1. Description:
Proso millet (scientific name: Panicum miliaceum, also known as broomcorn millet, common millet, broomtail millet, hog millet, Kashfi millet, red millet and white millet, Chinese Pinyin: Ji Mi, Simplified Chinese: 稷, 粢, 黍, 稷米, 粢米, 穄米, 糜子米), is a species of annual flowering grass in genus Panicum (grasses family, Poaceae). Originated from Central Asia, the plant can grow up to 120 cm tall. The fruit-spike of proso millet is used as heat-clearing drug, detoxicant and stomachic in traditional Chinese medicine (CTM) and widely adopted in treating different diseases and health problems, such as ulcers.
2. Odour, Properties And Channels:
Proso millet is considered to have sweet, cold and nontoxic properties and to be associated with the spleen and stomach meridians.
3. Uses, Health Benefits of Proso Millet & Medical Formulas:
3.1 Invigorating Spleen And Stomach
Medicated soup with mutton and proso millet is taken to invigorate spleen and stomach, it can help with digestion.
A decoction of proso millet and other herbs is taken orally to relive stomachache.
3.2 Skin Health
Proso millet powder mixed with egg white is applied externally to treat ulcers on the back.
3.3 Obstructed Labour
In ancient times, ash of dried proso millet root is taken with wine to treat obstructed labour (also known as labour dystocia).
4. Contraindication, Side-effects & Cautions:
Simultaneous eating of proso millet and Aconitum carmichaelii root is NOT recommended.
The Ben Cao Medical Book (also known as Compendium of Materia Medica or Ben Cao Gang Mu; Chinese: 本草纲目) is the most famous and comprehensive medical book ever written in the history of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Compiled and written by Li Shi-zhen (1518~1593), a medical expert of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) over 27 years.
The Ben Cao Medical Book records and describes all the plants, animals, minerals, and other objects that were believed to have medicinal properties in TCM. The book reflects the pharmaceutical achievements and developments of East Asia before the 16th century. On the basis of his predecessors’ achievements in the pharmacological studies, Li contributed further by supplementing and rectifying many past mistakes and misconception in relate to nature of many medicinal substances and causes of various illnesses. Charles Darwin, originator of the biological theory of evolution, regards the book as the “ancient Chinese encyclopedia”.
Disclaimer: The Ben Cao Medical Book is translated by ChinaAbout.net . The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of CTM knowledge and information from the research and experience from the author Li Shi-zhen. Kindly be alert that the CTM knowledge and ancient formulas given above are likely NOT medically proven and may contain misconceptions.