Lian Zi (Lotus Seed)

Official Lian Zi (莲子) is the dried ripe seed of Nelumbo nucifera. The pharmacopoeial name is Nelumbinis Semen. Hunan, Hubei and Fujian are the main sources (Xiang Lian, Jian Lian). Lian Zi Rou is the cotyledon after the coat—and often the plumule—is removed; this is what most decoctions use. Lian Zi Xin is the green plumule: bitter-cold, clears the Heart, a separate drug. Lian Xu is the stamen: secures the Kidney and astringes essence, weak as a tonic. Shi Lian Zi is usually the older shelled or mud-fallen fruit, leaning to clear damp-heat and stop dysentery—not interchangeable by weight with lotus flesh. Write Lian Zi or Lian Zi Rou and crush it; write Lian Zi Xin separately when the Heart must be cleared.

According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Lian Zi is sweet, astringent and neutral, enters the Spleen, Kidney and Heart channels, and acts to fortify the Spleen and stop diarrhea, stop discharge, boost the Kidney and astringe essence, and nourish the Heart to calm the spirit. It is used for Spleen-deficiency diarrhea, vaginal discharge, seminal emission, palpitations and insomnia. Sweet-astringent-neutral: tonifying and binding—suited to vacuity that fails to hold, not to focal distention or dry bound stool.

Raw is neutral leaning cool and more marked to nourish the Heart and calm the spirit. Dry-fried is fragrant, leaning warm, and stronger to fortify the Spleen, stop diarrhea and bind. Decoction should be plumule-removed and crushed or it will not extract; keeping the plumule adds Heart-clearing and a more bitter taste. Food-therapy congee may be simmered whole for a long time. Dual food-and-medicine use still requires edible dry lotus or slices; moldy or worm-eaten lots are unused.