YI YI REN
The Historical Legend of Yi Yi Ren
Yi Yi Ren, also known as Coix Seed, is one of the earliest grains consumed in ancient China. There is a myth associated with it and Da Yu (Great Yu). Da Yu’s father, Su, married a girl named Nu Xi, but after many years of marriage, Nu Xi had not given birth, causing great concern. One day, Nu Xi saw a plant in the mountains that she liked, so she picked it and ate a little. Later, she became pregnant and gave birth to Da Yu. The plant she ate was Yi Yi Ren.
There is also a historical anecdote about Yi Yi Ren:
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a general named Ma Yuan, known as the “General of Fubo”. Once, he led his troops to attack the south, but the soldiers fell ill due to the local environment, suffering from a condition where their legs swelled from dampness, known as “soft leg disease”, which is now referred to as beriberi. This illness spread through the army, affecting the soldiers’ combat effectiveness. Locals provided Yi Yi Ren for the soldiers to consume. Yi Yi Ren can dispel dampness, and once the dampness in their bodies was eliminated, the soldiers recovered. When Ma Yuan successfully returned from the south, he brought back a cart of Yi Yi Ren, but the cart was covered with cloth, and no one knew what was inside. Jealous individuals in the court, after Ma Yuan’s death, told Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu that Ma Yuan had actually brought back a cart of pearls, not Yi Yi Ren. Upon hearing this, the emperor was very displeased and ordered that Ma Yuan’s body could not be buried in the city but only outside. This anecdote has since led to the term “Ming Zhu Yi Yi Ban” to describe someone who has been wronged.
Yi Yi Ren (A Remedy for Dampness)
Yi Yi Ren has excellent health benefits. The classic TCM text, “Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic”, lists it as a superior herb, also known as the “King of Gramineae Plants” and “Grain of Life and Health”. “Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic” states that Yi Yi Ren can eliminate dampness from the body: “Yi Yi Ren is sweet and slightly cold. It is used for muscle spasms, stiffness that cannot bend or stretch, wind-dampness obstruction, and to relieve qi. Long-term use lightens the body and boosts qi.”
Why can Yi Yi Ren dispel dampness? First, let’s understand what dampness is. Dampness can be categorized into two types: external dampness and internal dampness. When the surrounding environment is humid, it affects our bodies, which is external dampness. External dampness has several characteristics: first, when invaded by external dampness, one often feels heavy all over, especially in the legs, which feel particularly heavy and fatigued; second, it is sticky. When external dampness enters the body, various secretions increase, such as a sticky feeling in the mouth, watery eyes, and a sticky tongue coating; third, it easily combines with other pathogenic factors, making diseases caused by dampness often difficult to treat.
What is the TCM approach to dispelling dampness? Generally, dampness as a disease traps our body’s righteous qi. Righteous qi is like the army of the body, which should advance but is blocked by dampness. TCM treatment for dampness does not involve fighting the enemy directly but rather removing the dampness from within, clearing the obstacles so that our own “army” can advance smoothly and ultimately rely on its strength to eliminate the enemy. The benefit of this approach is that when the “enemy” returns, the body still has the capacity to eliminate them.
Yi Yi Ren dispels dampness primarily by strengthening the spleen. TCM believes that the root cause of excessive dampness in many individuals lies in a weak spleen and stomach. The spleen governs transformation and transportation; on one hand, it transforms and transports the essence of food, and on the other hand, it regulates body fluids. A strong spleen allows for normal transformation and transportation of fluids; otherwise, fluids can stagnate in the body, leading to internal dampness. Therefore, while dispelling dampness, it is also essential to regulate the spleen and stomach. Once the functions of the spleen and stomach are restored, the transformation improves, and dampness is naturally dispelled more effectively. Otherwise, not only is it difficult to achieve the effect of dispelling dampness, but it can also worsen spleen and stomach damage, leading to a vicious cycle of dampness compounding dampness. If one wants to address both dampness and spleen health, Yi Yi Ren is an excellent choice. Regular consumption of Yi Yi Ren can help strengthen the immune system and eliminate pathogens.
Yi Yi Ren (Beneficial for Skin)
Yi Yi Ren is also widely used in dermatology. Some people develop small bumps on their faces, which do not change color but become raised; these are called flat warts. Flat warts usually appear in clusters and can grow into patches, affecting appearance. Flat warts are very stubborn and difficult to cure. Yi Yi Ren has been shown to have a therapeutic effect on flat warts.
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