Medicated leaven (Shenqu)

Pharmaceutical Name : Massa fermentata medicinalis

Common Name: Medicated leaven

Source of Earliest Record: Yaoxing Lun

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: Medicated leaven is a fermented mixture of wheat flour, bran and the fresh aerial parts of Armented annua, Xanthium sibixicum, Polygonum hydropiper and other herbs.

Properties & Taste : Sweet, pungent and warm

Meridians: Spleen and stomach

Functions: To eliminate food retention and harmonize the stomach

Indications & Combinations: Retention of food manifested as epigastric and abdominal distension and fullness, no appetite, gurgling sound and diarrhea. Medicated leaven (Shenqu) is used with Hawthorn fruit (Shanzha) and Germinated barley (Maiya).

Dosage: 6-15 g