- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- Asia (west, Fertile Crescent)
- Other names
- Griesmeel, Tarwekiem
Asia · Food · № 268
Triticum aestivum
Food · Asia
Wheat
Triticum aestivum
Traditionally attributed effects: strengthens, rejuvenates, soothes ulcers, stimulates appetite, promotes healing of fractures, gives stability, healthy complexion; mildly aphrodisiac; anti-stress breakfast.
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.
Preparation
Roasted semolina as sweet or savoury sooji (breakfast); wholemeal pasta and tortillas; flour in body scrub.
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 prosperity, certainty, abundance, fertility. Wheat was domesticated in the Fertile Crescent some 10,000 years ago. In Ayurveda (godhuma) it is considered nourishing and strengthening. In Chinese medicine light, floating wheat grains (fu xiao mai) are used for night sweats, and wheat is part of Gan Mai Da Zao Tang for restlessness.
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
Strengthens, rejuvenates, soothes ulcers, stimulates appetite, promotes healing of fractures, gives stability, healthy complexion; mildly aphrodisiac; anti-stress breakfast.
Preparation and amount
Roasted semolina as sweet or savoury sooji (breakfast); wholemeal pasta and tortillas; flour in body scrub.
Natural skin and hair care
Attributed effects
Nourishing for the skin.
Preparation and amount
External: wheat germ in almond scrub; wheat germ oil in massage oils.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- sweet, cool
- Meridians
- heart
Attributed effects
Light, immature wheat grains (fu xiao mai) strengthen qi and cool heat in fatigue from qi and yin deficiency, curb excessive sweating, calm the mind and were used for bedwetting in children.
Preparation and amount
Traditional dosage: 9–30 g a day, usually in a decoction.
Combinations
- With oyster shell, huang qi and ephedra root in mu li san for sweating from weakness
- With licorice and jujube in gan mai da zao tang for restlessness and low mood
Folklore and herbal magic
Symbolic meanings from folk use and modern herbal magic. These are handed-down associations, not effects.
Prosperity, certainty, abundance, fertility, bread: stability, harmony, success.
Home, kitchen and folk use
Preparation and amount
Flour for herb bread.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- DecoctionCompress, poultice and pastePowder and kitchen
- Formulas
- Gan mai da zao tang