Job's Tears
Overview
Job's tears is popular today as a diet and skin-care grain, but the Donguibogam notes something modern fans often miss: its action is gentle and slow, so it must be used in larger amounts than other herbs to show effect — a genuine reason it works best as a food eaten regularly rather than a quick fix.
In the Donguibogam
寶鑑
Traditional uses recorded in the Donguibogam
- Drains dampness
- Strengthens the spleen
- Relieves wind-damp painful obstruction
- Clears lung heat
Traditional applications recorded in the classical text
- Chronic cough with phlegm or blood-tinged sputum
- Wind-damp joint pain
- Muscle cramps or spasm
- Leg swelling and heaviness
Traditional preparation
Also eaten regularly as a grain or porridge.
This describes traditional preparation recorded in the classics, not a recommendation for use today. DonguiHub does not provide dosage guidance — consult a qualified professional before using any herb.
Cautions
Frequently asked questions
Why do some people say Job's tears "doesn't work fast enough"?
The Donguibogam itself explains this: its action is gentle and slow, so it must be used in larger amounts and more consistently than sharper-acting herbs — it is better suited to regular use as a food than a quick remedy.
What did the Donguibogam record it for, beyond diet and skin?
Primarily lung conditions with coughing up phlegm or blood, and wind-damp joint pain and leg swelling (脚氣) — uses distinct from its modern diet-food reputation.
Sources
- 『동의보감』 탕액편, 허준, 1613 (원문) — 한문 원문
- 한의학고전DB (mediclassics.kr) — 원문 및 국역 자료 참조