It is also known as Coix seed, coix grain, six grains rice, coix rice, yam rice, or coix nut.Ergot comes from the mature seeds of the Coix plant, a monocotyledonous plant that is either annual or perennial.In autumn, when the fruits ripen, the plants are cut down, dried, and the fruits removed. The outer shell, yellow-brown seed coat, and impurities are then removed to collect the endosperm.Ergot is easily digestible and absorbable; its effects are gentle whether used for tonics or in medicine.There is a long history of cultivating ergot in China, making it one of the ancient grain crops that can be both food and medicine.It is produced across most parts of China, with Fujian and Hebei provinces being major producers. Due to its high nutritional value, ergot is known as"the king of cereal grains""the rice for life and health",in Japan it has recently been listed as a cancer-preventing food, thus significantly increasing its value.
