentery: One jin white flour, stir-fried until dark yellow. Take 1-2 spoons with warm water empty stomach daily (*Zhengyao*).
Chronic Malaria: One he of Cold Food Flour from three different families each. On May 5th noon, gather fresh Artemisia annua, crush for juice, mix with flour to make green bean-sized pills. [Text cuts off]
Scalp Edema (thin like steamed bun, fluid-filled): Chew flour and apply (*Meishi Fang*).
Sore Throat/Swelling/Aphagia: Mix white flour with vinegar, apply externally to swollen throat (*Pujifang*).
Breast Abscess/Mastitis: Boil flour paste, add one cup non-filtered wine when nearly done, drink hot while massaging gently until medicine spreads and heals (*Jingyan Fang*).
Uncleared Breast Carbuncle: Half jin white flour stir-fried yellow, boiled with vinegar into paste, apply until resolved (*Shenghui Fang*).
Broken Wind (Tetanus): One pinch white flour, one pinch burnt salt. Mix with fresh water, apply (*Pujifang*).
Metal Wound Bleeding: Dry application of raw flour; heals in 5-7 days (*Linshi Jingyan Fang*).
Callus/Blisters from Walking: Raw flour mixed with water, apply; flattens overnight (*Haishang*).
Fractures/Bruising: Pound white flour with Gardenia seeds, mix with water, apply to disperse swelling.
Burn Scabs: Stir-fried flour mixed with Gardenia powder, blend with oil, apply (*Qianjin Fang*).
Necrotic Tissue in Sores: Two liang Cold Food Flour, 5 fen Croton seed. Mix with water, make cake, char to powder, sprinkle on wound (*Xianchuan Waike*).
Tinea Capitis (White Baldness): Mix white flour and fermented soybean paste, bind with vinegar, apply (*Pujifang*).
Infant Mouth Ulcers: 5 qian Cold Food Flour, 7 qian Nitre. Mix with water, apply half qian to sole of foot (left for males, right for females) (*Pujifang*).
Female Sterilization: One sheng white flour, one sheng wine. Boil, strain, divide into three doses. Take night before menstruation, next morning, and at dawn.
Cold/Dull Pain spreading to Abdominal Fullness: Vinegar-mixed flour compress (*Qianjin Fang*).
All Fistula Sores: Salt and flour kneaded, charred, powdered, and applied (*Qianjin Fang*).
Phagedenic Ulcer (weeping, limb/back nodules like red beans): Clean wound, apply flour mixed with wine (*Qianjin Fang*).
All Ding Swellings: Flour sealed with cured pork fat (*Meishi Fang*).
Rice Food Stagnation: One liang white flour, two pills Baijiu Qu, stir-fried to powder. Take 2 spoons with plain water. For meat stagnation, take with Hawthorn soup (*Jianbian Fang*).

Mai Fen (Wheat Starch)
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, cool, non-toxic.
[Indications] Tonifies center, benefits Qi meridians, harmonizes Five Zang, regulates collaterals. Roasted one he, taken with soup, stops dysentery (Meng Shen). Boiled with vinegar into paste, resolves all carbuncles/swellings, scalds/burns (Li Shizhen).
[Elucidation] Li Shizhen said: Mai Fen is bran-flour starch extracted by washing gluten. Modern people use it for sizing clothes; ancient formulas rarely used it. Wan Biao's *Jishan Tang Fang* describes "Wulong Gao" (Black Dragon Paste): treats all carbuncles/back abscesses/unnamed swellings before rupture; extremely effective. Use year-old starch, older is better. Stir-fry in pan. Initially sticky like syrup, eventually dry, turning yellow-black. Grind when cool. Mix with aged rice vinegar into paste, boil until black lacquer-like, store in porcelain jar. Apply thinly on paper with hole cut out; feels instantly cold, pain stops. Soon itches, dries firmly. Eventually swelling resolves, medicine falls off. Excellent. Passed down by Du Shuan'an in Suzhou, proven effective. Easy medicine, great merit; practitioners should preserve it.

Mian Jin (Wheat Gluten)
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, cool, non-toxic.
[Indications] Clears heat, harmonizes middle jiao; suitable for cooked consumption by those with labor-heat (Li Shizhen). Expands middle jiao, tonifies Qi (Ning Yuan).
[Elucidation] Li Shizhen said: Gluten is made by washing wheat flour/bran in water to remove starch. Ancient people rarely knew it; now it is a key vegetarian food, excellent when boiled. Modern people stir-fry it with oil, making it hot in nature.
Kou Zongshi said: Chewing raw white flour forms gluten, which can stick to birds/insects.

Mai Qiu (Steamed/Roasted Wheat Flour)
[Description] Also known as Qiu. Wheat steamed then ground to crumbs.
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, slightly cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Relieves wasting-thirst, relieves irritability (*Shu Ben*).