Semen Coicis Lachyrma-jobi Seeds of Job's Tears
Also known as Yi Ren, Yi Mi, Yi Ren Mi
Materia Medica Data
- Temperature
- Slightly Cold
- Nature & Flavour
- Sweet, Bland, Slightly Cold
- Channels Entered
- SP, LU, KI
- Latin (pharmaceutical)
- Semen Coicis Lachyrma-jobi
- Chinese
- 薏苡仁
- Tone Marks
- yì yĭ rén
- Also Known As
- Yi Ren, Yi Mi, Yi Ren Mi
Chinese Herb Actions
- Tonifies the Spleen, Resolves Dampness For dysuria, edema, leg qi, diarrhea, and damp febrile disorders due to Spleen deficiency leading to dampness.
- Clears Wind-Damp, Relieves Pain and Spasms For stiff joints, muscle spasm and tendon pain due to wind damp painful obstruction.
- Clears Heat and Expels Pus For lung and intestinal abscesses and postulated carbuncles due to heat. Also for any damp-heat disorder with a greasy tongue and digestion problem.
Chinese Herb Dosage
- 10-30 grams in decoction 12
- 9-30 grams in decoction 13
Chinese Herb Contraindications & Cautions
- None Noted
Chinese Herb Toxicity & Overdose
- None Noted
Herb-Drug Interactions
- None Noted
Western / Biomedical Research
Chinese Herb Clinical Studies & Research
Provided as research context — a summary of published biomedical study, not a therapeutic or medical claim.
- Many in-vivo and in-vitro studies indicate Yi Yi Ren is effective at inhibiting various types of cancer including pancreatic (1), lung (2, 3), and liver (4) cancer.
- 1. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2005 Jul; 20(7):1046-53.
Neutral lipid isolated from endosperm of Job's tears inhibits the growth of pancreatic cancer cells via apoptosis, G2/M arrest, and regulation of gene expression. - 2. J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Jun 4; 51(12):3656-60
Antiproliferative and chemopreventive effects of adlay seed on lung cancer in vitro and in vivo. - 3. J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Dec 3;51(25):7333-7.
Methanolic extract of adlay seed suppresses COX-2 expression of human lung cancer cells via inhibition of gene transcription. - 4. Zhonghua Gan Zang Bing Za Zhi. 2002 Dec;10(6):452-4.
Interventional therapy combining Seed of Job's-tears with lipiodol for hepatoma-bearing rats - 5. Planta Med. 1994 Aug;60(4):356-9.
Antitumor components isolated from the Chinese herbal medicine Coix lachryma-jobi. - 6. Biotherapy. 1992;5(3):201-3.
Chinese medicine, Coix seeds increase peripheral cytotoxic T and NK cells.
Chinese Herb Notes
- This herb is valued for its abilities to treat symptoms of Dampness while strengthening Spleen, much like Fu Ling. The main differences being Yi Yi Ren will clear heat and Fu Ling will calm the Heart.
Sources & References
Compiled and edited by Thomas Dehli, Founder & Editor, Sacred Lotus
The information here is referenced from numerous sources — teachers, practitioners, class notes from Five Branches University, the books below, and the published research literature, with citations given as resolvable PubMed identifiers. Where sources disagree, I have flagged the discrepancies directly. If facts couldn't be verified, I have left them out. How we source our content.
Reference information for students and practitioners — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner. Terms of use.
Chinese Herbs Books & References
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