Hordei Fructus Germinatus
Aliases：Dà Mài Niè, Mài Niè, Dà Mài Máo, Dà Mài Yá.
Mài Yá is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is the processed product obtained from the mature fruits of Hordeum vulgare L., a plant belonging to the genus Hordeum of the family Gramineae, after germination and drying. The product is fusiform in shape, 8–12 mm long and 3–4 mm in diameter, with a pale yellow surface, a hard texture, a white and powdery cross-section, a faint odor, and a slightly sweet taste. It is a commonly used “medicinal and edible” plant.
Efficacy & Actions
Promotes Qi flow and aids digestion; strengthens the Spleen and stimulates the appetite; reduces lactation and relieves breast distension.
Indications
Primarily indicated for food stagnation with indigestion, abdominal distension and pain, Spleen deficiency with poor appetite, milk stasis, breast distension and pain, weaning in women, Liver Qi stagnation with hypochondriac pain, and Liver-Stomach Qi pain.
Modern Pharmacology
Digestive aid: α- and β-amylase break down starch into maltose and dextrin; decoction promotes gastric acid and pepsin secretion. Hypoglycemic: Oral or injectable malt extracts significantly lower blood glucose. Bidirectional regulation of lactation: Low doses promote lactation; high doses (above 30g) inhibit lactation. Antibacterial: Hordenine A and B exhibit antifungal activity. Hepatoprotective: Shows a 67.1% effective rate in treating acute and chronic hepatitis.
Ingredients
Mài Yá mainly contains α- and β-amylase, maltose, hordenine, adenine, choline, proteins, amino acids, vitamins B, D, and E, cytochrome C, and other components. In addition, it also contains polysaccharides, alkaloids, flavonoids, folic acid, phenols, and various other chemical constituents.
Usage & Dosage
For oral administration: decoct in water, 10–15 g; for high doses, 30–120 g. For reducing lactation, use 60 g of stir-fried product. May also be made into pills or powders.
Contraindications
Not suitable for use during breastfeeding. Use with caution or avoid during pregnancy—Bencao Zheng records "should not be taken in large amounts by pregnant women"; Yaopin Huayi records "pregnant women must not use it". Not suitable for those without food stagnation or with Spleen-Stomach deficiency. Contraindicated in patients with phlegm-fire and asthma. Prolonged use may damage the Kidneys; do not overconsume (Shixing Bencao).
Selected Formulas
For food stagnation with epigastric and abdominal distension (empirical formula) Take Maiya (Malt) together with Shanzha (Hawthorn), Shenqu (Medicated leaven), and Jineijin (Chicken gizzard lining). Decoct in water and drink. For spleen deficiency with poor appetite and postprandial fullness (empirical formula) Take Maiya with Baizhu (Atractylodes) and Chenpi (Tangerine peel). Decoct in water and drink. For breast distension and pain during weaning (empirical formula) Take 120g of raw Maiya or stir-fried Maiya (or 60g each of raw and stir-fried), decoct in water and drink. For acute and chronic hepatitis (clinical empirical formula) Take the young roots of barley germinated at low temperature (about 0.5cm long), dry and grind into powder to make a syrup. Take 10ml each time (containing 15g of malt powder), three times daily, after meals. One course usually lasts 30 days. For postpartum fever with poor lactation (Danxi Xinfa) Take 2 liang of Maixie (malt), stir-fry, grind into fine powder, mix with clear soup, and take in four divided doses.
Daily Consumption
Mài Yá Congee: Take 150 g of polished rice, 50 g each of raw Mài Yá and stir-fried Mài Yá, and an appropriate amount of brown sugar. Place the Mài Yá in a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, and decoct. Strain to remove the residue. Wash the rice and cook it in the medicinal liquid to make congee. When the congee is done, add brown sugar and stir well. Hawthorn and Mài Yá Tea: Wash and slice the hawthorn, then place it together with 10 g of Mài Yá in a cup. Pour boiling water over them, cover, and steep for 30 minutes. Drink as a tea.
Medicinal Parts
The processed product obtained from mature fruits after germination and drying.
Selection & Storage
Store in a ventilated, dry place, protected from insects.
