Panicum, Millet
Cheena (Ayurveda)Panivaragu (Siddha)
China Ghas, Faluda (Unani)
Khre ཁྲེ (Tibetan)
Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491
Kreutterbuch, Matthiolus, 1586Botanical name:
Panicum spp.
1. P. miliaceum; Common or White Millet;
2. P. sumatrense; Little Millet
Other plants supplying types of Millet include:
3. Setaria italica; Italian Millet
4. Pennisetum glaucum; Pearl Millet; Bajra (Ayurveda)
The genus Digitaria and Echinochloa also supply types of Millet.
White, Yellow and Red varieties are known on the market.
Millet Sprout, used in TCM, is derived from Setaria italica.
Parts used:
Seed
Temperature & Taste:
Neutral. Sweet
Uses:
1. Benefits Qi, Dries Damp, Guides Stomach Qi Down: (TCM, West, Tibetan)
-fatigue, digestive weakness and damp due to Spleen deficiency
-Diarrhea, Dysentery (Dioscorides, TCM)
-Nausea, Vomiting
-Morning Sickness
-helps reduce Cholesterol
3. Strengthens Kidneys, Promotes Urine: (West, TCM)
-Edema, Tympanites, fluid retention from Damp or Kidney weakness (Dioscorides)
-good to strengthen during Pregnancy
-weakness in the lower extremities
4. Heals Fractures: (Tibetan)
-regarded as healing Fractures in Tibetan Medicine
5. Clears Heat and Toxin: (TCM)
-Sores, Abscesses
-Scalds
6. Externally:
-Millet was often sewn in a bag with Salt and heated then applied: Catarrh, apply to the forehead;
-colic and bloating, or Tympanites, warm and apply to the Stomach (Dioscorides)
Dose:
Decoction: 10–30 grams
Substitute:
1. In India and China, Setaria italica (Italian Millet) is used synonymously. It is less astringent than Millet.
Preparation:
1. Sometimes Millet is stir-fried or parched to increase its warming effect.
Main Combinations:
1. Dampness, or Damp-Heat and Toxin decoct Millet with Barley and Licorice
2. Cold Kidney pain, Millet (½ oz.), seeds of Endive, Celery, Sorrel (1 dram each), Cinnamon, Ginger, Cloves, Mace (1 ½ oz.), Oxymel (6 oz.), Honey of Roses (3 oz.), Sugar (2 oz.). Form a Confection and take a spoonful each morning. (Wirtzung)
3. Edema Tympanites, Millet with Asparagus root, Fennel root, Pumpkin and Cucumber seed, Fennel and Aniseed, Licorice
4. Dysuria, Strangury, Millet, Aniseed, Fennel seed Celery seed, Tragacanth, Licorice Cherry Tree gum (Wirtzung)
5. Urinary Stones:
i. Jew’s Stone taken with decoction of Millet.
ii. Millet, Parsley seed, Peach kernel
6. Colic or Abdominal pain, parch Millet, Salt, Dill, Aniseed, Fennel seed, Linseed and apply warm wrapped in a bag
Major Formulas:
Powder for Kidney Obstruction (Wirtzung)
Confection for Cold Kidneys
Cautions:
Millet was regarded as increasing Melancholy by some authors; Ayurveda says it can aggravate Vata (Wind).