Introduction of Fu Xiao Mai:Light Wheat or Fructus Tritici Levis.

TCM Herbalism:Medicinals and Classifications. ✵The article gives records of the herb Light Wheat, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Triticum aestivum L., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Light Wheat, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.

Fructus Tritici Levis(Light Wheat).

dried pale brownish herb grains of Fructus Tritici Levis Pin Yin Name: Fú Xiǎo Mài.
 English Name: Light Wheat, Blighted Wheat, Shriveled Wheat.
 Latin Name: Fructus Tritici Levis.
 Property and flavor: cool in nature, tastes sweet, salty.

 Brief introduction: The Herb Fructus Tritici Levis is the dried light grains of Triticum aestivum L., used as an antihidrotic agent for spontaneous sweating or night sweats. The herb is commonly known as Fructus Tritici Levis, Light Wheat, Fú Xiǎo Mài.

 Botanical source: Herbal classic book defined the Fructus Tritici Levis (Light Wheat) as the dried light grains of the species (1). Triticum aestivum L. It is a plant of the Triticum L. genus, the Gramineae family (Poaceae family) of the Poales order. This commonly used species is introduced:

(1).Triticum aestivum L.


 plants of Triticum aestivum L. with greenish yellow fruit spikes grow in sunny field Botanical description: The plant, Triticum aestivum L is commonly known as Xiǎo Mài. Annual or biennial herb, the plant grows up to 60~100 cm tall. Culms are upright, usually in 6–9 segments. Leaf-sheath is smooth, often shorter than the internode length; paraphyll (ligule) is membranous, short, and small; Leaf blades are flat, long lanceolate, 15~40 cm long, 8~14 mm wide, the apex is acuminate, base is rectangular-circular.

 Spikes are upright, 3~10 cm long; Spicules (spikelets) are flat on both sides, about 12 mm long, arranged parallelly or nearly parallelly on spike stalk (ear axis), each spicule has 3~9 flowers, only flowers on the lower part are fruiting; Glume is short, the first glume is wider than the second glume, both have sharp ridges on the back surface, sometimes extending to an awn; lower palea (inferior palea) is membranous, slightly lobed into 3-dentate, central teeth are often extended to an awn, palea is the equal length as lower palea or slightly shorter, ridge has scaly piliferous narrow wings; 3 stamens; ovary is oval (egg-shaped).

 Caryopsis (karyopsis) are oblong or subovate, about 6 mm long, and hazel (pale brown). It is flowering period is from April to May, the fruiting period is from May to June.

 plants of Triticum aestivum L. with greenish fruit spikes grow in sunny field Ecological environment: The plant is cultivated throughout the country as one of China's main food. It is appropriate to choose a field with deep soil layers, and the topsoil is deep, which is good for water storage, fertilizer conservation, and root development. Soil structure refers to the proportion of solid (organic and inorganic), liquid and air composition, which is closely related to soil moisture, air, temperature, and nutrients. It is a crop that needs long sunshine (8 to 12 hours of sunlight per day), if sunshine conditions are insufficient, it can't go through the growing stage, and it can't produce a farctate ear.

 plants of Triticum aestivum L. with fruit spikes grow in field Wheat is a product of the domestication of its wild ancestors by Neolithic humans and has been cultivated for more than 10,000 years. In the vast areas of Central Asia, many remains have been excavated from prehistoric primitive social settlements, including wild and cultivated wheat heads and grains, charred wheat grains, heads, and impressions of wheat grains on hard mud. Wheat was widely cultivated in West Asia as early as 7,000~6,000 B.C., in Europe 6,000~5,000 B.C., in Middle Asia 5,000~4,000 B.C., Wheat cultivation in China gradually expanded from the middle reaches of the Yellow River to the south of the Yangtze River, and into Northeast Asia. Between the 15th and 17th centuries, European settlers spread wheat to North and South America. Wheat spread to Oceania in the 18th century.

 many pale brownish grains of light wheat are piled together Characters of herbs: The dried caryopsis is oblong, both ends are slightly pointed, about 2~6 mm long, or 5-7 mm long, and about 1.5~2.5 mm in diameter, or 3-3.5 mm in diameter. The surface is faint yellow (pale yellow) or yellowish-brown, has fine wrinkles, full, has a deep concave longitudinal groove in the center of the ventral surface, an inconspicuous embryo at the base of the dorsal surface, and yellow pilose at the top part, the front end has yellowish-white pilose, base is obliquely pointed. The texture of the herb is hard, a few are extremely flat, and the grain is soft. The fracture surface is white or light yellowish-brown, with rich mealiness. A few have glume and lemma. The herb has no odor, it tastes mild. The herb of a better grade has an even grain, is light, and floats to the water surface, with a glossy surface, and no impurities.

 Medicinal efficacy: Eliminate deficient heat, antiperspirant. It is indicated for Yin deficiency and fever, hectic fever due to yin deficiency and consumptive fever (bone steaming, fever of consumption), night sweat (perspire during sleep), spontaneous perspiration (spontaneous sweating), etc.

 Administration of Fructus Tritici Levis (Fú Xiǎo Mài): 
 
Reference: Administration Guide of Fructus Tritici Levis (Fú Xiǎo Mài)
TCM Books: ①.N/A.;②.Internally:water decoction, 3~5 qian (about 9~15 grams); or stir-bake to brown and prepare to finely ground herb powder; ③.Internally:water decoction, 15~30 grams;or prepare to ground herb powder. For antiperspirant purpose, better stir-bake for appplication.
 Contraindications, Precautions and Adverse Reactions:should avoid using the herb Fructus Tritici Levis in conditions dysphoria without perspiration or collapse with sweating.

 

 
  

 

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References:
  • 1.Introduction of Fu Xiao Mai:Light Wheat or Fructus Tritici Levis.

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