Gastrointestinal diseases treated with TCM Massa Fermentata

What is Massa Fermentata(Shen Qu)?
It refers to the fermented mixture of flour and other herbal ingredients. In China it is produced all over the country. The process of manufacture consists of 8 steps: 1. prepare a relatively large amount of flour or bran; 2. blend them well with almond paste, adzuki bean powder, and juice of fresh wormwood, cocklebur, and pale smartweed; 3. make the mixture appropriately wet; 4. place the mixture into a basket; 5 cover them with apocynum venetum leaves or paper mulberry leaves; 6. keep warm and let them ferment for a week; 7. take it out when yellow mycelium grows out; 8. cut it into small pieces and dry them in the sun. Medicinally it is used raw or fried.

It is in shape of a square or rectangular block, about 3cm wide, about 1cm thick, and with yellowish brown and rough skin. It is hard, brittle, easily broken, off-white, and with uneven sections, brown residue, and voids left by fermentation. It has stale odor and bitter taste. The better one is considered drier, staler, and with no moth holes and fewer impurities.

Shen Qu benefits
Clinically it is frequently used to treat a variety of ailments, such as Chronic Gastritis, Atrophic Gastritis, acute gastroenteritis, amoebic dysentery, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and children’s simple indigestion, anorexia, dyspepsia, and more. People might have dismissed it because of its "old fashioned" and low price. As a matter of fact, Shen Qu herb, literally translated, means "magic yeast". That’s to say, its healing power is really remarkable and it often works wonder in treating some difficult miscellaneous diseases when used well. So, what is the magic of this homely herb? Why it is still so popular these days? Now, let’s first take a look at its modern pharmacology.

Modern pharmacological actions of medicated leaven
Thanks to the large amount of yeast and vitamin B compound contained in medicated leaven, it can help whet the appetite, maintain normal digestive function, and so on.