Yi Yi Ren | Semen Coicis | Job’s Tears Seed
Properties: sweet, bland, slightly cold
Channels entered: spleen, stomach, lung, kidney (large intestine)
Yi Yi Ren is found in the category of herbs that relieve dampness. It main actions include strengthening the spleen, resolving dampness, expelling wind-dampness, relieving pain, clearing heat, expelling pus and clearing damp-heat. This herb is part of the barely family, which is the grain associated to the earth element. The earth element is the spleen and stomach respectively.
This seed is found in both of our skin washes, for its ability to clear dampness whether it is presenting in wind-dampness and pus seen in skin condition such as weeping eczema or in a heat or damp-heat presentation as seen in what we call snake cluster sores which closely resemble genital herpes.
This herb has several active constituents that help the skin through topical application. Studies have isolated over 80 compounds in yi yi ren, some of which include fatty acids, esters, polysaccharides, triterpenes, alkaloids and steroids. (PMID: 36909176)
Key features of some of these compounds:
- Fatty acids, regulates the oil production, improve skin hydration, soothes irritated skin, calms inflammation.
- Polysaccharides, improves skin hydration, skin repair and renewal
- Triterpenes, speed up wound healing, reduces scarring, inhibit underlying inflammation and oxidative free radicals.
- Alkaloids, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory
This is a snapshot of some of the most important factors for the use of yi yi ren and its key role in supporting the healing process of many dermatological conditions.
References:
PMID: 36909176
PMID: 33178013
PMID: 25893368