Yì Yǐ Rén · Coix Seed
Yì Yǐ Rén (薏苡仁, Coix Seed) is a herb of Cool nature and Sweet, BLAND flavor, in the “Dampness Draining” category. Tradition uses it to drain Dampness, Strengthen Spleen, Clear Heat.
Energetic profile
- Pinyin name
- Yì Yǐ Rén
- Characters
- 薏苡仁
- Botanical name
- Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen (Rom.Caill.) Stapf
- Family
- Poaceae
- Part used
- Seed
- Nature
- Cool
- Flavor
- Sweet, BLAND
- Meridians
- Lung, Spleen, Stomach
- Category
- Dampness Draining
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic
- Pregnancy
- Avoid
- Origin
- China, Southeast Asia
Actions according to tradition
- Drain Dampness
- Strengthen Spleen
- Clear Heat
- Expel Pus
Traditional uses
- Spleen deficiency with dampness causing diarrhea
- Edema and difficult urination
- Wind-damp arthritis and joint pain
- Lung abscess and appendicitis
- Skin conditions from damp-heat
Studied effects and current applications
- Gently drains dampness and promotes urination
- Strengthens spleen to improve digestion
- Clears heat and relieves diarrhea
- Expels pus and reduces swelling in abscesses
- Treats wind-damp Bi syndrome (joint pain)
Applications under investigation
- Arthritis and joint inflammation
- Urinary tract conditions
- Immune modulation
- Skin disorders (warts, acne)
- Anti-tumor adjunct therapy
An effect being investigated does not mean it has been proven in humans.
Contraindications and adverse effects
Absolute contraindications
- Pregnancy (large doses)
- Yin deficiency dry conditions without dampness
Relative contraindications
- First trimester pregnancy (avoid large medicinal doses)
- Pregnancy
- Large medicinal doses may stimulate uterine contraction. Small culinary amounts may be acceptable after first trimester.
- Breastfeeding
- Safe as food herb during breastfeeding.
- Children
- Excellent as food herb for children with damp patterns.
- Older adults
- Excellent for elderly with damp-related conditions and joint pain.
Possible adverse effects
- Rare: mild digestive upset
When to stop
- During pregnancy (medicinal doses)
- If dry conditions worsen
Interactions with medications
| Group | Drugs | Severity | Effect and recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemotherapy | Various, Paclitaxel | Mild | May have synergistic anti-tumor effects (research ongoing) Inform oncologist |
Reference dose
- Decoction
- 9-30 grams daily
- Powder
- 3-9 grams daily
- Culinary use
- 30-60g as porridge or soup
- Acute use
- 2-4 weeks
- Chronic use
- Months as food-herb
- Maximum
- Long-term as food is safe
- Children
- Safe for children. Excellent as food-herb porridge.
Forms of preparation
Simmer 9-30g in 4 cups water 45 min.
Edema, joint pain, damp-heat
Cook 30-60g with rice and water until soft. Eat as breakfast.
Spleen support, damp patterns, long-term use
Add to vegetable or bone broth soups, cook 1-2 hours.
Culinary use, family digestion support
Approximate doses from the literature; they are not a prescription. Consult a professional.
Active compounds
Polysaccharides (coixanes), coixenolide and fatty acids
Polyacetylene/aliphatic ester · Antitumor, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory
Tumor apoptosis induction, NK cell activation, angiogenesis inhibition · 0.5-1.5% in lipid extract
Hetrogeneous polysaccharides · Hypoglycemic, immunomodulatory
AMPK activation, B lymphocyte and macrophage stimulation · 5-20% in aqueous extract
fatty acids · General lipid components, coixenolide precursors
Integration into cell membranes, fluidity modulation · 3-8% in seed
Benzoxazolinone · Antipyretic, analgesic, muscle relaxant
GABA-A modulation, Na+ channel blocking · 0.05-0.2%
Harvesting and processing
- Harvest
- Autumn (September-October) when the grains are fully ripe
Grains harvested when they are fully ripe and hard. The ears are threshed to separate the grains, the outer shells are removed and they are dried in the sun.
Clean grains without outer shell, washed and dried in the sun. Standard form used in medicine.
Dry fried grains over medium heat until lightly golden and fragrant. Toasting reduces coldness and enhances the toning action of the Spleen.
Formulas it appears in
Health notice. Educational and study content. It describes concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Needling, medicinal herbs and invasive techniques must be applied by trained professionals. Safety guide.
