Job’s Tears, also known as Coix seed, Coix lacryma-jobi, or Pearl barley, belongs to the grass family and can be found in most supermarkets. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) considers Job’s Tears to have a sweet, bland, and cool nature, with the effects of strengthening the spleen, nourishing the lungs, clearing heat, and promoting diuresis. It has been recorded in the “Shiliao Bencao” as effective for treating dampness and athlete’s foot.
There are many ways to consume Job’s Tears. It is commonly used in soups and porridge for dietary therapy. Below are several recipes for your selection.
1
Job’s Tears and Winter Melon Duck Soup
50 grams of raw and cooked Job’s Tears, 500 grams of winter melon, half a clean duck (about 1000 grams), a small piece of dried tangerine peel, 15 grams of old ginger, and appropriate amount of salt.
Remove impurities from the raw and cooked Job’s Tears and soak them in boiling water; scoop out the seeds from the winter melon, wash it with skin, and cut into large pieces; chop the duck into large pieces and blanch in boiling water; wash and slice the old ginger. In a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil, then add the duck pieces, winter melon, Job’s Tears, ginger slices, and dried tangerine peel. After boiling, skim off the foam, cover the pot, and simmer on low heat until the duck meat is tender. Season with salt to taste.
Effect: Expels dampness, strengthens the spleen, promotes diuresis, and relieves summer heat.
2
Job’s Tears Chicken Soup
1 young chicken (about 1500 grams), 100 grams of Job’s Tears, 25 grams of Codonopsis pilosula (Dang Shen), 15 grams of ginger slices, 1 green onion, and appropriate amounts of salt, monosodium glutamate, cooking wine, and pepper.
Slaughter the young chicken, remove feathers, and clean the internal organs; wash the Job’s Tears and Codonopsis pilosula. In a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil, then add the chicken. After boiling, skim off the foam, then add Job’s Tears, Codonopsis pilosula, ginger slices, and green onion. Simmer on low heat until the chicken is tender and falling off the bone, then season with salt, cooking wine, and pepper, and simmer briefly.
Effect: Warms and tonifies the spleen and kidneys, promotes qi and fluid metabolism.
3
Job’s Tears and Ginkgo Soup
75 grams of Job’s Tears, 8-12 pieces of shelled ginkgo nuts, and appropriate amount of sugar (or rock sugar).
In a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, then add the washed Job’s Tears and ginkgo nuts. Simmer on low heat until the Job’s Tears are soft, then add sugar (or rock sugar) and stir until dissolved before serving.
Effect: Strengthens the spleen, eliminates dampness, clears heat, and drains pus.
4
Job’s Tears, Lily, and Red Date Soup
50 grams of Job’s Tears, 1 fresh lily, 5 red dates, and appropriate amount of rock sugar.
Remove impurities from the Job’s Tears and wash them; peel and wash the lily, breaking it into small pieces; wash the red dates and cut them in half. In a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil, then add Job’s Tears. Once cooked, add red dates and lily, and simmer for 15 minutes. Add rock sugar and stir until dissolved.
Effect: Clears heat, detoxifies, moistens the lungs, stops cough, and beautifies the skin.
5
Job’s Tears and Lamb Soup
50 grams of Job’s Tears, 150 grams of lamb, 15 grams of ginger, and appropriate amounts of salt, cornstarch, monosodium glutamate, and cooking wine.
Wash the lamb and cut it into small pieces; peel and wash the ginger, then chop finely; wash the Job’s Tears. In a pot, add the minced lamb and an appropriate amount of cold water, then add cooking wine. When it is about to boil, skim off the foam, add Job’s Tears and ginger, and simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes. Thicken with cornstarch, season with salt and monosodium glutamate, and simmer briefly.
Effect: Tonifies the kidneys, strengthens yang, and nourishes the stomach.
6
Job’s Tears Wine
100 grams of Job’s Tears and 50 grams of rice wine.
Remove impurities from the Job’s Tears, roast them in a pot until cooked, then grind into a fine powder and place in a bottle. Pour in rice wine to soak. It can be consumed after one week, with a dosage of about 25 grams each time. Adding apple juice, lemon juice, or orange juice for mixing will enhance the effect.
Effect: Beautifies the skin and enhances complexion.
7
Job’s Tears Seven Ingredients Soup
50 grams of Job’s Tears, 25 grams each of mung beans, lotus seeds, lily, water chestnuts, and tremella (soaked), 1 fresh lotus leaf, and appropriate amounts of brown sugar (or rock sugar).
Remove impurities from the Job’s Tears and wash them; wash the mung beans and soak them in boiling water; soak the lotus seeds in boiling water until soft, then remove the heart; wash the lily and break it into small pieces; wash and peel the water chestnuts, then slice them; wash the tremella and tear it into small pieces; wash the lotus leaf. In a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, then add mung beans, lotus seeds, Job’s Tears, water chestnuts, lily, tremella, and lotus leaf, and simmer until cooked. Add sugar to taste.
Effect: Refreshing and sweet, tonifies the spleen, stops diarrhea, nourishes the heart, and calms the mind.
Supervised by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Organized by the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
Traditional Chinese Medicine Knowledge Health and Wellness Information
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Use the formulas and medicines under the guidance of a physician.
Author of this article:Zhen Niu
Editor of this article:Zhao Yang
