He Di
StarNelumbo nucifera Gaertn.
Synonyms: Nelumbium speciosum Willd., Nelumbium nelumbo (L.) Druce, Nymphaea nelumbo L.
☯ TCM Properties
Tonifies the Spleen and a stringes diarrhea; Tonifies the Kidneys and astringes Jing; Nourishes the Heart and c alms the Spirit
Traditional Chinese Uses
Under its corrected identity as Semen Nelumbinis (lotus seed, Lian Zi), the ripe seed of Nelumbo nucifera, this is a sweet, astringent, neutral herb of the astringent (stabilizing) category entering the Spleen, Kidney, and Heart channels. It tonifies the Spleen and stops chronic diarrhea, tonifies the Kidney and astringes the essence (Jing) to check spermatorrhea, leukorrhea, and frequent urination, and nourishes the Heart to calm the spirit in palpitations, restlessness, and insomnia arising from Heart-Kidney disharmony. As a gentle, food-grade tonic it suits deficiency patterns in children, the elderly, and convalescents. It is commonly decocted about 6-15 g and paired with herbs such as Qian Shi, Shan Yao, and Fu Ling for Spleen deficiency with loose stools, or with Suan Zao Ren to settle the mind. The green plumule (Lian Zi Xin) is removed when the tonic effect is wanted.
Botanical Description
Nelumbo nucifera, the sacred lotus, is a large aquatic perennial of the Nelumbonaceae, rooted by thick branching rhizomes in the mud of ponds, lakes and slow streams across Asia. Long flexible petioles raise round, peltate, blue-green, water-repellent leaves up to sixty centimeters wide above the water. Solitary fragrant flowers, pink to white and up to twenty-five centimeters across, are borne on stout emergent peduncles and mature into a flat-topped, spongy obconic receptacle in which the nut-like fruits are embedded. The medicinal drug Semen Nelumbinis (Lian Zi) is the dried ripe seed, ovoid and starchy, collected in autumn. It tonifies the Spleen and astringes diarrhea, tonifies the Kidneys and astringes Jing, and nourishes the Heart to calm the Spirit.
Still and slow-flowing fresh water — ponds, lakes, marshes, paddies and ditches — in warm-temperate to tropical lowlands; widely cultivated.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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