【 A Brief History of Coix Seed 】
Legend has it that during the Eastern Han Dynasty, the protagonist of the story "General Ma's Body Wrapped in Horsehide" - General Ma Yuan, was appointed by Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty to launch an expedition to Jiaozhi, which is equivalent to parts of Guangdong, Guangxi, and the central and northern regions of Vietnam. When he first arrived in the south, he couldn't adapt to the weather and was not used to the food. Soon, he began to feel unwell, with symptoms of fatigue, loss of appetite, limb pain and numbness, especially swelling in the ankles of the lower limbs... Many of his soldiers also had similar symptoms, and some had even developed generalized edema! Ma Yuan was very anxious. He was sent by the emperor to pacify the border conflicts, but now his soldiers couldn't fight, which would lead to defeat without fighting! Ma Yuan urgently invited local famous doctors to consult, and their opinions were unanimous - it was caused by malaria and they had contracted beriberi! The prescribed medicine was only one ingredient - coix seed, boiled in water and consumed with the residue, taken regularly. Ma Yuan followed their advice, and soon the disease was brought under control, and the soldiers could go into battle again. The southern expedition also achieved the final victory. It can be said that coix seed contributed to Ma Yuan's triumph. However, after the victory of the southern expedition and Ma Yuan's return to the capital, he loaded a cart of coix seed to be planted in Luoyang. The aristocrats thought that the cart contained precious treasures, and out of jealousy, they accused Ma Yuan of embezzling. As a result, Ma Yuan's soul could not return to his hometown, and coix seed indirectly became a handle for his enemies. Thus, coix seed brought both fortune and misfortune!
【 A Coix Seed Encyclopedia 】
Coix seed is the mature seed of the gramineous plant Coix, also known as coix rice, coix seed, six-grain seed. It is slightly cold in nature when consumed raw, but can eliminate coldness and enhance the spleen-strengthening and dampness-removing effects when fried with bran. People have long recognized and utilized the efficacy of coix seed. As early as 2,000 years ago, it was clearly recorded in "Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica" that coix seed "relieves tendon pain, spasms, inability to flex or extend, wind-damp bi syndrome, and dyspnea. Long-term consumption can lighten the body and nourish qi." Zhang Zhongjing used coix seed, ephedra, almond, and licorice in the prescription "Ma Huang Xing Ren Yi Gan Cao Tang", as well as coix seed, aconite, and fermented soybean in the prescription "Yi Yi Fu Zi Bai Jiang San" to treat rheumatic pain, chest pain, and intestinal abscess. Modern Chinese medicine also commonly uses it to treat edema, beriberi, urinary retention, spleen deficiency diarrhea, dampness-bi syndrome, lung abscess, intestinal abscess, growths, and tumors.
Of particular note is the anti-cancer and anti-tumor effects of coix seed, especially for tumors in the digestive tract and uterus. Supporting righteousness while dispelling evil is a major principle in Chinese medicine and deeply guides the treatment of modern tumors. Coix seed can both support righteousness, as seen in its spleen-strengthening effects, "the spleen is strong in all seasons and not susceptible to evil," and dispel evil, as seen in its ability to remove dampness, detoxify, and dissolve masses. Therefore, coix seed is not only commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for treating cancer, but has also been developed into injections for certain lung and liver cancers.
Although coix seed is suitable for both medicinal and culinary use, and is neutral in nature, pregnant women should use it with caution. It should also be noted that coix seed is prone to mold and insect infestation, so it should be stored in a dry and cool place and consumed as soon as possible. If coix seed is found to have become moldy, it should be discarded decisively and not consumed again. Although coix seed has anti-cancer properties, moldy coix seed may have been contaminated with aflatoxin, which is one of the most potent known carcinogens. If consumed by mistake, coix seed can bring misfortune!
【 Coix Seed Recipes 】
Coix seed is rich in nutrients and can be prepared in various ways. It can be cooked into porridge, added to rice dishes, used in desserts, and added to chicken soup, pork bone soup, and pig's trotter soup. It has a sweet and fragrant taste and can prevent and treat diseases, making it popular among the people. Here is a simple, commonly used, and multi-purpose porridge recipe:
Coix Seed Porridge
Ingredients: 1kg of coix seed, ground into fine powder, stored in a sealed bottle in the refrigerator for freshness; glutinous rice;
Method: Take 100g of glutinous rice, wash it, and add 60g of coix seed powder. Add an appropriate amount of water and cook into a thick porridge. It can be eaten for breakfast or divided into morning and evening meals.
Comment: This porridge can be consumed long-term and has a wide range of effects. It can not only relieve the muscle and tendon spasms and pain caused by dampness-bi, but also treat flat warts and prevent and treat cancer. It can also be used as a daily spleen-strengthening and dampness-removing health porridge. However, coix seed is slightly cold in nature, so those with a cold and damp constitution should use it with caution.
