Coix Seed (Yiyiren) is the dried mature seed of the plant Coix lacryma-jobi, belonging to the Poaceae family. It is also known as Job’s tears and is a perennial herb. Both the Shennong Bencao Jing and Bencao Gangmu list it as a superior herb.
“Coix Seed, sweet in flavor and slightly cold in nature, is primarily used for muscle spasms and contractions, and is effective against wind-dampness, promotes urination, and alleviates qi stagnation.” Coix Seed is not only a medicinal herb but also a beneficial food therapy ingredient. It can promote diuresis and drain dampness, strengthen the spleen, and stop diarrhea. Modern pharmacological studies indicate that Coix Seed also has effects in preventing and treating hypertension, enhancing immunity, lowering blood sugar, and exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties.
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Benefits of Coix Seed
Coix Seed is cool in nature, sweet and bland in flavor, and enters the spleen, stomach, and lung meridians; it has the ability to promote diuresis and drain dampness, strengthen the spleen and stop diarrhea, eliminate dampness, expel pus, detoxify, and disperse masses; it is used for edema, beriberi, urinary difficulties, spleen deficiency diarrhea, dampness obstructing the channels, lung abscess, intestinal abscess, warts, and tumors.
Edema, Beriberi, Urinary Difficulties
This herb is bland and promotes diuresis while nourishing, thus it can reduce swelling and strengthen the spleen. It is commonly used for edema and abdominal distension due to spleen deficiency with dampness, and urinary difficulties, often combined with Fu Ling (Poria), Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes), and Huang Qi (Astragalus); for treating edema with shortness of breath, Jiyuan Duxing Fang suggests cooking it with the juice of Yuli Ren (Sour Jujube Seed). For beriberi with swelling, it can be used with Fang Ji (Stephania), Mu Guo (Papaya), and Cang Zhu (Atractylodes).
Spleen Deficiency Diarrhea
This herb can drain dampness from the spleen, strengthen the spleen, and stop diarrhea, especially suitable for diarrhea due to spleen deficiency with excess dampness. It is often combined with Ren Shen (Ginseng), Fu Ling (Poria), and Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes), such as in the Shen Ling Bai Zhu San (Formulas of the Bureau of Medicine).
Dampness Obstructing the Channels
This herb drains dampness and alleviates obstruction, relaxing the muscles and easing spasms. It is commonly used to treat dampness obstructing the channels causing muscle spasms and pain, often combined with Du Huo (Angelica Pubescens), Fang Feng (Siler), and Cang Zhu (Atractylodes). In cases of damp-heat atrophy syndrome, with numbness and swelling of the feet, it is often combined with Huang Bai (Phellodendron), Cang Zhu (Atractylodes), and Niu Xi (Achyranthes), such as in the Si Miao San (Reading of the Formulas).
This herb has a cool nature, can clear heat and drain dampness, and is used for early-stage damp-warmth or summer-dampness affecting the qi level, with symptoms of headache, chills, chest tightness, and heaviness in the body, often paired with Bitter Apricot Kernel (Ku Xing Ren), Bai Dou Kou (White Cardamom), and Hua Shi (Talc), such as in the San Ren Tang (Differentiation of Warm Diseases).
Lung Abscess, Intestinal Abscess
This herb clears heat from the lungs and intestines, expelling pus and resolving abscesses. It is used to treat lung abscess with chest pain and cough with purulent sputum, often combined with Wei Jing (Reed), Dong Gua Ren (Winter Melon Seed), and Tao Ren (Peach Kernel), such as in the Wei Jing Tang (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet). For intestinal abscess, it can be combined with Fu Zi (Aconite) and Bai Jiang Cao (Herba Patriniae), such as in the Yi Yi Fu Zi Bai Jiang San (Golden Cabinet Essentials).
Warts, Tumors
Coix Seed can detoxify and disperse masses. Clinically, it can also be used for warts and tumors.
Modern pharmacological studies show that decoctions, alcohol, and acetone extracts of Coix Seed have significant inhibitory effects on cancer cells. Coix Seed lactone has an inhibitory effect on the small intestine. Its fatty oil can lower serum calcium and blood sugar levels, and has antipyretic, sedative, analgesic, and immune-regulating effects.
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How to Consume Coix Seed
1. Coix Seed, Euryale Seed, and Yam Porridge
50g of Coix Seed, 30g of Euryale Seed, 150g of Yam, a small amount of Carrot, appropriate amount of Green Peas, and suitable amount of Rock Sugar.
Crush the Coix Seed and Euryale Seed into coarse powder and soak in water beforehand. Cut the Yam and Carrot into small cubes, blanch the Green Peas. Add Yam to boiling water, then add the soaked Coix Seed and Euryale powder, and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the Green Peas and cook for another 3-5 minutes. Sweeten with Rock Sugar to taste.
This porridge has the effects of strengthening the spleen, benefiting the stomach, aiding digestion, and nourishing the kidneys.
2. Kelp, Coix Seed, and Pork Rib Soup
500g of Pork Ribs, 30g of Dried Kelp, 50g of Coix Seed, appropriate amount of Winter Melon. 5 slices of Ginger, and suitable amount of Salt.
Blanch the Pork Ribs, soak and steam the Dried Kelp, cut the Winter Melon into large pieces, and rinse the Coix Seed. In a clay pot, add enough water, bring to a boil, skim off the foam, add Ginger slices and Coix Seed, and simmer for 1 hour. Add Winter Melon and Kelp, continue to simmer for another half hour, and season to taste.
This soup has the effect of clearing heat and expelling dampness, making it a good remedy for the summer heat.
3. Winter Melon, Coix Seed, and Duck Meat Soup
250g of Duck Meat, 150g of Winter Melon, 30g of Coix Seed. 15g of Cooking Wine, and suitable amount of Salt and Pepper.
Cut the Duck Meat into pieces, blanch, and rinse; peel and seed the Winter Melon, cut into pieces. In a pot, add Duck pieces and Coix Seed, add enough water, bring to a boil, skim off the foam, add Cooking Wine, reduce to low heat and simmer for 1 hour, then add Winter Melon pieces and Salt, continue to simmer for 20 minutes, and season with Pepper.
This soup has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, promoting diuresis, and expelling dampness.
Precautions
As Coix Seed is a diuretic and drains dampness, it is suitable for those with phlegm-dampness and damp-heat constitutions. Those with severe spleen and stomach deficiency and cold should avoid long-term use. Pregnant women and those with dry stools or constipation should avoid it; those with nocturnal emissions or frequent urination should not consume it.
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How to Select Coix Seed
💫 Choose shiny Coix Seeds: When purchasing Coix Seeds, check for shine; shiny, plump seeds indicate good maturity and high nutrition;
💫 Check the color of Coix Seeds: Coix Seeds are generally white or yellowish-white, with a uniform color and a slight powdery texture;
💫 Rub and smell the Coix Seeds: When selecting Coix Seeds, rub them in your hand; they should feel smooth and emit a pleasant rice aroma. If they have a strong synthetic fragrance, they may be artificially flavored;
💫 Taste the Coix Seeds: Good Coix Seeds should taste sweet (or slightly sweet) and have a light flavor;
Note: Some inferior, moldy Coix Seeds may contain aflatoxins, so be cautious.
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Reviewed by | Liu Wei
