Gu Ya – Sprouted Millet – Fructus Setariae Germinatus

Gu Ya

English Name: sprouted Asian rice, sprouted millet

Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus Stariae Germinatus

Medica Category: Digestive Herbs

Properties: Gu Ya enters the Spleen and Stomach channels; it is sweet in nature and neutral in temperature.

What is Gu Ya?:

The Chinese Herb Gu Ya is the sprouted kernels of foxtail millet (Setaria Italia L. Beauv.) or Asian rice (Orzya sativa L.)

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Gu Ya:

Gu Ya nourishes the stomach and has a mild function to aid poor digestion; thus, it is preferred for persons with indigestion and poor appetite caused by deficiency of the Spleen/Stomach.

Note for students and practitioners: Mai Ya and Gu Ya are very similar in their actions, the main difference being that Gu Ya nourishes the Stomach and is therefore the better choice for dealing with food stagnation in persons with Spleen and Stomach deficiencies.