Headache, chest distress treated with TCM fermented soy beans

What are fermented soy beans(Dan Dou Chi)? Also known as Semen Sojae Preparatum in Latin, fermented soybean means the fermented soy products of the mature seeds from Glycine max (L.) Merr., which is a species of legume native to East Asia. In China the soya bean plants grow across the country. Before the use, it is usually dried first in the sun and used in the unprocessed form. Prepared soybean is oval, slightly flat, 0.6 to 1cm long, and 0.5 to 0.7 in diameter. Surface is black, with rough shrinking. It is soft and with brownish-black section. It smells pleasantly and tastes slightly sweet.

For the medicinal purpose, the processing procedure would be a little bit complicated. First decoct Sang Ye (White Mulberry Leaf) and Qing Hao (Wormwood), blend the decoction well with cleaned soybeans, place them into a steamer right after the decoction is well absorbed, dry them in the sun when they are done, put them in a container and cover them with the decocted mulberry leaves and wormwood, leave them to ferment at the temperature of 25 ℃ ~ 28 ℃ and relative humidity of 80%, take them out when the container is coated with a layer of yellow material above, remove the dregs, add appropriate amount of water and stir, put them into the container again, leave them for fermentation at 50 ℃ ~ 60 ℃, continue for 15 to 20 days to allow to be fully fermented, take them out once there is aroma escape, and then slightly steam and dry. And that’s it.

It contains 19.5% protein, 6.9% fat, 25% carbohydrate, 0.07mg/100g vitamins B1, 0.34mg/100g vitamin B2, 2.4mg/100g niacin, calcium, iron, phosphorus salts, amino acids, and enzymes. And it is said that tetramethylpyrazine was isolated from this herb.

Benefits of fermented soy beans
There are lots of fermented soy benefits on both food preparation and medical application. Now we are going to discuss what health benefits this herb can give to us from these two aspects.

Modern pharmacology
1. It has weak sweating effect.

2. It invigorates the stomach and promotes digestion.