Coix Seed YiRen: A Nutritious Chinese Herb for Spleen Health and Dampness Relief

Chinese Herb Yi Yi Ren, commonly known as Coix Seed or Job’s Tears (Coix lachryma-jobi), is a versatile herb and food from the Poaceae family, celebrated in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for centuries.

Documented in the ancient Shennong Bencao Jing as a top-grade remedy, it was praised for its sweet, slightly cold nature and ability to treat muscle spasms, joint pain, rheumatism, and edema. The text notes, “Long-term use can lighten the body and replenish Qi,” highlighting its role in promoting vitality and overall wellness. Today, Yi Yi Ren is cherished for strengthening the spleen, removing dampness, relieving pain, and supporting digestion.

Yi Yi Ren

Characteristics of Chinese Herb Coix Seed or Yi Ren

Yi Yi Ren is the mature seed kernel of a perennial herb grown primarily in Fujian, Hebei, and Zhejiang, China. The seeds are broadly ovate or oblong, 4–8 mm long and 3–6 mm wide, with a smooth, milky-white surface.

One end is blunt and rounded, while the other is wider with a slight concave groove and a light brown seed capsule. The texture is firm, the cross-section is powdery white, and the flavor is mildly sweet with a subtle aroma.

Yi Yi Ren

Types of Yi Yi Ren

• White Coix Seed: Larger grains with the bran removed, resulting in a smoother texture.

• Red (Rough) Coix Seed: Smaller grains with the brown bran intact, richer in dietary fiber, vitamin E, potassium, and phosphorus.

• Raw Coix Seed: Cold in nature, grayish-white, with strong diuretic and dampness-clearing effects.

• Cooked Coix Seed: Fried to reduce coldness, off-white, milder, and better for spleen support and diarrhea relief.

• Barley: Often confused with coix seed, barley is a cooling food, husk-free, grayish-yellow, and fiber-rich, aiding digestion but lacking medicinal potency.

Yi Yi Ren

Benefits and Indications

Yi Yi Ren is sweet, light, and slightly cold, acting on the spleen, stomach, and lung meridians. Its primary effects include:

• Strengthening the Spleen and Stopping Diarrhea: Supports digestion and alleviates diarrhea caused by spleen deficiency and excess dampness, especially when stir-fried.

• Removing Dampness: Promotes diuresis to treat edema, beriberi, and urinary difficulties.

• Relieving Joint Pain and Stiffness: Eases rheumatism, muscle spasms, and arthralgia caused by dampness.

• Clearing Heat and Expelling Pus: Addresses lung or intestinal inflammation.

Modern research confirms additional benefits, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, immune-boosting, blood sugar-lowering, and anti-tumor effects, making it a valuable herb for both health and prevention.

Coix Seed Extract 5:1 Concentrated Granules

Buy Now

Modern Applications

Yi Yi Ren is packed with nutrients, including 14% protein, 5% fat, 79% carbohydrates, and essential amino acids like leucine and lysine. It contains dietary fiber, vitamin B1, vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus, supporting:

• Digestive Health: Fiber promotes intestinal motility and satiety, aiding digestion.

• Metabolism: Vitamin B1 supports energy metabolism.

• Skin Health: Vitamin E’s antioxidant properties reduce free radicals, promoting radiant skin.

• Physiological Balance: Minerals like magnesium support muscle and nerve function.

In clinical settings, Yi Yi Ren is used for conditions like edema, diarrhea, arthritis, and inflammatory disorders, with extracts showing promise in cancer support and immune regulation.

Yi Yi Ren Porridge

Culinary Uses of Yi Yi Ren

Yi Yi Ren’s dual role as a medicinal herb and food makes it a popular ingredient in TCM diet therapy. Its mild flavor and health benefits shine in various recipes:

• Yi Yi Ren Porridge: Combine coix seed with rice, seasoned with sugar or salt. This spleen-strengthening dish helps with dampness, indigestion, edema, and beriberi.

• Yi Yi Ren Soup: Pair with red beans, mung beans, lotus seeds, or lilies. Coix seed and red bean soup reduces swelling and detoxifies, ideal for summer. Coix seed and lotus seed soup calms the mind and stops diarrhea, aiding sleep and digestion.

• Yi Yi Ren Desserts: Make syrup by boiling coix seed with rock sugar for a cooling, spleen-nourishing treat. Coix seed jelly, blended with milk and sugar, offers a refreshing summer dessert.

• Yi Yi Ren Tea: Roast coix seed until slightly yellow, then brew with hot water. This tea clears dampness and heat, perfect for long-term use in cases of spleen deficiency or indigestion.

Precautions and Considerations

While Yi Yi Ren is highly beneficial, certain groups should use it cautiously:

• Obese Individuals and Diabetics: Coix seed is starchy, and added sugars in recipes like sweet soups may affect weight or blood sugar. Consume in moderation.

• Kidney Disease Patients: Rough coix seed is high in potassium and phosphorus, which can disrupt electrolyte balance in kidney patients. Limit intake and consult a doctor.

  
  

Conclusion

Yi Yi Ren, or Coix Seed, is a remarkable TCM treasure that bridges medicine and nutrition. Its ability to strengthen the spleen, remove dampness, relieve joint pain, and support digestion makes it a versatile remedy for modern health challenges.

Whether enjoyed in porridge, soup, or tea, Yi Yi Ren offers a delicious and effective way to promote wellness, from clearer skin to better digestion. With mindful use, this ancient herb continues to shine as a natural ally for health and vitality.

Chinese Name	薏苡仁
Chinese Pinyin	Yiyiren
English Name	Ma - yuen Jobstears Seed
Latin Pharmaceutical Name	Coicis Semen
Category	Fruits and seeds
Origin	The dried mature seed of Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen (Roman.) Stapf.(Poaceae)
Production Regions	Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Fujian, Hebei, Zhejiang.
Macroscopic Features	Wide oval or long elliptical shape, 4~8mm long, 3~6mm wide. Externally milky-white, smooth, occasionally has remnants of yellowish-brown seed coat. One end is blunt round; another end is relatively wide and slightly indented, with one pale brown spotted hilum. Back side is round and convex, front side has one relatively wide deep longitudinal groove. Firm texture, fractured surface is white and powdery. faint odor, slightly sweet taste. superior medicinal material is large, full, white, without broken seed coat.
Quality Requirements	Superior medicinal material is large, full, white, without broken seed coat.
Properties	Sweet, tasteless, slightly cold.
Functions	Fortifies the spleen, percolates dampness, eliminates impediment, relieves diarrhea. Apply to edema, beriberi, dysuria, damp arthralgia and contracture of tendons and vessels, diarrhea due to spleen deficiency.
Processed Form	Fried yi yi ren: Cleaned yi yi ren, fry in the pre-heat pot with slow fire, until externally slightly yellow and slightly raised up with aromatic smells, take out and cool. Bran-fried yi yi ren: fry brans with middle fire until produce smoke, add cleaned yiyiren, fry until externally yellow and slightly rose up, take out, remove the brans, and cool (every 100kg yiyiren need 15kg brans). Processed yiyiren has relatively neutral nature, but similar functions to unprocessed yiyiren, advanced in fortifying spleen and relieving diarrhea; but fried yiyiren has stronger effect of eliminating dampness, bran-fried yiyiren has relatively stronger effect of fortifying spleen. Often apply to diarrhea due to spleen deficiency, lack of food intake, abdominal swelling.