The nature and flavor of lotus leaf

Lotus leaves are the leaves of the lotus, an aquatic flower of the Nymphaeaceae family. Another name is lotus leaf. So, what are the nature, flavor, meridians, effects and taboos of lotus leaves? Let’s take a look at the detailed introduction below.

It is the leaves of the lotus, an aquatic flower of the Nymphaeaceae family. Another name is lotus leaf. The leaves are large, detailed, green and without black spots.

The specific flavor is slightly bitter and astringent, and warm in nature. It enters the heart, liver and spleen meridians. It is a product that dissipates energy and has a fragrant taste. Its specific pharmacological ingredients include nelumboside, lotus alkaloids, quercetin, nelumboside, malic acid, oxalic acid, tannins and other ingredients. It can inhibit hypercholesterolemia, soften blood vessels, and inhibit the occurrence of aortic atherosclerosis; the infusion can immediately soften blood vessels and reduce blood pressure.

Specific effects and application production

1. Clear away heat, clear away dampness and remove dampness. Used for summer heat and dampness, boil honeysuckle tea and lentil flowers into a soup and drink it in divided doses. For edema caused by fluid overflowing onto the skin, "Essentials of Diagnosis and Treatment" recommends burning dry lotus leaves to preserve their properties, grinding them into powder, taking 6 grams each time, 3 times a day, and swallowing with warm water.

2. Shengyang treats diarrhea. It is used for diarrhea caused by the failure of heart yang to rise and dampness and turbidity blocking the spleen. Burn the lotus leaves to preserve their essence, grind them into powder, take 6 grams each time, 3 times a day.

3. Dispersing blood and activating blood circulation is used to treat vomiting blood and hemoptysis due to blood heat. Roast and grind the lotus leaves into fine powder, take 6 grams each time, and drink with rice drink.

It is used today to treat high blood pressure (decoction of five jujubes, taken in divided doses).

Specific application taboos and precautions: 3-10 grams of dried slices, 15-30 grams of fresh slices, decocted into soup, or ground into powder for oral administration.

Harvested in summer and autumn. When it is 70% to 80% dry, remove the leaf stems, fold it into a semicircular or fan shape, and dry it.

Specific effects and functions: Clears away heat and removes fire, promotes heart yang, disperses blood and activates blood circulation. Used for: thirst without appetite due to heat, diarrhea due to summer heat and dampness, diarrhea due to spleen deficiency, vomiting and bleeding due to blood heat, bloody stool and metrorrhagia. Lotus leaf charcoal is astringent, removes blood stasis and promotes blood circulation. Used for various urinary incontinence and postpartum hemorrhage.

Specific contraindications during pregnancy: People with thin body and weak Qi and blood should take it with caution.

This product is semicircular or fan-shaped, and becomes ring-shaped after processing, with an entire or slightly wavy edge and a diameter of 20 to 50 cm. The upper surface is dark green and relatively rough; the lower surface is light gray-brown, relatively smooth, with 21 to 22 coarse veins radiating from the center; there is a raised leaf stem base in the center, which is brittle and fragile. It has a slight fragrance and tastes a bit bitter.