Adlay, Adlay Millet, Adlay Seed, Chinese Pearl Barley, Coix, Coïx, Coix Lachrymal, Coix Lachryma-jobi, Coix Lacryma, Coix lacryma-jobi, Coix ma-yuen, Coix Seed, Coix stenocarpa, Dehulled Adlay, Herbe aux Perles, Job's-tears, Lágrimas de Job, Larme-de-Job, Larme-du-Christ, Larmes de Job, Larmille, Hiob's Tränen-Gras, Hiobsträne, Jobinkyynelheinä, Jobs Tårar, Juzudama, Lagrimas de Job, Lágrimas de Job, Lagrimas de San Pedro, Soft-shelled Job's Tears, Yi Hato-mugi, Yi Yi, Yi Yi Ren.
Job's tears is a broad-leaved, branched grass. It is native to China, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. It is considered a nutritious health food in Asian countries. The seeds of Job's tears are tear-shaped and come in several colors including yellow, brown, white, and purple. The seeds are sometimes used as ornamental beads. The root and seed of the plant are sometimes used as a medicine.
People take Job's tears for hay fever, high cholesterol, cancer, warts, arthritis, obesity, and respiratory tract infections. It is also used to treat a disease called toxoplasmosis that is caused by a parasite.
How does it work?
Job's tears contains chemicals that might interfere with cancer cell growth. Other chemicals might also have antioxidant effects and might also decrease growth of bacteria and parasites. But most research on Job's tears is in animals and test tubes. There isn't enough information to know if Job's tears works the same way in people.
However, some research has been done in people. It suggests that fiber contained in Job's tears might decrease how much fat and cholesterol the body absorbs.
QUESTION
Next to red peppers, you can get the most vitamin C from ________________. See AnswerInsufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...
- High cholesterol. Developing research suggests that consuming Job's tears in place of rice for 4 weeks can significantly lower total and “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in people with high cholesterol. This effect may be due to the fiber in Job's tears.
- Allergies.
- Cancer.
- Warts.
- Toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection.
- Arthritis.
- Obesity.
- Respiratory tract infections.
- Other conditions.
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).
SLIDESHOW
Vitamin D Deficiency: How Much Vitamin D Is Enough? See SlideshowNo one knows whether if it is safe to use Job's tears during breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Surgery: Job's tears might lower blood sugar levels. There is some concern that it might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using Job's tears at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Job's tears might decrease blood sugar levels. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking Job's tears along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.
Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.
The appropriate dose of Job's tears depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for Job's tears. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Bao Y, Yuan Y, Xia L, et al. Neutral lipid isolated from endosperm of Job's tears inhibits the growth of pancreatic cancer cells via apoptosis, G2/M arrest, and regulation of gene expression. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2005;20:1046-53. View abstract.
Chang HC, Huang YC, Hung WC. Antiproliferative and chemopreventive effects of adlay seed on lung cancer in vitro and in vivo. J Agric Food Chem 2003;51:3656-60. View abstract.
Chiang W, Cheng C, Chiang M, Chung KT. Effects of dehulled adlay on the culture count of some microbiota and their metabolism in the gastrointestinal tract of rats. J Agric Food Chem 2000;48:829-32. View abstract.
Hsu HY, Lin BF, Lin JY, et al. Suppression of allergic reactions by dehulled adlay in association with the balance of TH1/TH2 cell responses. J Agric Food Chem 2003;51:3763-9. View abstract.
Huang BW, Chiang MT, Yao HT, Chiang W. The effect of adlay oil on plasma lipids, insulin and leptin in rat. Phytomedicine 2005;12:433-9. View abstract.
Hung WC, Chang HC. Methanolic extract of adlay seed suppresses COX-2 expression of human lung cancer cells via inhibition of gene transcription. J Agric Food Chem 2003;51:7333-7. View abstract.
Kim SO, Yun SJ, Jung B, et al. Hypolipidemic effects of crude extract of adlay seed (Coix lachrymajobi var. mayuen) in obesity rat fed high fat diet: relations of TNF-alpha and leptin mRNA expressions and serum lipid levels. Life Sci 2004;75:1391-404. View abstract.
Moreau RA, Singh V, Hicks KB. Comparison of oil and phytosterol levels in germplasm accessions of corn, teosinte, and Job's tears. J Agric Food Chem 2001;49:3793-5. View abstract.
Otsuka H, Hirai Y, Nagao T, Yamasaki K. Anti-inflammatory activity of benzoxazinoids from roots of Coix lachryma-jobi var. ma-yuen. J Nat Prod 1988;51:74-9. View abstract.
Shih CK, Chiang W, Kuo ML. Effects of adlay on azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats. Food Chem Toxicol 2004;42:1339-47. View abstract.
Soh CT, Kim SH, Kim KY, et al. Biostatic activity of Coix lacryma seed extract on Toxoplasma gondii in macrophages. Korean J Parasitol 1996;34:197-206. View abstract.
Tzeng HP, Chiang W, Ueng TH, Liu SH. The abortifacient effects from the seeds of Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf. J Toxicol Environ Health A 2005;68:1557-65. View abstract.
Yu YM, Chang WC, Liu CS, Tsai CM. Effect of young barley leaf extract and adlay on plasma lipids and LDL oxidation in hyperlipidemic smokers. Biol Pharm Bull 2004;27:802-5. View abstract.