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(Added in the Jiyou year from *Bencao Yan Yi*)

Raw Soybean (Da Dou)
Sweet in taste, neutral in nature. Applied externally for carbuncles and swellings; drinking the decoction expels "ghost poison" (toxic pathogens), relieves pain, resolves water retention and distension, clears heat-bi in the stomach, treats injuries to the middle jiao, strangury and leakage, discharges stasis blood, dissipates accumulations and internal cold in the five zang organs, and detoxifies Aconitum carmichaelii (Wutou). Long-term consumption causes heaviness of the body. Stir-fried into powder, it is sweet in taste. It primarily treats heat in the stomach, reduces swelling, removes bi-syndrome, promotes digestion, and stops abdominal distension. Grows in the plains and marshes of Mount Tai. Harvested in the ninth month. (Incompatible with Wu Shen [Five Ginsengs] and Gentianae Radix [Longdan]; harmonizes well with Peucedani Radix [Qianhu], Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata [Wuhui], Almond [Xingren], and Oyster Shell [Muli].)

Current research based on Chen Cangqi's *Bencao* states: Soybeans stir-fried until black, while smoke is still rising, thrown hot into wine, treat wind-bi, paralysis and flaccidity, trismus (lockjaw), and various wind syndromes postpartum. Taken raw half liang after meals, it removes vexation and heat in the chest and heart, wind-heat causing dizziness and confusion, brightens the eyes, calms the heart spirit, and provides warm tonification. Long-term use improves complexion, whitens the skin, removes wind-induced edema, and suppresses irritability caused by mineral drugs (Danshi). The juice resolves drug toxicities and reduces swelling. Stir-fried soybeans are extremely hot; boiled soybeans and fermented soybeans (Douchi) are extremely cold. Huangjuan (Soybean Sprouts) and Jiang (Soybean Paste) are neutral. Cattle eating them have a warming effect; horses eating them have a cooling effect. From one substance, uses vary greatly; generally suitable for medicinal use. It is particularly effective in detoxifying Aconitum carmichaelii (Wutou). Immortal prescription: Prepared Huangjuan powder can be used to avoid grain and survive famine years. However, excessive consumption increases body weight, which returns to normal over time. Ancient prescriptions include ZiTang (Purple Decoction), which breaks blood, dispels wind, removes qi stagnation, and prevents heat; especially suitable for two days postpartum. One dan and half sheng of wine, soybeans stir-fried until smoke nearly ceases, thrown into the wine; when the wine turns reddish-purple, remove beans and consume according to constitution. For trismus, add two sheng of white chicken droppings, stir-fry together, throw into wine; highly effective. People in Jiangnan make Douchi using a variety called Dao Dou, which is excellent. Ancient and modern prescriptions use Douchi most frequently for treating diseases. Ge Hong's *Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang* states: There are several types of Shanghan (Cold Damage); unskilled physicians cannot distinguish them. Now, take one medicine to treat multiple conditions. If initially feeling headache and flesh heat, with a surging pulse for one or two days, prepare this modified Cong Chi Tang (Scallion and Fermented Soybean Decoction). One tiger-mouthful of Scallion White (Congbai), one sheng of Douchi (Fermented Soybean), boil to obtain one sheng, drink in one dose to induce sweating. If no sweat, repeat, adding three liang of Puerariae Radix (Gegen), five sheng of water, boil to obtain two sheng, divide into two doses; sweat must be induced for cure. If no sweat, repeat, adding three liang of Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang), removing joints. All famous physician prescriptions use this method. There are many variations. Currently, people in Jiangnan suffering from seasonal pathogens always use this decoction first, often resulting in recovery.

*Tang Ben Cao* states: Boiled consumption treats Wendu (Warm Toxins) and edema. There is also white soybean, not used medicinally. *Shi Liao* states slightly cold. Treats stroke with weak legs, various postpartum diseases. If boiled with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) and drunk, it removes all heat toxins. Excellent for treating Fengdu Hongjiaojiao (Wind Poison Hongjiao Jiao/Podagra); boiled consumption treats heart pain, tendon spasms, and knee pain. Soybean yellow residue forbids pork. Children must not eat stir-fried beans. If eaten, followed suddenly by pork, it will surely cause qi obstruction leading to death, nine out of ten cases. Those over ten years old are not afraid. *Qian Jin Fang*: Treats stiff neck unable to look around. Steam one sheng of soybeans until color changes, place in a bag as a pillow. Another prescription: Treats throat bi sudden inability to speak; boil soybean juice and gargle. Another prescription: Falling from height, head broken, brain bleeding; do not make too hot, pound into powder, steam until vapor permeates, place under steamer in basin, pour one sheng of wine over it. Warm drink one sheng. Another prescription: Treats Zhong E (Evil Qi Invasion). Fourteen soybeans, egg yolk, half sheng of wine, mix and drink in one dose. Another prescription: Treats Wudou (Black Bean). One sheng Wudou, five sheng water, boil to obtain three sheng juice, remove dregs, add five sheng wine, boil again to obtain three sheng, divide into three warm doses. Not cured, repeat. Another prescription: Treats Toufeng Headache. Three sheng soybeans, stir-fry until silent, prepare a jar holding one dan two sheng, fill with nine sheng clear wine, throw hot beans into wine immediately, seal tightly with mud for seven days, warm drink. Another prescription: Treats Kou Pi (Facial Paralysis). Three sheng soybean flour, stir-fry until scorched, pour three sheng wine over to extract juice. Turns hair and temples black. Vinegar-boiled soybeans, remove black beans, boil thick, apply to hair. Another prescription: Bruised head from beating. Treats sudden wind inability to speak. Boil beans, extract juice like malt syrup, gargle; also good to drink thick decoction. Another prescription: Treats hypochondriac pain... Another prescription: Insomnia from morning to night. At dusk, heat new cloth with fire and compress eyes, as before. Another prescription: Effective for Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst). Place Wudou (Black Bean) in cow gallbladder, dry in shade for one hundred days, swallow for cure. Another prescription: Treats sudden waist and flank pain, back pain. Two sheng soybeans, three sheng wine, boil. Stone poisoning, soybean juice resolves it well. Another prescription: Genital itching with sweating, chew raw soybean yellow residue, apply. Teeth not growing. Use thirty black beans, burn in cow dung fire until smoke ceases, grind finely, add a little Moschus (Shexiang), grind together, rub. Avoid wind, forbid sour and alkaline substances. Another prescription: Treats痞 (Masses) in abdomen during autumn/summer transition after long night sitting outdoors, feeling like stones in abdomen causing pain. Black beans and Evodiae Fructus (Zhuyu) rubbed together, swallowed, beneficial. Another prescription: Treats Po Shang Feng (Broken Wind/Tetanus). Ten coins, grind together into powder. With half cup of wine, mix and administer. *Shi Yi Xin Jing*: Treats Fengdu attacking heart, vexation. Remove dregs, take after meal. Another prescription: Soybean powder, regulates stomach heat, waist pain. One sheng soybean, boil to obtain seven he, remove dregs, take on empty stomach. Another prescription: Treats postpartum wind deficiency, Wu Huan Liu Ji (Five Flaccidities and Six Urgencies), numbness and bi in hands and feet, vertigo, eye dizziness, qi imbalance. One sheng soybean, stir-fry until cooked, throw hot into three sheng wine, seal tightly, drink as desired. *Guang Li Fang*: Treats Hongjiao Chong Xin (Podagra rushing to heart). Boil thick, extract juice, drink half sheng in one dose. If unsettled, drink another half sheng, then settles. Another prescription: Prevent Wen Bing (Warm Diseases). Place one dou of soybeans in new cloth, insert... or heavy body/head, vomiting and regurgitation, staring straight ahead, all due to deficiency-heat wind-stroke. Three sheng soybeans, roast until very cooked, wait until silent, store in vessel, pour five sheng wine over to obtain two sheng, drink all, cover warmly to induce slight sweat, moist body indicates cure. Postpartum should take slightly regularly to prevent wind pathogen and resolve blood accumulation. Another prescription: Treats infant pox and measles. Cook soybeans thoroughly, take juice for best results. Another prescription: Treats infant scalds and burns. Apply water-boiled soybean juice topically, heals easily without scarring. Another prescription: Treats infant urine ash sores, chew熟 black bean skins and apply. *Yang Shi Chan Ru*: Treats premature pregnancy where mother and child feel suffocated. Take three sheng soybeans, boil thickly with vinegar to obtain three sheng concentrated juice. Drink in one dose, fetus expelled immediately. Obstetric texts treat postpartum residual blood and fluid by drinking Dou Lin Jiu (Bean-Dripping Wine). Five sheng black beans roasted until smoke ceases, taken out, quenched in porcelain vessel with one sheng wine. Another prescription: Treats retained placenta. Half sheng large soybeans, three sheng pure wine, boil to half volume, divide into three doses. *Bao Wu Zhi* says: Zuo Yuanliang's famine method: Select soybeans mixed evenly, warm air penetrates beans then put in... eat food first for one day, then drink cold water in one dose. Fish, meat, vegetables, fruits must not enter mouth again. Drink. Initially slightly tired, after ten months, body becomes strong and healthy, no longer craving food. *Baopuzi Neipian* says: Chancellor Zhang Wenwei, manor at Baipo in Eastern Capital, manor has rat/wild wolf den, four cubs swallowed by snake. Male and female rats/wolves deeply concerned, dug earth outside den, just enough space for heads to emerge, judged snake couldn't turn back, bit snake waist in half, split belly, carried out four cubs still alive. Placed outside den, carried bean leaves, chewed and applied, all survived.

*Bencao Yan Yi* states: Raw soybeans come in green, brown, and black varieties, also large and small sizes. Large ones grow in Jiang, Zhejiang, Hunan, North/South; small black ones grow elsewhere. Currently using small ones, efficacy is better. Stir-fried, pounded with date flesh into pills, used as grain substitute. Also treats postpartum hundred diseases, blood heat, and trismus, only vexation-heat, convulsions, thirst, back swelling, severe vomiting/regurgitation. Five sheng soybeans, quickly wash clean, one dou of non-ash wine, roast beans until slight smoke emerges, pour into wine bottle to soak. After more than one day, drink one sheng of wine, stop when cured. If usually does not drink alcohol, adjust amount accordingly. If trismus, add half jin of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (Duhuo), slightly crush and soak together, increase wine to one dou two sheng. Summer preparation risks sour spoilage, can also be made into fermented bean curd to eat.