Shen Qu (Medicated Leaven) (Square or rectangular block, yellowish-brown, rough, stale odor)
Stir-fried Shen Qu (Medicated Leaven)
【Naming】
【Source】
Yaoxing Lun (Treatise on the Nature of Medicinal Herbs)
【Common Use Degree】
C
【Origin】
It is made by mixing Xanthium sibiricum, Artemisia annua, Apricot Kernel, smartweed, red adzuki bean, apricot kernel and other medicinal materials with flour or wheat bran, and then fermenting them. Shen Qu (Medicated Leaven) is now generally written as 神麯 (Shen Qu).
【Characteristics】
It is in the shape of a square or rectangular block, about 3 cm wide and 1 cm thick. The outer surface is yellowish-brown and rough. It is hard, brittle and easily broken, with an uneven fracture surface that is off-white in color. Uncrushed brown residue and holes from fermentation can be seen. It has a stale odor and a bitter taste.
【Preparation】
1. Raw use 2. Stir-fried Shen Qu (Medicated Leaven) 3. Charred Shen Qu (Medicated Leaven)
【Identification】
The best quality is dry, free of offensive odor, free of insect infestation, and has few impurities. Six medicines represent the six gods: white flour (White Tiger), Artemisia annua (Azure Dragon), red adzuki bean (Vermilion Bird), apricot kernel (Black Tortoise), Xanthium sibiricum (Gouchen), and smartweed (Tengshe), called Six Shen Qu (Medicated Leaven), plus Pinellia, and increased dosage of apricot kernel. Jian Shen Qu (Medicated Leaven), is then combined with 24 kinds of medicines.
Shen Qu (Medicated Leaven) is now generally written as 神麯 (Shen Qu).
【Category】
Other categories