Coix Seed (Yi Yi Ren)
Source
The dried mature seeds of the plant Coix lacryma-jobi, belonging to the Poaceae family.
【Alias of the Herb】Coix grain, medicinal corn, Qi coix, coix pearl, Huihui rice, Bodhi pearl, urine pearl, Tian gu, Qi mu, jade pearl.
【Properties and Channels Entered】Sweet, bland in flavor; cool in nature. Enters the Spleen, Stomach, and Lung meridians.
【Functions and Indications】Promotes diuresis and resolves dampness, strengthens the Spleen and stops diarrhea, alleviates pain, expels pus, detoxifies and disperses masses. Used for edema, beriberi, urinary difficulty, Spleen deficiency diarrhea, dampness obstructing the channels, lung abscess, intestinal abscess; warts, cancerous tumors.
【Dosage】9–30g
【Identification of the Herb】This herb is broad oval or elongated oval in shape, measuring 4–8mm in length and 3–6mm in width. The surface is milky white and smooth, occasionally with remnants of yellowish-brown seed coats. One end is blunt and rounded, while the other end is wider and slightly concave, with a light brown dot-like hilum. The back is rounded and convex, and the belly has a wide and deep longitudinal groove. The texture is solid, with a white cross-section and a powdery consistency. It has a faint aroma and a slightly sweet taste.
【Dosage and Administration】4.5–9g. Note that raw consumption is toxic. Overconsumption of Ginkgo can lead to poisoning, resulting in abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, cyanosis, as well as coma and convulsions; severe cases can lead to respiratory paralysis and death.
【Related Combinations】1. From “Differentiation of Warm Diseases”: Coix seed, white cardamom, apricot kernel, bamboo leaf, Tongcao, talcum, pinellia, magnolia bark. Treats warm disease onset, headache, chills, body aches, white tongue without thirst, chest tightness without hunger, afternoon fever. 2. From “Formulas of Harmonizing Agents”: Combined with ginseng, poria, and white atractylodes, such as Shenling Baizhu San, which can drain Spleen dampness and strengthen the Spleen to stop diarrhea. 3. From “Qianjin Yaofang”: Used with reed stem, winter melon seeds, peach kernel, such as Wei Jing Tang, which can treat lung abscess with chest pain and cough with purulent phlegm.
【Ancient Text Records】1. From “Shennong’s Herbal Classic”: “Mainly treats muscle spasms, cannot bend or stretch, wind-damp obstruction, and qi deficiency.” 2. From “Bencao Gangmu”: “Eliminates evil qi from muscles and bones, benefits the intestines and stomach, reduces edema, and increases appetite.” 3. From “Bencao Gangmu”: “Strengthens the Spleen and benefits the Stomach, clears heat from the Lung, dispels wind and overcomes dampness. Cooked in rice, treats cold qi; decocted for drinking, facilitates urination and alleviates heat dysuria.”
【Dietary Therapy】
Beauty and Spot-Reducing Porridge
Coix seed boiled with water into porridge, consumed in a small bowl each morning and evening. This porridge can improve rough, dry, dark skin, making it smooth and delicate, and also has blood sugar and lipid-lowering effects. Daily consumption of 60 grams of coix seed porridge for 2-3 weeks can lead to a decrease in cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and blood sugar levels.
Coix Seed Acne-Reducing Porridge
Coix seed and Houttuynia cordata (or dandelion) fresh products, each 30 grams (or dried products 15 grams), with 800 milliliters of water. Wash the first two ingredients, place them in a pot, add water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer for 20 minutes. Filter the broth and drink in three portions daily. This porridge can clear heat, detoxify, and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties; drinking for three months can help dissipate acne pustules.
Two Seeds Swelling-Reducing Rice
Coix seed 150 grams, Yuli seed 20 grams. Boil Yuli seed to make a broth, then cook with coix seed to make rice. Consume once daily. This dish is used for edema and shortness of breath.
Coix Seed and Winter Melon Quail Soup
Coix seed 100 grams, winter melon 750 grams, 4 quails, a small amount of dried tangerine peel, and salt to taste. Peel and wash the winter melon, cut into pieces, wash the coix seed; clean the quails by removing feathers and entrails. Soak the dried tangerine peel until soft. First, boil the tangerine peel and quails for 30 minutes, then add winter melon and coix seed, and simmer for 1 hour, seasoning with salt. Regular consumption of this dish can aid in weight loss and is suitable for patients with nephritis and diabetes.
Coix Seed and Tremella Soup
Coix seed 150 grams, lotus seeds 25 grams, dried tremella 50 grams, and honey to taste. Soak the coix seed in warm water; soak the lotus seeds and tremella in cold water until fully hydrated. In a pot, add water, coix seed, and lotus seeds, and cook until soft, then add tremella and cook for another 20 minutes, sweetening with honey before serving. This soup nourishes Yin, moistens the Lung, and benefits the Stomach, suitable for flat warts, acne, freckles, and skin dryness.
