- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- Tropical Asia; cultivated throughout East Asia
Asia · Food · № 645
Coix lacryma-jobi
Food · Asia
Job's tears (coix seed)
Coix lacryma-jobi
Traditionally attributed effects: nourishing grain that drives dampness from the body; for arthritis and rheumatism, diuretic, and to relieve a full chest and stomach ulcers.
Safety notes
Not in large amounts during pregnancy. Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Chinese materia medica: Not during pregnancy.
Preparation
Soaked seed in porridge (congee), soup and stew.
Use in traditions
Used throughout East Asia as a grain and medicine; resembles pearl barley, but is a different plant.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Chinese food therapy
Attributed effects
Drives dampness from the body, relieves arthritis, rheumatism and a full chest, is diuretic, soothes stomach ulcers and gives energy; suitable for young and old.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- sweet, bland, slightly cold
- Meridians
- spleen, stomach, kidney, lung, large intestine
Attributed effects
Yi yi ren regulates the fluid balance in oedema, difficult urination and heavy legs, strengthens the spleen in diarrhoea, drains pus in lung and intestinal abscesses, relieves stiff, inflamed joints from wind-damp and drains damp heat.
Preparation and amount
Traditional dosage: 9–30 g a day, usually in a decoction. Roasted, ground and cooked into porridge (possibly with unrefined sugar), or cooked with rice as a grain; also for warts.
Combinations
- With ma huang, apricot kernel and licorice for rheumatism
- With bai jiang cao, kudzu and tree peony bark for intestinal inflammation
- Roasted with bai zhu and fu ling for diarrhoea from spleen deficiency
Caution: Not during pregnancy.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- DecoctionPowder and kitchen