Coix Seed (Yi Ren) is the grain from a tall tropical plant
of the family Poaceae (grass) family called Job’s tears (Coix lacryma-jobi), coixseed,
tear grass, adlay, or adlai. The seeds
are usually oval-shaped or egg-shaped, with a milky white outer surface. Compare to other grain, the seed has a
slightly sweet taste. In China, coix
seed is used as both a common food and a remedial herb.
According to the “Mystic
Farmer’s Herbal Handbook,” coix seed “strengthens spleen and stomach, benefits lung
by clearing lung infection, treat windy cold, nourishes and replenishes skin, removes
wrinkles, promotes overall health and extends life span.” Chinese herbal medicine believes that
coix seed is capable of clearing systematic toxin. Therefore, the herb is used a diuretic to
treat edema and for treating conditions such as lung infection, gastrointestinal
diseases including diarrhea and abdominal bloating, arthritis, apendiciis, beriberi,
muscle pain, and skin conditions such as skin infection, acne, and pimples.
Because of its ability to clear systematic toxin, Chinese
has used coix seed as a “beauty food” or skinare food for centuries. Using regularly, the herb is believe to
smooth, refine, and tone the skin, shrink pore size, prevent and treat pimples,
prevent and treat dark spots resulted from over exposure from sun, old age, pregnancy
(hormonal imbalance induced dark spots), even skin tone, moisturize skin, and
prevent dry skin caused chapping and rough
skin.
Chemical composition wise, coix seed has a rich content of essential
fatty acids such as linoleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, cis-8-oc-tadecenoic acid,
hexanoic acid, nonanoic acid, octanoic aid, and ethylpalmitate, esters
such as coixenolide, ethylpalmitate, methyllinoleate, α-monoolein, ethyllinoleate, γ-nonalactone, steroids such as cis-、trans-feruloylstigmasterol, glycosides such as
coixan A, B, and C, and polysaccharides such as CA-1 and CA-2. In addition, coix seed contains about 13-14%
of protein and is rich in Vitamin B1, B12, and E.
Essential
fatty acids are responsible for the herb’s anti-inflammatory and antiviral
effects; steroids promotes hormonal balance; polysaccharides can strengthen immune
system and lower blood sugar; coix seed protein and Vitamin B1, B12, and E can
reduces wrinkle formation, smooth skin, and remove dark spots. In addition, the proteolytic enzymes in coix
seed can dissolve skin keratin layer and therefore soften and moisten the skin.
According
to modern pharmacological studies, coix seed affects cardiovascular system by
control breathing center in brain, and expand capillary blood vessel in lung; inhibits
tumor especially tumors in digestive system and lung; strengthens immune
systems and inhibits inflammation; lowers blood sugar level; inhibits smooth muscle
contraction, reduces smooth muscle spasm, and therefore promotes muscle
recovery; reduces fever and is analgesic; reduces blood calcium level and postpone
aging process; and reduces edema by function as a diuretic. It is also notices that coix seed powder
has UV absorption ability and therefore the coix seed powder can be used as a
sun block by adding into skincare products.
Have
I said enough good things about coix seed?
To have a healthy skin, make coix seed part of your diet. You can buy the grain in pretty much any
Asian market. In addition, here are some
recipes on how to incorporate coix seed into your skincare regim.
Coix
seed mask
Mix coix seed powder,
moon bean powder, and a little diluted honey (to increase the stickiness of the
paste) to make a soft and consistent paste. Spread the past over your face. Leave dry.
Then, rinse with warm water and end with a splash of cold water. This mask is effective in moisturizing and
even the skin tone. You can substitute
diluted honey with a plain yogurt or milk.
If the paste is not sticky enough, add a little egg yolk.
Coix seed Bai Zhi mask
Mix coix see powder, Bai Zhi powder (I discussed this herb in my last
post), and a little milk to make a soft and consistent paste. Add a little egg yolk and aloe vera gel to
increase the stickiness. Spread the past
over your face. Leave dry. Then, rinse with warm water and end with a
splash of cold water.
This mask is effective in remove dark spots, even skin tone, and clearing
the oily skin.
Coix seed powder sun block lotion
Keep a bottle of fine Coix seed powder in your bathroom. When putting on your daily moisturizer, mix a little coix seed power with the lotion in your palm. Use the mixture as a sun block. Only mix the two before the use. Don't mix the coix seed powder into your lotion and let the mixture sit for a long time. The lotion can go bad easily.
Thanks
for reading.
Connie
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