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(Attachment: Wheat Sprouts are Effective in Treating Jaundice)

Da Mai Ya (Hordei Fructus Germinatus, Sprouted Barley): Its nature is neutral, and its taste is slightly sour (containing dilute hydrochloric acid, thus effective in digestion). It enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians, digesting all kinds of dietary accumulations, serving as an adjuvant to herbs that tonify the Spleen and Stomach (Tonifying the Spleen and Stomach primarily relies on Renshen [Ginseng Root] and Baizhu [Atractylodis Rhizoma], with Da Mai Ya assisting them). When used together with Renshen, Baizhu, and Da Mai Ya, it can facilitate the transformation of their tonifying power, preventing distension and fullness. Because its nature excels at digestion and it also promotes the free flow of urine and defecation, although it is a herb for the Spleen and Stomach, it actually excels at soothing Liver Qi (Soothing the Liver should be done with raw usage; stir-fried usage is ineffective). The Liver governs dispersion and drainage, facilitating Qi movement for the Kidney. Because its force can soothe the Liver and assist Liver Wood in dispersing and draining to move Kidney Qi, it is also effective in inducing labor. As women's milk is transformed from blood, and because Da Mai Ya excels at digestion and has a slight blood-breaking property, it is also effective in stopping lactation (For those who wish to stop lactation without nursing an infant, use two liang of stir-fried Da Mai Ya ground into powder, taking five qian each time with warm water). For pills and powders, it can be stir-fried; for decoctions, raw usage is appropriate.

[Attached Case 1] A woman in her thirties had always been weak in Qi. One day, she suddenly felt Qi stagnating in the upper Jiaojiao (upper epigastrium), unable to ascend or descend. Prescribing only one liang of raw Mai Ya (Wheat Sprout), decocted in water and drunk, she immediately felt her breath become smooth and unobstructed.

[Attached Case 2] Another woman, nearing forty, often suffered pain under her ribs. Food entering her stomach would stagnate and fail to descend. She had taken medicine for years without cure; this was due to the Liver failing to ascend and the Stomach failing to descend. I prescribed a formula using four qian of raw Mai Ya to raise Liver Qi, two qian of raw Jineijin (Chicken Gizzard Lining) to descend Stomach Qi, and added one liang of raw Huai Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) to nourish the Qi transformation of the Zang-Fu organs, preventing damage from the ascending and descending actions. After taking more than ten doses, the illness was completely cured.

My wife, Ms. Wang, could never take medicine throughout her life; she could not even tolerate medicine with no taste whatsoever. In late autumn of the Yichou year, she contracted Huangdan Syndrome (Jaundice). I prepared several herbs for her, decocted them into a soup, and forced her to drink it. Upon swallowing, she vomited violently, expelling all the medicine. My friend Mr. Zhang suggested using fresh Maichao (Wheat Seedling) decocted in water. We then gathered a handful of fresh wheat seedlings and added five qian of Huashi (Talcum) to it. After taking it, her condition lightened immediately, and after one more dose, she was fully recovered. This is likely because the nature of Maichao can unblock and dredge the Liver and Gallbladder, clear heat from the Liver and Gallbladder, reduce inflammation of the bile ducts, and guide bile back into the small intestine. Having realized this principle, whenever I encounter cases of Huangdan Syndrome, I invariably add several qian of raw Mai Ya to the prescription, which yields remarkable effects. However, the Mai Ya in pharmacies are all dried. If fresh Mai Ya could be obtained and used when it grows over one cun in length, the effect would be even better. Alternatively, when wheat seedlings are available, besides taking medicine, one can decoct Maichao and drink it as tea.