Job's Tears

Conventional Medicine versus Alternative Medicine: The Western practice of medicine falls within the category of conventional medicine, due to the fact that the western medicinal approach is scientific based. Alternative medicinal approaches, which is more prevalent in other countries such as Asia, are not solely based upon scientific research but, rather, traditional or ancient approaches (acupuncture is an example of alternative medicine).

Coming from an Asian family, there are lots of natural and herbal foods and practices that I have been exposed and accustomed to. My family strongly believes that on top of conventional methods, alternative medicines and approaches are also important and beneficial for one's health. There are also those who believe that an integration of both a conventional and alternative approach (also known as a complementary approach) is beneficial.

In the Western culture, alternative medicinal approaches may not be very prominent or widely known. In Asia, a tropical plant called Coixseed, also known as "Job's Tears" (in North America it is commonly referred to as the "Chinese pearl barley") is widely consumed due to its health benefits. It has been said that this grain got its name from the biblical story of Job; Job was a righteous man who shed tears due to the suffering and pain he went through. In Asia, Job's Tears is used both as a food and medicine - for example, it is used to treat certain tumors and cancers. According to http://www.namuorganics.com/namu-job.html:
"Japanese scientists have isolated numerous active chemical components from Job's Tears which include coixol (anti-inflammatory, antihistaminic, muscle relaxant, fever reducing, etc.) and coixans (peptide-containing polysaccharides that have sugar-lowering properties)."

This website also lists the nutrients found within Job's Tears:
"...lipids (glycolipids, phospholipids, sterols, etc.), amino acids, adenosine, thiamine, and others."

Also, according to http://healthydoses.wordpress.com, "The neutral lipid isolated from the endosperm of Job’s tears (NLEJ) has been known to possess an anticancer activity with relatively low toxicity."

Because alternative medicinal practices are not prevalent in the Western culture, there is little information and research that back up the health claims of Job's Tears. Not to mention, Job's Tears is not sold in the United States. According to www.wedmd.com, "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."

Job 1:21
And said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."