In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Job's tears are considered sweet, bland, and cool in nature, and they target the spleen, stomach, and lung meridians. They are believed to promote urination to drain dampness, strengthen the spleen to expel impediment, and clear heat to discharge pus. Therefore, it's common for households in Guangdong to have Job's tears, using them to cook congee and soups to strengthen the spleen and drain dampness. Let's learn more about Job's tears!
How can you eat Job's tears to achieve the best dampness-removing effect?
Job's Tears and Pumpkin Congee
Pumpkin is also known for lowering blood sugar and quenching thirst, earning it the reputation of an "excellent product for lowering sugar and lipids." Job's tears have also been used since ancient times to treat symptoms of "xiao ke" (thirsting and wasting). The "Compendium of Materia Medica" states: "For xiao ke characterized by excessive drinking of water, eat Job's tears congee." Another prominent symptom of diabetes is that patients constantly feel thirsty and need to drink water, which is precisely the pathogenesis of the disease.
This is because the body's yin fluids are severely depleted. Many medications that remove dampness can also promote dryness, damaging the body's true yin. However, the "New Compilation of Materia Medica" says: "Job's tears are the best at promoting urination without damaging the body's true yin" and can nourish the spleen yin. In this way, the combination of Job's tears and pumpkin can both nourish yin and replenish qi, making it an ideal food for diabetic patients.
Job's tears not only bring health but also have skincare and beauty benefits. Regular consumption can make the skin glossy and delicate. The "Compendium of Materia Medica" mentions that Job's tears can "nourish the complexion, preserve youth, and make the body light and extend life." Why is that?
This is also attributed to its function of clearing heat and expelling dampness. Some people frequently get pimples, acne, and flat warts on their face. Although they appear on the surface, they are the result of internal damp-heat bursting out. For example, a diet that is too greasy and spicy can cause excessive stomach heat, while also leading to a weakened spleen that generates dampness. Pimples, acne, and other skin issues then become an eruption point for the pathogenic factors of damp-heat.
At this time, we have a simple method: use 50 grams of Job's tears to cook congee. After the congee is cooked, add 15 grams of sugar and consume it once a day. Alternatively, replacing the sugar with 15 grams of lily and cooking it with Job's tears also has good effects and is effective for acne, freckles, and eczema.