Job's Tears (Coix lacryma-jobi) and Urinary Tract Infections: Evidence Synopsis

Job's Tears, also known as Coix lacryma-jobi, is a grain commonly used in traditional East Asian medicine, especially within Chinese herbal practice. Historically, it has been used for its purported diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and detoxifying properties. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Job's Tears (referred to as "Yi Yi Ren") is included in herbal formulas intended to "drain dampness" and "clear heat," which are conceptual frameworks sometimes associated with urinary tract symptoms. Thus, it has been used traditionally to support urinary health and treat symptoms resembling urinary tract infections (UTIs).

However, scientific evidence supporting the use of Job's Tears specifically for the prevention or treatment of UTIs is limited. Some in vitro and animal studies have shown that extracts from Job's Tears possess anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial properties, but these findings have not been directly linked to their efficacy against pathogens commonly responsible for UTIs, such as Escherichia coli. Clinical trials specifically evaluating its effectiveness for UTIs in humans are either lacking or of low methodological quality.

In summary, the use of Job's Tears for UTIs is primarily justified by traditional use, with modest pharmacological evidence suggesting possible benefits, but without strong clinical validation.