What are the benefits, effects and ways to eat Fu wheat (light wheat)? Can it treat insomnia?

I wonder if any of you have heard of Fu wheat. It is a kind of Chinese medicinal herb, the light, shriveled and thin fruit of wheat, and the benefits of Fu wheat have also been recorded in ancient medical books and used by physicians of past dynasties up to the present. So what are the benefits and effects of Fu wheat? How do you eat it? Does it treat insomnia?

I. Brief introduction to Fu wheat

1. Source

Fu wheat is the dried, shriveled and light caryopsis of the grass-family plant wheat. It is harvested when the fruit is ripe; the thin, shriveled, light grains and grains with skin not fully removed are taken, impurities removed, ash sifted out, rinsed with water and sun-dried. Those that are hard in texture, white in cross-section, starchy, weak in odor, mild in taste and free of off-odors are considered the best.

2. Properties

Fu wheat is oblong, slightly pointed at both ends, about 2 to 6 mm long and about 1.5 to 2.5 mm in diameter. Its surface is light yellowish-brown or yellow, slightly wrinkled, with a relatively deep longitudinal groove in the center of the ventral side.

II. Benefits and effects of Fu wheat

1. According to records in traditional Chinese medicine, Fu wheat is cool in nature, sweet in taste and enters the heart meridian. It has the effects of clearing deficiency heat and stopping sweating, and is mainly used to treat symptoms such as yin deficiency fever, night sweats and spontaneous sweating. It belongs to the category of medicines that clear deficiency heat and medicines that secure the exterior and stop sweating.

2. In clinical practice, Fu wheat is often used to treat those with insufficient heart yin and disharmony of liver qi, such as patients with hysteria, menopausal syndrome, neurasthenia and night crying in children.

[Usage and dosage]: Decoct in water, 15 to 30 grams, or grind into powder; decoct in water, 3 to 5 qian; or fry until scorched and grind into powder; 3 to 5 qian, used raw or fried until fragrant. Generally, Fu wheat can be taken at up to about 30 g per day.

[Contraindications]: It is contraindicated for those who are restless without sweating or who sweat due to collapse.

III. Fu wheat combination prescriptions

Note: The following formulas must be used under a doctor's guidance.

1. For night sweats and uncontrollable deficiency sweating: Fry an appropriate amount of Fu wheat over high and then low heat until scorched and grind into powder. Take it with rice water together with 6 g of Fu wheat; regular use is best.

2. For night sweats: Take Fu wheat decoction together with 6 g of fangfeng powder.

3. For spontaneous sweating due to qi deficiency: Use together with Huangqi (Astragalus), calcined oyster shell, Ephedra root, etc.

4. For night sweats due to yin deficiency: Use together with Wuweizi (Schisandra), Maidong (dwarf lilyturf root), Digupi (Chinese wolfberry root bark), etc.

5. For emotional restlessness and mental unease: 30 g Fu wheat, 15 g Gancao (licorice), 10 jujubes, decoct in water and take.

IV. How do you eat Fu wheat?

1. Fu wheat and jujube porridge: Secures the exterior and astringes sweat, nourishes the stomach and strengthens the spleen

Wash Fu wheat, jujubes and glutinous rice separately, put them into a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, first use high heat, then medium heat, and finally low heat to cook into porridge. Take it warm once in the morning and once in the evening.

2. Fu wheat sweat-stopping soup: Treats night sweats, deficiency sweating and excessive sweating

60 g Fu wheat, 30 g red dates, decoct in water for 30 minutes, take the liquid, 1 dose per day, taken warm in 2—3 portions.

3. Fu wheat and black bean soup: Mainly treats night sweats in children

20 g Fu wheat and 20 g black beans, decoct in water for 30 minutes, take the liquid, 1 dose per day, taken warm in 2 portions.

V. Does Fu wheat treat insomnia?

Fu wheat has good effects in relieving mental unease and restlessness, so it has a certain auxiliary effect in treating insomnia.

Conclusion: The benefits and effects of Fu wheat are introduced here. I never expected Fu wheat to have such high medicinal value, with therapeutic effects on fever and night sweats. However, as a medicinal treatment, it must be taken after consulting a doctor's advice.