Su Ya (Gu Ya) - 粟芽 - Fructus Setariae Germinatus

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Fructus Oryzae Germinatus Fructus Setariae Germinatus
Common English:	Millet Sprouts Setaria Sprouted Sprouted Rice

Category

Herbs that Relieve Food Stagnation

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Sweet (Bitter)	Warm (Slightly Warm) (Neutral)	Spleen Stomach	9-20g Tincture: 2-4ml

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Reduces Food Stagnation, strengthens and opens the Stomach and harmonizes the Center	Poor digestion due to Stagnation and accumulation of undigested starchy foods. Weak digestion and loss of appetite associated with Spleen Deficiency Overnight Food Accumulation
Strengthens the Spleen and encourages the appetite	Spleen Deficiency with poor appetite

*Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

Major Combinations

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

Notes

1. Because their functions are so alike, Su Ya is sold in Southern China under the name Germinated Rice Gu Ya.
2. It gently reduces and transforms Food Stagnation arising from a buildup of grains and starches.
3. Applied as a paste, it gives the skin a glossy appearance.
4. Su Ya and Massa Medicata Fermentata Shen Qu both reduce Food Stagnation. Su (Gu) Ya is the gentler, more harmonious and more tonifying of the two; it strengthens the Spleen and tonifies Qi. It is favored when weakness of the Spleen and Stomach prevents proper digestion of food, resulting in anorexia.
5. Gu Ya digests more moderately than Mai Ya, and the two are usually prescribed together to boost the therapeutic effect.
6. It is particularly useful for retention of grains.
7. For Food Stagnation from grains, the two most effective herbs are this one and Fr. Hordei Germinatus Mai Ya, which aids digestion, has some ability to strengthen the Spleen and is best suited to Cold Food Stagnation with absorption problems. This herb, with its weaker digestive action, does not harm the Stomach Qi, and it works best for Hot Food Stagnation with marked Spleen Deficiency.
8. Unprepared Millet/Rice Sprouts Sheng Su/Gu Ya are the best form for helping the digestion of starches.
9. When only lightly roasted, Dry-fried Millet/Rice Sprouts Chao Su/Gu Ya digest grains and starches nearly as well as Sheng Su/Gu Ya.
10. Distillate of Millet/Rice Sprouts Su/Gu Ya Lu reduces Food Stagnation, strengthens the Spleen, improves the appetite, harmonizes the Middle, generates Fluids and benefits Qi. Since it both tonifies and clears Food Stagnation, it makes an excellent tea substitute for people with weak Spleen function.