Do you sometimes have problems falling asleep? Do you feel restless and agitated especially in the evening and when going to bed? Maybe you suffer from spontaneous sweating during the day or night. Wheat berry tea can be a great help when used as a supportive, alternative and natural remedy to ease these symptoms.
Wheat berry properties according to TCM
In Chinese medicine, wheat berry tea is refreshing, cooling and moistening because it replenishes the heart Qi and calms the mind. It tonifies the yin of the heart, liver and kidneys by cooling down, alleviating thirst and strengthening superficies to control sweating.
Temperature: cool
Taste: sweet, slightly salty
Affected meridian: heart, kidneys, spleen
Effective direction: descending
Effective for treating:
– Sleeping disorders due to Blood deficiency* and Yin deficiency*
– Spontaneous sweating due to Qi deficiency*
– Night sweats and hot flashes due to Yin deficiency*
– Postpartum deficiency sweats
– Bed wetting in children
– Emotional instabilities
– Palpitations
– Irritability
Recipe
1/2 litre of cold water
2 tbsp of germinated wheat berries (Fu Xiao Mai)
Simmer 30 minutes, remove the wheat grains and drink over the day preferably lukewarm.
Attention: Don’t drink with gluten intolerance.
Tip: It is important to drink the tea for several weeks if the symptoms have been present for some time. It takes time to rebuild the yin of the heart, liver and kidneys, but after some time you will feel calmer and more grounded, less prone to sweating and have a deeper and more restful sleep.
When to avoid wheat berry tea
As wheat berries have a very cooling effect, you should only drink it in combination with liquorice and red dates when suffering from:
– Yang deficiency*
– Dampness*
– Diarrhoea
– Sensitivity to cold
Herbal tea mixture
The Chinese herbal mixture of wheat berries combined with liquorice root and red dates harmonizes the center and supports digestion, strengthens the heart and soothes the mind. In addition, it helps to ease tension and stress, melancholy, worry and hyperactivity. It helps exhausted women after a tiring birth and calms babies who cry frequently at night.
Recipe
1 litre of cold water
2 tbsp of germinated wheat berries (Fu Xiao Mai)
5 pieces of liquorice root (Gan Cao)
2 red dates (Da Zao)
Simmer the wheat berries for 50 minutes and add the liquorice and red dates for another 10 minutes. Then remove the herbs and drink over the day preferably lukewarm.
You can find these Chinese herbs online and in Chinese herbal stores. Some I can recommend are:
France: Calebasse
Germany: Zietenapotheke
Netherlands – shop that ships all over Europe: Shenzhou
If you are suffering from sleeping disorders and heart palpitations, take a look at my article:
Sleep Problems & Heart Palpitations – How a Change in Diet and Chinese Medicine can help
*Yin deficiency symptoms:
– Dry throat and/or mouth, esp. at night
– Dry eyes and skin
– Night sweats, hot flashes
– Tinnitus
– Dizziness, vertigo
– Insomnia
– Tongue: no coating, colour red
*Blood deficiency symptoms:
– Dull or pale complexion
– Extreme fatigue
– Headaches, migraines
– Feels easily hurt and stressed
– Brittle nails
– Poor memory and difficulty focusing
– Feeling of disembodiment
– Infertility
– Depression
*Yang deficiency symptoms:
– Slow metabolism
– Cold body and limbs
– Low motivation and assertiveness
– Clamminess of the skin
– Shortness of breath
– No desire to talk
– Water retention possible
*Dampness symptoms:
– Water retention
– Cellulite
– Overweight
– Heavy head
– Cloudy head
– Feels sleepy and sluggish
– Poor digestion
– Cravings for sweets
– Acne, eczema, psoriasis
– Dull headache
– Yellow eyes and skin
– Plenty of vaginal discharge
References
Maciocia, Giovanni. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press, Inc. 2009. Print.
„Das 5-Elemente-Kochbuch von Barbara Temelie und Beatrice Trebuth“ (Joy-Verlag)
How would it feel to free yourself from your symptoms? Ready to change and invest time and energy to get to the root of your problem? Then book your session now. I am looking forward to meeting you.
