Gu Ya (Dao Ya) - 谷芽 - Fructus Oryzae Germinatus - Rice Sprouts

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Fructus Oryzae Germinatus Fructus Setariae Germinatus
Common English:	Millet Sprouts Rice Sprouts / Grain sprout Setaria Sprouts

Category

Herbs that Relieve Food Stagnation

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Sweet	Neutral (Warm)	Spleen Stomach	6-20g Tincture: 2-4ml 9-15g (Secondary source)

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Harmonizes the Center, Opens the Stomach, Promotes digestion, Reduces Food Stagnation, Strengthens and descends Qi	Food Stagnation due to undigested starchy foods Food Stagnation due to Spleen Qi Deficiency Overnight Food Accumulation
Strengthens the Spleen and encourages appetite	Spleen Deficiency with anorexia

Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

Major Combinations

Per. Citri Reticulatae Chen Pi Fr. Amomi Sha Ren	Rx. Codonopsis Dang Shen Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu Fr. Amomi Sha Ren Per. Citri Reticulatae Chen Pi Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao	Massa Medicata Fermentata Shen Qu Fr. Crataegi Shan Zha Sm. Lablab Album Bai Bian Dou Rz. Alismatis Ze Xie Poria Fu Ling Sm. Euryales Qian Shi
Reduced appetite and distention of the chest and abdomen due to Food Stagnation.	Poor digestion due to Spleen and Stomach Deficiency.	Poor digestion with decreased food intake and diarrhea due to Spleen and Stomach Deficiency.

Notes

• Gu Ya has a milder digestive action than Mai Ya, and the two are usually prescribed together to strengthen the therapeutic effect.
• It is particularly good for retention of grains.
• This herb and Fr. Hordei Germinatus Mai Ya are the two most effective herbs for Food Stagnation from grains; Mai Ya facilitates digestion and has some Spleen-strengthening properties. It is best for treating Cold Food Stagnation with absorption problems.
• Because its digestive function is weaker, this herb does not injure the Stomach Qi. It is most effective for hot Food Stagnation with marked Spleen Deficiency.
• Raw Rice Sprouts Sheng Gu Ya are the best form for helping digest starches.
• Dry-fried Rice Sprouts Chao Gu Ya are nearly as good as Sheng Gu Ya at helping digest starches.
• Distillate of Rice Sprouts Dao Ya Lu reduces Food Stagnation, strengthens the Spleen, improves the appetite, harmonizes the Middle, generates fluids and benefits Yuan Qi. Because it both tonifies and reduces Food Stagnation, it is taken as a beverage by people with weak Spleen function.
• Gu Ya, Rx. Codonopsis Dang Shen and Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu each tonify and strengthen the Middle Jiao. Gu Ya promotes digestion and strengthens the Middle Jiao indirectly by easing the burden on the Spleen and Stomach, whereas Dang Shen and Bai Zhu tonify the Spleen and Stomach to enhance digestive function.