Yi Yi Ren, also known asMa - yuen Jobstears Seed, belongs to the genus Coix of the Poaceae family. Job's tears have a long history of medicinal use, and were recorded as early as in the "Shennong Bencao Jing". The book lists Yi Yi Ren as a top-grade product, saying that it is " sweet and slightly cold. It is used to treat muscle spasms, stiffness and inability to bend or stretch, rheumatism and arthralgia, and to lower the qi. Long-term use can lighten the body and replenish qi. Its roots can expel three kinds of insects. " This shows that Yi Yi Ren were considered to have a variety of medicinal values in ancient times, including the treatment of muscle spasms, rheumatism and arthralgia, edema and other symptoms.
Plant characteristics and variety differences of Yi Yi Ren
Yi Yi Ren is the mature fruit of the perennial herbaceous plant Coix lachryma-jobi, which is mainly produced in Fujian, Hebei, Zhejiang and other places. The seed kernel of Job's tears is broadly ovate or oblong, 4-8mm long and 3-6mm wide, with a milky white and smooth surface, occasionally with residual yellow-brown seed coat. One end is blunt and round, while the other end is wider and slightly concave, with a light brown dot-shaped seed capsule. The back is round and convex, and there is a wide and deep longitudinal groove on the ventral side. The texture is firm, the cross section is white and powdery, the smell is slight, and the taste is slightly sweet.
The types of coix seeds on the market mainly include coix seeds, barley seeds and rough coix seeds . White coix seeds have larger grains and their bran is removed during processing; red coix seeds, also known as rough coix seeds , have smaller grains and retain the brown bran, so they contain higher levels of dietary fiber, vitamin E, potassium, phosphorus and other nutrients than white coix seeds, and are very rich in nutritional value.
The difference between white coix seed and red coix seed: white coix seed has larger grains and its bran is removed during the processing; red coix seed, also known as rough coix seed, has smaller grains and retains the brown bran. Therefore, it contains higher levels of dietary fiber, vitamin E, potassium, phosphorus and other nutrients than white coix seed, and is very rich in nutritional value.
The difference between raw coix seed, cooked coix seed and foreign coix seed: Coix seed (the Chinese medicine name for coix seed) is divided into raw or cooked coix seed according to the processing method. Raw coix seed is not fried, while cooked coix seed will reduce its coldness after being fried.
Raw coix seed: cold in nature. The dried mature kernel of the grass plant coix. It is grayish white in color, round in shape, hard in texture, and has a wide and deep vertical groove. Efficacy: diuretic and dehumidifying, with a stronger dehumidifying power than other coix seeds.
Cooked coix seed: mild in nature. After being fried, cooked coix seed is larger than raw coix seed, off-white in color, and has a looser and lighter texture. Efficacy: tonifies the spleen and stops diarrhea, and has better spleen tonifying effect.
Barley: It is a cool food. It is barley with the husk removed. It looks like white rice and is grayish yellow. Effect: It is just food, but it is rich in fiber and helps intestinal peristalsis.
Indications and effects of coix seed
Coix seed is sweet, light, slightly cold, and enters the lung, stomach, and spleen meridians. Its main effects include strengthening the spleen and removing dampness, removing numbness and stopping diarrhea, clearing away heat and expelling pus, etc. Coix seed can be used to treat symptoms such as edema, beriberi, dysuria, dampness and stiffness, spleen deficiency diarrhea, etc. In addition, coix seed also has a variety of pharmacological effects such as improving immune function, analgesia and anti-inflammation, anti-thrombosis, lowering blood sugar, and anti-tumor.
The specific effects of Yi Yi Ren are as follows:
Diuretic and moistening : Job's tears can promote diuresis without hurting the Qi, and can directly reach the feet to treat beriberi and swelling.
Strengthen the spleen and stop diarrhea : For diarrhea caused by spleen deficiency and excessive dampness, the effect is better when stir-fried.
Stretching tendons and relieving arthralgia : Treats dampness-induced arthralgia, stiffness of tendons and veins, and chest pain.
Clearing away heat and expelling pus : Treating lung inflammation and intestinal inflammation.
Modern Applications of Yi Yi Ren
Modern medical research has confirmed that Yi Yi Ren has many health benefits. Coix seed contains about 14% protein, about 5% fat, and about 79% carbohydrates. Its amino acids are mainly leucine, lysine, arginine, tyrosine, etc. Lipids include triglycerides (about 64%), diglycerides (about 7%), monoglycerides (about 4%), sterol esters (about 9%), free fatty acids (about 18%) and volatile oils (about 60 kinds). It also contains glucan, acid polysaccharide, coix polysaccharide, phenolic acid, sterol, flavonoids, amides, triterpenes, alkaloids, adenosine, vitamins and trace elements.
Yi Yi Ren are rich in dietary fiber, vitamin B1, vitamin E, and minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus. They have significant effects on maintaining digestive tract function, promoting metabolism, beautifying the skin, and regulating physiological functions.
Maintain digestive tract function : Job's tears are rich in dietary fiber, which can promote intestinal motility and increase satiety.
Promote metabolism : Job's tears contain vitamin B1, which helps maintain normal energy metabolism.
Beauty and skin care : Job's tears contain vitamin E, which has antioxidant properties, can reduce the production of free radicals and help maintain skin health.
Regulate physiological functions : Job's tears contain minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Magnesium can help the normal function of muscles and nerves.
Dietary Application of Yi Yi Ren
Yi Yi Ren not only play an important role in the field of traditional Chinese medicine, but are also widely used in daily diet therapy. Because of its multiple functions such as strengthening the spleen and moistening the body, removing numbness and stopping diarrhea, clearing away heat and expelling pus, coix seeds are used to make a variety of diet therapy recipes to help people regulate their bodies and improve their health. The following are several common coix seeds diet therapy methods:
Yi Yi Ren porridge : Job's tears porridge is one of the simplest and most common methods of Job's tears dietary therapy. Cook Yi Yi Ren and rice together into porridge, and add appropriate amount of sugar or salt according to personal taste. Job's tears porridge has the effect of strengthening the spleen and penetrating moisture, and is suitable for people with spleen deficiency, dampness and indigestion. In addition, Yi Yi Ren porridge can also help improve symptoms such as edema and beriberi.
Yi Yi Ren soup : Coix seed soup is another common dietary therapy method, which can be paired with a variety of ingredients, such as red beans, mung beans, lotus seeds, lilies, etc. Coix seed and red bean soup is a classic combination, which has the effects of promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, clearing away heat and detoxifying. It is suitable for summer consumption and helps to remove moisture from the body. Coix seed and lotus seed soup has the effects of strengthening the spleen and stopping diarrhea, calming the nerves and promoting sleep, and is suitable for people with spleen deficiency diarrhea, insomnia and dreaminess.
Yi Yi Ren dessert : Yi Yi Ren can also be used to make various desserts, such as Job's tears syrup, Job's tears jelly, etc.Yi Yi Ren syrup is a simple and easy dessert to make. Yi Yi Ren and rock sugar are boiled together into syrup, which has the effects of clearing away heat and detoxifying, strengthening the spleen and moistening. Yi Yi Ren jelly is made by boiling Job's tears with milk and sugar, and then cooling it into a frozen state. It has a smooth texture and is suitable as a summer dessert to cool down.
Yi Yi Ren tea :Yi Yi Ren tea is made by frying the Job's tears until they are slightly yellow and then brewing them with hot water. It has the effects of strengthening the spleen and promoting dampness, clearing away heat and expelling pus.Yi Yi Ren tea is suitable for long-term drinking, especially for people with spleen deficiency, dampness and indigestion, and can effectively improve physical conditions.
Notes
Although coix seed is rich in nutrients, there are some precautions that need special attention:
Obese people and diabetics : Yi Yi Ren are rich in starch and belong to the whole grain category. They are often used as an ingredient in sweet soups. Refined sugar may be added during the cooking process. Excessive intake will affect body weight and blood sugar. Therefore, obese people and diabetics should be careful to avoid excessive intake.
Patients with kidney disease : Coix seed contains minerals such as potassium and phosphorus, especially rough coix seed, which has relatively high potassium and phosphorus content. Patients with kidney disease should not consume large amounts of rough coix seed or coix seed water to avoid electrolyte imbalances such as high blood potassium and high blood phosphorus.
Conclusion
As a common whole grain food, Yi Yi Ren coix seed is also used as a Chinese herbal medicine. It has rich nutritional value and many health benefits. From ancient times to the present, coix seed has played an important role in the field of traditional Chinese medicine. Its effects of strengthening the spleen and moistening, removing numbness and stopping diarrhea, clearing away heat and expelling pus make it a good medicine for treating many diseases. Modern medical research has also confirmed the various pharmacological effects of coix seed, making it widely used in daily diet and medical care. However, when eating coix seed, you also need to pay attention to its indications and contraindications to avoid unnecessary health risks.
