（《别录》中品）
【校正】《拾遗》麦、苗并归为一。
【释名】来。
时珍曰∶来亦作KT 。许氏《说文》云∶天降瑞麦，一来二 ，象芒刺之形，天所来
也。
如足行来，故麦字从来从 。 音绥，足行也。《诗》云∶“贻我来牟”是矣。又云∶
来象其实， 象其根。《梵书》名麦曰迦师错。
【集解】颂曰∶大、小麦秋种冬长，春秀夏实，具四时中和之气，故为五谷之贵。地暖
处亦可春种，至夏便收。然比秋种者，四气不足，故有毒。
时珍曰∶北人种麦漫撒，南人种麦撮撒。北麦皮薄面多，南麦反此。或云∶收麦以蚕沙
和之，辟蠹。或云∶立秋前以苍耳锉碎同晒收，亦不蛀。秋后则虫已生矣。盖麦性恶湿，故
久雨水潦，即多不熟也。
小麦
【气味】甘，微寒，无毒。入少阴、太阳之经。
甄权曰∶平，有小毒。
恭曰∶小麦作汤，不许皮坼。坼则性温，不能消热止烦也。
藏器曰∶小麦秋种夏熟，受四时气足，兼有寒热温凉。故麦凉、曲温、麸冷、面热，宜
其然也。河渭之西，白麦面亦凉，以其春种，阙二气也。
时珍曰∶新麦性热，陈麦平和。
【主治】除客热，止烦渴咽燥，利小便，养肝气，止漏血唾血。令女人易孕（《别录》）
。养心气，心病宜食之（思邈）。煎汤饮，治暴淋（宗 ）。熬末服，杀肠中蛔虫（《药性》）。
陈者煎汤饮，止虚汗。烧存性，油调，涂诸疮汤火伤灼（时珍）。
【发明】时珍曰∶按∶《素问》云∶麦属火，心之谷也。郑玄云∶麦有孚甲，属木。许
慎云∶麦属金，金王而生，火王而死。三说各异。而《别录》云∶麦养肝气，与郑说合。孙
思邈云∶麦养心气，与《素问》合。夷考其功，除烦、止渴、收汗、利溲、止血，皆心之病
也，当以《素问》为准。盖许以时，郑以形，而《素问》以功性，故立论不同尔。
震亨曰∶饥年用小麦代谷，须晒燥，以少水润，舂去皮，煮为饭食，可免面热之患。
【附方】旧二，新五。
消渴心烦∶用小麦作饭及粥食。（《心镜》）
老人五淋，身热腹满∶小麦一升，通草二两，水三升，煮一升，饮之即愈。（《奉亲书》）
项下瘿气∶用小麦一升，醋一升，渍之，晒干为末。以海藻洗，研末三两，和匀。每以
酒服方寸匕，日三。（《短剧》）。
眉炼头疮∶用小麦烧存性，为末。油调敷。（《儒门事亲》）。
白癜风癣∶用小麦摊石上，烧铁物压出油，搽之甚效。（《医学正传》）。
汤火伤灼，未成疮者∶用小麦炒黑，研入腻粉，油调涂之。勿犯冷水，必致烂。（《袖
珍方》）。
金疮肠出∶用小麦五升，水九升，煮取四升，绵滤取汁，待极冷。令病患卧席上，含汁
使肠自入。十日中，但略食羹物。慎勿惊动，即杀人。（《刘涓子鬼遗方》）。
浮麦（即水淘浮起者，焙用）。
【气味】甘、咸，寒，无毒。
【主治】益气除热，止自汗盗汗，骨蒸虚热，妇人劳热（时珍）。
麦麸
【主治】时疾热疮，汤火疮烂，扑损伤折瘀血，醋炒 贴之（《日华》）。和面作饼，止
泄痢，调中去热健人。以醋拌蒸热，袋盛，包熨人马冷失腰脚伤折处，止痛散血（藏器）。
醋
蒸，熨手足风湿痹痛，寒湿香港脚，互易至汗出，并良。末服，止虚汗（时珍）。
【发明】时珍曰∶麸乃麦皮也。与浮麦同性，而止汗之功次于浮麦，盖浮麦无肉也。
凡人身体疼痛及疮疡肿烂沾渍，或小儿暑月出痘疮，溃烂不能着席睡卧者，并用夹褥盛麸缝
合藉卧，性凉而软，诚妙法也。
【附方】新七。
虚汗盗汗∶《卫生宝鉴》∶用浮小麦（文武火炒），为末。每服二钱半，米饮下，日三服。
或煎汤代茶饮。一方∶以猪觜唇煮熟切片，蘸食亦良。
产后虚汗∶小麦麸、牡蛎等分，为末。以猪肉汁调服二钱，日二服。（胡氏《妇人方》）。
走气作痛∶用酽醋拌麸皮炒热，袋盛熨之。（《生生编》）。
灭诸瘢痕∶春夏用大麦麸，秋冬用小麦麸，筛粉和酥敷之。（《总录》）。
小儿眉疮∶小麦麸炒黑，研末，酒调敷之。
小便尿血∶面麸炒香，以肥猪肉蘸食之。《集玄》。
面
【气味】甘，温，有微毒。不能消热止烦（《别录》）。
大明曰∶性壅热，小动风气，发丹石毒。
思邈曰∶多食，长宿 ，加客气。畏汉椒、萝卜。
【主治】补虚。久食，实人肤体，浓肠胃，强气力（藏器）。养气，补不足，助五脏（《
日华》）。水调服，治人中暑，马病肺热（宗 ）。敷痈肿损伤，散血止痛。生食，利大肠。
水调服，止鼻衄吐血（时珍）。
【发明】诜曰∶面有热毒者，多是陈黝之色，又为磨中石末在内故也。但杵食之，即良
藏器曰∶面性热，惟第二磨者凉，为其近麸也。河渭以西，白麦面性凉，以其春种，阙
二气也。
颖曰∶东南卑湿，春多雨水，麦已受湿气，又不曾出汗，故食之作渴，动风气，助湿发
热。西北高燥，春雨又少，麦不受湿，复入地窖出汗，北人禀浓少湿，故常食而不病也。
时珍曰∶北面性温，食之不渴；南面性热，食之烦渴；西边面性凉，皆地气使然也。吞
汉椒、食萝卜，皆能解其毒，见萝卜条。医方中往往用飞罗面，取其无石末而性平易尔。陈
麦面，水煮食之，无毒。以糟发胀者，能发病发疮，惟作蒸饼和药，取其易消也。按∶李鹏
飞《延寿书》云∶北多霜雪，故面无毒；南方雪少，故面有毒。顾元庆《檐曝偶谈》云∶江
南麦花夜发，故发病；江北麦花昼发，故宜人。又曰∶鱼稻宜江淮，羊面宜京洛，亦五方
有宜不宜也。面性虽热，而寒食日以纸袋盛悬风处，数十年亦不坏，则热性皆去而无毒矣，
入药尤良。
【附方】旧六，新二十三。
热渴心闷∶温水一盏，调面一两，饮之。（《圣济总录》）。
中 卒死∶井水和面一大抄，服之。（《千金》）。
夜出盗汗∶麦面作弹丸，空心、卧时煮食之。次早服妙香散一帖取效。
内损吐血∶飞罗面略炒，以京墨汁或藕节汁，调服二钱。（《医学集成》）。
大衄血出∶口耳皆出者。用白面入盐少许，冷水调服三钱。（《普济方》）。
中蛊吐血∶小麦面二合，水调服。半日当下出。（《广记》）。
呕哕不止∶醋和面，作弹丸二、三十枚，以沸汤煮熟，漉出投浆水中，待温吞三、两枚。
哕定，即不用再吞。未定，至晚再吞。（《兵部手集》）。
寒痢白色∶炒面，每以方寸匕入粥中食之。能疗日泻百行，师不救者。（《外台》）。
泄痢不固∶白面一斤，炒焦黄。每日空心温水服一、二匙。（《正要》）。
诸疟久疟∶用三姓人家寒食面各一合，五月五日午时采青蒿，擂自然汁，和丸绿豆大。
临
头皮虚肿，薄如蒸饼，状如裹水∶以口嚼面敷之良。（《梅师方》）。
咽喉肿痛，卒不下食∶白面和醋，涂喉外肿处。（《普济方》）。
妇人吹奶∶水调面煮糊，欲熟，即投无灰酒一盏，搅匀热饮。令人徐徐按之，药行即瘳。
（《经验方》）。
乳痈不消∶白面半斤炒黄，醋煮为糊，涂之即消。（《圣惠方》）。
破伤风病∶白面、烧盐各一撮。新水调，涂之。（《普济方》）。
金疮血出不止∶用生面干敷，五、七日即愈。（《蔺氏经验方》）。
远行脚趼成泡者∶水调生面涂之，一夜即平。（《海上》）。
折伤瘀损∶白面、栀子仁同捣，以水调，敷之即散。
火燎成疮∶炒面，入栀子仁末，和油敷之。（《千金》）。
疮中恶肉∶寒食面二两，巴豆五分。水和作饼，烧末掺之。（《仙传外科》）。
白秃头疮∶白面、豆豉和研，酢和敷之。（《普济方》）。
小儿口疮∶寒食面五钱，硝石七钱，水调半钱，涂足心，男左女右。（《普济方》）。
妇人断产∶白面一升，酒一升，煮沸去渣，分三服。经水至时前日夜、次日早及天明服
之
阴冷闷痛，渐入腹肿满∶醋和面熨之。（《千金方》）。
一切漏疮∶盐、面和团，烧研敷之。（《千金方》）。
瘭疽出汁，生手足肩背，累累如赤豆∶剥净，以酒和面敷之。（《千金方》）。
一切疔肿∶面和腊猪脂封之良。（《梅师方》）。
伤米食积∶白面一两，白酒曲二丸，炒为末。每服二匙，白汤调下。如伤肉食，山楂汤
下。（《简便方》）
麦粉
【气味】甘，凉，无毒。
【主治】补中，益气脉，和五脏，调经络。又炒一合，汤服，断下痢（孟诜）。醋熬成
膏，消一切痈肿、汤火伤（时珍）。
【发明】时珍曰∶麦粉乃是麸面，面洗筋澄出浆粉。今人浆衣多用之，古方鲜用。按∶
万表《积善堂方》云∶乌龙膏∶治一切痈肿发背，无名肿毒，初发 热未破者，取效如神。
用隔年小粉，愈久者愈佳，以锅炒之。初炒如饧，久炒则干，成黄黑色，冷定研末。陈米醋
调成糊，熬如黑漆，瓷罐收之。用时摊纸上，剪孔贴之，即如冰冷，疼痛即止。少顷觉痒，
干亦不能动。久则肿毒自消，药力亦尽而脱落，甚妙。此方苏州杜水庵所传，屡用有验。药
易而功大，济生者宜收藏之。
面筋
【气味】甘，凉，无毒。
【主治】解热和中，劳热人宜煮食之（时珍）。宽中益气（宁原）。
【发明】时珍曰∶面筋，以麸与面水中揉洗而成者。古人罕知，今为素食要物，煮食甚
良。今人多以油炒，则性热矣。
宗 曰∶生嚼白面成筋，可粘禽、虫。
麦 （即糗也。以麦蒸，磨成屑）
【气味】甘，微寒，无毒。
【主治】消渴，止烦（《蜀本》）。
（收录于《名医别录》中品）
【校正】《本草拾遗》将麦粒与麦苗合并为一类。
【释名】来。
李时珍说：来也写作“麳”。许慎的《说文解字》记载：上天降下祥瑞的麦子，一来二至，形状像芒刺，是上天所赐予的。
如同脚行走而来，所以“麦”字由“来”和“夊”组成。“夊”音同“绥”，意为脚行走的样子。《诗经》说：“馈赠给我牟麦。”又说：“来”字象征麦子的果实，“夊”字象征它的根。佛经中将麦称为“迦师错”。
【集解】苏颂说：大麦、小麦都是秋天播种，冬天生长，春天抽穗，夏天结实，具备四季中和之气，所以被视为五谷中的珍品。地势温暖的地方也可以春天播种，到夏天就收获。然而比起秋天播种的，四季之气不足，所以有毒性。
李时珍说：北方人种麦是漫撒，南方人种麦是撮撒。北面的皮薄面多，南面的则相反。有人说：收麦时用蚕沙混合，可以防止蛀虫。也有人说：立秋前将苍耳切碎一同晾晒收藏，也不会生虫。秋后虫子就已经产生了。大概麦性厌恶潮湿，所以久雨积水，就会导致很多不成熟。
小麦
【气味】甘味，微寒，无毒。入少阴经、太阳经。
甄权说：性平，有小毒。
孟恭说：煮小麦汤时，不允许麦皮破裂。如果破裂了，性质就会变温，就不能消除热邪、止烦渴了。
藏器说：小麦秋天播种夏天成熟，受四时之气充足，兼有寒、热、温、凉的特性。所以麦粒凉、曲温、麸冷、面热，应该就是这样。河渭以西的白麦面也是凉的，因为它春天播种，缺少两季之气。
李时珍说：新麦性热，陈麦性平和。
【主治】清除客热，止烦渴咽燥，通利小便，滋养肝气，止漏血、唾血。使妇女容易受孕（《名医别录》）。滋养心气，心病适宜食用（孙思邈）。煎汤饮用，治疗突发淋证（寇宗奭）。炒成粉末服用，杀灭肠中蛔虫（《药性论》）。陈麦煎汤饮用，止虚汗。烧存性，用油调涂，治疗各种疮疡、汤火烫伤灼伤（李时珍）。
【发明】李时珍说：按《素问》记载：麦属火，是心的谷类食物。郑玄说：麦有孚甲，属木。许慎说：麦属金，金旺时生长，火旺时死亡。三种说法各不相同。而《名医别录》说：麦滋养肝气，与郑玄的说法相合。孙思邈说：麦滋养心气，与《素问》相合。考察其功效，除烦、止渴、收汗、利溲、止血，都是心的病症，应当以《素问》为准。大概许慎是根据时节，郑玄是根据形态，而《素问》是根据功效性质，所以立论不同罢了。
朱震亨说：饥荒年份用小麦代替谷物，必须晒干燥，用少量水润湿，舂去皮，煮成饭食，可以避免面食发热的祸患。
【附方】旧方两个，新方五个。
消渴心烦：用小麦做米饭及粥食用。（《心镜》）
老人五种淋证，身体发热腹部胀满：小麦一升，通草二两，水三升，煮取一升，饮下即愈。（《奉亲书》）
颈部瘿气：用小麦一升，醋一升，浸泡它，晒干后研为粉末。将海藻洗净，研为粉末三两，混合均匀。每次用酒送服一方寸匕，每日三次。（《短剧方》）
眉毛处炼出的头疮：用小麦烧存性，研为粉末。用油调敷。（《儒门事亲》）
白癜风癣：用小麦摊在石头上，用烧红的铁物压出油，涂抹非常有效。（《医学正传》）
汤火烫伤灼伤，尚未形成疮口的：用小麦炒黑，研末加入腻粉，用油调涂。不要接触冷水，否则必然导致腐烂。（《袖珍方》）
金创导致肠子流出：用小麦五升，水九升，煮取四升，用绵布过滤取汁，等到极冷。让病人躺在席子上，含住汁液使肠子自行回纳。十天内，只稍微吃点羹汤食物。千万不要惊吓扰动，否则会致死。（《刘涓子鬼遗方》）
浮麦（即用水淘洗浮起者，焙干使用）。
【气味】甘、咸，寒，无毒。
【主治】益气除热，止自汗盗汗，骨蒸虚热，妇人劳热（李时珍）。
麦麸
【主治】时行热疮，汤火疮烂，跌扑损伤瘀血，醋炒贴敷（《日华子本草》）。和面做成饼，止泄痢，调和脾胃去热健人。用醋拌蒸热，装在袋子里，包裹熨烫人马冷失腰脚伤折处，止痛散血（藏器）。醋蒸，熨烫手足风湿痹痛，寒湿香港脚，交替使用直到出汗，都很好。研末服用，止虚汗（李时珍）。
【发明】李时珍说：麸就是麦皮。与浮麦同性，但止汗的功效次于浮麦，大概因为浮麦没有肉。
凡是人体疼痛及疮疡肿烂沾渍，或者小儿暑月出痘疮，溃烂不能着席睡卧的，都用夹褥盛装麸皮缝合垫卧，性质凉而软，确实是妙法。
【附方】新方七个。
虚汗盗汗：《卫生宝鉴》：用浮小麦（文武火炒），研为粉末。每次服用二钱半，米饮送下，每日三次。或者煎汤代茶饮。另一方法：将猪嘴唇煮熟切片，蘸食也很好。
产后虚汗：小麦麸、牡蛎等分，研为粉末。用猪肉汁调服二钱，每日两次。（胡氏《妇人方》）
走气作痛：用浓醋拌麸皮炒热，装在袋子里熨烫。（《生生编》）
灭除各种瘢痕：春夏用大麦麸，秋冬用小麦麸，筛粉和酥油敷之。（《总录》）
小儿眉疮：小麦麸炒黑，研末，酒调敷之。
小便尿血：面麸炒香，用肥猪肉蘸食。《集玄》。
面
【气味】甘，温，有微毒。不能消热止烦（《名医别录》）。
大明说：性壅滞发热，轻微动风气，引发丹石毒。
思邈说：多吃，会延长宿疾，增加客气。畏惧汉椒、萝卜。
【主治】补虚。久食，充实人的肤体，浓厚肠胃，增强气力（藏器）。养气，补不足，助五脏（《日华子本草》）。水调服，治疗人中暑，马病肺热（寇宗奭）。敷痈肿损伤，散血止痛。生食，利大肠。水调服，止鼻衄吐血（李时珍）。
【发明】诜说：面有热毒的，多是陈旧黝黑的颜色，又是磨中石末在里面造成的。只要杵食它，就好。
藏器说：面性热，只有第二遍磨的面凉，因为它靠近麸皮。河渭以西，白麦面性凉，因为它春天播种，缺少两季之气。
颖说：东南地势卑湿，春雨多雨水，麦子已经受了湿气，又没有出汗，所以吃了会让人口渴，动风气，助湿发热。西北地势高燥，春雨又少，麦子不受湿，又放入地窖出汗，北方人禀赋浓厚少湿，所以常吃而不生病。
李时珍说：北面性温，吃了不渴；南面性热，吃了烦渴；西方面性凉，都是地气使然。吞服汉椒、吃萝卜，都能解其毒，见萝卜条。医方中往往用飞罗面，取其无石末且性平易。陈麦面，水煮食之，无毒。用酒糟发酵胀大的，能发病发疮，只有做蒸饼和药，取其易消化。按：李鹏飞《延寿书》说：北方多霜雪，所以面无毒；南方雪少，所以面有毒。顾元庆《檐曝偶谈》说：江南麦花夜间开放，所以发病；江北麦花白天开放，所以宜人。又说：鱼稻适宜江淮，羊面适宜京洛，这也是五方有适宜有不适宜的。面性虽热，但寒食日用纸袋盛放悬挂在风处，几十年也不坏，那么热性都去除而无毒了，入药尤其好。
【附方】旧方六个，新方二十三个。
热渴心闷：温水一盏，调面一两，饮下。（《圣济总录》）
中暑卒死：井水和面一大抄，服下。（《千金方》）
夜出盗汗：麦面做成弹丸，空腹、睡觉时煮食之。次日早晨服妙香散一帖见效。
内损吐血：飞罗面略炒，用京墨汁或藕节汁，调服二钱。（《医学集成》）
大衄血出：口耳都出血的。用白面入少许盐，冷水调服三钱。（《普济方》）
中蛊吐血：小麦面二合，水调服。半天内当下出。（《广记》）
呕哕不止：醋和面，做成弹丸二三十枚，用沸汤煮熟，捞出投入浆水中，待温吞三、两枚。哕定，就不用再吞。未定，到晚上再吞。（《兵部手集》）
寒痢白色：炒面，每次用一方寸匕放入粥中食用。能治疗每天腹泻一百次，医生救不了的。（《外台秘要》）
泄痢不固：白面一斤，炒焦黄。每天空腹温水服一、二匙。（《正要》）
各种疟疾久疟：用三姓人家的寒食面各一合，五月五日午时采青蒿，擂自然汁，和丸绿豆大。临……
头皮虚肿，薄如蒸饼，状如裹水：用口嚼面敷之良。（《梅师方》）
咽喉肿痛，突然不下食：白面和醋，涂喉外肿处。（《普济方》）
妇人吹奶：水调面煮糊，欲熟，即投无灰酒一盏，搅匀热饮。让人徐徐按摩，药行即愈。（《经验方》）
乳痈不消：白面半斤炒黄，醋煮为糊，涂之即消。（《圣惠方》）
破伤风病：白面、烧盐各一撮。新水调，涂之。（《普济方》）
金疮血出不止：用生面干敷，五、七日即愈。（《蔺氏经验方》）
远行脚趼成泡者：水调生面涂之，一夜即平。（《海上》）
折伤瘀损：白面、栀子仁同捣，以水调，敷之即散。
火燎成疮：炒面，入栀子仁末，和油敷之。（《千金方》）
疮中恶肉：寒食面二两，巴豆五分。水和作饼，烧末掺之。（《仙传外科》）
白秃头疮：白面、豆豉和研，酢和敷之。（《普济方》）
小儿口疮：寒食面五钱，硝石七钱，水调半钱，涂足心，男左女右。（《普济方》）
妇人断产：白面一升，酒一升，煮沸去渣，分三服。经水至时前日夜、次日早及天明服之
阴冷闷痛，渐入腹肿满：醋和面熨之。（《千金方》）
一切漏疮：盐、面和团，烧研敷之。（《千金方》）
瘭疽出汁，生手足肩背，累累如赤豆：剥净，以酒和面敷之。（《千金方》）
一切疔肿：面和腊猪脂封之良。（《梅师方》）
伤米食积：白面一两，白酒曲二丸，炒为末。每服二匙，白汤调下。如伤肉食，山楂汤下。（《简便方》）
麦粉
【气味】甘，凉，无毒。
【主治】补中，益气脉，和五脏，调经络。又炒一合，汤服，断下痢（孟诜）。醋熬成膏，消一切痈肿、汤火伤（李时珍）。
【发明】李时珍说：麦粉乃是麸面，面洗筋澄出浆粉。今人浆衣多用之，古方鲜用。按：万表《积善堂方》说：乌龙膏：治一切痈肿发背，无名肿毒，初发热未破者，取效如神。用隔年小粉，越久越好，用锅炒之。初炒如饧，久炒则干，成黄黑色，冷定研末。陈米醋调成糊，熬如黑漆，瓷罐收之。用时摊纸上，剪孔贴之，即如冰冷，疼痛即止。少顷觉痒，干亦不能动。久则肿毒自消，药力亦尽而脱落，甚妙。此方苏州杜水庵所传，屡用有验。药易而功大，济生者宜收藏之。
面筋
【气味】甘，凉，无毒。
【主治】解热和中，劳热人宜煮食之（李时珍）。宽中益气（宁原）。
【发明】李时珍说：面筋，以麸与面水中揉洗而成者。古人罕知，今为素食要物，煮食甚良。今人多以油炒，则性热矣。
寇宗奭说：生嚼白面成筋，可粘禽、虫。
(Recorded in the Middle Category of *Bencao Bie Lu*)
[Correction] *Bencao Shiyi* (Supplement to Materia Medica) merged wheat grains and wheat seedlings into one category.
[Names] Lai.
Li Shizhen said: "Lai" is also written as "Liu". Xu Shen's *Shuowen Jiezi* states: Heaven descends auspicious wheat, coming once and arriving twice, resembling the shape of awns and thorns; it is what Heaven bestows.
Like walking with feet, hence the character "Mai" (Wheat) consists of "Lai" (Come) and "Sui" (Walk slowly). "Sui" sounds like "Sui", meaning walking with feet. The *Book of Songs* says: "Bestowing upon me Mou Mai." It further states: "Lai" symbolizes its fruit, while "Sui" symbolizes its root. In Buddhist scriptures, wheat is called "Jia Shi Cuo".
[Collection of Explanations] Song Ben said: Barley and wheat are sown in autumn, grow in winter, bolt in spring, and bear fruit in summer, possessing the harmonious Qi of all four seasons; thus they are esteemed among the five grains. In warm southern regions, they can be sown in spring and harvested in summer. However, compared to those sown in autumn, they lack sufficient Four Qi and thus possess toxicity.
Li Shizhen said: Northerners scatter wheat seeds widely, while Southerners sow them in clumps. Northern wheat has thin skins and high flour content, whereas Southern wheat is the opposite. Some say: mixing collected wheat with silkworm excrement prevents insect damage. Others say: crushing Xanthium fructus before the Start of Autumn and drying/storing it together also prevents insects. After Autumn, worms have already hatched. Wheat nature dislikes dampness; thus, prolonged rain and waterlogging cause many grains to remain immature.
Xiao Mai (Tritici Semen)
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, slightly cold, non-toxic. Enters the Shaoyin and Taiyang meridians.
Zhen Quan said: Neutral, slightly toxic.
Meng Gong said: When decocting Xiao Mai soup, the bran must not split. If it splits, the nature becomes warm and cannot clear heat or relieve irritability/thirst.
Zang Qi said: Xiao Mai is sown in autumn and matures in summer, receiving ample Four Qi, encompassing cold, heat, warm, and cool properties. Hence, wheat grains are cool, yeast is warm, bran is cold, and flour is hot; this is logical. White wheat flour from west of the He and Wei rivers is also cool because it is sown in spring, lacking two seasons' Qi.
Li Shizhen said: New wheat is hot in nature; aged wheat is neutral.
[Indications] Clears external pathogenic heat, relieves irritability, thirst, and dry throat, promotes urination, nourishes Liver Qi, stops leakage bleeding and spitting blood. Facilitates conception in women (*Bencao Bie Lu*). Nourishes Heart Qi; suitable for Heart diseases (Sun Simiao). Decocted and drunk, treats sudden Lin syndrome (Kou Zongshi). Roasted to powder and taken internally, kills roundworms in the intestines (*Yaoxing Lun*). Aged wheat decocted and drunk stops deficiency sweating. Charred retaining its property, mixed with oil and applied externally, treats various sores, scalds, and burns (Li Shizhen).
[Elucidation] Li Shizhen said: According to *Suwen*: Wheat belongs to Fire and is the grain of the Heart. Zheng Xuan said: Wheat has a husk/shell, belonging to Wood. Xu Shen said: Wheat belongs to Metal, growing when Metal is prosperous and dying when Fire is prosperous. These three theories differ. However, *Bencao Bie Lu* states that wheat nourishes Liver Qi, aligning with Zheng's view. Sun Simiao stated that wheat nourishes Heart Qi, aligning with *Suwen*. Examining its functions—relieving irritability, quenching thirst, stopping sweat, promoting urination, and stopping bleeding—all relate to Heart disorders; therefore, *Suwen* should be the standard. Xu Shen based his theory on timing, Zheng Xuan on morphology, while *Suwen* focused on efficacy and nature, hence the different conclusions.
Zhu Zhenheng said: In famine years, using wheat as a substitute for grain requires thorough drying, moistening with a little water, pounding off the bran, and cooking into rice/food to avoid the adverse effects of flour-induced heat.
[Attached Prescriptions] Two old, five new.
Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst) with irritability: Eat wheat as rice or porridge (*Xin Jing*).
Elderly with Five Types of Lin Syndrome, fever, and abdominal fullness: One sheng of wheat, two liang of Tong Cao, three sheng of water; decoct to one sheng and drink for cure (*Feng Qin Shu*).
Goiter in the neck: Soak one sheng of wheat in one sheng of vinegar, dry, and powder. Wash seaweed, powder three liang, mix evenly. Take one fang cun bi with wine, three times daily (*Duan Ju Fang*).
Head sores near eyebrows: Char wheat until carbonized, powder, mix with oil, and apply (*Rumen Shiqin*).
Vitiligo/Tinea: Spread wheat on stone, press with red-hot iron to extract oil, and apply; very effective (*Yixue Zhengchuan*).
Scalds/Burns without open sores: Stir-fry wheat until black, powder, add Nifen (Calomel), mix with oil, and apply. Avoid cold water to prevent rotting (*Xiuzhen Fang*).
Intestine prolapse from metal wounds: Decoct five sheng of wheat in nine sheng of water to obtain four sheng. Filter through silk cloth, let cool completely. Have patient lie on mat, hold liquid in mouth to facilitate intestinal retraction. For ten days, consume only light soups. Avoid startling/disturbing to prevent death (*Liu Juanzi Guiyi Fang*).
Fu Mai (Floating Wheat - grains that float during washing, roasted before use).
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, salty, cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Tonifies Qi, clears heat, stops spontaneous and night sweats, treats bone-steaming deficiency heat and women's labor-heat (Li Shizhen).
Mai Fu (Wheat Bran)
[Indications] Treats epidemic heat sores, scald/burn ulcers, traumatic bruising/blood stasis; stir-fried with vinegar and applied externally (*Rihua Bencao*). Mixed with flour to make cakes, stops diarrhea/dysentery, harmonizes middle jiao, clears heat, and strengthens the body. Steamed hot with vinegar, placed in bags, and used for moxibustion-like warming on cold/injured waist/legs of humans or horses to stop pain and dissipate blood stasis (Zang Qi). Vinegar-steamed and applied to rheumatic bi-pain of hands/feet, cold-damp Hong Kong foot (gouty arthritis); alternate applications until sweating occurs; highly effective. Powdered and taken orally, stops deficiency sweating (Li Shizhen).
[Elucidation] Li Shizhen said: Bran is the wheat skin. It shares the same nature as Floating Wheat but has weaker antiperspirant efficacy because Floating Wheat lacks the fleshy part.
For body pain, ulcerated sores, or infants with smallpox sores that cannot touch the bedsheet, wrap bran in padded quilts for sleeping support; its cool and soft nature makes this an excellent method.
[Attached Prescriptions] Seven new.
Deficiency/Night Sweats: *Weisheng Baojian*: Powder roasted Floating Wheat. Take 2.5 qian with rice water, three times daily. Or decoct as tea. Alternative: Cooked pig snout lips sliced and dipped/eaten (*Hu Shi Fun Ren Fang*).
Postpartum Deficiency Sweating: Equal parts wheat bran and Oyster Shell, powdered. Mix with pork broth juice, take 2 qian, twice daily.
Qi Migration Pain: Stir-fry bran with strong vinegar until hot, bag, and apply as compress (*Shengsheng Bian*).
Eliminate Scars: Use barley bran in spring/summer, wheat bran in autumn/winter; sift powder, mix with lard/suet, and apply (*Zonglu*).
Infant Eyebrow Sores: Char wheat bran, powder, mix with wine, and apply.
Hematuria: Fragrant-roasted wheat bran, dip in fatty pork meat and eat (*Jixuan*).
Mian (Wheat Flour)
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, warm, slightly toxic. Cannot clear heat or relieve irritability (*Bencao Bie Lu*).
Da Ming said: Nature causes stagnation and heat, mildly agitates Wind Qi, triggers Dan Stone toxicity.
Simiao said: Overconsumion prolongs chronic conditions and adds pathogenic Qi. Adversely interacts with Sichuan pepper and radish.
[Indications] Tonifies deficiency. Long-term consumption solidifies flesh, thickens intestines/stomach, and strengthens strength (Zang Qi). Nourishes Qi, supplements insufficiency, assists Five Zang organs (*Rihua Bencao*). Mixed with water, treats human heatstroke and horse lung-heat (Kou Zongshi). Applied externally to carbuncles/swelling/trauma, dissipates blood and stops pain. Raw consumption benefits large intestine. Mixed with water, stops epistaxis and hematemesis (Li Shizhen).
[Elucidation] Shen said: Flour with heat toxicity often appears dark/old due to stone dust from millstones. Pounding and eating it directly is better.
Zang Qi said: Flour is generally hot; only second-milled flour is cool because it retains more bran. West of He/Wei, white wheat flour is cool due to spring sowing lacking two seasons' Qi.
Ying said: Southeast is low/damp with spring rains; wheat absorbs moisture without sweating, causing thirst, wind agitation, dampness, and heat upon consumption. Northwest is high/dry with less rain; wheat stays dry and is stored in cellars to sweat; Northerners have robust constitutions with little dampness, so frequent consumption causes no illness.
Li Shizhen said: Northern flour is warm (no thirst upon eating); Southern flour is hot (causes irritability/thirst); Western flour is cool. This is due to local geography/climate. Consuming Sichuan pepper or radish resolves toxicity (see Radish entry). Medical formulas often use Feiluo Mian (fine sifted flour) to avoid stone dust and ensure mild nature. Aged wheat flour boiled and eaten is non-toxic. Flour fermented with distiller's grains induces disease/sores; only steamed buns made from it are easily digested. Note: Li Pengfei's *Yanshou Shu* states North has frost/snow so flour is non-toxic; South has little snow so flour is toxic. Gu Yuanqing's *Yanbao Outan* states Jiangnan wheat flowers bloom at night (inducing disease), while Jiangbei blooms by day (suitable). Fish/rice suit Jianghuai; mutton/flour suit Jingluo; these are regional preferences. Although flour is hot, Cold Food Day flour hung in paper bags in wind remains unspoiled for decades, losing its heat/toxicity, making it excellent for medicine.
[Attached Prescriptions] Six old, twenty-three new.
Heat/Thirst/Chest Oppression: Mix one liang flour in one cup warm water, drink (*Shengji Zonglu*).
Sudden Death from Heatstroke: Mix one scoop flour in well water, ingest (*Qianjin Fang*).
Night Sweats: Make wheat flour pills, boil and eat empty-stomached or before bed. Next morning take Miaoxiang San for effect.
Internal Trauma/Hematemesis: Lightly stir-fry Feiluo Mian, mix with Beijing ink juice or lotus node juice, take 2 qian (*Yixue Jicheng*).
Severe Epistaxis (mouth/nose bleeding): Mix white flour with salt, cold water, take 3 qian (*Pujifang*).
Gu Poison/Hematemesis: Two he of wheat flour, mix with water, ingest; evacuation occurs within half a day (*Guangji*).
Persistent Hiccups/Vomiting: Mix flour with vinegar, make 20-30 pills, boil in hot water, drain, soak in grain wash water, swallow 2-3 when warm. Stop if hiccups cease; otherwise repeat at night (*Bingbu Shouji*).
Cold Dysentery (White Stool): Stir-fried flour, one fang cun bi added to porridge. Treats severe diarrhea (100 stools/day) refractory to doctors (*Waitai Mi Yao*).
Uncontrolled Diarrhea/Dysentery: One jin white flour, stir-fried until dark yellow. Take 1-2 spoons with warm water empty stomach daily (*Zhengyao*).
Chronic Malaria: One he of Cold Food Flour from three different families each. On May 5th noon, gather fresh Artemisia annua, crush for juice, mix with flour to make green bean-sized pills. [Text cuts off]
Scalp Edema (thin like steamed bun, fluid-filled): Chew flour and apply (*Meishi Fang*).
Sore Throat/Swelling/Aphagia: Mix white flour with vinegar, apply externally to swollen throat (*Pujifang*).
Breast Abscess/Mastitis: Boil flour paste, add one cup non-filtered wine when nearly done, drink hot while massaging gently until medicine spreads and heals (*Jingyan Fang*).
Uncleared Breast Carbuncle: Half jin white flour stir-fried yellow, boiled with vinegar into paste, apply until resolved (*Shenghui Fang*).
Broken Wind (Tetanus): One pinch white flour, one pinch burnt salt. Mix with fresh water, apply (*Pujifang*).
Metal Wound Bleeding: Dry application of raw flour; heals in 5-7 days (*Linshi Jingyan Fang*).
Callus/Blisters from Walking: Raw flour mixed with water, apply; flattens overnight (*Haishang*).
Fractures/Bruising: Pound white flour with Gardenia seeds, mix with water, apply to disperse swelling.
Burn Scabs: Stir-fried flour mixed with Gardenia powder, blend with oil, apply (*Qianjin Fang*).
Necrotic Tissue in Sores: Two liang Cold Food Flour, 5 fen Croton seed. Mix with water, make cake, char to powder, sprinkle on wound (*Xianchuan Waike*).
Tinea Capitis (White Baldness): Mix white flour and fermented soybean paste, bind with vinegar, apply (*Pujifang*).
Infant Mouth Ulcers: 5 qian Cold Food Flour, 7 qian Nitre. Mix with water, apply half qian to sole of foot (left for males, right for females) (*Pujifang*).
Female Sterilization: One sheng white flour, one sheng wine. Boil, strain, divide into three doses. Take night before menstruation, next morning, and at dawn.
Cold/Dull Pain spreading to Abdominal Fullness: Vinegar-mixed flour compress (*Qianjin Fang*).
All Fistula Sores: Salt and flour kneaded, charred, powdered, and applied (*Qianjin Fang*).
Phagedenic Ulcer (weeping, limb/back nodules like red beans): Clean wound, apply flour mixed with wine (*Qianjin Fang*).
All Ding Swellings: Flour sealed with cured pork fat (*Meishi Fang*).
Rice Food Stagnation: One liang white flour, two pills Baijiu Qu, stir-fried to powder. Take 2 spoons with plain water. For meat stagnation, take with Hawthorn soup (*Jianbian Fang*).
Mai Fen (Wheat Starch)
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, cool, non-toxic.
[Indications] Tonifies center, benefits Qi meridians, harmonizes Five Zang, regulates collaterals. Roasted one he, taken with soup, stops dysentery (Meng Shen). Boiled with vinegar into paste, resolves all carbuncles/swellings, scalds/burns (Li Shizhen).
[Elucidation] Li Shizhen said: Mai Fen is bran-flour starch extracted by washing gluten. Modern people use it for sizing clothes; ancient formulas rarely used it. Wan Biao's *Jishan Tang Fang* describes "Wulong Gao" (Black Dragon Paste): treats all carbuncles/back abscesses/unnamed swellings before rupture; extremely effective. Use year-old starch, older is better. Stir-fry in pan. Initially sticky like syrup, eventually dry, turning yellow-black. Grind when cool. Mix with aged rice vinegar into paste, boil until black lacquer-like, store in porcelain jar. Apply thinly on paper with hole cut out; feels instantly cold, pain stops. Soon itches, dries firmly. Eventually swelling resolves, medicine falls off. Excellent. Passed down by Du Shuan'an in Suzhou, proven effective. Easy medicine, great merit; practitioners should preserve it.
Mian Jin (Wheat Gluten)
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, cool, non-toxic.
[Indications] Clears heat, harmonizes middle jiao; suitable for cooked consumption by those with labor-heat (Li Shizhen). Expands middle jiao, tonifies Qi (Ning Yuan).
[Elucidation] Li Shizhen said: Gluten is made by washing wheat flour/bran in water to remove starch. Ancient people rarely knew it; now it is a key vegetarian food, excellent when boiled. Modern people stir-fry it with oil, making it hot in nature.
Kou Zongshi said: Chewing raw white flour forms gluten, which can stick to birds/insects.
Mai Qiu (Steamed/Roasted Wheat Flour)
[Description] Also known as Qiu. Wheat steamed then ground to crumbs.
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, slightly cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Relieves wasting-thirst, relieves irritability (*Shu Ben*).