A healthy spleen and stomach lead to fewer illnesses; a good spleen and stomach can be nurtured through dietary therapy.Natural products are the best “tonics” for the spleen and stomach. Herbs, vegetables, fruits, and other natural foods, regardless of their value, can all benefit the spleen and stomach. By skillfully using readily available materials in daily life, one can become their own “nurturer”.
Medical Guidance: Professor Lu Chuanjian, a prominent young and middle-aged expert in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) recognized by the National Health and Family Planning Commission, and the academic leader of the Lingnan School of Soil Supplementation at Guangdong Provincial Hospital of TCM.
The “Book of the Later Han – Biography of Ma Yuan” records, “Initially, Yuan was in Jiao (阝止), often consuming coix seeds, which helped him lighten his body and reduce desires, thus overcoming miasma. The coix seeds from the south are large, and Yuan intended to use them as seeds, so he transported them back in a cart…” This recounts the story of Eastern Han general Ma Yuan using coix seeds to lighten his body during his campaigns in Jiao (阝止). Miasma is a type of damp evil, which causes heaviness in the body. Coix seeds can eliminate damp evil, preventing the body from feeling heavy, hence the saying that coix seeds can “lighten the body”.
Herbal
Effects
Coix seeds are excellent for eliminating dampness, especially in the Lingnan region, where the soil is low and damp heat is prevalent year-round. Regular consumption of coix seeds can achieve the effects of transforming dampness and awakening the spleen. Coix seeds, also known as Yiyiren (Coix Seed), have a sweet, bland, and cool nature, and they enter the spleen, stomach, and lung meridians. They have functions of promoting urination and leaching out dampness, strengthening the spleen and stopping diarrhea, clearing heat and expelling pus, and alleviating pain. The term “alleviating pain” refers to treating stubborn pain, primarily due to damp evil stagnating in the body for a long time, leading to conditions such as lower back pain and joint pain. Coix seeds can be used raw or roasted; raw use is more cooling and mainly used for heat conditions, such as treating pus formation and damp heat pain; roasted use is more neutral and can be used for leaching dampness and stopping diarrhea.
The effects of coix seeds on skin diseases should not be underestimated. For common warts, known colloquially as “moles,” taking coix seed powder can eliminate them. Additionally, it is very effective for rough skin, bumps, and cracks. Therefore, for dermatologists, coix seeds are a commonly used herb. Furthermore, modern research has shown that coix seed extracts have anti-cancer properties and can be used as an adjunct treatment for gastric cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, intestinal cancer, bladder cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and various malignant tumors.
Detailed
Analysis
of
This
Herb
According to the “Compendium of Materia Medica,” “Coix seeds belong to the earth, and are a Yangming herb, thus they can strengthen the spleen and benefit the stomach. If there is deficiency, it supplements its mother, hence it is used for lung atrophy and lung abscess.” In TCM’s five elements, the spleen and stomach belong to earth, while the lungs belong to metal. Earth generates metal; if the lung metal is damaged, it can be treated by supplementing earth. The saying “if there is deficiency, supplement its mother” indicates that coix seeds can address both the earth and metal organs. The classic TCM text “Jin Kui Yao Lue” records the use of the “Thousand Gold” reed stem decoction to treat patients with foul-smelling thick phlegm, red throat, and even high fever, where coix seeds are one of the main herbs in the “Thousand Gold” reed stem decoction.
Utilizing
This
Herb
Coix Seed and Cherry Soup
Ingredients:80g coix seeds, 100g cherries, 30g rock sugar.
Method:Wash the coix seeds thoroughly; remove the stems from the cherries and wash them clean; crush the rock sugar into small pieces; place the coix seeds and cherries in a stewing pot, add 600ml of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer on low heat, adding the crushed rock sugar to complete. This is suitable for conditions such as rheumatism, muscle spasms, and pain, as cherries also have the effect of dispelling wind-dampness and treating damp bi, thus enhancing the efficacy of coix seeds. However, those with spleen deficiency and weak qi should avoid it.
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Expert Introduction
Lu Chuanjian
Professor, Chief Physician, Doctoral Supervisor. A disciple of Master Xuan Guowei, a national TCM master, and one of the first batch of inheritors of the academic experience of renowned TCM experts. He is a national-level talent training object of the “Thousand Hundred Ten” project in Guangdong Province, the academic leader of the Lingnan School of Soil Supplementation at Guangdong Provincial Hospital of TCM, and the head of the clinical and basic research innovation team for psoriasis. Currently, he serves as the Vice Dean of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of TCM, Guangdong Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. He also holds various positions including Chairman of the Immunology Branch of the Chinese Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Vice Chairman of the TCM Immunology Professional Committee of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, Member of the Psoriasis Committee of the Dermatology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, Deputy Leader of the Psoriasis Group of the Dermatology and Venereology Branch of the Guangdong Medical Association, Chairman of the Standardization Technical Committee of TCM in Guangdong Province, Chairman of the Standardization Professional Committee of the Guangdong Provincial TCM Association, and Chairman of the Standardization Professional Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Association of Integrative Medicine.
He has hosted and completed numerous national and provincial-level projects; edited and published 20 monographs (6 in English); published over 150 academic papers as the first author and corresponding author (over 60 included in SCI); obtained 9 national invention patents and software copyrights, 1 clinical approval for a new TCM drug, successfully transferred 2 new TCM drug developments, and received 12 provincial and ministerial teaching and research achievement awards. He has been honored with titles such as “Outstanding Young and Middle-aged Expert in Health and Family Planning”, “National Excellent Scientific Worker”, “First National Outstanding Female TCM Physician”, “Five Continents Women’s Science and Technology Award” from the Chinese Women Physicians Association, “Top Ten Innovative Women of Nanyue”, and “Model of the March 8th Red Banner Hand” in Guangdong Province.
Source: Lingnan School of Soil Supplementation, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of TCM
Images sourced from the internet
Editor: Cha Guanlin Chief Editor: Song Liping
