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(Bencao Bie Lu, Middle Category)
[Flavor and Nature] Salty, slightly warm, non-toxic.
[Indications] Mainly treats Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome), eliminates internal heat, relieves vexation, tonifies Yuan Qi (primordial qi), and harmonizes the Middle Jiao (spleen and stomach). Long-term consumption prevents graying of hair.
[Analysis] It is said: The Book of Songs states, "You gave me Da Mai (large wheat/barley) and Xiao Mai (small wheat)." Mou refers to Da Mai; Lai refers to Xiao Mai. Da Mai planted near peach trees takes 240 days from flowering to maturity, ripening 60 days after flowering; those planted near apricot trees take 200 days from flowering to maturity, ripening 50 days after flowering. Mencius said, "When wheat is sown and grows, if the land is the same and the planting time is the same, it grows vigorously and ripens by the time of the Summer Solstice." The awns resemble turtle shells in texture, and the grain is larger than millet, hence named Da Mai.

(Bencao Bie Lu, Middle Category)
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, slightly cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Mainly eliminates external pathogenic heat, stops vexation, thirst, and dryness of the throat, promotes urination, nourishes Liver Qi, stops leakage bleeding and hemoptysis, and facilitates conception in women.
[Analysis] It is said: Xiao Mai is a variant of the auspicious wheat descended from heaven. It is sown in autumn, grows in winter, flowers in spring, and bears fruit in summer. At this time of year, old grains are exhausted, and new grains have not yet been harvested, causing food scarcity among the people, while wheat ripens first. Therefore, in the Spring and Autumn Annals, poor harvests of other grains are not recorded, but poor harvests of wheat and rice are recorded. This shows that the Sages valued wheat and rice most among the five grains. According to records, Emperor Wu encouraged the cultivation of wheat in the Guanzhong region. The Ming Tang Yue Ling also contains texts encouraging wheat planting in mid-autumn; those who miss the agricultural season will undoubtedly be punished. This is all because wheat is relied upon during times of famine, fearing that people would not pay attention to it. Each wheat plant typically has twelve tillers; in leap years, one more tiller may appear. As wheat harvest approaches, when the root node turns yellow, and both roots and stems turn yellow and plump, the grain is mature. Wheat dislikes dampness. In the dry lands of the north, where weather is often clear, thin husks and high flour yield constitute the superior grade; in the damp lands of the south, where rain is frequent, thick husks and low flour yield constitute the inferior grade. Thus, prolonged rain and waterlogging cause the wheat to turn black and become shriveled, or even rot and fail to fill out. Wheat sown in spring ripens in summer, but contains toxicity, which can be counteracted by Raphani Fructus (Lai Fu Zi, Radish).

[Discussion] It is said: Wheat matures before the five grains and is the principal grain for the Liver organ system. Having traversed the four seasonal energies, with opening and closing alternating, its substance and function are complete, thereby nourishing Liver Qi. It facilitates conception in women and serves as a reliance for continuing life, because the Jueyin Liver channel is the root of embryonic development, and the Shaoyang Gallbladder channel is the pivot of protection. From front to back, everything begins and ends with the Liver and Gallbladder. The Classics state: "Retaining love creates seed, imagining conception forms the fetus; dreaming of green qi entering the mother's abdomen and craving sour taste" reflects the color and flavor of Wood. Regarding pathology: loss of the storing blood function leads to leakage bleeding or hemoptysis; loss of the draining and diffusing function leads to constraint or urinary retention; Jueyin wind movement causes vexation; Shaoyang fire blazing causes dryness. Therapeutic effects are quite rapid. Although everyone eats and drinks, few understand the operation of these functions. Wheat sown in spring and harvested in summer only experiences half of the four seasonal energies, lacking the final phase of descending into the Kidney. This causes the pivot mechanism to activate hastily, which inadvertently aggravates Liver anger.