Fú Xiǎo Mài (浮小麦), known in English as Blighted wheat grain (Triticum aestivum (light grain)), is a cool, sweet Chinese herb from the Stabilise & bind category. It enters the Heart channel. Its main action: astringes Heart, stops sweating from deficiency.
| Pinyin | Fú Xiǎo Mài (Fu Xiao Mai) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 浮小麦 |
| English | Blighted wheat grain |
| Botanical name | Triticum aestivum (light grain) |
| Category | Stabilise & bind |
| Nature | Cool |
| Flavour | Sweet |
| Channels | Heart |
| Dosage | 15–30g |
| Cautions | No sweating disorder; excess patterns |
Actions
- Astringes Heart, stops sweating from deficiency
- Clears Heat, relieves restlessness
Indications
- Spontaneous sweating or night sweats from deficiency
- Menopausal sweating
- Mental restlessness from Heart deficiency
How to remember Fú Xiǎo Mài
Stabilise & bind herbs are mostly astringent and sweet, and most enter the Kidney channel.
- You can work these out
- Sweet: like most Stabilise & bind herbs
- Heart channel: from its action “Astringes Heart”
- Learn by heart
- Cool: Stabilise & bind herbs vary in nature
Other Stabilise & bind herbs
- Wǔ Wèi Zǐ
- Shān Zhū Yú
- Jīn Yīng Zǐ
- Qiàn Shí
- Lián Zǐ
- Wū Méi
- Ròu Dòu Kòu
- Hē Zǐ
- Chì Shí Zhī
- Chūn Pí
- Fù Pén Zǐ
- Sāng Piāo Xiāo
- Hǎi Piāo Xiāo
- Lián Xū
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Fú Xiǎo Mài?
Fú Xiǎo Mài is cool and sweet.
Which channels does Fú Xiǎo Mài enter?
Fú Xiǎo Mài enters the Heart channel.
What are the actions of Fú Xiǎo Mài?
Astringes Heart, stops sweating from deficiency; Clears Heat, relieves restlessness.
What is Fú Xiǎo Mài used for?
Spontaneous sweating or night sweats from deficiency; menopausal sweating; mental restlessness from Heart deficiency.
Practise Fú Xiǎo Mài and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.