Semen Sojae Preparatum (Dandouchi)

Naming
Dan Dou Chi (Semen Sojae Preparatum) -Ming Yi Bie Lu (Miscellaneous Records of Famous physicians)

Origin
The fermented production of ripe seeds of Glycine max ( L.) Merr. which belongs to the family Leguminosae.

Location
Everywhere in china.

The real smell and taste
Fragrant and a little bit sweet.

Best quality
Black in color with a layer of thin coating.

Processing
Unprocessed.

Property
Pungent, bitter and cool; lung and stomach meridians entered.

Actions
Disperse external pathogens.

Indications
This herb has action of dispersing external pathogen and releasing exterior, and it is mainly used for fever and headache due to common cold. Because this herb has very weak effect and mild property, it can be used for wind-heat exterior syndrome, warm diseases at the defense system and wind-cold exterior syndrome. If the syndrome is moderate, and there is no obvious cold or heat syndrome, Dan Dou Chi is usually used together with Cong Bai, forming the Cong Chi Tang in the book of Zhou Hou Fang (A Handbook of Prescription of Emergencies). For the severe syndrome of wind-heat exterior syndrome and the syndrome of defense system, it will be used with the herbs which have actions of dispelling wind-heat and relieving heat toxin, such as Bo He, Jin Yin Hua, Niu Bang Zi, and so on. For the wind-cold exterior syndrome, it will be used with Radix Saposhnikoviae (Fangfeng), Fructus Perillae (Zisuzi), Herba Schizonepetae (Jingjie), and these herbs can dispel wind-cold.

Besides, this herb also can send down the adverse flow of qi and detoxify, and it is mainly used for abdominal distention, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain, warm diseases and carbuncles and swelling in febrile heat disease. Because of its mild effect, it is seldom used. When combined with herbs bitter and cold in property such as Fructus Gardeniae (Zhizi), it can protect stomach, drive qi downward, harmonize the middle energizer, and avoid Zhi Zi’s bitter and cold property from harming stomach. When combined with toxic and drastic herbs such as Gua Di and Pi Shi, it can protect stomach, harmonize the middle energizer, lower the toxin, and because it can be easily changed into different forms it is very convenient to take it.

Dosages and Administration
Decocted 10~15g.