味甘，平，无毒。主补中益气，久服肥健不老。治中风汗出，逐水，利小便，破积血。
复血脉，乳妇产后余疾，长发，可为沐药。久服神仙。九月采。入土中者贼人。生太山川
谷。（畏牡蛎、白薇，恶茯苓。（《新修》二九○页，《大观》卷二十四，《政和》四八二
味甘，微温。主补虚乏，止渴，去血。
方家用饴糖，乃云胶饴，皆是湿糖如浓蜜者，建中汤多用之。其凝强及牵白者。不入药。
又胡麻亦可作糖弥甘补。今酒用曲，糖用 ，犹同是米、麦，而为中、上之异。糖当以和润
为优，酒以熏乱为劣。（《新修》二九二页，《大观》卷二十四，《政和》四八四页）
味甘，平，无毒。主治湿痹，筋挛，膝痛。五脏胃气结积，益气，止毒。去黑 ，润泽
皮毛。生大豆∶味甘，平。涂痈肿，煮饮汁，杀鬼毒，止痛。逐水胀，除胃中热痹，伤中，
淋露，下瘀血，散五脏结积、内寒，杀乌头毒。久服令人身重。熬屑∶味甘。主胃中热，去
肿，除痹，消谷，止腹胀。生太山平泽，九月采。（恶五参、龙胆，得前胡、乌喙、杏仁、
牡蛎良。）（《新修》二九二页，《大观》卷二十五，《政和》四八七页）
主下水，排痈肿脓血。味甘、酸，平、温，无毒。主寒热，热中，消渴，止泄，利小便，
吐逆，猝 ，下胀满。
大、小豆共条，犹如葱、薤义也。以大豆为 ，芽生便干之，名为黄卷，用之亦熬，服
食家所须。煮大豆，主温毒、水肿殊效。复有白大豆，不入药。小豆性逐津液，久食令人枯
燥矣。（《新修》二九三页，《大观》卷二十五，《政和》四八七页）
[Background Information]
Book: *Bencao Jing Jizhu* (Collected Commentaries on the Divine Farmer's Materia Medica)
Author: Tao Hongjing
Dynasty: Liang Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties
Chapter: Upper Grade / ... / Middle Grade (Total 4 sections)
Category: Materia Medica
Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Primarily tonifies the middle jiao and supplements qi. Long-term consumption leads to a robust physique, vitality, and anti-aging effects. Treats sweating associated with wind-stroke, promotes diuresis, unblocks urination, and breaks up blood stasis.
Restores blood vessels, treats residual conditions after childbirth in women, promotes hair growth, and can be used as a shampooing herb. Long-term consumption is said to lead to immortality. Harvested in the ninth lunar month. If mixed with soil, it is considered inferior ("thief medicine"). Grows in valleys of Mount Tai. (Incompatible with Oyster Shell [Muli], Bitter Violet [Baiwei]; adverse reaction with Poria [Fuling].) (Cited from *Xinxiu Bencao* p. 290, *Daguan Bencao* Vol. 24, *Zhenghe Bencao* p. 482)
Sweet in flavor, slightly warm in nature. Primarily tonifies deficiency and fatigue, relieves thirst, and removes blood stasis.
The maltose used by physicians is called "Jiao Yi" (Glutinous Malt), which refers to moist, thick, honey-like sugar. It is widely used in Jianzhong Tang (Middle-Jiao Replenishing Decoction). Those that are solidified/hard or white in color are not used for medicinal purposes.
Additionally, Sesame (Hu Ma) can also be processed into sugar, which is sweeter and more nourishing. Currently, yeast is used for brewing wine, and rice/wheat are used for making sugar; although the raw materials are similar, they differ in grade (middle vs. upper). Sugar should be preferred if it is moist and smooth; wine is considered inferior if its aroma is pungent and chaotic. (Cited from *Xinxiu Bencao* p. 292, *Daguan Bencao* Vol. 24, *Zhenghe Bencao* p. 484)
Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Main indications include damp-bi syndrome (painful obstruction due to dampness), tendon spasms, and knee pain. Regulates accumulation and stagnation of qi in the five zang organs and stomach, supplements qi, and detoxifies. Removes dark spots and moistens skin and hair.
Raw Soybean (Sheng Dadou): Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature. Applied externally to treat carbuncles and swellings; boiled juice is drunk to expel "ghost toxins," relieve pain, drain water swelling, clear heat-bi in the stomach, treat spleen/stomach injury, dribbling/leukorrhea, discharge blood stasis, dissipate internal cold and organ accumulations, and counteract Aconite toxicity. Long-term consumption causes heaviness of the body.
Roasted and powdered (Ao Xie): Sweet in flavor. Mainly treats stomach heat, reduces swelling, dispels bi-syndrome, aids digestion, and relieves abdominal distension. Grows in the flatlands of Mount Tai, harvested in the ninth lunar month. (Adverse reaction with Five Ginsengs and Gentian; synergistic effect with Peucedanum, Aconitum Radix Lateralis Preparata, Apricot Seed, and Oyster Shell.) (Cited from *Xinxiu Bencao* p. 292, *Daguan Bencao* Vol. 25, *Zhenghe Bencao* p. 487)
Primary function is to guide down water retention and expel pus and blood from carbuncles and swellings. Sweet and sour in flavor, neutral and warm in nature, non-toxic. Main indications include alternating chills and fever, heat in the middle jiao, xiao-ke (wasting-thirst syndrome), diarrhea relief, diuresis, vomiting/reversal of qi, sudden convulsions/spasms, and abdominal fullness.
Soybeans and Adzuki beans are listed together, similar to the relationship between Scallion and Chinese Leek. Using soybeans as the base, once sprouted and dried, it is named Huangjuan (Sprouted Soybean). It is also roasted before use and is required by those practicing dietary therapy. Boiled soybeans are highly effective for treating warm-toxins and edema. There is also white soybean, which is not used medicinally. Adzuki bean has a nature that drains fluids; long-term consumption leads to emaciation and dryness. (Cited from *Xinxiu Bencao* p. 293, *Daguan Bencao* Vol. 25, *Zhenghe Bencao* p. 487)