Fu Xiao Mai
English Name: wheat levis, light wheat, shriveled wheat
Pharmaceutical Name: Semen Tritici Aestivi Levis
Medica Category: Astringent Herbs
Properties: Fu Xiao Mai enters the Heart channel; it is sweet in nature and cool in temperature.
What is Fu Xiao Mai?:
The Chinese Herb Fu Xiao Mai is blighted grains of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) which, when dried, float on the surface of the water when washed. It can either be left unprocessed or stir-fired for use as medicine (stir-frying increases its effectiveness at stopping perspiration (see below)).
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Fu Xiao Mai:
Fu Xiao Mai tonifies the qi of the Spleen and Lung. It also increases the ability of wei (defensive) qi to control the opening and closing of skin pores, which makes this a key herb in TCM to address spontaneous sweating (as in the formula Mu Li San—(Oyster Shell Powder). Cool in temperature, Fu Xiao Mai also clears yin-deficient heat to address night sweating and steaming bones sensations.
–safety/clinical notes:
Fu xiao mai may antagonize a wheat/gluten sensitivity.