Fu Xiao Mai
StarTriticum aestivum
Synonyms: Triticum sativum, Triticum cereale var. aestivum, Triticum aristatum aestivum, Triticum vulgare var. aristatum, Triticum sativum var. vulgare, Triticum sativum subsp. vulgare, Triticum aestivum subsp. vulgare, Triticum sativum var. aestivum, Frumentum triticum, Triticum vulgare var. aestivum, Triticum vulgare subsp. aestivum, Triticum vulgare
☯ TCM Properties
Stops excessive sweating due to Deficiency (spontaneous sweating due to Qi Deficiency, night sweats due to Yin Deficiency, postpartum Deficiency sweat, steaming bones); Nourishes the Heart and calms the Spirit; Stops bed wetting in children
Traditional Chinese Uses
Fu Xiao Mai (light wheat grain, blighted wheat) is a mild, sweet herb primarily used to stop excessive or spontaneous sweating in both deficiency patterns. It is particularly suited to night sweats and the hot flushes of menopausal transition, as well as the spontaneous daytime sweating that signals weakness of protective Wei Qi. It also has a calming quality that eases emotional distress and the sensation of heat in the bones associated with deficiency patterns.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Triticum aestivum is an annual grass reaching 60-120 cm tall, with erect, hollow, jointed culms and flat, linear leaves 5-15 mm wide. The inflorescence is a dense, erect spike (ear) 5-15 cm long. The grain (caryopsis) is oval, 5-8 mm long. In TCM, the shriveled, light, hollow grains (blighted wheat) are used rather than the full grains.
Cultivated in fields and agricultural land worldwide; one of the most widely grown cereal crops in temperate regions.
Triticum aestivum is one of the most widely cultivated crops worldwide. It is a domesticated species maintained through agriculture with no conservation concerns.
Active Constituents
Starch
Polysaccharide (carbohydrate)Concentration: Major bulk constituent of the grain
The predominant storage carbohydrate of wheat grain, providing the nutritive tonifying base traditionally used to nourish the Heart and augment Qi in deficiency-type sweating.
Gluten proteins (gliadin and glutenin)
Storage proteinsConcentration: Major protein fraction of the grain
The characteristic wheat storage proteins. They provide amino-acid nutrition but are the antigens responsible for coeliac disease and wheat allergy, the main practical caution for this herb.
Thiamine and other B-vitamins
Water-soluble vitaminsConcentration: Present, concentrated toward the germ and bran
B-group vitamins (notably thiamine, B1) support carbohydrate metabolism and nervous-system function, consistent with the Spirit-calming reputation of wheat-based remedies.
Flavonoids
PolyphenolsConcentration: Minor constituents of the grain and coat
Wheat flavonoids contribute antioxidant activity that has been linked to protection of brain tissue against oxidative stress in experimental settings.
Phytosterols (e.g. beta-sitosterol)
Plant sterolsConcentration: Minor lipophilic constituents
Sterols of the grain lipid fraction with mild cholesterol-modulating and anti-inflammatory properties.
Fatty acids and lecithin (phospholipids)
Lipids / phospholipidsConcentration: Minor, concentrated in the germ
Unsaturated fatty acids and phospholipids from the wheat germ that contribute to the nutritive, restorative character used after depletion or overwork.
Dietary fibre (arabinoxylans, beta-glucan)
Non-starch polysaccharidesConcentration: Present, concentrated in the bran
Cell-wall polysaccharides that provide bulk and act as fermentable substrates for gut microbiota; wheat-derived benefits have been partly attributed to microbial conversion.
Minerals (potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron)
Inorganic elementsConcentration: Present as trace and macro-minerals
Grain minerals supporting general nutrition and fluid/electrolyte balance relevant to the herb's use for deficiency sweating.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 9-30 g | daily | — | adult | May be dry-fried before decocting. |
Preparation Methods
Water decoction (tang)
Parts: Light/blighted wheat grain (unripe, floating fruit)
Commonly 15-30 g of the light wheat grains decocted in water. Used for spontaneous sweating, night sweats and deficiency-type steaming-bone heat, frequently combined with astringent and Yin-nourishing herbs.
Dry stir-fried (chao) then decocted
Parts: Light/blighted wheat grain
The grains are gently dry-fried until fragrant to strengthen the sweat-stopping action, then decocted. This processed form is favoured specifically for arresting excessive sweating.
Clinical Studies
Major Plant in Herbal Mixture Gan-Mai-Da-Zao for the Alleviation of Depression in Rat Models
This study dissected the classical formula Gan-Mai-Da-Zao (licorice, wheat/Xiao Mai and jujube), in which blighted wheat is a principal ingredient, in rat depression models. Antidepressant-type activity was demonstrated for the combination; the authors identified licorice as the dominant contributor and noted that any wheat contribution may act via gut-microbiota conversion, concluding that the wheat component needs further dedicated study.
Historical Texts
Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essentials from the Golden Cabinet)
Eastern Han dynasty (c. 200 CE), Zhang ZhongjingBen Cao Meng Quan (Enlightenment of Materia Medica)
Ming dynasty (1565), Chen JiamoReferences
- Li YX, Cheng KC, Hsu CT, Cheng JT, Yang TT. Major Plant in Herbal Mixture Gan-Mai-Da-Zao for the Alleviation of Depression in Rat Models . Plants (Basel) (2022) [DOI]
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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