Library

[Background Information]
Book: Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)
Author: Li Shizhen
Dynasty: Ming Dynasty, 6th Year of Wanli
Chapter: Mung Bean (Lü Dou)
Category: Materia Medica

(Song Dynasty *Kaibao Bencao*)
[Names] Li Shizhen said: "Green" is named after its color. The character written as "KT" in old editions is incorrect.
[Collection and Explanation] Su Song said: Mung beans are best when round and small. Made into powder and baked as cakes, they are good to eat. The larger ones are called [character for bean variant], and their seedlings and seeds are similar; they can also descend Qi and treat Huoluan (cholera-like syndrome).
Wu Rui said: There are "Official Green" and "Oil Green" varieties; their main therapeutic effects are the same.
Li Shizhen said: Mung beans are grown everywhere. Sown in March and April, the seedlings grow about one chi high, with small, hairy leaves. In autumn, they open small flowers, and the pods resemble those of red beans. Those with coarse grains and bright color are called "Official Green"; those with thin skins, high starch content, small grains, and deep color are called "Oil Green"; those with thick skins, low starch, and early planting are called "Zhai Green" (picked green), which can be harvested frequently; late-planted ones are called "Ba Green" (pulled green), harvested once. Northerners use them extensively: for bean porridge, bean rice, bean wine, stir-frying, boiling, grinding into flour, clarifying to extract starch for making cakes, sheets, and noodles; they are essential food items. Soaked in water to sprout white shoots, they are also excellent vegetables. They are also widely used as feed for cattle and horses. Truly an excellent grain for saving the world.
[Flavor and Properties] Sweet, cold, non-toxic.
Chen Zangqi said: It is advisable to use the skin; removing it causes urinary stagnation and Qi obstruction, because the skin is cold while the flesh is neutral. It is incompatible with Torreya seed shells, harming humans. Combined with carp [causes adverse reactions].
[Therapeutic Actions] Boiled and eaten, it reduces swelling, descends Qi, clears heat, and detoxifies. Crushed raw, juice extracted and taken orally, it treats Dan Du (erysipelas), vexing wind-heat rashes, heat conditions triggered by medicinal minerals, and Reqi Ben Tun (rushing qi sensation) (*Kaibao Bencao*). Treats chills and fever, heat in the middle jiao, stops sudden diarrhea and dysentery, promotes urination, and relieves distension (Sun Simiao). Strengthens the intestines and stomach. Used as a pillow, it brightens the eyes and treats head wind and headache. Stops vomiting and regurgitation (*Ri Hua Zi Bencao*). Tonifies original Qi, harmonizes the five zang organs, calms the spirit, circulates the twelve meridians, removes floating wind, moistens the skin, and is suitable for regular consumption. Boiled juice stops Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome) (Meng Shen). Resolves all herbal, bovine, equine, and mineral toxins (Ning Yuan). Treats toxin from smallpox/variolae, benefits swelling reduction.
[Innovation and Discovery] Li Shizhen said: The flesh of mung beans is neutral, while the skin is cold. It resolves toxins from minerals, arsenic, and all herbs and plants; it is best to crush it raw with the skin and take it with water.
Note: *Yijian Zhi* records: A person drank too much Aconite wine, resulting in a head swollen like a bucket and cracked lips bleeding. He urgently chewed several he of mung beans and black soybeans, and drank decoction made from them, thereby resolving the toxicity.
[Attached Prescriptions] Eleven new prescriptions.
Bian Que's Three Bean Drink, treating epidemic variola (smallpox). Taking this drink in advance disperses heat toxins; even if pustules appear, there will be fewer: Use one sheng each of mung beans, adzuki beans, and black soybeans, two liang of licorice nodes, boiled in eight sheng of water until very soft. Eat the beans and drink the juice at will, stop after seven days. Another method: Add yellow soybeans and white soybeans.
For initial carbuncles/toxins after smallpox, treat with Three Bean Paste, miraculous effect: Equal parts mung beans, adzuki beans, and black soybeans, ground into powder. Mix with vinegar and apply frequently; it dissipates immediately. (*Yixue Zhengchuan*)
Preventing toxin entering the eyes: Use seven mung beans, have the child throw them into a well, look at the well frequently seven times, then return.
Pediatric erysipelas swelling: Five qian of mung beans, two qian of rhubarb. Grind into powder. Mix with fresh mint juice and honey, apply topically. (*Quanyou Xinjian*)
Persistent bloody dysentery: Process hemp seeds with water, filter the juice, boil mung beans in it and eat; extremely effective. Eating porridge is also acceptable. (*Bixiao Fang*)
Elderly strangury pain: Two sheng of green beans, two liang of tangerine peel. Boil bean porridge, add one sheng of sesame juice. Eat gradually on an empty stomach, and drink the juice; very effective. (*Yanglao Shu*)
Wasting-thirst drinking: Boil mung beans for juice, make into porridge and eat. (*Puji Fang*)
Heart Qi pain: Twenty-one mung beans, fourteen peppercorns. Grind together, mix with warm water and take; stops immediately.
Frequent hunger: One sheng each of mung beans, yellow wheat, and glutinous rice, roasted and ground into powder. Take one cup mixed with warm water per dose; effective in three to five days.
Ten types of Water Qi (edema): Use two and a half he of mung beans, one large Aconite root (peeled, navel removed, cut into two slices). Three bowls of water, cook until soft. Eat the beans on an empty stomach before bed. The next day, cut the two aconite slices into four, use another two and a half he of mung beans, cook and eat as before. On the third day, cook mung beans and aconite again as before. On the fourth day, cook as on the second day. Water discharges via urine, swelling subsides naturally. If not resolved, repeat. Avoid cold/raw foods, toxic substances, salt, and alcohol for sixty days; no case fails. (*Zhu Shi Jiyan Fang*)
Mung Bean Powder
[Flavor and Properties] Sweet, cool/neutral, non-toxic.
Ning Yuan said: The sticky variety should not be eaten in excess by people with weak spleen and stomach.
Wu Rui said: Do not keep near almonds, or it will rot and cannot be made into strips.
[Therapeutic Actions] Clears various heats, tonifies Qi, resolves alcohol and food toxins, treats back carbuncles, ulcers, sores, and scalds/burns (Wu Rui). For wet, rotting smallpox that does not scab, dry powder application is good (Ning Yuan). Mixed with fresh drawn water and taken orally, it treats Huoluan with muscle cramps, resolves fatal drug poison in patients whose heart is still warm (Li Shizhen). Resolves wild mushroom and arsenic poison (Wang Ying).
[Innovation and Discovery] Li Shizhen said: Mung beans are green, belonging to the bean family associated with Wood, connecting to the Jueyin and Yangming meridians. Their nature is slightly neutral. Although their ability to reduce swelling and treat smallpox is similar to adzuki beans, their power to clear heat and detoxify exceeds it. Moreover, they tonify Qi, strengthen the intestines and stomach, and unblock meridians, without the drawback of causing emaciation with long-term use. However, if used to make cold jelly or bean wine, being either too cold or too hot, they can cause illness; this is due to human handling, not the fault of the bean. Authentic bean powder must be green and viscous. In surgery, the Neituo Huxin San (Internal Support Heart-Protecting Powder) for carbuncles and ulcers is praised for its miraculous effect; Zhu Zhenheng has discussed and expanded upon it.
Zhu Zhenheng said: *Waike Jingyao* states that Neituo San, taken ten-plus doses over one to three days, prevents toxic factors from attacking the internal organs. Carefully examining: Mung beans resolve Dan Du and stone toxins, sweet in flavor, enter the Yangming meridian, cold in nature but capable of tonification, serving as the Sovereign herb. Frankincense removes malignant swelling, enters the Shaoyin meridian, is warm in nature and good at penetrating, serving as the Assistant. Licorice is slow-acting, resolves toxins of metals, stones, and hundred drugs, serving as the Envoy. This formula seems specifically designed for those suffering from carbuncles triggered by cinnabar/mineral pills. For the elderly, those with deep disease, complete symptoms, or deficiency, although mung beans are tonifying, there is a risk of failing to bear the burden. Wuxiang Liaoqiao Tang is also not a mandatory agent. One must assist Qi and strengthen the Stomach to solidify the root, use blood-invigorating methods as assistants, consider meridians and seasons to allow toxic factors to emerge externally; this is the true intent of internal support. Early treatment can lead to internal resolution.
[Attached Prescriptions] Twelve new prescriptions.
Huxin San, also known as Neituo San or Ruxiang Wanquan San. For any carbuncle disease, within one to three days, it is advisable to administer more than ten doses continuously to avoid transformation of symptoms and expel toxic factors outward. If taken too late, toxic factors attack internally, leading to vomiting or nasal sores/fungi; if eating stops, it becomes critical. After four or five days, intermittent administration is also suitable: Use one liang of authentic mung bean powder, half a liang of frankincense, and rush pith, ground together evenly. Mix with strong decoction of raw licorice, take one qian, sip frequently. If toxic factors rush to the heart with vomiting/regurgitation, this is highly suitable. Mung beans clear heat, descend Qi, reduce swelling, and detoxify. Frankincense resolves various carbuncle/toxin swellings. Upon taking one liang, the fragrance penetrates the sore pores; truly a holy medicine. (Li Sili, *Waike Fang*)
Sore Qi vomiting: Three qian of mung bean powder, half a qian of dried carmine, ground evenly. Mix with fresh drawn water and take; stops immediately after one dose. (*Puji Fang*)
Huoluan vomiting and diarrhea: Two liang each of mung bean powder and white sugar, mixed with fresh drawn water and taken; heals immediately. (*Shengsheng Bian*)
Resolve roasted liquor toxicity: Eat plenty of mung bean powder sheets/sheets; resolves toxicity.
Resolve poisoned wine toxicity: Three he of mung bean powder. Mix with water and take.
Resolve realgar toxicity: Equal parts mung bean powder and halloysite, mixed with blue root juice, take three to five qian. (*Weisheng Yijian*)
Resolve drug poison death, but heart is still warm: Mix mung bean powder with water and take. (*Weisheng Yijian Fang*)
Blunt trauma injury: Stir-fry mung bean powder in a new pot until purple, mix with fresh well water, apply, bind with fir bark; effect is miraculous. This is a prescription passed down by Chen Mengchuan from Tingzhou. (*Danliao Fang*)
Stick wound pain: Mung bean powder, roasted and ground, mixed with egg white and applied; excellent. (*Shengsheng Bian*)
Scrotal sores: Equal parts mung bean powder and earthworm feces. Grind and apply.
Summer miliaria: Two liang of mung bean powder, one liang of talc. Mix evenly and dust. Add two liang of clam powder as an option. (*Jianyi Fang*)
Initial onset of all swelling/toxins: Use mung bean powder (stir-fried yellow-black), one liang of pig's tooth soap pod, grind into powder, mix with rice vinegar for application. If skin is broken, mix with oil. (Shao Zhenren, *Jingyan Fang*)
Bean Skin
[Flavor and Properties] Sweet, cold, non-toxic.
[Therapeutic Actions] Resolves heat toxins, eliminates eye nebula/cataracts (Li Shizhen).
[Attached Prescriptions] One new prescription.
Tongshen San: Treating eye nebula from smallpox: Equal parts mung bean skin, white chrysanthemum, and spikewood flower, ground into powder. Use one qian per dose, boil with one dried persimmon cake and one bowl of millet wash water until dry. Eat the persimmon, take three times daily. Superficial cases show effect in five to seven days; deep cases in half a month. (*Zhizhi Fang*)
Bean Pod
[Therapeutic Actions] Chronic bloody dysentery not healing for years: Steam and eat at will; good. (Li Shizhen, from *Puji Fang*)
Bean Flower
[Therapeutic Actions] Resolves alcohol toxicity (Li Shizhen).
Bean Sprouts
[Flavor and Properties] Sweet, neutral, non-toxic.
[Therapeutic Actions] Resolves alcohol and heat toxins, benefits the Triple Burner (Li Shizhen).
[Innovation and Discovery] Li Shizhen said: Sprouts of all beans are fishy and tough/unpalatable, only the sprouts of this bean are uniquely white and beautiful. People today consider them ordinary, but ancients did not know them. However, they receive damp-heat stagnant Qi, thus easily triggering sores and moving Qi, differing slightly in nature from mung beans themselves.
Bean Leaves
[Therapeutic Actions] Huoluan vomiting and diarrhea: Juice extracted, mixed with a little vinegar, taken warm (*Kaibao Bencao*).