| According to the “Compendium of Materia Medica”, Coix seed has the effects of strengthening muscles and bones, benefiting the spleen and stomach, reducing edema, dispelling wind-dampness, and clearing lung heat. It can be consumed by most people, especially those who are weak or have poor digestive function. The term “Western Coix” may be a man-made name; in available literature, it is referred to as Yi Yi Ren, Coix seed, five-grain rice, six-grain rice, rice kernel, and Hui Hui rice. It has a long cultivation history in China and is one of the ancient grains that are both medicinal and edible. |
What doctors say:
1. Efficacy and Functions: Strengthening the Spleen and Stomach, Skin Whitening, Dispelling Wind-Dampness
Coix seed (Yi Yi Ren) is the seed of the plant Coix lacryma-jobi, which belongs to the Poaceae family. It is cool in nature, sweet and bland in taste, and enters the spleen, lung, and kidney meridians. It has the effects of strengthening the spleen and stomach, whitening the skin, dispelling wind-dampness, and improving athlete’s foot.
1. Strengthening the Spleen and Stomach: Coix seed contains various vitamins and minerals, which promote metabolism and reduce the burden on the gastrointestinal tract. It can be used as a nourishing food for patients who are weak during or after illness. Regular consumption of Coix seed products is also effective for chronic enteritis and indigestion.
2. Skin Whitening: Coix seed contains a certain amount of vitamin E, making it a beauty food. Regular consumption can maintain the skin’s luster and delicacy, eliminate acne and pigmentation, improve skin tone, and has a certain alleviating effect on warts caused by viral infections.
3. Dispelling Wind-Dampness: Coix seed can promote the metabolism of blood and fluids in the body, has diuretic and edema-reducing effects, and can aid in bowel movements, thus helping to reduce weight.
4. Improving Athlete’s Foot: Coix seed is rich in vitamin B, which is very beneficial for improving beriberi.
2. Precautions
1. Suitable Population: Those with poor skin condition, sparse hair, or poor hair quality.
2. Contraindicated Population: Those with a cold and weak constitution, poor digestive function, or constipation.
3. Foods to Avoid: Soybeans, kelp, and cold-natured foods.
Coix seed contains a large amount of protein, while soybeans contain a major component of trypsin, which can effectively inhibit the absorption of protein and may reduce the nutritional value of Coix seed. Coix seed has a strong damp-dispelling function, and excessive consumption of kelp can also produce dampness. Consuming both together can severely reduce the nutritional components, and may lead to symptoms such as varicose veins or blood stasis. Coix seed is a cool food that has a certain cooling effect and is also not easily digestible. If consumed with other strongly cold foods, it may exacerbate internal coldness, easily leading to indigestion, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
4. Consumption Methods
Congee: Take an appropriate amount of Coix seed and glutinous rice, wash them, place them in a clay pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer on low heat for 30 minutes. Consuming it in moderation can help strengthen the spleen and dispel dampness.
Soup: Clean the Coix seed and cook it with dried tangerine peel and winter melon. You can also add an appropriate amount of ginger for flavor, which can help dispel dampness.
[Pharmacological Knowledge]
[Chinese Herbal Name] Coix seed (Yi Yi Ren)
[Alias] Coix seed, Coix, grass pearl, Hui Hui rice.
[English Name] Coicis Semen
[Medicinal Part] The mature seeds of the plant Coix lacryma-jobi L.var. ma-yuen (Roman.) Stapf.
[Distribution] Grows by rivers, streams, or in damp valleys, preferring warm and humid areas. It is produced in most parts of China, mainly in Fujian and Jiangsu provinces.
[Harvesting and Processing] Harvest the plants in autumn when the fruits are ripe, dry them, thresh the fruits, and then dry them again, removing the outer shell and seed coat.
[Pharmacological Research] Inhibits skeletal muscle contraction; stimulates the respiratory center at low doses and inhibits it at high doses; lowers blood sugar; promotes ovulation; inhibits trypsin, etc. It is generally believed that a certain proportion of saturated fatty acids in Coix seed plays a major role in anti-cancer effects. Pharmacological experiments have also proven that this product has effects such as inhibiting skeletal muscle contraction, antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and enhancing immune function; it can also mildly lower blood sugar.
—– Efficacy and Compatibility —–
[Nature and Taste] Cool in nature, sweet and bland in taste. Enters the spleen, stomach, and lung meridians.
[Efficacy and Functions] Strengthens the spleen, dispels dampness, alleviates pain and diarrhea, clears heat and drains pus. It belongs to the category of diuretic and damp-dispelling herbs.
[Clinical Applications] Dosage: 10-30 grams. Decoction for internal use; or in pills, powders, soaked in wine, cooked in congee, or made into soup. Used to treat water retention due to dampness, difficulty urinating, cloudy urine, edema from beriberi, diarrhea due to spleen deficiency, dampness obstructing the meridians, weakness or paralysis, lung abscess, cough with purulent phlegm, intestinal abscess, etc. Public account “Herbal Classroom”
[Usage Contraindications] This product is mild and should be taken in moderation over a long period. Caution is advised for those with spleen deficiency without dampness, dry constipation, and pregnant women.
[Compatible Formulas] For reference only
1. For sores in the nose: Use Coix seed and winter melon to decoct as tea. (“Ancient Effective Formulas”)
2. For breast lumps: 15 grams each of Xuan Hu Suo and Coix seed. Two cups of yellow wine, decoct to one cup. Take on an empty stomach; sweating indicates effectiveness. (“Great Achievements in Surgery” Breast Lump Formula)
3. For papular urticaria: 50 grams of Coix seed, 50 grams of red adzuki beans, 15 jujubes, and 30 grams of brown sugar. One dose daily, decoct in water, and take three doses as one course. [“Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine” 1986, 3 (1): 16 Coix Seed and Red Adzuki Bean Soup]
Difference Between Raw and Cooked Coix Seed
The difference between raw and cooked Coix seed mainly lies in the processing methods, nature, taste, and efficacy.
1. Processing Methods: Raw Coix seed comes from the mature seeds of the plant Coix lacryma-jobi and is used raw for medicinal purposes, while cooked Coix seed, also known as fried Coix seed, is made by frying raw Coix seed before use.
2. Nature and Taste: Raw Coix seed is slightly cold and has a sweet and bland taste, while fried Coix seed is warm and has a sweet and bland taste.
3. Efficacy: There are differences in treatment. Raw Coix seed mainly has the effects of promoting diuresis and dispelling dampness, clearing heat and draining pus, while fried Coix seed mainly has the effect of strengthening the spleen and stopping diarrhea. The diuretic effect of raw Coix seed can be used for difficulty urinating, edema, and beriberi, and it is also effective for heat dampness. It can be used for lung abscess and intestinal abscess patients, often combined with peach kernel and winter melon seed. Fried Coix seed is good for treating spleen deficiency diarrhea and leukorrhea due to its excellent effect of strengthening the spleen and stopping diarrhea.
4. Dutch Coix, also known as Western Coix or pearl Coix, is a variety of Coix grown in the Netherlands, commonly found in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia). There is a product made from Dutch Coix called Malaysian Coix water, which has effects of dispelling summer heat, eliminating dampness, and beautifying the skin.
Precautions
Public account “Herbal Classroom” kindly reminds that consuming small amounts of Coix seed has no significant contraindications. Generally, individuals with a cold and weak constitution or those with yin deficiency should avoid consuming large amounts of Coix seed.
1. Cold and Weak Constitution: Coix seed is cool in nature. If individuals with a cold and weak constitution consume large amounts of Coix seed for a long time, it may exacerbate symptoms of spleen and stomach deficiency, leading to loose stools, abdominal distension, and abdominal pain.
2. Yin Deficiency: Since Coix seed has diuretic and swelling-reducing effects, it may deplete the body’s yin energy. For individuals with yin deficiency, consuming large amounts of Coix seed may increase urination frequency, leading to symptoms such as thirst, irritability, night sweats (excessive sweating during sleep that stops upon waking), and dry mouth.
If medication is needed, it is recommended to use it under the guidance of a physician to avoid adverse effects.
| ===== Previous Classics ========= The Efficacy and Contraindications of Peony Root The Efficacy and Functions of Kumquat The Efficacy and Contraindications of Bamboo Shavings The Efficacy and Contraindications of Purple Aster for Cough Relief The Efficacy and Contraindications of Sichuan Pepper The Efficacy and Functions of Wind-Resistant Herbs The Efficacy and Functions of Alisma Four Types of Medicinal Wine Passed Down from Ancient Times (Medicinal Wine Dynasty) Formula: Chai Hu Gui Zhi Decoction (Releasing Muscle and Dispelling Pathogenic Factors, Clearing Heat and Regulating Qi) Identifying Constitution by Can Label The Magical Secret Technique of Ancient Chinese Medicine – Zhu You Technique |
Note: Please do not self-medicate; follow medical advice.