Historically, adlai has been grown in small quantities in the Philippines for its grains, which are used as both food and medicine. Indigenous peoples have utilized adlai not just as a staple food but also for its supposed health benefits, incorporating it into their diet and traditional healing practices. It was traditionally grown in upland areas, where rice and corn were less viable, making it an important crop for food security and diversity.

In China, adlai has similarly been valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties for thousands of years. Known in China as "yi yi ren," adlai has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to address a variety of ailments, including promoting diuresis, spleen health, and anti-inflammatory benefits. Its cultivation can be traced back to ancient times, and it has been a part of the Chinese diet as well as a component in TCM formulations.