Library

(Thirteen species of legumes)

(Included in the Middle Category of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
[Correction] Yuxi stated: Originally attached under the entry for "Da Dou Huang Juan" (Germinated Soybean), now separated.
[Names] (Commonly written as "Shu". Li Shizhen said: "Dou" and "Shu" are general terms for podded grains. The seal script character for "Shu" depicts the shape of pods growing attached to the stem and hanging down. The character "Dou" depicts the shape of seeds inside the pod. *Guangya* states: Large soybeans are called Shu, small beans are called Wei). The pod is called "Jia", the leaf is called "Huo", and the stem is called "Qi".
[Collection of Explanations] *Bielu* states: Large soybeans grow in flat marshes of Mount Tai, harvested in September.
Song stated: Now they are planted everywhere. There are black and white varieties; the black ones are used for medicine. Those that are tight and small are called "Male", which are particularly effective.
Zong stated: Soybeans come in green, brown, and black colors. There are large and small categories: Large ones originate from Jiang, Zhejiang, Hunan, and Hubei; small ones grow elsewhere and have better medicinal efficacy. They can also be made into tofu for food.
Li Shizhen stated: Soybeans come in black, white, yellow, brown, green, and spotted colors: Black ones are named Wu Dou (Black Bean), suitable for medicine, food, and making Dou Chi (Fermented Soybean); Yellow ones can make tofu, extract oil, and brew sauce; others are only suitable for making tofu or roasting. All are sown around the Summer Solstice, growing three to four chi high, with round leaves with pointed tips, blooming with small white flowers in clusters in autumn, forming pods over an inch long, withering only after frost. According to: *Lüshi Chunqiu* says: Beans planted at the right time have long stems and short nodes, with seven beans per pod in a cluster, many branches and joints, competing for lush leaves and abundant fruit. Large beans are round, small beans are spherical. Planted too early, they must have long vines, floating sparse leaves, few joints, small pods, and empty seeds. Planted too late, they must have short stems, sparse joints, hollow bases, and empty seeds. Jia Shengzhi's *Planting Book* says: Sowing beans at the Summer Solstice does not require deep plowing. Bean flowers hate seeing the sun; if seen, they turn yellow and rot, and roots scorch. Knowing the appropriate year's timing, store beans in bags, measure level, and bury in shade. After fifteen days following the Winter Solstice, dig them up to measure quantity; plant those with the most quantity. Generally, soybeans preserve well and are available yearly, preparing for famine years, while small beans do not preserve well and are rare.

Hei Da Dou (Black Soybean)
[Flavor and Properties] Sweet, neutral, non-toxic. Long-term use makes the body feel heavy.
Qibo stated: Raw is warm, cooked is cold.
Cangqi stated: Soybeans are neutral when raw, extremely hot when roasted, very cold when boiled, extremely cold when made into Dou Chi, and neutral when made into sauce or raw Huang Juan (Germinated Bean). Cattle eating it become warm, horses eating it become cold. Within one substance, properties change multiple times based on usage.
Zhicai stated: Dislikes Wushen (Five Ginsengs: Ren Shen, Dan Shen, Sha Shen, Ku Shen, Xuan Shen) and Longdan (Gentian Root); benefits from Qianhu (Peucedanum Root), Wu Hui (Aconitum Radix Lateralis Preparata), Xing Ren (Apricot Seed), Mu Li (Oyster Shell), and various animal bile.
Shen stated: Da Dou Huang Xie (Soybean Bran) is incompatible with pork. If children eat roasted beans and pork together, it will surely cause Qi stagnation leading to death, nine out of ten cases. Those over ten years old are not afraid.
Li Shizhen stated: Those taking Bimazi (Castor Seed) must avoid roasted beans; violating this causes abdominal distension and death. Those taking Houpo (Magnolia Bark) also avoid it, as it disturbs Qi.
[Indications] Crushed raw and applied externally treats carbuncles and swellings. Boiled juice drunk kills ghost toxins, stops pain (*Shennong Bencao Jing*). Drains water swelling, removes stomach heat-bi, treats Shang Zhong Lin Lu (injury to middle jiao with dripping discharge), expels blood stasis, disperses internal cold from five zang organ accumulations, kills Wutou (Aconite) toxicity. Roasted into powder, treats stomach heat, removes bi and swelling, stops abdominal distension, aids digestion (*Bielu*). Boiled and eaten treats Wen Du Edema (*Shu Ben Cao*). Regulates middle, directs Qi downward, opens pulse pathways, counters metal/stone drug toxicity, treats cattle/horse Wen Du (*Rihua*). Boiled juice resolves toxicity of Pi Shi (Arsenic Trioxide), Gan Sui (Kansui Root), Tian Xiong (Aconitum Lateralis Radix Preparata), Fu Zi (Prepared Aconite Root), She Wang (Curare), Ba Dou (Croton Seed), Yuan Qing (Blister Beetle), Ban Mao (Mylabris), hundred drugs' toxicity, and Gu Du (Poison Worm). Used in medicine, treats dysentery with umbilical pain. Mixed with wine, treats Feng Jing (Wind Spasm) and Yin Du Abdominal Pain. Stored in ox gallbladder, treats Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst). Roasted black, thrown hot into wine and drunk, treats Feng Bi Paralysis/Jaw Lock, Postpartum Head Wind. Swallow half liang raw after meals, removes chest/heart irritability, wind-heat trance, brightens eyes, calms heart, warms tonifies. Long-term use improves complexion, whitens skin, prevents aging. Boiled eating has cold nature, reduces heat qi swelling, suppresses Dan Shi (Mineral Pill) irritability, juice reduces swelling (Cangqi). Treats stroke foot weakness, postpartum diseases. Decocted with Gan Cao (Licorice Root) and drunk, removes all heat toxic vapors, treats Feng Du Hong Zhang Jiao (Wind Toxemia/Gout). Boiled eating treats heart pain, tendon spasms, knee pain, distension. Cooked with Sang Chai Hui Zhi (Mulberry Wood Ash Juice), drains water drum abdominal distension. Mixed with rice and pounded, applies to all toxic swellings. Treats male/female genital swelling, wrapped in silk and inserted (Meng Shen). Treats kidney disease, promotes urination, directs Qi downward, counters wind-heat, invigorates blood, resolves various toxins (Li Shizhen).
[Elucidation] Song stated: *Xian Fang* processed into powder and taken can achieve Bi Gu (Grain Avoidance) to survive hunger. However, excessive eating makes the body heavy; long term returns to normal.
Shen stated: Grinding and swallowing thirty pills after each meal promotes longevity. Initial服用 feels like body heaviness; after one year, body feels light, benefiting Yang Dao (Yang Pathway).
Ying stated: Tao Hua boiled black beans with salt, eating regularly, claiming it tonifies Kidney. Beans are the grain of the Kidney; their shape resembles the kidney, and black color connects to Kidney. Guided by salt, thus excellent.
Li Shizhen stated: According to: *Yang Lao Shu* says: Li Shouyu swallowed fourteen black beans with water every morning, calling it Five Zang Grain, remaining vigorous until old age. Beans have five colors, each treating five Zang organs. Only black bean belongs to Water nature, cold, is the grain of the Kidney, entering Kidney with great merit, thus treating water retention, reducing distension, directing Qi downward, countering wind-heat, invigorating blood, resolving toxins—this is "Same Qi Seeking Each Other". Also: Ancient formulas claim soybeans resolve hundred drug toxins; I tested this mostly disagreeably; adding Gan Cao (Licorice Root) makes verification miraculous. Such matters must be known.
[Attached Formulas] Thirty-one old, thirty-six new.
Eating soybeans promotes flesh growth, enhances complexion, fills marrow, adds strength, tonifies deficiency, aids appetite. Not exceeding two doses: Five sheng of soybeans, prepared like sauce method, take yellow part, pound to powder, mix with rendered pig fat to make pills size of wu zi (walnut seed). Take fifty to one hundred pills each time, washed down with warm wine. Divine miraculous secret formula. Fat people should not take it. (*Yan Nian Mi Lu*).
Famine Relief: *Bowuzhi* says: Zuo Ci's famine method: Use soybeans mixed coarse and fine, raw and cooked blended to shine, warmed through. Fast one day prior, swallow completely with cold water. No meat, fish, vegetables, or fruits allowed. Drink cold water if thirsty. Initially slightly weak, after ten+ days, physical strength robust, no desire to eat. Huang Shan Gu's Famine Method: One sheng Hei Dou (Black Bean), one sheng Guan Zhong (Cyatheae Rhizoma), boil cooked, remove Guan Zhong, dry sun. Eat five to seven grains daily on empty stomach. Eating various tree branches/leaves tastes good, can fill stomach. Wang Shi *Nong Shu* says: Bi Gu methods appear in stone inscriptions. Flood/drought/insect disasters, state passes down generation to generation, severe cases involve exchanging children/cooking bones, parents of people must know this method.
Formerly Jin Huidi Yongning 2nd Year, Huangmen Shilang Liu Jingxian memorialized: Subject met Taibai Mountain hermit, transmitted famine relief Bi Gu immortal formula. Subject's family seventy-plus members, eat nothing else. If not so, subject's family willingly accepts execution. Formula: Five dou soybeans washed clean, steamed three times, peel skin. Three dou hemp seeds soaked overnight, steamed three times, open mouth take kernel. Pound each to powder, mix and knead into balls fist-sized. Steam in steamer, from Xu hour to Zi hour stop, remove at Yin hour, dry sun at Wu hour to powder. Dry take, fullness as limit. No other food allowed. First dose keeps hunger away 7 days, second 49 days, third 300 days, fourth 2400 days, no need to take more, never hungry again. Regardless of age, follow method, promotes strength, ruddy complexion, never haggard. Thirsty, grind hemp seed soup drink, further moistens viscera.
To resume eating, use San He Kui Zi (Sunflower Seed) powder, decoct soup cold drink, expel medicine golden color, eat anything without damage. Former Suzhou Prefecture Zhu Song taught people use verified, recorded beginning/end, carved stone at Hanyang Dabieshan Taipingxingguo Temple. Another formula: Five dou black beans washed clean, steamed three times, dried sun, peel powder. Three sheng Autumn Hemp Seeds, soak peel dry grind. Three dou glutinous rice make porridge, mix knead into fist-sized agents, steam in steamer overnight, take dry powder. Five dou red dates, boil peel pit, mix agent fist-sized, steam night again. Take, fullness as limit. Thirsty, drink hemp seed water, moistens viscera. Sesame also okay. But no other food.
Chao Dou Zi Tang (Roasted Bean Purple Soup): Song stated: Ancient formula Zi Tang, breaks blood removes wind, removes Qi prevents heat, especially suitable 2 days postpartum. Five sheng Wu Dou (Black Bean), one dou clear wine, roast bean until smoke ceases, throw into wine, wait wine purple-red color, remove bean. Measure constitution take, can 3 cups day/night, divine miraculous. Stroke Jaw Lock, add two sheng Ji Shi Bai (Chicken Droppings White), mix roast, throw in.
Dou Lin Jiu Method (Bean Dripping Wine): Zong stated: Treats postpartum hundred diseases, or Blood Heat, feeling residual blood/water qi, or severe stroke, or back stiffness/jaw lock, or merely irritability/spasms/thirst, or body/head swelling, or body itch/vomiting/direct stare, or limb numbness/dizziness/vertigo, these are all Deficiency-Heat Stroke. Three sheng soybeans roasted cooked, slight smoke out, put in bottle, pour five sheng wine, pass one day+. Drink one sheng wine, warm cover let slight sweat out, body moist then cured. Jaw lock, add half jin Du Huo (Angelica Pubescens), slightly hammer break, pour together. Postpartum should often take, prevent wind qi, dissolve congealed blood.
Stroke Jaw Lock: Same above formula, drink one sheng daily. (*Qianjin*).
Head Wind Headache: Same above formula, seal tightly 7 days, warm drink. (*Qianjin*).
Broken Injury Stroke Jaw Lock: *Qianjin Fang*: One sheng soybean, roast remove fishy smell, do not make too ripe, pound powder, steam let qi permeate, take off steamer, pour one sheng wine over. Warm drink one sheng, induce sweat. Apply to sore ulcer, then cured. *Jingyan Fang*: Forty Hei Dou (Black Beans), twenty wen Zhu Sha (Cinnabar), grind powder together. Half cup wine, mix one zi dose take.
Neck Stiffness Cannot Look Back: One sheng soybean, steam change color, bag wrap pillow. (*Qianjin*).
Sudden Wind Disease, Four Limbs Spasm Cannot Walk. Take three sheng soybean, wash clean wet steam, pour two sheng vinegar into bottle, lay on ground, steam bean again act, also drink Jing Li Tang (Evodia Sap). Thus three days nights then rest. (*Cui Shi Zuanya*).
Wind Enters Viscera, Treats New/Old Swelling, Wind Enters Viscera: One dou soybean, five dou water, boil take one dou two sheng, remove dregs. Add half dou fine wine, decoct take nine sheng. Morning drink three sheng induce sweat, divine miraculous. (*Qianjin Yi*).
Wind Toxin Attacks Heart, Irritability Trance: Half sheng soybean wash clean, two sheng water, boil take seven ge, after meal take. (*Xin Jing*).
Sudden Wind Speechless: Soybean boil juice, decoct thick like malt syrup, hold in mouth, also drink juice. (*Zhouhou Fang*).
Throat Bi Speechless: Same method. (*Qianjin*).
Sudden Loss of Voice: Shen stated: One sheng raw soybean, forty-nine Qing Zhu Zi (Green Bamboo Shoots - length 4 cun, width 1 fen), water boil cooked, day/night twice hot take.
Heat Toxin Attacks Eyes, Red Pain Face Swelling: One sheng black bean, divide ten bags, boil water steam pass, alternate compress, three passes then cured. (*Puji Fang*).
Sudden Evil Attack: Two seven soybeans, one egg yolk, half sheng wine, mix even swallow. (*Qianjin*).
Yin Du Shang Han Critical: Dry roast black bean, throw wine, hot drink or灌. Vomit then drink again, sweat out as limit. (*Ju Bi*).
Rib Pain Like Beating: Half sheng soybean roast scorched, add one sheng wine boil boil, drink get drunk. (*Zhouhou*).
Waist/Rib Sudden Pain: Soybean (roast) two sheng, wine three sheng, boil two sheng, swallow. (*Zhouhou*).
Sudden Waist Pain: Six sheng soybean, water mix wet, roast hot, cloth wrap compress, cold then change. This is Zhang Wenzhong's prescription. (*Yan Nian*).
Hong Zhang Jiao Rushing Heart, Irritable Unconscious: One sheng soybean, three sheng water, strong boil juice take half sheng. Not settled, take half sheng again. (*Guangli Fang*).
Body/Face Edema: *Qianjin*: One sheng Wu Dou (Black Bean), five sheng water, boil juice three sheng, add five sheng wine, boil three sheng more, divide warm three doses. Not cured remake. Wang Qiu *Bai Yi Xuan Fang*: Wu Dou boil until skin dry, powder. Each take two qian, rice drink down. Jianyan early, Wu Neihan granddaughter suddenly swollen protruding, Wu checked *Waitai Mi Yao* got this formula, took immediate effect.
New/Old Edema: One dou soybean, one dou clear water, boil take eight sheng, remove bean, add eight sheng thin wine, decoct take eight sheng drink. Three times drink, water should exit via urine. (*Fan Wang Fang*).
Abdominal Mass Hard, Summer/Autumn Transition, Sitting Out Night Long, Abdominal Mass Like Stones in Belly. Half sheng soybean, eight fen Ginger. Three sheng water, decoct one sheng+, swallow cured. (*Jingyan Fang*).
Huo Luan Distension Pain: Soybean raw crush, water take Fang Cun Bi. (*Puji*).
Water Dysentery Unstopping: One sheng soybean, half liang Chao Bai Zhu (Roasted Atractylodes Macrocephala), powder. Each take three qian, rice drink down. (*Zhi Nan Fang*).
Red Dysentery Umbilical Pain: Black Bean, Zhu Yu Zi (Cornus Fruit) two items, rub/massage, swallow, good. (*Jingyan*).
Red/White Dysentery: Formula see Pig Gall.
Male Hematochezia: One sheng black bean, roast scorched powder, hot wine pour over, remove bean drink wine, divine effect. (*Huo Ren Xin Tong*).
All Lower Bleeding: Male black bean tight small, soak slightly in Zao Jiao Tang (Soap Pod Decoction), roast cook peel powder, refine pig fat mix, pill wu zi size. Each take thirty pills, aged rice drink down. (Hua Tuo *Zhong Zang Jing*).
Childhood Sha Lin (Sand Strangury): One hundred twenty black beans, one cun raw Gan Cao (Licorice), new water boil hot, add Hua Shi (Talcum) powder, drink hot, good. (*Quan You Xin Jian*).
Kidney Deficiency Xiao Ke Difficult to Treat: Black Soybean (roast), Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthes Root) equal parts, powder, wheat paste pill wu zi size. Each black bean soup down seventy pills, twice daily. Name Jiu Huo Wan. (*Puji Fang*).
Xiao Ke Drinking Water: Wu Dou placed in Ox Gall, shade dry hundred days, swallow all then cured. (*Zhouhou Fang*).
Day/Night Insomnia: New cloth fire roast compress eyes, and steam soybean, alternate bag hold pillow, cold then change, whole night often pillow, then cured. (*Zhouhou Fang*).
Plague Swelling: Two he large black beans (roasted cooked), one qian Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Licorice), one lamp water decoct juice, often drink. *Yijian Zhi* says: Jingkang 2nd Year Spring, Capital Great Plague. Strange person wrote this formula on wall, use immediately verified.
Ru Shi Fever: Two sheng Wu Dou (Black Bean), nine sheng water, copper vessel boil five sheng juice, simmer thick one sheng, drink. (*Waitai Mi Yao*).
Resolve Pi Toxicity: Soybean boil juice drink, good. (*Zhouhou*).
Alcohol/Food Various Toxins: One sheng soybean, boil juice drink, vomit then cured. (*Guangji*).
Resolve Fish Toxins: Soybean, boil juice drink. (*Weisheng Fang*).
Resolve Ba Dou Toxicity, Diarrhea Unstopping: Soybean, boil juice one sheng, drink. (*Zhouhou Fang*).
Evil Thorn Sore Pain: Soybean, strong boil juice soak, take cured. (*Qianjin Fang*).
Scald Burn Sore: Soybean, boil juice apply, easy cure, no scar. (*Zimu Milu*).
Hit Head Bruise: Dou Huang Mo (Bean Powder) water mix apply. (*Qianjin Fang*).
Fracture Fall, Blood Stasis in Abdomen, Short Breath: Five sheng soybean, one dou water, boil juice two sheng, swallow. Severe not exceed three times. (*Qianjin Fang*).
Wan Chuang Irritability: Soybean, boil juice drink, good. (*Zimu Milu*).
Smallpox Wet Rot: Black Soybean, powder, apply.
Childhood Head Sore: Black Bean roast retain nature grind, water mix apply. (*Puji Fang*).
Body/Face Warts: July 7th, use soybean wipe wart three passes. Make person plant bean in South-facing house East end second row. Bean grows leaf, pour hot water kill, then cured. (*Waitai Mi Yao*).
Dye Hair Black: Vinegar boil black soybean, remove bean simmer thick, dye. (*Qianjin*).
Teeth Not Growing, Adult/Child, Many Years Old: Thirty black beans, burn in Cow Dung Fire until smoke gone, grind add little Mosher (Musk). First needle prick bleed out, rub little. Do not see wind, avoid sour/salty. (*Jingyan Fang*).
Toothache: Black Bean boil wine, frequently rinse, good. (Zhou Mi *Haoran Zhai*).
Menstruation Unceasing: Use previous Zi Tang drink, good.
Pregnancy Waist Pain: One sheng soybean. Three sheng wine, boil seven ge, empty stomach drink. (*Xin Jing*).
Child Dead in Womb, Months Not Full, Mother Fainting: Three sheng soybean, vinegar boil thick juice, swallow, immediately out. (*Chan Ru*).
Afterbirth Not Down: Half sheng soybean, three sheng pure wine, boil one sheng half, divide three doses. (*Chan Shu*).
Repel Seasonal Qi: New cloth hold one dou soybean, put in well overnight take out. Each take seven grains, good. (*Lei Yao*).
Vegetable Snake Gu: Snake poison enters vegetable/fruit, eat causes disease, name Snake Gu. Soybean powder, wine soak squeeze juice, drink half sheng.
Body Like Insects Crawling: Soybean water soak squeeze pulp, daily wash, or add little flour, wash hair also good. (*Qianjin Fang*).
Childhood Dan Du (Erysipelas): Strong boil soybean juice, apply very good. (*Qianjin*).
Feng Ju Sore Scabies, Any Foot Bi and Sores Itch, Scratch Yellow Juice Out, Is This: Three chi Green Bamboo Tube, put one sheng soybean inside, seal steam, take juice apply. (*Qianjin*).
Liver Deficiency Dim Vision, Wind Tears: Use December Bull Gall, hold black bean hang windy place. Take out, each night swallow three/seven grains, long time naturally bright. (*Long Mu Lun*).
Childhood Tai Re (Fetal Heat): Two qian black bean, one qian Gan Cao (Licorice), insert Deng Xin (Rush Pith) seven cun, Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatherum Leaf) one piece, water decoct, any time drink. (*Quan You Xin Jian*).
Tian She Tou Finger. Pain, Smelly Severe: Black Bean raw powder, enter cocoon, cover. (*Ji Ji Fang*)

Da Dou Pi (Soybean Skin)
[Indications] Raw use, treats Smallpox Eye Opacity. Chew rotten, apply to Child Urine Ash Sore (Li Shizhen).
Dou Ye (Soybean Leaf)
[Indications] Pound apply Snake Bite, frequent change then cured (Li Shizhen. From *Guangli Fang*).