Understanding Coix Seed (Yi Yi Ren)
Coix Seed
Coix seed, known as Yi Yi Ren (薏苡仁), is one of the traditional food resources in China. With the arrival of summer, the increase in humidity and temperature can lead to damp-heat in the body. When it comes to eliminating dampness, Yi Yi Ren is one of the most commonly used ingredients.
Other Names
Coix seed is also known as Yi Mi (薏米), Yi Ren (苡仁), Mi Ren (米仁), etc.
Properties
It is cool in nature, with a sweet and bland taste.
Meridians Entered
It enters the Spleen, Stomach, and Lung meridians.
Functions and Indications
Promotes urination and drains dampness, strengthens the Spleen, and stops diarrhea.
While it promotes urination and drains dampness, its effect is slightly less than that of Fu Ling (茯苓), and it is used less frequently compared to Fu Ling. It is indicated for edema, difficulty in urination, beriberi with swelling, and Spleen deficiency diarrhea. Due to its cold nature, it is more suitable for damp-heat conditions.
Expels Bi Syndrome
Yi Yi Ren is effective in expelling dampness from the muscles and bones, alleviating Bi syndrome and spasms. Therefore, it can be used for chronic Bi syndrome due to wind-dampness and muscle spasms.
Discharges Pus
Yi Yi Ren is cool in nature and can clear lung heat and discharge pus. It is commonly used to treat lung abscess with cough and purulent sputum, often combined with Yu Xing Cao (鱼腥草). It can also clear heat from the large intestine and treat intestinal abscesses, such as in the formula Yi Yi Fu Zi Bai Jiang Tang (薏苡附子败酱汤) from the Jin Gui Yao Lue (金匮要略).
Detoxifies and Resolves Masses
It is known to “break toxic swellings” (《药性赋》), and can be used for cancerous swellings.
Components: Contains carbohydrates, vitamin B1, amino acids, etc.
Applicable Population: This herb has effects of lowering blood sugar, relieving fever, calming, analgesic, and inhibiting cancer cell growth. Clinically, it is also used to treat gastrointestinal cancers, flat warts, and other diseases.
Distinction Between Raw and Fried Coix Seed
Coix seed is processed into two types: raw Yi Mi (生薏米) and fried Yi Yi Ren (炒薏苡仁). Each has its own emphasis among the many benefits. Let’s take a closer look at their differences.
Differences Between Raw and Fried Coix Seed
Raw Coix Seed: It is cooler in nature, excels in promoting urination and draining dampness, clearing heat and discharging pus, expelling Bi syndrome, and detoxifying. It is particularly suitable for conditions like beriberi with edema, difficulty in urination, damp Bi syndrome, intestinal abscess, lung abscess, and cancer. It is used for edema, but due to its weaker diuretic effect, it is more suitable for mild cases; clinically, it is primarily used raw, especially for Bi syndrome in the lower limbs caused by damp-heat.
Fried Coix Seed: This is made by stir-frying raw coix seed with bran. Fried Yi Yi Ren is neutral in nature and excels in strengthening the Spleen and stopping diarrhea, commonly used for diarrhea due to Spleen deficiency with dampness. Due to its milder effect, a larger dosage is recommended.
Ancient medical texts have numerous records on the dietary therapy of Yi Yi Ren, with common methods including decoction, wine decoction, and cooking rice. For home dietary therapy, it can be cooked with rice or porridge, soaked in hot water, or decocted as a tea.
Precautions
1. This herb is mild; it is advisable to take it frequently and for a long time. Caution is advised for those with Spleen deficiency without dampness, insufficient body fluids, or constipation.
2. Raw coix seed is hard in texture; it is better to crush it before use, and the soaking and cooking time should be sufficient.
3. This herb has a blood sugar-lowering effect; patients who frequently experience hypoglycemia should be cautious if taking it long-term.
4. This herb is slippery in nature; pregnant women should use it with caution.
5. Pay attention to the emphasis of raw and fried coix seed, and choose different varieties based on individual health conditions.
（Contributed by: Pharmacy Department, Wang Hui）
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