Panicum, Millet
Setaria Germinans, Su Ya 粟芽
Cheena (Ayurveda)
Panivaragu (Siddha)
China Ghas, Faluda (Unani)
Khre ཁྲེ (Tibetan)
Panivaragu (Siddha)
China Ghas, Faluda (Unani)
Khre ཁྲེ (Tibetan)
Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491
Kreutterbuch, Matthiolus, 1586
Botanical name:
Panicum spp.
1. P. miliaceum; Common or White Millet;
2. P. sumatrense; Little Millet
Other plants supplying types of Millet include:
3. Setaria italica; Italian Millet
4. Pennisetum glaucum; Pearl Millet; Bajra (Ayurevda)
The genus Digitaria and Echinochloa
White, Yellow and Red varieties are known also supply types of Millet.
Millet Sprout, used in TCM, is derived from Setaria italica.
Parts used:
Seed; Seed Sprout
Temperature & Taste:
Neutral. Sweet
Spout is Warm, dry. Sweet and Bitter
Classification:
O. Promote Digestion.
Panicum spp.
1. P. miliaceum; Common or White Millet;
2. P. sumatrense; Little Millet
Other plants supplying types of Millet include:
3. Setaria italica; Italian Millet
4. Pennisetum glaucum; Pearl Millet; Bajra (Ayurevda)
The genus Digitaria and Echinochloa
White, Yellow and Red varieties are known also supply types of Millet.
Millet Sprout, used in TCM, is derived from Setaria italica.
Parts used:
Seed; Seed Sprout
Temperature & Taste:
Neutral. Sweet
Spout is Warm, dry. Sweet and Bitter
Classification:
O. Promote Digestion.
Uses:
1. Tonifies Qi, Dries Damp, Guides Stomach Qi Down: (TCM, West, Tibetan)
-fatigue, digestive weakness and damp due to Spleen deficiency
-Diarrhea, Dysentery (Dioscorides, TCM)
-Nausea, Vomiting
-Morning Sickness
-helps reduce Cholesterol
3. Strengthens Kidneys, Promotes Urine: (West, TCM)
-Edema, Tympanites, fluid retention from Damp or Kidney weakness (Dioscorides)
-good to strengthen during Pregnancy
-weakness in the lower extremities
4. Strengthens Bones: (Tibetan)
-regarded as healing Fractures in Tibetan Medicine
5. Clears Heat and Toxin: (TCM)
-Sores, Abscesses
-Scalds
6. Externally:
-Millet was often sewn in a bag with Salt and heated then applied: Catarrh, apply to the forehead;
-colic and bloating, or Tympanites, warm and apply to the Stomach (Dioscorides)
MILLET SPROUT Su Ya:
1. Strengthens the Stomach, Clears Food Stagnation:
-Indigestion from undigested stachy foods
-Indigestion and poor appetite from Spleen/Digestive deficiency
DOSE:
Millet: 10–30 grams in Decoction
Millet Sprout: 10–15 grams in Decoction
SUBSTITUTE:
1. In India and China, Setaria italica (Italian Millet) is used synonymously. It is less astringent than Millet.
2. Millet Sprout may be replaced with Barley sprout (Mai Ya)
PREPARATION:
1. Sometimes Millet is stir-fried or parched to increase its warming effect.
2. Stir-fried Millet Sprouts:
Millet sprouts are stir-fried in a wok until yellowish and aromatic. This makes it warmer and more aromatic, therefore better for the spleen. However, overburning or scorching reduces its effects on food stagnation, so they should only be stir-fried until yellowish and aromatic.
Millet: 10–30 grams in Decoction
Millet Sprout: 10–15 grams in Decoction
SUBSTITUTE:
1. In India and China, Setaria italica (Italian Millet) is used synonymously. It is less astringent than Millet.
2. Millet Sprout may be replaced with Barley sprout (Mai Ya)
PREPARATION:
1. Sometimes Millet is stir-fried or parched to increase its warming effect.
2. Stir-fried Millet Sprouts:
Millet sprouts are stir-fried in a wok until yellowish and aromatic. This makes it warmer and more aromatic, therefore better for the spleen. However, overburning or scorching reduces its effects on food stagnation, so they should only be stir-fried until yellowish and aromatic.
Main Combinations:
1. Dampness, or Damp-Heat and Toxin decoct Millet with Barley and Licorice
2. Cold Kidney pain, Millet (½ oz.), seeds of Endive, Celery, Sorrel (1 dram each), Cinnamon, Ginger, Cloves, Mace (1 ½ oz.), Oxymel (6 oz.), Honey of Roses (3 oz.), Sugar (2 oz.). Form a Confection and take a spoonful each morning. (Wirtzung)
3. Edema Tympanites, Millet with Asparagus root, Fennel root, Pumpkin and Cucumber seed, Fennel and Aniseed, Licorice
4. Dysuria, Strangury, Millet, Aniseed, Fennel seed Celery seed, Tragacanth, Licorice Cherry Tree gum (Wirtzung)
5. Stones:
i. Jew's Stone taken with decoction of Millet.
ii. Millet, Parsley seed, Peach kernel
6. Colic or Abdominal pain, parch Millet, Salt, Dill, Aniseed, Fennel seed, Linseed and apply warm wrapped in a bag
MILLET SPROUTS:
7. Food Stagnation, Millet sprout, Radish seed, Hawthorn fruit (Shan Zha), Citrus Chen Pi
8. Indigestion, poor appetite and epigastric distention, Millet Sprout, Citrus Chen Pi, Amomum Sha Ren
Major Formulas:
Powder for Kidney Obstruction (Wirtzung)
Confection for Cold Kidneys
Cautions:
Millet was regarded as increasing Melancholy by some authors; Ayurveda says it can aggravate Vata (Wind).
Main Preparations used:
Millet was regarded as increasing Melancholy by some authors; Ayurveda says it can aggravate Vata (Wind).
Main Preparations used: