Germinated Barley (Mai Ya – Chao)

麥芽 (炒)
Germinated barley (Maiya)

Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus Hordei germinatus

Botanical Name: Hordeum vulgare L.

Common Name: Germinated barley

Source of Earliest Record: Mingyi Bielu

Part Used: Barley is soaked in water for a day, and then it is put into a basket. Water is sprinkled over the barley daily until it germinates.

Natural Properties & Taste: Sweet and neutral

Meridians: Spleen, stomach and liver

Therapeutic Effects:
1. To eliminate retention of food and harmonize the stomach.
2. To restrain lactation.

3. To promote free flow of liver qi and remove stagnation.

Indications:
1. Retention of food manifested as no appetite and epigastric and abdominal distension. Germinated barley (Maiya) is used with Hawthorn fruit (Shanzha), Medicated leaven (Shenqu) and Chicken’s gizzard skin (Jineijin).

2. Restrained lactation or breast distension with pain. The decoction of half raw and half fried Germinated barley (Maiya) should be taken twice a day, 30-60 g each time.

3. Qi stagnation in the liver and stomach manifested as distension and fullness in the chest and costal regions and epigastric pain. Germinated barley (Maiya) is used with Bupleurum root (Chaihu), Immature bitter orange (Zhishi) and Sichuan chinaberry (Chuanlianzi).

Dosage: 10-15 g

Cautions & Contraindications: This herb is contraindicated during lactation.