Lotus
Seed (lian zi)
Semen
Nelumbinis
Properties:
Sweet, astringent in flavour, neutral in nature, it is
tropistic to the spleen, kidney and heart channels. Being
sweet in flavour, it functions in reinforcing the spleen
and the kidney, and as an astringent, it can astringe the
lower-jiao. Thus, it serves to treat deficiency of the
spleen and the kidney, and weak lower-jiao manifested as
chronic diarrhea, spermatorrhea, leukorrhea. It and Semen
Euryales are similar in action and are used often in
combination. In addition, this herb can nourish the heart
and tranquilize the mind to treat palpitation and insomnia
due to insufficiency of Qi and blood.
Effects:
Tonifying the spleen to arrest leukorrhea, benefiting the
kidney to astringe essence, and nourishing the heart to
ranquilize the mind.
Indications:
1. For weakness of
the spleen and the stomach with anorexia, loose stool and
chronic diarrhea, it is often used with herbs for
strengthening the spleen to arrest diarrhea, such as Radix
Codonopsis Pilosulae, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae,
Rhizoma Dioscoreae, Semen Dolichoris, etc. For
insufficiency of the spleen and overabundance of dampness
with leukorrhagia, it is used with drugs for eliminating
dampness and invigorating the spleen to arrest leukorrhea
such as Rhizoma Atractylodis, Rhizoma Atractylodis
Macrocephalae, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Rhizoma
Dioscoreae, etc.
2. For
kidney-deficiency loose of seminal gate with spermatorrhea, dizziness,
tinnitus, lassitude and amnesia,
it is used with drugs for benefiting the kidney to
astringe essence such as Semen Euryales Os Draconis
Fossilia Ossis Mastodi, Semen Astragali Complanati,
Fructus Alpiniae Oxyphyllae, etc.
3. For deficieny
of heart-qi with dysphoria, palpitation and insomnia, it
is used with herbs for replenishing Qi, nourishing the
heart to calm the mind, such as Radix Ginseng, Radix
Ophiopogonis, Poria, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae,
etc.
Dosage and
Administration:
6-15g.
