Lotus Seed, a name in traditional Chinese medicine, refers to the dried, mature seeds of the lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.), a plant of the genus Nelumbo in the Nymphaeaceae family. This product has the effects of tonifying the spleen and stopping diarrhea, stopping leukorrhea, tonifying the kidneys and retaining essence, and nourishing the heart and calming the mind. It is primarily used to treat spleen deficiency-induced diarrhea, leukorrhea, nocturnal emission, palpitations, and insomnia.
Lotus Seed
Lotus Seed, a name in traditional Chinese medicine, refers to the dried, mature seeds of the lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.), a plant of the genus Nelumbo in the Nymphaeaceae family. This product has the effects of tonifying the spleen and stopping diarrhea, stopping leukorrhea, tonifying the kidneys and retaining essence, and nourishing the heart and calming the mind. It is primarily used to treat spleen deficiency-induced diarrhea, leukorrhea, nocturnal emission, palpitations, and insomnia.
Chinese Name : 莲子
Latin Name : Nelumbinis Semen
Aliases : Lotus Seed, Water Zhi Dan, Lotus Fruit, Lotus Pod Seed, Lotus Seed Meat
Authentic Producing Area : Primarily produced in the ponds, marshes, and lakes of Hunan, Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and other southern regions
Nature, Flavor & Meridian Tropism : Neutral in nature; sweet and astringent in taste; enters the Spleen, Kidney, and Heart meridians
Benefits & Efficacy
Benefits
Tonifies the spleen and stops diarrhea; stops leukorrhea; tonifies the kidneys and astringes essence; nourishes the heart and calms the spirit.
Indications
Used for spleen deficiency-induced diarrhea, leukorrhea, seminal emission, and palpitations with insomnia.
Usage and Dosage
Internal use: Decocted as a soup, 6–15 g; or incorporated into pills or powders.
Precautions
Not suitable for individuals with dry, hard stools.
Chemical Constituents
This product primarily contains flavonoids such as quercetin, hyperoside, and rutin, as well as proteins, fats, and starch.
Pharmacological Actions
This product possesses antioxidant, immune-boosting, and anti-osmotic effects against ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Relevant Discussions
1. *Shennong Bencao Jing*: Primarily used to tonify the middle burner, nourish the spirit, and enhance vitality.
2. *Bencao Gangmu*: Harmonizes the heart and kidneys, fortifies the stomach and intestines, consolidates essence and vital energy, strengthens tendons and bones, replenishes deficiencies, … and treats spleen-related diarrhea, chronic dysentery, red and white vaginal discharge, and various gynecological bleeding disorders such as leukorrhea and metrorrhagia.
Applications
Clinical Applications
1. To treat seminal emission and premature ejaculation caused by kidney deficiency and instability of the essence gate, it is often used in combination with Euryale seed and Dragon Bone, as in the Jin Suo Gu Jing Wan formula (*Collection of Explanations of Medical Formulas*).
2. To treat leukorrhea due to spleen deficiency, it is often used in combination with Poria and Atractylodes macrocephala.
3. To treat deficiency of both the spleen and kidneys, characterized by thin, clear leukorrhea and soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, it may be used in combination with Cornus officinalis, Dioscorea opposita, and Euryale seed.
4. To treat chronic diarrhea due to spleen deficiency accompanied by poor appetite, it is often used in combination with Codonopsis pilosula, Poria cocos, and Atractylodes macrocephala, as in the Codonopsis-Poria-Atractylodes Powder (from *Formulas of the Bureau of Harmonious Preparations*).
5. To treat restlessness, palpitations, and insomnia caused by a lack of communication between the heart and kidneys, it is often used in combination with herbs such as Ziziphus jujuba seed, Poria with the spirit, and Polygala.
Related Compatibility
1. Lotus Seeds Combined with Euryale Seeds: Euryale seeds are sweet, astringent, and neutral in nature; they strengthen the spleen, stop diarrhea, fortify the kidneys, nourish essence, dispel dampness, and stop leukorrhea. Lotus seeds are sweet, astringent, and neutral in nature; they strengthen the spleen, stop diarrhea, nourish the kidneys, and fortify essence. When used together, these two herbs work synergistically to enhance their effects in strengthening the spleen, stopping diarrhea, tonifying the kidneys, fortifying essence, dispelling dampness, and stopping leukorrhea.It is commonly used to treat spleen deficiency-induced diarrhea that has persisted for a long time; spleen deficiency with excessive dampness, resulting in persistent leukorrhea; kidney deficiency with instability of the essence gate, leading to nocturnal emissions and seminal leakage; and kidney deficiency causing frequent urination and urinary incontinence.
2. Lotus Seed Combined with Coptis: Lotus seed possesses a fragrant nature; its sweet taste tonifies the spleen, and its astringent nature stops diarrhea, making it particularly effective at tonifying the spleen, astringing the intestines, and stopping diarrhea;Coptis, which is extremely bitter and cold in nature, clears heat and dries dampness; it is particularly effective at resolving stagnation of damp-heat in the middle jiao and eliminating damp-heat in the spleen, stomach, and large intestine. When used together, these two herbs can eliminate damp-heat, stop diarrhea and dysentery, and strengthen the spleen and stomach, making them suitable for treating chronic dysentery and anorexia.
3. Lotus Seed Combined with Ziziphus Seed: Lotus seed enters the Heart and Kidney meridians; it calms the mind, tonifies kidney qi, and harmonizes the Heart and Kidney. Ziziphus seed has a sweet taste and a moist nature; it nourishes heart yin, enriches liver blood, and calms the mind. When used together, these two herbs nourish the heart and calm the mind, harmonize the Heart and Kidney, and tonify the spleen and kidneys. They are used to treat palpitations, insomnia, anxiety, and forgetfulness caused by deficiency of the Heart and Spleen.
4.Lotus Seeds Combined with Schisandra Fruit: Lotus seeds have a sweet and astringent taste and enter the Kidney meridian; they can tonify the kidneys, consolidate essence, and astringe to stop leukorrhea. Schisandra fruit has a sour and astringent taste and specializes in astringent and consolidating actions; it can consolidate essence, stop seminal emission, reduce urinary frequency, and stop leukorrhea. When combined, these two herbs enhance their ability to consolidate essence and stop leukorrhea, and can be used to treat seminal emission, spermatorrhea, and leukorrhea caused by kidney deficiency and an unstable essence gate.
Medicinal Identification
1. Lotus Seeds and Chinese Yam: Both herbs are sweet and neutral in nature with astringent properties; they enter the Spleen and Kidney meridians. They can tonify the Spleen and Kidney while astringing the intestines and consolidating the lower jiao. They are applicable for conditions such as spleen deficiency-induced diarrhea, as well as kidney deficiency-induced nocturnal emission, enuresis, and leukorrhea. However, lotus seeds can also nourish the heart and calm the spirit, making them suitable for symptoms such as palpitations, insomnia, and nocturnal emission caused by a lack of communication between the heart and kidneys.Chinese yam primarily functions as a tonic and also enters the Lung meridian, where it tonifies the lungs and relieves cough to treat consumptive coughs. Since it both tonifies qi and nourishes yin, it can be used for conditions such as poor appetite and fatigue due to spleen deficiency with qi deficiency, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees due to kidney deficiency, and diabetes caused by both qi and yin deficiency.
2. Lotus Seeds and Euryale Seeds: These two herbs have similar properties and functions; both nourish the kidneys and consolidate essence, tonify the spleen and stop diarrhea, and astringe to stop leukorrhea. They are used for kidney deficiency-induced nocturnal emission and enuresis, as well as spleen deficiency characterized by poor appetite, chronic diarrhea, and leukorrhea.However, lotus seeds also nourish the heart and calm the spirit, facilitating communication between the heart and kidneys, and can be used to treat symptoms such as restlessness, palpitations, and insomnia caused by a lack of coordination between the heart and kidneys. Euryale seed is more specifically indicated for treating symptoms of nocturnal emission, leukorrhea, and enuresis.
Related Medicines
Qi Pi Wan, Zhi Xie Ling Granules.
Related Prescriptions
Ginseng, Poria, and Atractylodes Powder (from *Formulas of the Bureau of Harmonious Preparations*).
Medicinal Diet Therapy
Lotus Seed and Longan Soup:
1. Benefits: Promotes metabolism and improves rough, unhealthy skin. Mainly used to treat rough skin and a dull complexion.
2. Ingredients: 30 grams of lotus seeds, 30 grams of euryale seed, 50 grams of coix seed, 8 grams of longan flesh, 500 milliliters of water, and a small amount of honey.
3. Preparation: Add the four ingredients listed above to the water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to low heat and simmer for 1 hour. Finally, add honey and serve.
4. Usage: Consume both the broth and the solids together.
Notes
Patients requiring treatment with Chinese herbal medicine should first consult a licensed Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) hospital to receive a prescription following a professional TCM differential diagnosis.
Processing & Preparation
Harvesting & Processing
When the fruits ripen between September and October, cut off the lotus pods, remove the fruits, and while they are still fresh, use a sharp knife to slit them open, peel off the outer shell, and sun-dry them.
Processing Methods
1. For seeds with the embryo: soak briefly until thoroughly moistened, cut open, remove the embryo, and dry; or crush and remove the embryo.
2. For seeds without the embryo: use directly in medicinal preparations or crush.
Storage Methods
Store in a dry container, tightly sealed, in a well-ventilated, dry place to prevent mold and insect infestation.
Crude Drug Identification
Identification
1. The powder of this product is off-white. It consists mainly of starch granules; individual granules are oblong, subcircular, ovoid, or subtriangular, some with small pointed projections, 4–25 μm in diameter, with a few visible hilum marks that are fissure-like or punctate; compound granules are rare, consisting of 2–3 subgranules.Pigment layer cells are yellowish-brown or reddish-brown; when viewed from the surface, they appear oblong, elongated polygonal, or circular, with some showing clusters of calcium oxalate crystals. Cotyledon cells are oblong with slightly thickened walls; some are arranged in a bead-like pattern, with faintly visible pits. Spiral and annular vessels are visible.
2. Take a small amount of the powdered sample, add an appropriate amount of water, mix thoroughly, and add a few drops of iodine solution; the mixture turns blue-violet. After heating, the color gradually fades; upon cooling, the blue-violet color reappears.
3. Take 0.5 g of the powdered sample, add 5 mL of water, soak, and filter. Place the filtrate in a test tube, add a few drops of α-naphthol solution, shake well, and slowly add 1 mL of sulfuric acid along the wall of the tube; a purple ring appears at the interface of the two liquids.
4. Take 5 g of the crude powder of this product, add 30 mL of chloroform, shake, let stand overnight, filter, and evaporate the filtrate to dryness. Dissolve the residue in 2 mL of ethyl acetate to prepare the test solution.Separately, take 5 g of lotus seed reference material and prepare a reference material solution using the same method. Perform thin-layer chromatography (General Chapter 0502): pipette 2 μL of each solution and apply them separately onto the same silica gel G plate. Develop with n-hexane–acetone (7:2) as the developing solvent, remove the plate, and allow it to air-dry.spray with a 10% ethanol solution of sulfuric acid containing 5% vanillin, and heat at 105°C until the spots become clearly visible. In the test sample chromatogram, spots of the same color appear at positions corresponding to those in the reference herbal material chromatogram.
Properties of Crude Drugs
This product is slightly elliptical or subglobose, 1.2–1.8 cm long and 0.8–1.4 cm in diameter. The surface is reddish-brown, with fine longitudinal striations and relatively broad vein patterns. The center of one end has a papillate protrusion that is brownish-black, often with a fissure, and the surrounding area is slightly sunken. It is hard in texture, with a thin seed coat that is difficult to peel off.There are two cotyledons, which are yellowish-white, thick, and hollow in the center, containing a green lotus seed core; or they may have a small pore at the base and lack a lotus seed core. The odor is faint; the taste is sweet with a slight astringency; the lotus seed core tastes bitter.
Properties of Processed Slices
This product is slightly oval, spherical, hemispherical, or irregular fragments. The surface is reddish-brown, with fine longitudinal striations and relatively broad vein patterns. The oval, spherical, and hemispherical specimens have a papillate protrusion at the center of one end; it is brownish-red, often fissured, with a slightly sunken rim. The texture is hard, the seed coat is thin, and it is difficult to peel.The cotyledons are yellowish-white, thick, and contain a central cavity. They have a faint odor and a slightly sweet, slightly astringent taste.
Botanical Information
Botanical Classification
Nelumbo nelumbo, a plant of the genus Nelumbo in the family Nymphaeaceae.
Morphological Characteristics
A perennial aquatic herb. The rhizome grows horizontally; it is fleshy with swollen internodes containing numerous longitudinal air pores and is covered with filiform adventitious roots.Leaves emerge from the nodes and rise above the water surface; the petiole is attached to the center of the leaf’s underside, is stout and cylindrical, and is often spiny; the leaf blade is round, 25–90 cm in diameter, with entire or slightly wavy margins; the upper surface is pale green, while the lower surface features veins radiating from the center with 1–2 orders of forked branches. Flowers are solitary at the tip of the peduncle, which is as long as or slightly longer than the petiole and also bears scattered small spines;The flower is 10–20 cm in diameter, fragrant, and red, pink, or white; the petals are elliptical or obovate, 5–10 cm long and 3–5 cm wide; there are numerous stamens with linear anthers and slender filaments attached below the receptacle; there are numerous carpels buried within the swollen receptacle, with an elliptical ovary and an extremely short style.After flowering, it produces a “lotus pod” that is inversely conical, 5–10 cm in diameter, with 20–30 small openings, each containing a single fruit; the nut is elliptical or ovate, 1.5–2.5 cm long, with a leathery, hard pericarp that turns dark brown when ripe.The seeds are ovate or elliptical, 1.2–1.7 cm long, with a red or white seed coat. Flowering occurs from June to August, and fruiting from August to October.
Distribution Area
It is widely distributed throughout northern and southern China.
Growth Habits
It prefers a warm and humid climate; when the soil temperature reaches 10°C or higher, the apical buds of the seed lotus root begin to sprout; when the air temperature reaches 15°C or higher, the stems and leaves grow; 20–30°C is optimal for stem and leaf growth as well as flowering and fruiting; 25–35°C is optimal for lotus root formation; when the air temperature drops below 15°C, the plant stops growing.Water level requirements: 5–10 cm is optimal during the early growth stage; 20–30 cm during the peak growth period; the water level should not submerge the erect leaves.
Propagation Methods
Propagation is carried out using lateral rhizomes and daughter rhizomes.
Cultivation Techniques
Use lateral rhizomes and daughter rhizomes as planting material, and select paddy fields with fertile soil that retains water and nutrients.Planting rhizomes should generally have two nodes; plant two daughter rhizomes per planting hole, or one parent rhizome and one daughter rhizome per hole. Plant 7,500–12,000 rhizomes per hectare; when planting, dig furrows according to the shape of the rhizomes, place the rhizomes horizontally with the apical bud tilted downward, cover the furrows with soil, and press firmly to prevent them from floating.
Pest and Disease Control
1. For the long-legged water leaf beetle, mix 30 kg of 40% ethion powder per 1 hm² with 375 kg of fine soil, apply the mixture to the field surface, and till it into the soil after the field is flooded with shallow water.
2. For the lotus narrow-winged midge, spray a 1,000–1,500-fold dilution of 90% diazinon during the larval stage.
3. For black spot disease and brown spot disease of lotus rhizomes, spray a mixture of 50% carbendazim diluted 500 times and 0.3% laundry detergent as soon as symptoms appear; promptly remove diseased leaves.