What is 粳米？
By mchern • Apr 12th, 2008 • Category: TheoryIt makes its appearance:
粳米 is often use with licorice to 和胃、养胃气. It appears in the following formulae (to name a few):
- 白虎汤
- 竹叶石膏汤
- 泻白散
粳米 is 大米？
Often, people say that 大米 (aka the rice we eat) is what 粳米 is. Fine.
No, it isn’t…
However, if we look at 白虎汤, it is used to treat excess heat damaging fluids（热盛伤津）. But 粳米 is used here to 养胃气. Yes, 大米 (rice) can do that, but it also is a diuretic, not exactly the best thing for the situation of fluid insufficiency.
粳米 is “旱地生长的稻子。” It is the same species as 水稻 (which is paddy field rice), but it’s not grown in the paddy but in arid land.
More differing opinions here.