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Barley sprout
Botanical name
Hordeum vulgare
Family
Gramineae
Pin yin name
Mai Ya
Pin yin description
(Mai is the common term for grain crops, like barley and wheat; ya means sprout; the sprouted barley seed is used; it is distinguished from rice sprout, which is called Gu Ya)
Other common names
Malt
Part used
Sprout
(barley fruit is soaked in water until the sprouts are about 2 inches long)
Taste
Sweet
Nature
Neutral
Traditional Chinese uses
Improve digestion and coordinate the stomach and spleen functions
Traditional Chinese applications
Food accumulation, poor appetite, weak digestion, and fullness in the abdomen; stagnation of liver qi
Possible unwanted effects
In women who are breast-feeding, barley sprout may inhibit lactation; some individuals are sensitive to barley proteins, as occurs with Celiac sprue
Herb drug interactions
None reported
TCM and other contraindications
None noted, but women who are breast-feeding should avoid large doses that could inhibit lactation
Formulas
Crataegus +7 (Inner Health)
Author
Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D. Institute for Traditional Medicine
Last updated
15 Nov 2002



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