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Zhao
Ztlong
Long
THE
STORY
OFYIYI
REN
The
herb
yi
yi
ren
is
also
known
as
"Jacob's tears"
or
adlay
seed.
These
are
the
seeds
of a plant
known scien-
tifically as
"Coix
lachrymal-jobi", of the
Poaceae (Grass)
family.
The
kernels
and roots are sweet, bland
cool
to
cold;
leaves
are
neutral.
Yi
yi
ren drains
dampness, tonifies the spleen, stops
dianhea,
tonifies
the
lungs, clears
damp
heat, clears heat and expels pus, wind
dampness and also benefits the skin;
it
is
also
moderately active for diabetes.
ln China
and Taiwan, yi
yi ren has been
found
to
be active for
certain
cancers.
ln the old days, yi yi ren was also used
as
Jood
that
was
cool
but
without known
toxic effecls then. lt could be cooked
with congee
or
noodles or for
wine
making
together with
rice.
The
story
goes with
an
ancient general
by the
name
of
Ma
Yuan
who,
in 47 AD,
went
to contain revolutions
in
the southern
border where there was a rich
growth
of yi
yi
ren
-
the seeds were plump and
fragrant and the soldiers felt stronger
after taking them for food; the seeds
also dispelled the damp air
of the
torest
there. On accomplishing his
mission,
General
Ma
brought a truck load
of
choice and shiny
yi
yi ren
back for
plan-
tation
purposes. However, he
was
accused of being corrupt
as
the load of
yi yi
ren was mistaken
lor
southern
precious gems.
Up
to
now,
the idiom of
"yi yi
shiny
pearl"
still holds
for
mistaken
identity.
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