INDIVIDUAL HERBS

Pharmaceutical Latin: Semen Coicis
Common English: Job’s Tears Seed
Coix Seed
False Pearly Barley
Adlay
Herbs That Relieve Dampness (Diuretics)
Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Sweet
Bland
Slightly Cold
(Cool)
Spleen
Stomach
Lung
Kidney
(Large Intestine)
9-30g
May use up to 60-90g
Tincture: 2-4ml
Actions Indications/Syndromes

Strengthens the Spleen and resolves Dampness

Dampness Stagnation

Spleen Deficiency Dampness with diarrhea, leg Qi, painful urinary dribbling

Damp-Warmth (treats root and manifestations)

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

Clears Heat and expels pus

Soft, pustulated carbuncles, Lung and Intestinal abscess

Clears Damp-Heat

Any Damp-Heat condition at any level with a greasy, white tongue coat and digestive problems

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Do not use for Deficiency with sinking tendencies.
  • Caution with long term use during pregnancy.
  • Use with caution for those with spermatorrhea and polyuria.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

Semen Benincasae
Dong Gua Zi

Exocarpium Benincasae
Dong Gua Pi
Sm. Phaseoli
Chi Xiao Dou
Talcum
Hua Shi
Caulis Akebiae
Mu Tong

Poria
Fu Ling
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu

Scanty urine and edema due Damp Obstruction.

Lung or Large Intestinal abscess that has formed pus. (large doses)

Dampness Obstructing the Channels with dark, scanty urine and fever.

Spleen Deficient diarrhea.

Fr. Chaenomelis
Mu Gua

Rice Congee

Hb. Ephedrae
Ma Huang
Sm. Armeniacae
Xing Ren
Rx. Glycyrrhizae
Gan Cao

Summerheat-Dampness with vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, painful, heavy legs, softened sinews, leg Qi, and Damp painful obstruction.

Powder and cook as a daily food for Damp predominant Bi  with swelling and hypertonicity.

Generalized body aches due to Wind-Dampness.

Cx. Moutan
Mu Dan Pi
Sm. Persicae
Tao Ren

Hb. Patriniae
Bai Jiang Cao

Sm. Benincasae
Dong Gua Ren
Hb. Patriniae
Bai Jiang Cao
Cx. Moutan
Mu Dan Pi

 

Sm. Trichosanthis
Gua Lou Ren
Sm. Persicae
Tao Ren

Intestinal abscess.

Intestinal abscess with a stronger effect.

Dampness with Blood Stasis causing Intestinal abscess. (early-stage)

Sm. Armeniacae
Xing Ren
Fr. Amomi Rotundi
Bai Dou Kou

Rz. Atractylodis
Cang Zhu
Cx. Phellodendri
Huang Bai
Rx. Achyranthis Bidentatae
Niu Xi

Poria
Fu Ling

Early-stage Damp-Warmth with Damp predominant.

Damp-Heat pouring downward leading to atrophy and weakness of the lower extremities.

Wei (atrophy) Syndrome with muscle weakness due to Damp-Heat.

Spleen Deficiency with Excess Dampness and edema.

Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu
Poria
Fu Ling
Sm. Lablab Album
Bai Bian Dou
Sm. Phaseoli
Chi Xiao Dou

Sm. Pruni
Yu Li Ren

Sm. Plantaginis
Che Qian Zi
Talcum
Hua Shi

Accumulation of Dampness with Spleen Deficiency.

Shortness of breath due to water accumulation.

Re (Heat) Lin.

Hb. Lygodii
Hai Jin Sha
Hb. Lysimachiae
Jin Qian Cao

Rx. Ginseng
Ren Shen
Rz. Atractylodes Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu
Rz. Dioscoreae
Shan Yao

Sm. Armeniacae
Xing Ren
Fr. Amomi
Bai Dou Kou
Cx. Magnoliae Officinalis
Hou Po

Shi (Stone) Lin.

Spleen and Stomach Deficiencies with loose stools and reduced appetite.

Damp febrile disorders with feelings of oppression, in the chest, lack of appetite and a thick, greasy tongue coat.

Hb. Ephedrae
Ma Huang
Ram. Cinnamomi
Gui Zhi
Rz. Atractylodes
Cang Zhu

Flos Lonicerae
Jin Yin Hua
Rx. Rehmanniae
Sheng Di Huang
Rx. Scrophulariae
Xuan Shen
Rx. Sanguisorbae
Di Yu
Rx. Scutellariae
Huang Qin
Rx. et Rz. Rhei
Da Huang
Cx. Moutan
Mu Dan Pi

Sm. Benincasae
Dong Gua Zi
Sm. Persicae
Tao Ren

Wind-Damp Bi.

Acute appendicitis.

Lung abscess.

Rz. Phragmitis
Lu Gen
Sm. Benincasae
Dong Gua Ren
Sm. Persicae
Tao Ren

Rx. Platycodi
Jie Geng
Rz. Bletillae
Bai Ji

 

Lung abscess with a stronger effect.

Suppurated Lung abscess with profuse, thick, bloody sputum.

 
  1. This herb mildly treats Spleen Deficient diarrhea, but Poria's Fu Ling’s tonic properties are stronger.
  2. This herb is very effective at reducing spasms and increasing the mobility of the joints in chronic cases.
  3. This herb may be used long-term.
  4. This herb is often use in formulas that treat Bi Syndrome, skin diseases and bloating.
  5. For Bi syndrome, use with rice as a porridge on a daily basis.
  6. This is a type of barley.
  7. This herb soothes numbness, nourishes the skin and treats plantar warts.
  8. This herb may inhibit ascites cancer and Yoshida's cancer.
  9. For Stomach and laryngeal cancer, Yoshida's sarcoma and malignant reticular cellular hyperplasia, decoct 30-60g with Semen Oryzae Geng Mi and drink all year round.
  10. One source says that this herb nourishes the Lungs.
  11. This herb treats cough due to pulmonary abscess, pathogenic Dryness and disorders of the thorax by decocting this herb with millet wine for oral administration. If there is Blood Stasis in the Lung, it will be vomited out immediately.
  12. Abscess during pregnancy can be treated by frequent ingestion of this herb in decoction.
  13. This herb expels Dampness but is not as drying as either type of Atractylodis, does not injure the Yin like Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin or Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian, and tonifies Qi, but does not increase Damp-Heat like Rx. Ginseng Ren Shen, or Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Bai Zhu.
  14. Dry-fried Coix Chao Yi Yi Ren is better able to strengthen the Spleen and harmonize the Middle. With bran, it is better able to stop diarrhea. Scorched enables it to reduce Food Stagnation and harmonize the Stomach.
  15. Raw and cooked Coix dispensed together Shen Shu Yi Yi Ren is used for diarrhea due to Spleen Deficiency with over-abundant Dampness.
  16. Coix Root Yi YI Ren Gen is bitter, sweet and cold. it clears Heat, resolves Dampness and is used for Damp-Heat urinary dysfunction, urinary stones, jaundice, leukorrhea, edema and Lung abscesses. It also expels parasites. it's dosage is 6-18g. It is contraindicated in pregnancy.
  17. Both Yi Yi Ren and Poria Fu Ling strengthen the Spleen and remove Dampness. Yi Yi Ren is cold and can clear Heat and is used for Lung or Intestinal abscesses and Lung atrophy. It also removes Dampness at the level of the bones, muscles and sinews. Fu Ling is neutral, strengthens the Heart and Spleen and calms the Spirit.
  18. Both Yi Yi Ren and Sm. Benincasae Dong Gua Zi clear Heat and expel pus. Yi Yi Ren excels at strengthening the Spleen and removing Dampness and is used for diarrhea, Bi Syndrome or edema due to Dampness. Dong Gua Zi, is slippery and facilitates movement in the Large Intestine. It is more appropriate if Damp-Heat has accumulated in the Large Intestine and led to constipation or irregular bowel movements with tenesmus.