In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the Five Elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, corresponding to the five organs: Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lung, and Kidney, and the seasons: Spring, Summer, Late Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Late Summer refers to the period from the Summer Solstice to the End of Heat, during which heat and humidity prevail, leading to hot and rainy weather. Individuals with excessive dampness may experience symptoms such as a heavy head, fatigue, sore limbs, dry and bitter mouth, poor appetite, and are prone to diarrhea, edema, eczema, and arthritis. Additionally, the Spleen and Stomach belong to the Middle Jiao; overconsumption of cold and greasy foods, excessive alcohol intake, or unclean diets, along with emotional stress leading to Liver Qi stagnation affecting the Spleen, can impair Spleen and Stomach function. When the Spleen fails to transport and transform fluids, it results in internal dampness, which is prevalent among the population.
When discussing dampness elimination, one naturally thinks of a specific herb: Coix Seed (Yi Yi Ren).Coix Seed, also known as Job’s Tears, can be consumed as food, and it was widely used for both culinary and medicinal purposes after General Ma Yuan brought it from the southern region of Jiaozhi to the north during the Han Dynasty. Due to this event, Ma Yuan faced false accusations after losing power, with claims that he had brought pearls from Jiaozhi.It is classified as a superior herb in the Shennong Bencao Jing (Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica), which states:“Also known as Jie Li. Its taste is sweet and slightly cold. It grows in the plains. It treats muscle spasms and contractions, wind-dampness, and promotes urination. Long-term use benefits vitality and energy.”
Coix Seed has a sweet and bland taste with a cool nature, and it functions to strengthen the Spleen, drain dampness, relieve bi syndrome, and clear heat and pus. In terms of strengthening the Spleen and eliminating dampness, a formula called Wuxing Jianpi San is introduced, composed of five food-medicinal materials: Dioscorea (Shan Yao), Poria (Fu Ling), Coix Seed (Yi Yi Ren), Lotus Seed (Lian Zi), and Euryale Seed (Qian Shi), prepared in a 1:1 ratio, ground into powder, with a dosage of 3 to 5 tablespoons, taken 2 to 3 times daily with hot water. Alternatively, these five herbs can be used at 20 grams each, decocted in water.
Zhang Zhongjing in the Jinkui Yaolue (Essentials from the Golden Cabinet) used Coix Seed to treat various conditions such as wind-dampness bi pain, intestinal abscess, and lung abscess, setting a precedent for the use of Coix Seed in later generations. For treating wind-dampness, the Jinkui Yaolue states: “The patient experiences pain all over the body, fever, and worsening symptoms in the afternoon, known as wind-dampness. This condition arises from sweating in the wind or prolonged exposure to cold, and can be treated with Mahuang Xingren Yiyiren Gan Cao Tang.” For chest bi, it states: “For chest bi with urgency, use Yiyiren Fuzisao.” For intestinal abscess, it states: “In cases of intestinal abscess, the body feels tense, the abdominal skin is tight, and upon palpation, it feels soft like a swelling, with no accumulation in the abdomen, no fever, and a rapid pulse, indicating pus in the intestines; use Yiyiren Fuzisao Baijiao San.” The Yiyiren Fuzisao Baijiao San is an excellent formula for treating intestinal abscesses, especially effective for suppurative appendicitis, mass-type appendicitis, and chronic appendicitis. The Jinkui Yaolue also includes Qianjin Weijing Tang for treating lung abscess, using herbs such as reed stem, Coix Seed, peach kernel, and melon slices.
Additionally, formulas utilizing Coix Seed include Shenling Baizhu San for treating Spleen deficiency with excessive dampness and diarrhea, Yiyiren Tang for treating damp bi, and Simiao San for treating damp-heat downward transmission leading to atrophy syndrome. The Yiyiren Tang and Simiao San are commonly used for treating wind-damp arthritis, gout, and knee osteophytes due to excessive dampness.
Here, I would like to introduce a proven formula for treating gastrocnemius muscle cramps, taught to me by my teacher during my internship, which has been effective for nearly forty years. The formula includes 30 grams each of White Peony (Bai Shao), Papaya (Mu Guo), Coix Seed (Yi Yi Ren), and Achyranthes (Niu Xi). I often add 20 grams each of Stretching Muscle Grass (Shenjin Cao), Mulberry Parasitic Plant (Sang Jizhi), and Chicken Blood Vine (Ji Xue Teng) to enhance the efficacy.
Contributed by: Heze City Renowned TCM Expert Inheritance Studio Xiao Qinyun
Expert Introduction
▲Xiao Qinyun
Chief Physician of TCM, renowned TCM expert in Heze City, guiding teacher at the Heze City Renowned TCM Expert Inheritance Studio, Deputy Director of the Heze City TCM Emergency Quality Control Center, member of the Cardiovascular Branch of the Heze City TCM Association, member of the Emergency Medicine Committee of the Shandong Provincial Physician Association, and member of the Disaster Medicine and Emergency Rescue Physician Committee of the Shandong Provincial Physician Association. In 1989, he won third place in the first TCM knowledge competition in Heze City, in 2012, he received the second prize at the third Shandong Provincial Toxicology Society Young Outstanding Worker Award, and in 2019, he won second place in the Heze City TCM Classic Clinical Application Competition. He is skilled in combining TCM and Western medicine to treat common diseases and difficult syndromes, enjoying a high reputation in our county. He holds 4 national patents, 2 municipal science and technology progress awards, has authored 3 books, and published 16 academic papers in provincial and above professional journals.Consultation location: Second floor of the outpatient building at Chengwu Dongda TCM HospitalHeze City Renowned TCM Expert Inheritance Studio Consultation hours: All day on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday; mornings on Saturday and Sunday Contact number: 15764001088 