Gu Ya (谷芽) is the sprouted grain of millet, recorded as Fructus Setariae Germinatus. It is sweet in flavour and neutral in temperature, entering the Spleen and Stomach channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that relieve food stagnation.

Pinyin

gu ya

Chinese

谷芽

Latin Name

Fructus Setariae Germinatus

English Name

Barley·grain sprout·Grain Sprouts·Grain Sprouts;Millet;Rice;Barley·Millet·Rice

Japanese

kokuga

Korean

kok·koka

Actions and indications

Reduces food stagnation, aids digestion, descends Qi, opens the Stomach and harmonises the Middle Jiao

Starchy food that has not been digested
Weak Spleen Qi leading to food stagnation
Food retained overnight
Indigestion with a full epigastrium and poor appetite, especially after meals heavy in grain

Strengthens the Spleen and restores appetite

Loss of appetite from Spleen deficiency
Poor appetite, sluggish digestion and diarrhea from a weak Spleen; mild enough for longer use and for frail patients

Combinations

chen pi + sha ren

Food Stagnation with a distended chest and abdomen and poor appetite

dang shen + bai zhu + sha ren + chen pi + gan cao

Spleen and Stomach Deficiency with weak digestion

shen qu + shan zha + bai bian dou + ze xie + fu ling + qian shi

Deficient Spleen and Stomach with diarrhea, eating less and digesting poorly

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 6-20g; Tincture: 2-4ml

6-20 g

—

2-4 ml

—

Cautions

caution Prolonged use can harm the Kidneys

lactation Avoid while breastfeeding; some references attach this caution only to Mai Ya (barley sprout) rather than Gu Ya, so confirm which sprouted grain is supplied

caution Not indicated where there is no food stagnation

caution Persistent poor appetite, weight loss or a change in digestion calls for medical evaluation, not just a mild digestive herb

Prepared forms (1)

gu ya Chao

谷芽·Fructus Setariae Germinatus

Gu ya chao (谷芽) is the dry-fried form of gu ya, the germinated sprout supplied as Fructus Setariae Germinatus. The catalogue files it among the substances that relieve food stagnation. No channels, flavour or temperature are recorded.

The catalogue records no separate actions, dose or cautions for this preparation. Unless noted above it follows gu ya.

gu ya

About gu ya

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Reduces food stagnation, aids digestion, descends Qi, opens the Stomach and harmonises the Middle Jiao

Strengthens the Spleen and restores appetite

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Prepared forms (1)

gu ya Chao

About gu ya

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Reduces food stagnation, aids digestion, descends Qi, opens the Stomach and harmonises the Middle Jiao

Strengthens the Spleen and restores appetite

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Prepared forms (1)

gu ya Chao

Related

Prepared forms

Used in 1 formula