1. Description

1.1 What is a lotus?

The lotus (botanical name: Nelumbo nucifera, also known as Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India, Egyptian bean; Chinese Pinyin: Lian, Simplified Chinese: 莲), is a species of perennial, aquatic, flowering, fruit-bearing, herbaceous plant in genus Nelumbo in the sacred lotus family, Nelumbonaceae. The flowers are white, pink, deep red, gold or yellow, lavender (usually a mixture of them), 10 – 20 cm in diameter, with varied numbers of petals. The lotus flowers, seeds, young leaves as well as it rhizomes (roots) can all be used for food and medicine. The plant can grow up to 150 cm tall. Native to tropical Asia and extensively cultivated in Asia, habitats of lotus include muddy waters, ponds, swamps, water gardens and lakes. Characteristics of lotus include intolerance for shade and wind, great versatility and deep root and rhizomes.

Some simplified Chinese names for lotus rhizome include: 莲藕, 蔤, 蓉玉节, 玉玲珑, 玉笋, 玉臂龙, 玉藕, 光旁, 雨草, 玲珑腕.

1.2 How does lotus rhizome taste?

Good lotus rhizomes (roots) can be eaten either raw or cooked, it has a crispy and fibrous texture with a flavor that is mildly bitter, slightly sweet and refreshing, similar to that of taro root.

1.3 How is lotus rhizome used in traditional Chinese medicine?

The lotus rhizome (root) is considered to be sweet, neutral and nontoxic in nature and to be associated with the heart, spleen and stomach meridians. It is used as stasis-eliminating drug, blood cooling drug, heat-clearing drug, spleen tonic, digestion aid in traditional Chinese medicine (CTM) and widely adopted in treating different diseases and health problems, such as haemorrhoids and heat stroke.

2. Uses, Health Benefits of Lotus Rhizome & Medical Formulas

2.1 Lower Blood Pressure

According to the World Health Organization, over one billion people across the world are living with high blood pressure. Hypertension is responsible for at least 45% of deaths due to heart disease and 51% of deaths due to stroke. Lotus rhizomes contain rich potassium which helps maintain a normal water balance between cells and body fluids and thus lower the blood pressure. In addition, potassium helps to ease tension in blood vessel walls, which also helps lower blood pressure.

2.2 Promote Blood Circulation

Good blood circulation plays is important to our staying healthy, the process transports oxygen and nutrient rich blood through our arteries to different organs, tissues and other cells. Iron is a key component of haemoglobin, the blood’s oxygen transporter, and deficiency in this mineral may lead to poor blood circulation. Therefore regularly eating of iron rich food such as lotus rhizomes can help to maintain and promote good blood circulation.

2.3 Reduce Anxiety

Lotus rhizomes also contain pyridoxine, a water-soluble vitamin which is also known as vitamin B6. Studies show that a chronic pyridoxine deficiency can lead to neuropsychiatric disorders including low mood, irritability, anxiety and depression as vitamin B6 is essential for nerve function (draxe.com 2017). Therefore, supplement of pyridoxine through eating vitamin B6 rich food such as lotus rhizomes can help to reduce suffering from anxiety and depression, and boost metal health.

2.4 Prevent Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the top diagnosed cancer in women and the incidence of breast cancer is still growing with about 1.7 million newly diagnosed cases worldwide each year (healthline.com 2016). Lotus rhizomes are loaded with dietary fiber that increases frequency of bowel movements (bowel motility), which in turn reduces breast cancer risk by increasing estrogen excretion. Circulating estrogen levels are a well established risk factor for breast cancer.

2.5 Prevent Summerheat

[CTM Formula] The medical soup of lotus rhizomes is heat clearing decoction that is said to benefit several organs and conditions that are categorized by what traditional Chinese medicine calls “summerheat”. The symptoms of body “heat” include high fever, thirst, concentrated urine, red face, red tongue, yellow tongue fur, rapid pulse.

2.6 Anal Fissure

[CTM Formula] A decoction of fresh lotus rhizomes, silkworm larva and brown sugar is taken orally to treat anal fissure (also known as rectal fissure), a break or tear in the skin of the anal canal.

2.7 Postpartum Hemorrhage

[CTM Formula] Oral taking of fresh lotus rhizome juice can be an adjuvant treatment approach for women with postpartum hemorrhage.

2.8 Treating Hemophilia

[CTM Formula] Juice extracted from a mixture of fresh lotus rhizomes, fresh pears, fresh water chestnut and raw rehmannia glutinosa root is taken orally to treat hemophilia.

2.9 Clearing Heat In Blood

[CTM Formula] A mixture of fresh lotus rhizome juice, lappa juice, fresh rehamnnia root juice, cirsium setosum root juice and honey is taken to clear heat in blood.

3. Contraindication, Side-effects & Cautions

People experiencing spleen and stomach deficiency should avoid eating raw lotus rhizomes.

The Ben Cao Medical Book (also known as Compendium of Materia Medica or Ben Cao Gang Mu; Chinese: 本草纲目) is the most famous and comprehensive medical book ever written in the history of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Compiled and written by Li Shi-zhen (1518~1593), a medical expert of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) over 27 years.

The Ben Cao Medical Book records and describes all the plants, animals, minerals, and other objects that were believed to have medicinal properties in TCM. The book reflects the pharmaceutical achievements and developments of East Asia before the 16th century. On the basis of his predecessors’ achievements in the pharmacological studies, Li contributed further by supplementing and rectifying many past mistakes and misconception in relate to nature of many medicinal substances and causes of various illnesses. Charles Darwin, originator of the biological theory of evolution, regards the book as the “ancient Chinese encyclopedia”.

Disclaimer: The Ben Cao Medical Book is translated by ChinaAbout.net.  The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of CTM knowledge and information from the research and experience from the author Li Shi-zhen. Kindly be alert that the CTM knowledge and ancient formulas given above are likely NOT medically proven and may contain misconceptions.

List of reference

draxe.com 2017 Vitamin B6 Benefits, Deficiency & Sources [online] Retrieved 21 August 2017. Link: https://draxe.com

healthline.com 2016 Breast Cancer by the Numbers: Survival Rates by Stage, Age, and Country [online] Retrieved 21 August 2017. Link: http://www.healthline.com/