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Photo of Coix Seed

Coix Seed

薏苡仁 · Yì Yǐ Rén

Drains bloating and supports clear, smooth skin

Properties

CoolingCooling botanicalSweet

What it does

Coix seed eases the bloated, sluggish, water-logged feeling that comes from poor digestion. In TCM, it transforms dampness and supports the spleen, the system responsible for moving food and fluids through your body. It also clears heat, which makes it useful for skin issues like flat warts and acne. As food, coix is gentle enough for daily use, common in Asian breakfast porridges.

How to take it

Drink

Soak 30–60g coix seeds for 4 hours, then simmer with rice or pork bones for 1–2 hours. Eat 2–3 times per week. Pairs well with red bean for water-draining.

Try a coix and red bean porridge once a week to ease bloating

Safety

  • Very safe as food. Always cooked, never raw
  • Mildly diuretic. Drink plenty of water alongside
  • Skip during pregnancy due to its draining nature
  • May lower blood sugar. Monitor if you have diabetes
  • Talk to your doctor before starting medicinal use, especially if you take medication

Where it comes from

Coix (Job's tears) has been cultivated in East Asia for over 4,000 years. The hard, pearl-like grain gave rise to its English name. In TCM dietary therapy, it's one of the most-used everyday food-medicines, often paired with lotus seed and Chinese yam in the classic Si Shen porridge for digestion. Coix lacryma-jobi extract (kanglaite injection) is used as cancer adjuvant therapy in China.