Job's Tears

BotanicalBest with a meal

What is it

Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi) is a tall grain-bearing grass native to Asia. Polished kernels are eaten as a cereal grain (called yi yi ren or hato mugi), and the seed coat is used in traditional Chinese medicine for dampness, edema, joint discomfort, and skin lesions.

Evidence for 3 uses

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Adjunctive cancer therapy

Limited Evidence

Coix oil (injectable) is used in Chinese oncology adjunct to chemotherapy; trials suggest modest benefit in quality of life and response rates, but methodological quality varies.

Skin warts and lesions (traditional)

Mixed Evidence

Traditional use exists; case series suggest modest benefit for flat warts. Modern controlled trials are limited.

Joint discomfort and edema (traditional)

Mixed Evidence

Traditional use in damp-related symptoms; modern human evidence is minimal.

How it works

Job's tears seeds are rich in starch, protein, and unique lipid components called coixenolides. Coix oil (containing coixenolide) has been studied in cancer treatment in China as an adjunctive injectable agent. Animal and cell studies report anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antitumor activity. Several clinical trials in China (mostly in oncology adjuvant settings) report modest improvements in quality of life and tumor response when added to chemotherapy, but methodological quality is variable.

Dosage

As a food, 30 to 100 grams per day of cooked grain. As a TCM herb, 9 to 30 grams of dried seed decocted daily. Standardized coix oil products use product-specific dosing under medical supervision.

When and how to take it

As a food, eaten with meals. As an herbal preparation, typically taken twice daily with water. Injectable formulations are administered in clinical settings.

3 commercial forms

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Whole Coix grain

Hulled kernels cooked similarly to barley or rice.

Eaten as food.

Coix seed extract

Powders and capsules for general supplement use.

Concentrated; standardized variability.

Coix oil (Kanglaite)

Standardized lipid emulsion used as adjunctive cancer therapy.

Injectable formulation used in oncology in China.

Safety

The grain is well tolerated as food. Concentrated extracts are generally well tolerated; mild gastrointestinal effects can occur. Allergic reactions are possible.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy (traditional sources caution against use). Use cautiously in people with grain or grass allergies. People with diabetes should account for carbohydrate content.

Interactions

No significant drug interactions are reported for the food. Concentrated injectable coix oil preparations are used in oncology and require medical supervision.

Food sources

Cooked Job's tears grain

Amount
100 g cooked
%DV
—

Frequently asked questions

Is Job's tears gluten-free?⌄

Yes. It is a grass seed but does not contain gluten.

How do you eat it?⌄

Like barley or rice. Soak overnight and simmer until tender. Used in soups, porridges, and teas in Asian cuisine.

Does it really help cancer treatment?⌄

Injectable coix oil is used in Chinese oncology and shows modest adjunctive benefit. It is not a replacement for standard cancer therapy, and food-form Job's tears does not have proven anticancer effects.

References

Job's Tears on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Job's Tears on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Job's Tears (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.