Library

**Adzuki Bean (Chi Xiao Dou):** Sweet and sour in flavor, neutral in nature, red in color entering the Heart meridian. It can descend to dissipate blood stasis and promote urination. Long-term consumption leads to emaciation. Those that are tight, small, and dark in color are used for medicinal purposes. Half-red and half-yellow ones are called "Xiang Si Zi" (Acacia Seed), which are neutral in nature and toxic; they can induce vomiting to expel evil qi from the heart and abdomen. The world often uses them as substitutes for authentic drugs.

**Mung Bean (Lu Dou):** Sweet and cold in nature, circulating through the twelve meridians; it clears damp-heat, relieves thirst, and is a specialized drug for promoting diuresis and detoxification. Its efficacy lies mainly in the skin; removing the shell causes qi stagnation.
**Mung Bean Powder (Lu Dou Fen):** Also known as "Zhen Fen". Although it has the effect of harmonizing the middle and reducing fever, it is good at counteracting drug properties. Patients should eat it sparingly.

**Small Red Bean (Su Ming Xiao An):** Sweet and neutral in nature, harmonizes the middle and regulates the stomach, can stop vomiting, regurgitation, diarrhea, and dysentery. It can be eaten by cooking it with rice.

**Black Soybean (Hei Da Dou):** Sweet and astringent, warm in nature, tonifies middle qi, astringes the intestines and strengthens the spleen; can treat chronic diarrhea. When sprouted, it no longer causes constipation, and is fragrant and sweet.

**[Unnamed Bean/Lentil]:** Sweet and astringent, neutral in nature, tonifies the kidney and detoxifies, truly without the harm of causing loose stools.

**Black Soybean Leaf:** Sweet and neutral in nature, strengthens the spleen and dispels summerheat, stops diarrhea and removes dampness. For dispelling summerheat, use raw; for strengthening the spleen, stir-fry. Eating too much or for a long time can only cause qi stagnation.
**Black Soybean Leaf:** Can also clear summerheat and harmonize the middle, so it is suitable for acute dysentery.

**Ma Liao Dou (Horse Feed Bean):** Also known as Ma Liao Dou. Sweet and astringent, neutral in nature, tonifies the kidney and detoxifies, invigorates blood and dispels wind. Use the skin, remove the flesh. For detoxification, use raw; for tonifying the kidney, stir-fry. It causes loose stools and closes qi, so it is not included in decoctions.

**[Cardamine Seeds/Dao Dou Zi - Name Missing in Source]:** Sweet and warm in nature, warms the middle and stops hiccups, superior to Persimmon Calyx, and has the effect of benefiting the kidney.

**Yellow Soybean (Huang Dou):** Sweet, slightly bitter, and warm in nature, warms the middle and supplements qi. Eating too much makes one feel stifled.

**Prepared Soybean (Dan Dou Chi):** Sweet and neutral in nature, enters the Lung and Kidney to release the muscle layer and induce sweating; drains heat and harmonizes the middle, serving as a specialized drug for dispersing pathogens in Cold Damage, Warm Epidemics, and maculopapular rashes. It is made from fine black soybeans fermented into douchi.

**Yellow Soybean (Huang Dou):** Also known as "Dou". Sweet and neutral in nature, enters the Spleen and Stomach to gently ascend Stomach qi, resolves and benefits from damp-heat, and is a specialized drug for treating Bi syndrome and relaxing sinews. It is the large yellow soybean, used after shade-drying.

**Tofu:** Sweet, bland, and slightly cold in nature, harmonizes the stomach and clears heat, descends turbid qi in the Large Intestine. Contraindicated for those with Middle Jiao Cold.
**Stinky Tofu (Chou Dou Fu):** Descends turbidity and widens the intestines, superior to plain tofu. However, market varieties are often mixed with iron sulfate (Duan Shi); although they form blocks over time, their nature is dry and hot, so they should not be eaten excessively.

**Soy Milk/Bean Juice:** Sweet, bland, and neutral in nature, best at nourishing the stomach and refreshing the diaphragm. Boiling the juice to decoct herbs also utilizes its function of harmonizing the Spleen and Stomach.