Mai Ya - 麥芽 - Fructus Hordei Germinatus - Barley Sprouts - Malt

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Fructus Hordei Germinatus
Common English:	Barley Sprouts Malt

Category

Herbs that Relieve Food Stagnation

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Sweet	Neutral (Warm) (Slightly Cold)	Liver Spleen Stomach	9-30g Powder: 6-14g For restraining lactation: 30-120g 9-15g; 30-60g (inhibit lactation) (Secondary source)

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Reduces Food Stagnation, improves digestion and strengthens the Stomach	Food Stagnation due to undigested starchy foods or grains and all types of fruit Poorly digested milk in infants Food Stagnation due to Spleen Qi Deficiency with weak digestion and anorexia (weak function)
Inhibits lactation	Discontinuation of nursing Painful, distended breasts
Facilitates the smooth flow of Liver Qi	As an adjunctive for Liver Qi Stagnation with a stifling sensation or distention in the epigastrium or ribs, belching and anorexia

Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

Major Combinations

Rz. Zingiberis Gan Jiang	Tonifying herbs	Massa Medicata Fermentata Shen Qu
Indigestion due to Spleen and Stomach Deficiencies.	Prevents gas and distention.	Dry-fried for indigestion due to Food Stagnation (large dosage). Dry-fried for breast tenderness and swelling due to discontinuation of lactation (large dosage).
Hb. Artemisiae Scopariae Yin Chen Fr. Toosendan Chuan Lian Zi	Fr. Setariae/Oryzae Germinatus Gu Ya	Fr. Crataegi Shan Zha Massa Medicata Fermentata Shen Qu Endothelium Corneum Gigeriae Galli Ji Nei Jin
Eliminates the erratic movement of constrained Liver Qi.	Restores normal appetite.	Indigestion and Food Stagnation.

Notes

1. Caution is needed in pregnancy, as large doses are regarded as abortive.
2. For Food Stagnation from grains, the two most effective herbs are this one and Fr. Oryzae Sativa Gu Ya. Gu Ya is weaker in its digestive action and so does not injure the Stomach Qi; it works best for Hot Food Stagnation with marked Spleen Deficiency. Mai Ya aids digestion and also strengthens the Spleen somewhat. It is the better choice for cold Food Stagnation with absorption problems.
3. It unbinds the Stomach, stops sudden turmoil disorder, relieves irritable stifling sensations, reduces thin mucus, breaks up mobile abdominal masses and clumps, promotes labor, drops the fetus, tonifies the Spleen and Stomach, eases the intestines, descends Qi, and treats borborygmus and Food Stagnation.
4. To suppress or stop lactation, take 30-60g each of fresh Mai Ya and Dry-fried Mai Ya every day.
5. Unprepared Barley Sprouts Sheng Mai Ya relax and dredge the Liver so that Qi flows normally, eliminate Food Stagnation and restore a normal appetite; large doses reduce milk flow, while small doses promote it.
6. Dry-fried Barley Sprouts Chao Mai Ya are gentler and drain less.
7. Prepared Barley Sprouts Zhi Mai Ya tonify and raise, and they strengthen the Spleen and eliminate Food Stagnation more powerfully.