- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- Asia (East and South Asia)
Asia · Food · № 267
Oryza sativa
Food · Asia
Rice
Oryza sativa
Traditionally attributed effects: easily digestible, the basis of healing food; good for skin and hair.
Safety notes
Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Chinese materia medica: Not for long periods without food stagnation.
Preparation
White basmati rice in khichadi and pilaf.
Use in traditions
Described in Ayurveda in the kitchen and daily care, natural skin and hair care and home, kitchen and folk custom. In herbal magic associated with fertility, prosperity, abundance, certainty. Rice has been grown in China for 9,000 years and feeds half the world. In Ayurveda old rice is considered light, and rice water (kanji) is given for diarrhoea, also as a rehydration drink. In Chinese medicine sprouted rice grains (gu ya) are used for food stagnation.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Everyday Ayurveda
Attributed effects
Easily digestible, the basis of healing food; good for skin and hair.
Preparation and amount
White basmati rice in khichadi and pilaf.
Natural skin and hair care
Attributed effects
Cleanses and absorbs moisture and grease.
Preparation and amount
External: rice flour in powder cleanser, dry shampoo and body powder.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- sweet, neutral
- Meridians
- spleen, stomach
Attributed effects
Sprouted rice (gu ya) strengthens the spleen, stimulates the appetite and helps digest starchy food.
Preparation and amount
Traditional dosage: 9–15 g a day, usually in a decoction. The root of glutinous rice (nuo dao gen xu) is sweet and neutral: 15–60 g for sweating and fever from yin deficiency.
Combinations
- With shen qu and hawthorn berry
- Glutinous rice root with light wheat and oyster shell for abnormal sweating
Caution: Not for long periods without food stagnation.
Folklore and herbal magic
Symbolic meanings from folk use and modern herbal magic. These are handed-down associations, not effects.
Fertility, prosperity, abundance, certainty.
Home, kitchen and folk use
Preparation and amount
Cheese-and-herb rice; traditionally thrown at bridal couples.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- DecoctionPowder and kitchen
- Recipes
- Beras kencur