Library

(Classification of Fermented Foods, No. 29)

(Recorded in the Middle Grade of *Bie Lu* / *Additional Classic of Famous Physicians*)
[Names] Li Shizhen states: According to Liu Xi's *Shi Ming*, "Chi" (Fermented Soybean Paste) means "desire." It harmonizes the five flavors and creates a desirable taste. Xu Shen in *Shuo Wen Jie Zi* defines Chi as fermented soybeans mixed with salt, which refers to salty Chi.
[Collection of Explanations] Tao Hongjing states: Chi produced in Xiangyang and Qiantang is fragrant, delicious, and rich; for medicinal use, the center part is best.
Meng Shen states: Chi from Puzhou tastes salty and is made differently from other types, possessing a strong flavor. Shanzhou has Chi juice that does not spoil even after a year. For medicinal use, it is not like the current practice of using only the center of Chi, because it contains no salt.
Su Song states: Chi juice from Shanzhou is far superior to ordinary Chi. The method involves making yellow steamed soybean paste (Huang Zheng). For every dou (a unit of volume) of soybeans, add four sheng (a unit of volume) of salt and four liang (a unit of weight) of Sichuan pepper. In spring, pound for three days; in summer, two days; in winter, five days. When half-cooked, add five liang of fresh ginger, resulting in a product that is both clean and refined. Li Shizhen states: Chi can be made from various soybeans, but black soybeans are used for medicine. There are light (unsalted) Chi and salty Chi. For treating diseases, light Chi juice and salty Chi are mostly used. The term "center part" mentioned here does not mean peeling off the skin to take the core. This explanation appears in *Waitai Miyao*.
Method for making Light Chi: Clean the beans, soak in water overnight, drain, steam until cooked, spread on mats, cover with mugwort when slightly warm. Sun-dry and winnow to remove dust. Moisten with water to an appropriate degree, judged by moisture exuding between fingers. Place in a jar, pack tightly, cover with three cun of thick mulberry leaves, seal with mud, and sun-dry for seven days. Take out, expose to sun for one double-hour (shi), mix with water again, and return to the jar. Repeat this process seven times. Finally, steam once more, spread out to dissipate heat, pack into a jar, seal, and it is ready.
Method for making Salty Chi: Use one dou of soybeans, soak in water for three days, wash, steam, and spread. Once yellow mold grows, take out, winnow, wash, and dry. For every four jin of Chi, add one jin of salt, half a jin of shredded ginger, and mix well with Sichuan pepper, orange peel, Perilla, fennel, and almonds. Place in a jar. Add water one cun above the surface, cover with leaves, seal, and sun-dry for one month.
Method for making Chi Juice: From October to January, take three dou of good Chi. Boil clear sesame oil until smoke stops. Mix one sheng of oil with Chi, steam, spread cool, dry, mix, and steam again. Repeat three times. Then mix with one dou of pounded white salt. Decoct with tangerine peel in water until reduced by one-third. Store in a non-porous vessel; it is extremely fragrant and delicious. Other varieties such as bran Chi, melon Chi, and sauce Chi exist but are only for food, not for medicine.

Light Chi (Dan Chi)
[Properties and Flavor] Bitter, cold, non-toxic.
Sun Simiao states: Bitter, sweet, cold, astringent. Works well with vinegar.
Gao states: It belongs to Yin within Yin.
[Indications] Treats headache and aversion to cold/fever caused by Cold Damage (Shanghan), miasma and toxic pathogens, irritability and chest fullness/stuffiness, deficiency consumption with wheezing, and cold pain in both legs. Kills toxins from livestock fetuses and various poisons (*Bie Lu*). Treats epidemic febrile diseases by inducing sweating. Powdered and roasted, it stops night sweats and removes irritability. Raw and pounded into pills, it treats wind-cold-heat pathogens and sores in the chest. Decoction treats bloody dysentery with abdominal pain. Powder applied topically treats sores on the penis (*Xing Lun*). Promotes downward movement of Qi and harmonizes the middle jiao, treating vomiting and counterflow qi due to Warm Toxicity in Shanghan (Li Shizhen. Used in *Qian Jin Fang* for Black Ointment for Warm Toxicity).

Puzhou Chi
[Properties and Flavor] Salty, cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Resolves irritability, heat, and toxicity; treats chills, fever, and deficiency consumption; harmonizes the middle and induces sweating; unblocks joints; eliminates fishy odors; treats nasal congestion due to Shanghan. Shanzhou Chi juice: Also removes irritability and heat (Meng Shen).
[Elucidation] Tao Hongjing states: Chi is commonly used in food. During spring and summer when weather is irregular, steaming or frying it and soaking it in wine for consumption is excellent. Following Kangbo's method: first moisten with vinegar and wine, steam, and sun-dry; mix with sesame oil, steam, and sun-dry again. Repeat three times. Mix with powdered Sichuan pepper and ginger before eating; it greatly surpasses contemporary oil Chi. People with foot disease often drink Chi-soaked wine and apply the dregs to their feet, leading to recovery.
Su Song states: Ancient and modern medical texts use Chi to treat diseases most frequently. People in Jiangnan are skilled at making Chi. Whenever one contracts seasonal pathogens, taking Scallion and Chi Decoction to induce sweating often leads to immediate recovery.
Li Shizhen states: Tao Hongjing's mention of Kangbo's Chi method is found in *Bo Wu Zhi*, stating it originated from foreign lands. "Kangbo" was simply the name of the person who transmitted this method to China. This Chi is excellent for regulating the middle jiao and directing Qi downward. Black soybeans have a neutral nature, but become warm when made into Chi. Since it undergoes steaming and drying, it can ascend and disperse. With scallions, it induces sweating; with salt, it induces vomiting; with wine, it treats wind; with wild garlic (Xie), it treats dysentery; with garlic, it stops bleeding; when roasted, it stops sweating. This aligns with the principle of Ephedra Root Nodes (Mahuang Genjie).
[Attached Prescriptions] Thirty-one old prescriptions, nineteen new prescriptions.

Cold Damage Inducing Sweating: Su Song states: Ge Hong's *Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang* records: There are several types of Shanghan, which laypeople cannot distinguish suddenly. Now, one medicine is taken to treat them all. Whenever one initially feels headache and body heat with a surging pulse, within one or two days, treat with Scallion and Chi Decoction. Use a handful of white scallion stalks, one sheng of Chi, wrapped in silk. Decoct in three sheng of water until one sheng remains. Drink in one dose. If no sweat, prepare again, adding three liang of Puerariae Radix (Gegen); if still no sweat, add three liang of Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang). Another method in *Zhou Hou*: Decoct scallion water to make rice porridge, add salty Chi, and eat to induce sweat. Another method: Decoct one sheng of Chi in three sheng of urine from a young boy until one sheng remains. Divide and drink to induce sweat.

Unresolved Cold Damage: If Shanghan persists despite sweating, and after three or four days, there is chest oppression and nausea: Use one sheng of Chi and one he of salt. Decoct in four sheng of water until one and a half sheng remain. Divide and drink to induce vomiting. This is a secret method (*Mei Shi Fang*).

Expelling Warm Epidemics: Soak Chi and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu) in wine and take regularly (*Mei Shi*).

Shanghan Ao Nao (Restlessness): After vomiting or purging in Shanghan, if there is internal restlessness (Ao Nao), or after severe purging if body heat persists and there is heart pain, use Gardeniae Fructus (Zhizi) and Chi Decoction to induce vomiting: Ten large Gardeniae Fructus... [Text cuts off].

Residual Toxins of Shanghan: After Shanghan, toxins attack hands and feet, causing general edema: Lightly roast five he of Chi, decoct with one and a half sheng of wine for five to seven boils. Drink as desired (*Jian Yao Ji Zhong*).

Shanghan Cataract (Mu Yi): Burn seven Chi, powder, and insufflate into the eyes (*Zhou Hou*).

Sudden Dysentery in Shanghan: *Xing Lun* states: Use one sheng of Chi and a handful of Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus (Xie Bai). Decoct Xie Bai in three sheng of water until cooked, add Chi, boil until dark, remove Chi... [Text cuts off].

Incessant Bloody Dysentery: Use equal parts of Chi and garlic. Pound into pills the size of sophora seeds. Take thirty pills per dose with salt water (*Wang Shi Bo Ji Fang*).

Bloody Dysentery with Stabbing Pain: *Xing Lun* states: Soak one sheng of Chi in water, boil twice, squeeze juice, and drink in one dose. Repeat if not cured.

Red and White Heavy Dysentery: Ge Shi: Roast fermented soybean paste (Dou Chi) until slightly charred, pound, and take one he, three times daily. Or roast until charred, soak in water, drink the juice; also effective. *Waitai Miyao*: Use one sheng of Chi center (roasted and powdered), divide into four doses, take with wine; it stops immediately upon entry.

Visceral Toxin Bleeding: Wu Xi San: Use ten pieces of light Chi and two cloves of garlic (roasted). Pound into pills the size of sophora seeds. Take twenty pills with coriander soup, twice daily. It stops quickly, eradicates the root, and has no dietary restrictions. Peng Daxiang of Luzhou says: This medicine is excellent, but garlic should be steamed nine times. Still use cold pickles... [Text cuts off].

Blood in Urine: A pinch of light fermented soybean paste. Decoct in water and drink on an empty stomach. Or take with wine (*Wei Shi De Xiao Fang*).

Malaria Chills and Fever: Decoct Chi soup and drink several sheng. Recovery occurs after profuse vomiting (*Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang*).

Children's Chills and Fever, Evil Qi Attacking Humans: Pound wet Chi into pills the size of chicken eggs. Rub on cheeks, palms, and soles six or seven times. Also rub over the heart and above the navel... [Text cuts off].

Incessant Night Sweats: Meng Shen states: Lightly roast one sheng of Chi until fragrant, soak in three sheng of clear wine for three days. Strain and drink at any temperature. Repeat if not cured. Three doses will stop it.

Wheezing and Phlegm Accumulation: Attacks occur whenever it rains, preventing sitting or lying down, and loss of appetite. This is due to long-standing cold phlegm accumulating in the lung orifices, triggered by yin qi. One dose brings cure. After seven or eight doses, several sheng of foul phlegm are expelled, along with the drug properties, curing the root: Use one qian of Jiangxi light fermented soybean paste, steam and pound into paste. Add one qian of arsenic trioxide (Pi Shuang) powder and three qian of calcined alum. Roll into pills the size of mung beans. Take seven pills with cold tea/water (nine for severe cases, five for children). Lie supine with high pillow. Avoid hot foods, etc. (*Jie Xiao Fang*).

Wind-Toxic Knee Contracture and Joint Pain: Use five sheng of Chi center. Steam and sun-dry nine times. Soak in one dou of wine overnight. Drink warm as desired on an empty stomach (*Shi Yi Xin Jing*).

Paralysis of Hands and Feet: Decoct three sheng of Chi in nine sheng of water until three sheng remain. Divide into three doses. Another method: Lightly roast one sheng of Chi, place in a bag, and soak in three sheng of wine for three nights. Drink warm; slight intoxication is best (*Zhou Hou*).

Head Wind Pain: Wash head with Chi soup, avoid wind until cured (Sun Taoren's Formula).

Sudden Aphasia: Decoct Chi juice, add fine wine, and drink (*Zhou Hou*).

Laryngeal Bi with Aphasia: Decoct one sheng of Chi juice, drink, cover to induce sweat. Place cinnamon powder under the tongue and swallow gradually (*Qian Jin Fang*).

Polyps in Throat: Pound salted Chi and apply. First puncture to bleed, then apply; miraculous effect (*Sheng Ji Zong Lu*).

Sores in Mouth/Tongue with Chest/Diaphragm Pain: Contain scorched Chi powder overnight; cured (*Sheng Hui Fang*).

Bleeding from Tongue like Pinholes: Decoct three sheng of Chi in three sheng of water until boiling. Drink one sheng, three times daily (Ge Shi's Formula).

Abortion with Blood Loss and Irritability: Decoct one sheng of Chi in three sheng of water for three boils. Mix with powdered deer horn and take one fang cun bi (*Zi Mu Mi Lu Fang*).

Disturbance of Fetus in Pregnancy: Chi juice is excellent (Hua Tuo's Formula, same as above).

Difficult Labor: Caused by rupture of the fetal pillow and blood stasis wrapping the fetus. Use Sheng Jin San to expel stasis for smooth delivery: Use one liang of salted Chi... [Text cuts off].

Infant Congenital Toxins: Decoct light Chi into a thick juice. Give three or five mouthfuls; toxins will pass naturally. It also strengthens spleen qi and aids digestion of milk/food (*Sheng Hui Fang*).

Infant... [Text cuts off]: Use seven salted Chi (peeled) and one qian of calomel. Pound together, roll into mustard-seed-sized pills. Take three to five pills with Pogostemon cablin (Huoxiang) soup.

Infant Erysipelas with Weeping Sores: Roast Chi until smoke disappears, powder, mix with oil, and apply (Yao Hezhong's Formula).

Infant Head Sores: Wrap in yellow clay, bake until cooked, pound, mix with vegetable oil, and apply (*Sheng Jin Fang*).

Back Carbuncles (Fa Bei), Ulcerated or Not: Use three sheng of fragrant Chi, add little water, pound into paste. Make cakes according to the size of the swelling, three cun thick. Do not cover open sores. Place Chi cake on the area, arrange moxa on top, and moxibustion. Keep it warm, do not burn the flesh. If hot/painful, replace immediately; the condition will subside... [Text cuts off].

All Malignant Sores: Roast Chi into powder, apply. Within three or four applications (*Yang Shi Chan Ru*).

Sores on Penis with Pain and Rotting: Mix one part Chi with two parts earthworm mud. Grind with water and apply. Change when dry. Avoid hot food, alcohol, garlic, and mustard greens (*Xing Lun*).

Qu Niao Chuang (Urethral Discharge Sores): Pound Chi and apply. Effective (*Qian Jin Fang*).

Insect/Bug Stings: Chew Chi center and apply. Soon, hairs will appear in the Chi indicating cure. If not, reapply continuously day and night until hairs appear (*Waitai Miyao*).

Sprains and Fractures: Decoct three sheng of Chi in three sheng of water to make a thick juice. Drink to relieve chest oppression (*Qian Jin Fang*).

Blunt Trauma with Blood Stasis and Abdominal Fullness: Decoct one sheng of Chi in three sheng of water for three boils. Divide and drink. Repeat if not cured (*Qian Jin Fang*).

Resolving Shu Pepper Toxicity: Drink Chi juice (*Qian Jin Fang*).

Cow/Horse Poison: Mix Chi juice with human breast milk and take frequently; effective (*Wei Sheng Yi Jian Fang*).

Toad Poison: Small toads are toxic. Eating them causes urinary difficulty, lower abdominal pain, and sometimes death. Throw one he of raw Chi into fresh well water... [Text cuts off].

Alcohol Intoxication Disease: Half a sheng each of Chi and white scallion stalks. Decoct in two sheng of water until one sheng remains. Drink in one dose (*Qian Jin Fang*).

Overdose of Medicine with Confusion: Drink Chi juice (*Qian Jin Fang*).

Foreign Object in Eye: Soak three to seven Chi in water, wash the eye with it; the object will come out (*Zong Lu Fang*).

Splinter in Flesh: Chew Chi and apply (*Qian Jin Fang*).

Children's Strangury (Lin): See formula under Steamed Cake Elucidation.

Edema Starting from Feet: Drink Chi juice, apply dregs externally (*Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang*).