Job's tears, also known as coix seed or coix rice, is sweet and bland in taste, slightly cold in nature, and has the effects of strengthening the spleen, nourishing the lungs, clearing heat, and promoting diuresis. It is an excellent food therapy for patients with spleen deficiency. Modern research shows that the protein content in job's tears is much higher than that of rice and flour, and it also contains all eight essential amino acids for the human body, with a ratio close to the body's needs. In addition, job's tears is easy to digest and absorb, making it especially suitable for people with a weak spleen and stomach. If you often experience abdominal bloating and diarrhea, and notice a swollen tongue with teeth marks on the edges, and a greasy white or yellow tongue coating, you can eat job's tears.
There are many ways to eat job's tears, the most common being congee, such as job's tears and red bean congee, or job's tears and lotus leaf congee. The former is suitable for people with severe spleen deficiency and damp-heat, while the latter is suitable for people with high blood lipids. It should be noted that job's tears must be soaked for 3-4 hours before cooking, and the soaking water should be cooked together. Additionally, in winter, job's tears can be stir-fried and then steeped in water to drink, which can reduce its cool nature and enhance its spleen-strengthening effect.
In addition to strengthening the spleen and promoting diuresis, job's tears has many other health benefits. Coixenolide and linoleic acid in job's tears have excellent anti-tumor and immune-enhancing effects. Coixol in job's tears is a natural beauty product that nourishes the skin and reduces wrinkles. For those with deficiency in both the spleen and stomach, and who have many facial wrinkles and a dull complexion, job's tears can be cooked into congee with Chinese yam, jujubes, and millet.
Although job's tears is beneficial, it is not suitable for everyone. Patients with spermatorrhea or enuresis, and pregnant women should avoid consuming it.