Job's tears, also known as Semen Coicis (Yiyiren) are the grains of a tropical Asian grass. These grains have a number of uses, from foods to ornaments, and they appear to have been harvested and cultivated for thousands of years. Many Asian markets sell them in their grain sections for cooking. Beaders and craftspeople also use the grains, and they may be found at beading and craft stores for this purpose.

The common name for Job's tears comes from their distinctive teardrop shape, although the tears are sometimes ascribed to different people, such as Mary's tears, Christ's tears, and so forth. The plant does not appear to have any religious significance, despite the Biblical references in its common names, although the grains are sometimes used as the beads in rosaries. The scientific name suggests that the plant was originally known as Job's tears, whatever else it might be called, since this is what lachryma-jobi means.

Food therapy
Job's tears are both medicinal herb and popular food, famous by its dampness-removing feature. Job's tears help to eliminate excessive dampness inside the body and invigorate the spleen, improving metabolism. Job's tears also cure lung related chronic diseases such as empyema,cough, and asthma.

Job's tears help to remove evil Qi in muscles and bones. It curesmuscular contracture, rheumatic paralysis. As the lung is related to the skin, eating Job's tears can make skin smooth and white. The lung is also related to sad emotion, so Job's tears are helpful for depression suffers. Modern medicine researchers show that Job's tear is a anti-cancer food. It has functions of immunization, reducing blood sugar and blood pressure, inducing ovulation, etc..

Who can eat Job's tears?
People with Obesity, high blood pressure, Coronary Heart Disease, Diabetes;
Cancer patients;
Arthritis patients;
Nephritis edema or ascites, beri beri;
People with wart or coarse skin;
People with pulmonary asthenia, Pulmonary Abscess, pus phlegm.

Who cannot eat Job's tears?
Pregnant woman, especially in their early stage
People with constipation or less perspiration

How to eat Job's tears
When served as a food, job's tears are often added in soups, congee, etc. In Southeast Asia job's tears soup is a popular drink. They are also grinded into powder and used in bread or cake; or served as brewed drinks; or used as facial mask powder. When used as a medicinal herb, stir fried Job's tears are used to remove dampness while stir fried Job's tears with wheat bran are used to invigorate spleen.