麦芽

Naming

Mai Ya (Fructus Hordei Germinatus)——Yao Xing Lun (Treatise on Herb Property)

The Processing of 麦芽

Origin

Germinant fruit of Hordeum vulgare L. of family Gramineae.

Location

All parts in China.

The true smell and taste

Slightly sweet.

Best quality

Dry, light yellow, big with embryo.

Processing

After being cleaned, dipped in water for 4~6 hours, then fished out, kept in suitable temperature and humidity until plumule growing to 0.5 cm, then dried in the sun. Use the unprocessed, stir-baked into yellow or charred one.

The Effect of 麦芽

Property

Sweet, bland; spleen, stomach and liver meridians entered.

Actions

Promote digestion and invigorate spleen, stop lactation and release distension.

Indications

A. Food stagnation syndrome

It is sweet and bland and has the actions of promoting digestion and invigorating spleen, especially helping the digestion of starch food. For starch food stagnation, it is combined with Shan Zha, Shen Qu and Ji Nei Jin. For infantile indigestion, it can be decocted singly or ground into powder for oral use. For poor appetite and distension after meal based on spleen deficiency, it is combined with qi-regulating and spleen-invigorating herbs. For instance it is combined with Bai Zhu and Chen Pi in Jian Pi Wan from Ben Cao Gang Mu.

B. Terminate lactation, breast distension

It can stop lactation. By oral use for terminate lactation or breast distension and pain caused by milk accumulation, 120 g of the raw or stir-baked Mai Ya (or each 60 g) can be decocted singly. In addition, it has the accompanied action of soothing liver. For hypochondriac pain or gastric and abdominal pain caused by liver qi stagnation or disharmony of liver-stomach, it can be combined with Chuan Lian Zi and Chai Hu.

Dosage and Administrations

Decoct 10~15 g; large dose can be increased to 30～120 g. The raw one is a bit on the side of promoting digestion and invigorating spleen; the stir-baked one, stopping lactation and releasing distension.

Cautions

It is not suitable for woman in breast-feeding period.