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This product is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine. Originally named Yi Yi Ren, it is classified as a superior herb in the “Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic”.
Alias: Yi Yi, Yi Mi, Yi Ren Mi, Gou Zi Mi
Source: The mature dried seeds of the annual herb Coix lacryma-jobi, mostly cultivated, with some wild varieties.
Production Areas: Historically produced mainly in Pucheng, Fujian, known as “Pu Mi Ren”; in Anguo, Hebei, and Fuping, known as “Qi Yi Mi”; in Liaoyang, Liaoning, and Zhuanghe, known as “Guan Mi Ren”; now cultivated in all provinces across the country.
Harvesting and Storage: In September-October, when the stems and leaves turn yellow and the fruits are brown, most are mature (about 85% mature). The plants are cut down and left standing for 3-4 days before threshing. The stems and leaves are screened out, dried in the sun or roasted, and the husks and seed coats are removed using shelling machinery.
Original Morphology: Coix is an annual or perennial herb, 1-1.5m tall. The fibrous roots are relatively thick, with a diameter of up to 3mm. The stem is erect, with about 10 nodes. The leaves are linear-lanceolate, up to 30cm long and 1.5-3cm wide, with rough edges and a thick midrib that is prominent on the back; the leaf sheath is smooth, with the upper part shorter than the internodes; the leaf tongue is hard, about 1mm long. The racemose inflorescence is axillary; the female spikelet is located at the lower part of the inflorescence, surrounded by a hard, bead-like husk, which is about the same length as the spikelet; the fertile spikelet has a membranous lower glume and a thick, blunt upper glume, with the second glume boat-shaped, enclosed within the first glume; the second outer glume is shorter than the first outer glume, and the inner glume is similar to the outer glume but smaller; there are 3 stamens, which are degenerated, and the pistil has a long style; the sterile spikelet degenerates into a tubular glume, with 2-3 male spikelets often occurring at the first node, and the first glume of the stalkless spikelet is flat, with both sides folded into a ridge with uneven wings; the second glume is boat-shaped, and both the inner and outer glumes are membranous; there are 3 stamens; the stalked spikelet is similar to the stalkless spikelet but less developed or more degenerated. The fruit is enclosed in a hard husk, oval or oval-shaped. The flowering period is from July to September, and the fruiting period is from September to October.
Identification of Properties: The seeds are oval to elliptical, with a slightly flat base and a blunt round tip. The surface is milky white and smooth. There is often a small amount of light brown seed coat remaining, with a concave base and a central point-like hilum. The side has a ventral groove, which is light brown (with residual seed coat). Cutting along the ventral groove reveals a large, white, powdery endosperm, with a narrow, light yellow, oily cotyledon, and a slender embryo located on one side of the ventral groove, with the upper end as the radicle and the lower end as the plumule. The transverse section of the seed is kidney-shaped, hard in texture, and sweet in taste. The best quality is characterized by large grains, white color, intact seeds, and no broken grains or powdery impurities.
Main Components: Contains fatty oil, coixenolide, sterols, amino acids, vitamin B1, and coix seed oil.
Effects and Functions: It can promote diuresis and drain dampness, help clear heat and discharge pus, and treat muscular rheumatism. Regarding the latter, modern medicine has confirmed that coix seed oil acts on frog muscle, effectively reducing muscle contractions, providing preliminary scientific evidence for the ancient experience that “Coix seed treats dampness and spasms.” This product can also strengthen the spleen and stop diarrhea, possibly related to its vitamin B1 content.
Pharmacological Effects:
1. Effects of Coix Seed Oil
Early reports indicated that coix seed oil extracted with petroleum ether has a stimulating effect on frog striated muscle and motor nerve endings at low concentrations, and a paralyzing effect at high concentrations. When injected into the thoracic lymph cavity or gastrocnemius muscle of frogs, it can reduce muscle contractions and shorten the fatigue curve. Using isolated frog neuromuscular specimens, it was proven that its action point is not at the nerve trunk but at the muscle part. Further studies indicated that coix seed oil or saturated fatty acids with carbon chain lengths of 10-18 can prevent or reduce the contraction of striated muscle (non-neuromuscular junction), while unsaturated fatty acids (such as oleic acid) do not have this effect. Coix seed oil (0.5g/kg subcutaneously injected into rabbits) and saturated fatty acids with carbon chain lengths greater than 12 can lower blood sugar, which can be antagonized by pyruvate, and serum calcium is also reduced. Saturated fatty acids with shorter carbon chains (such as capric acid) have no effect on blood sugar or blood calcium. Coix seed oil (mainly palmitic acid and its esters) has a stimulating effect on respiration at low doses and a paralyzing effect at high doses (centrally); it can significantly dilate pulmonary blood vessels. At low concentrations, it has a stimulating effect on isolated frog hearts and isolated rabbit intestines, while at high concentrations, it has an inhibitory effect; it generally has a stimulating effect on the uteri of rabbits and guinea pigs, and adrenaline can reverse its stimulating effect; it also has an anti-diuretic effect; at high doses, it can paralyze animals and stop respiration. Its lethal dose for mice (subcutaneously injected) is 5-10mg/kg, and for rabbits (intravenously injected) is 1-1.5g/kg.
2. Effects of Coixenolide
It has an inhibitory effect on striated muscle. It can inhibit the contraction response induced by electrical stimulation in frog neuromuscular specimens and the oxygen uptake and anaerobic glycolysis of rat diaphragm, and can inhibit the actin-myosin ATPase system’s response, with a relatively weak central inhibitory effect, manifested as a sedative effect on both rats and mice, and can antagonize caffeine. In the electroencephalogram of rabbits, there is an increase in amplitude and a decrease in frequency, indicating a functional inhibitory phenomenon on the central nervous system. In rat experiments (tail electrical stimulation method), it has an analgesic effect, with intensity similar to that of aminopyrine. It also has an antipyretic effect, with a good antipyretic effect against TTG (refined polysaccharide complex) induced fever, but little effect on fever caused by dinitrophenol. Additionally, it has a transient inhibitory effect on polysynaptic reflexes (cat peroneal nerve-gastrocnemius muscle specimen). It cannot reduce the lethal effects of strychnine or pentobarbital. Intravenous injection in rabbits can cause a transient drop in blood pressure, and subcutaneous injection can slightly lower blood sugar, with an inhibitory effect on isolated toad hearts and isolated rabbit intestines; it has no significant effect on rabbit ear blood vessels. Its toxicity is very low, with no abnormal changes observed in mice given 0.5g/kg orally for a month.
Reports indicate that coix seed has a growth-inhibiting and damaging effect on cancer cells.
Preparation: Stir-fried coix seeds: Take cleaned coix seeds and stir-fry in a pot over low heat until slightly yellow, then remove and cool. Alternatively, stir-fry with wheat bran (for every 100 jin of coix seeds, use 10 jin of wheat bran); according to “The Theory of Processing Herbs”: For every 1 liang of coix seeds, use glutinous rice. If boiled with salt water, it is a special preparation.
Taste and Properties: Sweet and bland.
Meridian Entry: Enters the spleen and lung meridians.
Functions: Strengthens the spleen, tonifies the lung, clears heat, and promotes diuresis.
Indications: Treats diarrhea, dampness obstruction, muscle spasms, difficulty in flexion and extension, edema, beriberi, lung atrophy, lung abscess, intestinal abscess, cloudy urination, and leukorrhea.
Clinical Applications: As an auxiliary medicine, used for diuresis, anti-inflammation, dampness removal, pain relief, and strengthening the spleen to stop diarrhea.
1. Used to treat mild edema, especially suitable for beriberi edema. For chronic nephritis with mild edema, coix seeds and Houttuynia cordata can be used for diuresis and swelling reduction, and according to the patient’s condition of spleen and kidney yang deficiency, additional tonifying herbs such as Eucommia ulmoides, Cuscuta chinensis, and Astragalus membranaceus can be added, such as in the Coix Seed and Eucommia Decoction.
2. Used to treat internal abscesses. For example, the reed stem decoction for lung abscess and the intestinal abscess formula, both use this product in combination.
3. Used to treat damp-heat obstruction pain (including rheumatic myositis and polyneuritis), can relieve muscle contraction pain, applicable for both heat and cold syndromes; for heat syndrome, combine with Uncaria rhynchophylla and Hedyotis diffusa; for cold syndrome, combine with Ephedra, such as in the Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Coix Seed, and Licorice Decoction; for heavy dampness, add Atractylodes macrocephala, such as in the Coix Seed Decoction.
4. Used to strengthen the spleen and stop diarrhea. Although the efficacy of coix seeds is not as strong as that of Dioscorea opposita, it can still improve appetite, aid digestion, and treat beriberi and spleen deficiency diarrhea. It is often used in spleen-strengthening formulas, such as Ren Shen Ling Bai Zhu San.
Additionally, this product can also treat skin flat warts. Use 50g, decoct in water, or use 100g to make porridge, taken for one month, showing certain effects. The treatment principle still needs further research.
Dosage: Internal use: decoction, 10-30g; or in pills, powders, soaked in wine, cooked in porridge, or made into soup.
Precautions: This product is mild, suitable for long-term use. Caution is advised for those with spleen deficiency without dampness, dry constipation, and pregnant women.
Storage: Store in a ventilated, dry place to prevent pests.
Example Formulas:
1. Coix Seed and Eucommia Decoction: Raw coix seeds 24g, Eucommia 12g, Poria 30g, Cuscuta 9g, Jin Guo Ji 18g, Astragalus 30g, Houttuynia 18g, Four-Leaf Ginseng 30g, decoct in water.
2. Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Coix Seed, and Licorice Decoction (from “Jin Kui Yao Lue”): Ephedra 4.5g, Apricot Kernel 6g, raw coix seeds 15g, Licorice 3g, decoct in water.
3. Coix Seed Decoction (from “Zhang’s Medical Communication”): Raw coix seeds 24g, Atractylodes 9g, Ephedra 6g, Cinnamon Twig 6g, Angelica 9g, White Peony 9g, Fresh Ginger 9g, Licorice 3g, decoct in water.
Compound Formulas:
1. For patients with body aches, fever, and severe symptoms in the afternoon, known as rheumatism, this condition is caused by sweating in the wind or prolonged exposure to cold: Ephedra (remove nodes) 15g (soaked in decoction), Licorice 30g (roasted), Coix seeds 15g, Apricot Kernel 10 pieces (peeled and roasted). Grind into a coarse powder, take 15g each time, boil with 1.5 cups of water until reduced to 1 cup, strain and take warm, with slight sweating to avoid wind. (from “Jin Kui Yao Lue” Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Coix Seed, and Licorice Decoction)
2. For rheumatic obstruction, limb weakness, and lumbar pain: Coix seeds 500g, Morus alba, Angelica sinensis, Sichuan Duhuo, and Atractylodes (soaked in rice wash and stir-fried) each 200g. Divide into 16 doses, decoct in water. (from “Guang Ji Fang”)
3. For chronic rheumatic obstruction, tonifying qi, promoting digestion, reducing edema, and eliminating evil qi from the chest, treating muscle spasms: Grind coix seeds into powder, cook with polished rice to make porridge, eat daily. (from “Gang Mu” Coix Seed Porridge)
4. To eliminate rheumatism, strengthen muscles and bones, and strengthen the spleen and stomach: Coix seed powder, brew with fermented rice, or brew in a bag to drink. (from “Gang Mu” Coix Seed Wine)
5. For edema and dyspnea: 120g of Prunus persica seeds. Grind, filter with water, and cook with coix seed rice, eat twice daily. (from “Du Xing Fang”)
6. For lung atrophy with purulent blood: 300g of coix seeds. Crush, boil with 3 liters of water, and take 1 liter, adding a little wine. (from “Mei Shi Ji Yan Fang”)
7. For lung abscess with cough and purulent sputum, and chest pain: Boil coix seeds in bitter wine until concentrated, take warm. If there is blood in the lungs, it should be expelled. (from “Fan Wang Fang”)
8. For lung abscess with hemoptysis: 300g of coix seeds. Mash, boil with 2 large cups of water, adding a little wine, divided into two doses. (from “Ji Sheng Fang”)
9. For intestinal abscess, with abdominal pain, pressing reveals a soft swelling, no accumulation in the abdomen, no fever, and rapid pulse, indicating pus in the intestines: 100g of coix seeds, 10g of Aconitum, and 5g of Patrinia. Grind the three ingredients into powder, take a spoonful with 2 liters of water, boil down to half, take warm, and urinate. (from “Jin Kui Yao Lue” Coix Seed, Aconitum, and Patrinia Powder)
10. For intestinal abscess: 500g of coix seeds, 150g of Paeonia lactiflora, 150g of Prunus persica, and 500g of melon seeds. Boil the four ingredients in 6 liters of water, taking 2 liters, divided into two doses. (from “Qian Jin Fang”)
11. For diabetes with excessive thirst: Cook coix seeds in porridge and drink, and also eat the porridge. (from “Gang Mu”)
12. For sand and stone heat dysuria, with unbearable pain: Use Yuzhu (seeds, leaves, and roots can all be used), boil in water and drink hot in summer, cold in winter, as needed. (from “Yang’s Experience Prescription”)
Note:
1. This product is mainly used raw, and stir-frying is only for strengthening the spleen.
2. This product has a mild effect, so the dosage should be larger.
3. Reports indicate that experimental studies have found that coix internal fat has an inhibitory effect on cancer cells. Clinically, coix seeds have been tried in combination with Hedyotis diffusa, scorpion, and licorice to treat breast cancer, but the efficacy still needs further observation. The anti-tumor effect of coix seed acetone extract has not yet been confirmed.
Various Discussions:
1. “Ben Cao Zheng”: Coix, sweet and bland in taste, slightly cool in nature, with a slightly descending and draining effect, thus it can remove dampness and promote diuresis. Due to its dampness-reducing properties, it can benefit the joints, eliminate beriberi, treat weakness and spasms due to dampness, relieve edema and pain, promote urination for heat dysuria, and also kill roundworms. Due to its slight descending nature, it can also treat cough with purulent sputum and promote digestion. Its cooling nature can clear heat, stop thirst, and relieve shortness of breath. However, its power is very mild, so it is suitable as an auxiliary herb.
2. “Yao Pin Hua Yi”: Coix, sweet in taste and harmonious in qi, clears turbidity, can strengthen the spleen yin, greatly benefits the stomach and intestines. It is indicated for spleen deficiency diarrhea, leading to edema, and rheumatism causing weakness in the limbs, unable to flex and extend. This is because excess dampness leads to soil failure, and when the soil is strong, qi recovers, leading to the resolution of edema and restoration of strength. It enters the lung, nourishing and transforming, used for upper jiao thirst, lung abscess, and intestinal abscess. It also has a thick and heavy taste, nourishing the lower jiao, used for beriberi, swelling pain, and intestinal bleeding. If there is prolonged hemoptysis and poor appetite, it can be used with a gentle and mild approach, and it will be effective.
3. “Ben Cao Shu”: Coix, removes dampness but is not as drying as Atractylodes, clears heat but is not as damaging to yin as Scutellaria and Coptis, benefits qi but is not as nourishing as Ginseng and Atractylodes, still has a damp-heat effect, truly a key herb for benefiting qi. However, its taste is bland, and its effect is mild; if not combined with other herbs, it may not achieve the desired effect.
4. “Ben Cao Xin Bian”: Coix is best for promoting diuresis without damaging true yin qi. For any dampness in the lower body, it is most suitable. Depending on the severity of the illness, the dosage of the medicine should be adjusted, ensuring that yin and yang are not harmed, and dampness diseases are easily resolved. Therefore, for any water-damp symptoms, using 1-2 liang of coix as the main herb, along with other herbs that strengthen the spleen and remove dampness, has never failed to yield quick results. If its mild taste and properties are underestimated and used lightly, it will be of no benefit.
5. “Ben Jing Shu Zheng”: Scholars say that it benefits qi, removes dampness, harmonizes the middle, and strengthens the spleen. Coix is somewhat similar to Atractylodes, but they do not realize the minute differences can lead to significant errors. In terms of qi, Atractylodes is warm while coix is slightly cold; in terms of taste, Atractylodes is sweet and pungent while coix is sweet and bland. Moreover, Atractylodes has a thick taste and qi, while coix has a thin taste and qi, which are completely different. This principle is evident in the “Jin Kui Yao Lue – Jingshi Xie Pian”, which states that for those with body aches and pain, accompanied by fever that worsens in the afternoon, this is known as rheumatism, caused by sweating in the wind or prolonged exposure to cold: it can be treated with Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Coix, and Licorice Decoction. Those with body aches are damp and cold; those with full body pain are damp and windy. Cold transforms from yin, while wind transforms from yang. Therefore, those with body aches belong to the Taiyang category; those with fever belong to the Yangming category. Taiyang conditions should be treated with sweating, while Yangming conditions should be treated with heat-clearing. Sweating is used to release the yang evil, while heat-clearing is used to suppress the yang evil. The use of Atractylodes and Cinnamon is for sweating, while coix is for clearing heat. However, since coix treats rheumatism and also addresses muscle spasms and rigidity, it is essential for conditions where rheumatism causes joint pain and inability to flex and extend. Why not use coix?
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