Da Dou (Huang) Juan

Da Dou Huang Juan, often shortened to Da Dou Juan, is the germinated and dried seed of Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Fabaceae), the cultivated soybean, prepared by soaking yellow soybean seeds in water until the radicle emerges to roughly 0.5 to 1 cm and then sun-drying. The drug appears as oval pale-yellow seeds about 7 to 12 mm long with a short white curved sprout protruding from the hilum, with a slight beany odor and bland taste. In traditional Chinese medicine the sprouted seed is sweet and neutral, entering the Spleen and Stomach channels; it releases the exterior gently, clears summerheat, transforms damp, and relieves muscle aches and joint stiffness in summer wind-damp invasions, particularly when accompanied by fever without sweating, heavy limbs, and oppressed chest. It pairs commonly with Yi Yi Ren and Huo Xiang and is gentler than Ma Huang for surface release.