Gu Ya (Dao Ya)谷芽

Fructus Oryzae GerminatusRice Sprouts

Also known asFructus Setariae Germinatus · Setaria Sprouts · Millet Sprouts

Usual doses

Reduces Food Stagnation, promotes digestion, strengthens and descends Qi, opens the Stomach and harmonizes the Center: Food Stagnation due to undigested starchy foods
Food Stagnation due to Spleen Qi Deficiency
Overnight Food Accumulation
Strengthens the Spleen and encourages appetite: Spleen Deficiency with anorexia

- Chen Pi
- Sha Ren
Poor appetite with chest and abdominal distention from Food Stagnation.
- Dang Shen
- Bai Zhu
- Sha Ren
- Chen Pi
- Gan Cao
Impaired digestion caused by Spleen and Stomach Deficiency.
- Shen Qu
- Shan Zha
- Bai Bian Dou
- Ze Xie
- Fu Ling
- Qian Shi
Impaired digestion with reduced food intake and diarrhea from Spleen and Stomach Deficiency.

Gu Ya has a gentler digestive action than Mai Ya, and the two are commonly combined to boost the overall effect.
It is particularly suited to retained grain in the diet.
For Food Stagnation caused by grains, the two most effective herbs are this one and Fr. Hordei Germinatus Mai Ya, which aids digestion and has some Spleen-strengthening properties; it is best for treating Cold Food Stagnation with absorption problems.
Because its digestive action is weaker, this herb does not injure Stomach Qi, making it most effective for hot Food Stagnation accompanied by marked Spleen Deficiency.
The raw form, Sheng Gu Ya, best assists in digesting starches.
Dry-fried Chao Gu Ya is nearly as effective as Sheng Gu Ya for digesting starches.
The distillate, Dao Ya Lu, reduces Food Stagnation, strengthens the Spleen, improves appetite, harmonizes the Middle, generates fluids, and benefits Yuan Qi; it is taken as a beverage in weak-Spleen patients since it both tonifies and clears Food Stagnation.
Gu Ya, Rx. Codonopsis Dang Shen, and Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu all tonify and strengthen the Middle Jiao, but by different routes: Gu Ya promotes digestion and thereby strengthens the Middle Jiao indirectly, by lightening the Spleen and Stomach's burden, whereas Dang Shen and Bai Zhu tonify the Spleen and Stomach directly to enhance digestive function.