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(Vinegar, also known as Ku Jiu) Taste: sour, sweet. Nature: warm. Non-toxic. There are several methods of preparation, hence the various names. (Includes rice vinegar, wheat vinegar, flour vinegar, peach vinegar, grape and jujube vinegars, various mixed fruit vinegars, and vinegars made from bran and chaff. Those who understand its nature know that all are extremely sour and potent.) For medicinal use, rice vinegar is preferred; (others are not used in medicine.) Effectiveness is enhanced if aged for many years. It dissipates water retention, kills pathogenic toxins, reduces carbuncles and swellings, and heals throat ulcers. It expels epigastric pain caused by qi stagnation and abdominal masses causing pain; when mixed with other agents and swallowed, it treats postpartum blood syncope and trauma-induced blood syncope. Fuming with vinegar-quenched steam (by pouring vinegar on red-hot stones), or soaking Phellodendri Cortex (Huang Bo) skin to hold in the mouth can cure oral ulcers; decocting Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiang Fu) pills can relieve depressive pain. Decocting Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (Da Huang) is miraculous for eliminating abdominal masses; grinding Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata (Nan Xing) and applying externally brings immediate relief for tumors and swellings. Furthermore, mixing with realgar fine powder and applying topically treats wasp stings and snake bites. For cattle and horses infected with epidemics, application leads to immediate recovery. One must strictly avoid eating it with clam meat; those preparing food should be aware of this. Vinegar enters only the Liver meridian and serves well as a guiding agent. It is unfavorable for men but specifically beneficial for women.

(Commentary by Mo): Zhu Danxi said: Vinegar has a sour and sweet taste, suitable for seasoning fish, meat, and vegetables, making them palatable. However, it causes disease gradually, which people often do not realize. Sourness has an astringent property, and sweetness has a cloying/stagnating property. If one avoids using it, it is also a way to prevent disease. However, those who eat too much and suffer from soft teeth do so because Water generates Wood; when Water Qi is weak and Wood Qi is excessive, this occurs. Teeth belong to Kidney Water, and sourness aids Liver Wood, so how could it not happen?

(Soy Sauce/Paste) Taste: salty, sour. Nature: cold and purgative. Non-toxic. Preparation methods vary, and thus their uses differ. Those made from fish and meat are called Han (fermented fish/meat paste) and are excellent for culinary use; those made from beans and flour are named Jiang (soybean paste) and are effective in medicine. Do not choose fresh ones; only aged ones are valued. It instantly kills venom from various insects, snakes, scorpions, and bees, and has special efficacy in detoxifying various medicines, vegetables, and fungi. Slightly applied to tinea and pruritus, itching is relieved rapidly. The Sage said, "Do not eat if there is no proper cook." This implies that the five flavors should be harmonized so that the five Zang organs receive pleasure, which is also a form of happiness. Elm kernel paste tastes very pungent; after ingestion, it promotes bowel movement and removes malignant qi from the heart and abdomen. Coriandrum fructus (Wu Yi) paste has a slightly foul odor; consuming too much may cause hair loss and lead to infant malnutrition syndrome (Wu Gu disease).