味甘，大暖。疗脏腑中风气，调中下气，开胃消宿食。主霍乱，心膈气，痰逆，除烦，
破症结及补虚，去冷气，除肠胃中塞，不下食，令人有颜色，六月作者良。陈久者入药，用
之当炒令香，六畜食米胀欲死者，煮曲汁灌之立消，落胎并下鬼胎。又，神曲，使，无毒。
能化水谷宿食症气，健脾暖胃。〔（新补） 见陈藏器、孟诜、萧炳、陈士良、日华子。〕
雷公云∶曲，凡使，捣作末后，掘地坑，深二尺，用物裹，纳坑中至一宿，明出，焙干
用。
千金方∶治产后运绝。曲末，水服方寸匕。不瘥，更服即瘥。又方∶治小腹坚大如盘，
满，能食而不消。曲末服方
寸匕，日三。肘后方∶治赤白痢下，水谷食不消。以曲熬粟米粥，
又方∶妊娠卒胎动不安，或
腰痛，胎转抢心，下血不止。生曲半饼碎末
末和独头蒜，杵如帽簪头，
纳疮孔中，虫出愈。
伤寒类要∶治伤寒饮
食劳复。以曲一饼，煮取汁饮之。杨氏产乳∶疗胎上迫，心痛兼下血。取曲半饼，捣碎，水
和绞
麦曲，止河鱼之腹疾。贾相公进过牛经，牛生衣不下。取六月六曲末
下。蜀本云温，消谷，止痢，
平胃。主小儿痫，消食痔。
味甘，微寒，无毒。主轻身，除热。久服令人多力健行，以作 ，温，消食和中。
陶隐居云∶此是今马所食者，性乃热而云微寒，恐是作屑与合壳异也。服食家并食大、
二
麦，令人轻健。唐本注云∶麦性寒，陶云性热，非也；复云∶作屑与合壳异。此皆江东少有
，故斟酌言之。臣禹锡等谨按萧炳云∶ 麦，补中，不动风气，先患冷气人，即不相当。
大麦之类，西川人种食之。山东、河北人正月种之，名春 ，形状与大麦相似。孟诜云∶
麦，主轻身补中，不动疾。日华子云∶作饼食不动气，若暴食时间似动气，多食即益人。
图经文具小麦条下。
The flavor of Qu (Medicated Leaven) is sweet, and its nature is greatly warm. It treats wind qi in the zang-fu organs, regulates ascending and descending qi, opens the stomach, and eliminates retained food. It primarily treats cholera, chest and diaphragm qi stagnation, and rebellious phlegm qi, removes irritability, breaks up mass formations, tonifies deficiency, expels cold qi, clears obstructions in the intestines and stomach, improves poor appetite, enhances complexion, and is best when prepared in the sixth lunar month. Aged Qu is used for medicinal purposes; it should be stir-fried until fragrant before use. If livestock suffer from abdominal distension and impending death due to eating rice, administering boiled Qu juice will cause immediate resolution. It also induces abortion and expels "ghost fetus" (abnormal pregnancy or accumulation). Additionally, Shenqu (Divine Leaven), when used as a drug, is non-toxic. It can digest water, grain, retained food, and mass qi, strengthens the spleen, and warms the stomach. [(Newly supplemented) See records by Chen Cangqi, Meng Shen, Xiao Bing, Chen Shiliang, and Ri Huazi.]
Lei Gong stated: When using Qu, after grinding it into powder, dig a pit two chi deep, wrap the powder in material, place it in the pit overnight, take it out the next day, dry it by roasting, and then use it.
*Qianjin Fang*: Treats postpartum syncope. Take Qu powder, administer with water, one cun bi (a measure roughly equivalent to a spoonful). If not cured, continue taking it until cured. Another prescription: Treats lower abdomen hardness and distension like a plate, fullness, ability to eat but indigestion. Take Qu powder, one cun bi, three times daily. *Zhouhou Beiji Fang*: Treats bloody and white dysentery, indigestion of water and grain. Cook millet porridge with Qu. Another prescription: Treats sudden fetal restlessness during pregnancy, or lower back pain, fetal movement striking the heart, continuous bleeding. Take half a cake of raw Qu, crush into powder, mix with a single clove of garlic, pound into a paste the size of a hat pin, insert into the wound opening; healing occurs when parasites are expelled.
*Shanghan Leiyao*: Treats recurrence of Shanghan (Cold Damage) due to dietary indiscretion and overexertion. Take one cake of Qu, boil to extract juice, and drink. *Yangshi Chanru*: Treats fetal pressure causing heart pain accompanied by bleeding. Take half a cake of Qu, crush, mix with water, squeeze out juice, and drink. Qu stops "river fish abdominal disease" (intestinal rumbling and diarrhea). The *Niu Jing* (Classic of Cattle) presented by Prime Minister Jia states that if a cow fails to expel the placenta after birth, take June 6th Qu powder internally. *Shu Ben Cao* records its nature as warm, capable of digesting grain, stopping dysentery, and harmonizing the stomach. It primarily treats pediatric epilepsy and digestive hemorrhoids.
The flavor of Da Mai (Large Wheat) is sweet, its nature is slightly cold, and it is non-toxic. It primarily promotes lightness of the body and clears heat. Long-term consumption increases strength and stamina for walking. Prepared as flour/pancakes, it is warm, aids digestion, and harmonizes the middle jiao. Tao Hongjing said: This is what horses eat now; its nature should be hot, yet it is described as slightly cold. I suspect this is because the nature differs between bran/flour and whole kernels. Those who practice dietary therapy consume both Da Mai and Xiao Mai, which makes the body light and vigorous. *Tang Ben Zhu* stated: Wheat's nature is cold; Tao's claim that it is hot is incorrect; it further stated that bran/flour and whole kernels differ. These remarks were made because such wheat was rare in Jiangdong, so they were spoken cautiously. Ministers Yu Xi et al. respectfully followed Xiao Bing's statement: Xiao Mai (Small Wheat) tonifies the middle jiao and does not disturb wind qi; those who previously suffered from cold qi are not suitable for consuming it. Da Mai and similar grains are planted and consumed in Western Sichuan. In Shandong and Hebei, people plant them in the first lunar month, calling them Chun Mai (Spring Wheat), which resembles Da Mai in shape. Meng Shen said: Xiao Mai primarily promotes lightness of the body, tonifies the middle jiao, and does not induce illness. Ri Huazi said: Eating it as pancakes does not disturb qi; if consumed in excess suddenly, it may seem to disturb qi, but moderate consumption benefits people. *Tu Jing Wen Hua* has detailed records under the entry for Xiao Mai.