Individual Herbs Notebook

薏苡仁 Yi Yi Ren

Pharmaceutical: Semen Coicis
Taxonomy: Coix lacryma-jobi

Other names: Job's Tears / Chinese Pearl Barley

Category: Herbs that Drain Dampness


Properties: Sweet, Bland, Slightly Cold

Meridans Entered:
Primary: Spleen, Stomach and Lung

Traditional Actions/Indications:
  1. Strengthens the Spleen and resolves Dampness
    Dampness Stagnation or Spleen Deficiency Dampness with diarrhoea, leg Qi, painful urinary dribbling
    Damp-Warmth (treats root and manifestations)
  2. Expels Wind-Dampness and relieves pain
    Wind-Damp Bi (increases joint mobility and decreases spasms in chronic cases) for stiffness of the muscles, severe arthralgia and joint immobility
  3. Clears Heat and expels pus
    Soft, pustulated carbuncles, Lung and Intestinal abscess
  4. Clears Damp-Heat
    Any Damp-Heat condition at any level with a greasy, white tongue coat and digestive problems
  5. Aids longevity
    Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, make the body light and boost the Qi. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in life cultivation practices (Yangsheng 養生). At ~70% carbohydrates (Zhu, 2017), and approximately 56.7% starch (Xu et al., 2026), of which 8.35% - 10.53% is naturally resistant starches (Yang et al., 2021), this would represent one notable exception to the idea of interpreting Bigu as a ketogenic diet. In moderate amounts, or if only the water was consumed as a herbal decoction (most of the starches remain in the seed), then it may have represented a means to feed the microbiome while avoiding a high carbohydrate diet for the practitioner.
    Its root is also suggested to expel the Three Worms.

Suggested Daily Dosage: 9-30g in decoction.

Notable Constituents: The main review of constituents is provided by Zhu (2017).

Notes:

Due to the high resistant starch component, this herb is not advisable as a food therapy to manage Dampness. While it is excellent to maintain a healthy microbiome, its resistant starch content can ferment in the gut creating gas and aggravating pre-existing inflammation. This is due to the difference in form and dose:

Form: in a decoction, only the water soluble components are extracted and the starches remain inside the seed;
Dose: The amount used in a decoction is usually a maximum of 30g per day, while a portion of grain in a meal in the region of 50g and up.

Appears in 33 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
Research Links & References: (click to display)
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