神农本草经米谷（下品）

Shennong's Classic of the Materia Medica — Grains (Lower Grade)

Holistic Paraphrase

According to the Grains Lower Grade section of Shennong's Classic of the Materia Medica: Fufei (rotten bean curd) has a pungent taste and a neutral nature. The ancients believed it mainly treated intermittent malaria (a type of malarial disease characterized by alternating chills and fever), alternating chills and fever, external pathogenic invasion, diarrhea and dysentery, yin non-rising (an ancient description of conditions such as sexual dysfunction and impotence), wine sickness (bodily discomfort caused by excessive alcohol consumption), and headaches. Fufei is produced in Hanzhong.

Wu Pu's commentary states: Fufei is the flower of the small bean (mung bean or red bean), also known as Fufei; the old edition mistakenly wrote it as "Fuyue," which is an error. In the Shennong textual tradition, it is recorded as sweet in taste and toxic; harvested in the seventh month, dried in the shade, and left for forty days, it can treat headaches and quench thirst.

The famous physicians also record: Fufei is produced in Hanzhong, being the flower of the small bean, picked in the seventh month and dried in the shade. This concludes the one entry in the Grains Lower Grade; the old edition is identical to this.

🧠 Deep Understanding

Core Principles 💡

Fufei is classified under the Lower Grade in Shennong's Classic of the Materia Medica, indicating that the ancients regarded it as primarily dispelling pathogenic factors and attacking disease, rather than serving as a daily tonic. Its recorded nature and flavor are pungent and neutral — pungent being dispersing, moving qi, and penetrating pathogens, while neutral means its medicinal properties are relatively gentle. Therefore, the ancients applied it to:

• Intermittent malaria, chills and fever, pathogenic qi: Pungent herbs were traditionally believed to disperse external pathogens, harmonize the exterior and interior, and were used for malarial-type syndromes with alternating chills and fever.
• Diarrhea and dysentery: Pungent and neutral herbs were thought to help the qi mechanism ascend and clear, awaken the spleen, and transform dampness, thereby improving diarrhea caused by turbid dampness pouring downward.
• Yin non-rising: The ancients believed that wine toxins, damp-heat, and pathogenic qi obstructing the lower burner could affect the ascent of yang qi; the pungent and dispersing nature could unblock the qi mechanism.
• Wine sickness and headache: Fufei, being the flower of the small bean, was believed to clear and resolve wine toxins, elevate the clear and send down the turbid, alleviating the headache and heaviness associated with alcohol consumption.

The overall approach reflects the principle of "pungent dispersal to expel pathogens, elevating the clear and discharging the turbid," rather than a singular tonification targeting any specific organ.

Modern Understanding 🌟

Fufei refers to the flower of the small bean, which modern scholarship generally identifies as the flower of Vigna umbellata (red bean) or related leguminous plants. From a compositional perspective, bean flowers contain flavonoids, phenolic acids, and other plant compounds, which may possess certain antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and diuretic effects. However, existing evidence is insufficient to support its reliable use as a therapeutic agent for malaria, sexual dysfunction, or headaches.

It is worth noting particularly that the main text of the Classic records the taste as "pungent and neutral," while Wu Pu cites the Shennong tradition as saying "sweet and toxic" — indicating differences between manuscript lineages. The ancient concept of "toxicity" likewise does not necessarily correspond to modern toxicological meanings; it more reflects the ancient classification reminder that Lower Grade drugs should not be taken long-term and require caution. Descriptions such as "yin non-rising" should be regarded as ancient syndrome observations and cannot replace modern medical diagnosis.

Wellness Insights ⚡

• Moderation in drinking: The ancients listed "wine sickness" as a primary indication for Fufei, suggesting that excessive alcohol consumption damages qi and blood, generating dampness and heat. In daily life, one should avoid heavy drinking on an empty stomach, and after drinking, ensure adequate hydration and rest.
• Light and balanced diet: Small bean flowers, red beans, and other legumes have traditionally been associated in culinary culture with promoting urination and clearing heat. One may incorporate beans moderately into the daily diet, but should not self-administer them as medicine.
• Heed the body's signals: If one experiences recurring chills and fever, diarrhea, headaches, or diminished sexual function, professional medical attention should be sought rather than self-medicating according to classical texts.

📚 Related Knowledge

• Associated concepts: Intermittent malaria, alternating chills and fever, pathogenic qi, diarrhea and dysentery, yin non-rising, wine sickness, Lower Grade drugs.
• Further reading: Relevant entries on the red bean flower in the Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu); the discourse on malarial chills and fever in the Plain Questions·Treatise on Malaria (Suwen·Nue Lun); other entries in the Grains section of Shennong's Classic of the Materia Medica.

Bugua Scholarly Note · This content is based on classical Chinese medical texts and is provided solely for traditional cultural study and research. It does not constitute any medical diagnosis, medication, or treatment advice. If you are unwell, please seek medical attention promptly.