Using lotus to treat insomnia and aid weight loss.

In daily life, lotus has many practical benefits; various parts of the plant are used both as nutritious food and as medicine.

Lotus is also known by other names: Liên, Ngậu (Tay). Scientific name: Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. Synonyms: Nelumbium nelumbo(L.) Druce.; Nelumbium speciosum Willd. Family: Lotus (Nelumbonaceae). Foreign names: Sacred lotus, Chinese water-lily, Indian lotus, Egyptian bean.

In nature, few plants are like the lotus, where all parts of the plant are used for medicinal purposes.

Hai Thuong Lan Ong wrote about the lotus plant as follows: "The plant grows from the black mud but is not contaminated by the smell of mud, imbued with the pure fragrance of heaven and earth, so its roots, leaves, flowers, stamens, fruit peel, and pulp are all excellent medicines."

1. Couplet

Lotus root - Nodus Rhizomatis Loti.

Lotus root contains asparagine (2%), arginine, trigonel-17, tyrosine, phosphoric ether, glucose, and vitamin C. Trigonel-17 (C7H7NO2) crystallizes in dilute alcohol, retaining one molecule of water. It loses its water content at 100°C. Its melting point is 218°C, it is easily soluble in water and alcohol, but almost insoluble in ether and chloroform.

Uses and Dosage: Used as food and a hemostatic agent in cases of bloody diarrhea, bloody urine, bloody vomiting, nosebleeds, and uterine bleeding. The daily dose is 6-12g in the form of a decoction.

2. Stone lotus seeds

The fruit is green, smooth, oval, 1.7-2.5 cm long and 0.6-1.2 cm in diameter. The seeds are white, 1.3-1.5 m long and 5-6 mm in diameter, with two thick, white cotyledons inside containing a green lotus-like center. Lotus seeds are sold as a vegetable in Indian markets under the name "Kamal Gatta" for their notable sleep-inducing effects. The lifespan of lotus seeds is exceptional compared to any other flowering plant. Robert Brown, a botanist at the British Museum, experimented with Nelumbo's fruits at different times between 1843 and 1845 and showed that lotus seeds retained their germination viability after 150 years of storage in a glass jar.

Fructus nelumbinis, often mistakenly called lotus seeds, is actually the lotus fruit, which has a shell. If you peel it open, you'll get the lotus seed or lotus kernel (Semen Nelumbinis). Lotus seeds contain a lot of starch, trigonelline, sugar (raffinose), 16.6% protein, 2% fat, 62% carbohydrates, 0.089% calcium, 0.285% phosphorus, and 0.0064% iron (Fe).

Uses and dosage:

Lotus seeds are used to treat many ailments, including poor digestion, enteritis, chronic diarrhea, insomnia, anxiety, leucorrhea, skin diseases, bad breath, menorrhagia, leprosy, tissue inflammation, cancer, fever, and heart disease. They are also used as an anti-emetic and anti-poisoning agent, a detoxifier, a diuretic, and a cooling agent. The lotus receptacle (flower base) is used in traditional medicine to stop bleeding. Lotus seed powder mixed with honey is used to treat coughs.

In traditional Chinese medicine, lotus seed embryo is used to treat nervous disorders, insomnia, high fever (accompanied by restlessness), and cardiovascular diseases (e.g., hypertension, arrhythmias).

Lotus seed embryos have a bitter taste and a cooling nature, with the effect of clearing heat from the heart and lowering blood pressure. They are used to calm the nerves, treat high fever with delirium, palpitations, and high blood pressure. They are often combined with other herbs such as chrysanthemum, pagoda flower, and cassia seeds... brewed into tea to promote sleep and lower blood pressure. 30 lotus seed embryos, heated and salted, eaten before bed, treat insomnia, heartburn, and excessive dreaming. Lotus seed embryos (1.5g), steeped in boiling water like tea, treat high blood pressure.

Lotus seeds are commonly used to treat dysentery with loss of appetite, with a dose of 6-12g in the form of a decoction.

Lotus seeds are also a valuable food, often used in making sweet soups, jams, and many delicious dishes. Lotus seeds and glutinous rice cooked into porridge are used to treat miscarriage, lower back pain in pregnant women, etc. 60g of lotus seeds (without the core) and 10g of licorice root are steamed together, with added sugar to taste, to treat urinary tract infections, frequent urination, urgency, and weakness due to dryness and heat.

The daily dose is 12-20g, possibly up to 100g, in the form of a decoction or powder.

Lotus seeds: a tonic, strengthens the essence, treats nocturnal emissions, insomnia, and nervous exhaustion. The daily dose is 10-30g in the form of a decoction or powder.

According to ancient texts, lotus seeds have a sweet taste and a neutral nature. They are said to nourish the spleen, strengthen the heart, astringe the intestines, and consolidate the essence. They are used to treat spleen deficiency causing diarrhea, nocturnal emissions, uterine bleeding, and leucorrhea.

3. Inter-room

Receptaculum Nelumbinis is the mature lotus receptacle after the fruit has been removed and dried. The receptacle contains 4.9% protein, 0.6% fat, 9% carbohydrates, 0.00002% carotene, 0.00009% nuclein, and 0.017% vitamin C.

Uses and dosage:

Hemostatic medicine: used to treat rectal bleeding and vaginal discharge. The daily dose is 15-30g in the form of a decoction.

According to ancient texts, the herb *Lianfang* has a bitter and astringent taste, a warm nature, and acts on the liver and pericardium meridians. It has the effect of dispelling blood stasis and stopping bleeding, and is used to treat abdominal pain due to blood stasis, retained placenta after childbirth, postpartum hemorrhage, hematuria, and difficulty urinating.

Prescription for postpartum hemorrhage: 5 lotus seeds, 80g of Cyperus rotundus, burned and finely ground. Take 8-24g daily, divided into 2-3 doses.

4. Lotus leaves:

Ha Diep Folium Loti

Lotus leaves contain approximately 0.20-0.30% tannins, and a small amount of alkaloids including nuxiferin C19H21O2N, noxuxiferin C18H19O2N, and roemerin C18H17O2N. The leaf stalks also contain small amounts of roemerin and noxuxiferin.

Uses and dosage:

Lotus leaves are often considered to have the same uses as lotus seeds. However, in acute cases, lotus leaves are used, with a dosage of 15-20g in the form of a decoction.

According to ancient texts, lotus leaves have a bitter taste and neutral properties, acting on the liver, spleen, and stomach meridians. They have the effect of raising the clear and dispersing stagnation, clearing heat and promoting fluid circulation. They are used to treat diarrhea caused by dampness, edema due to water retention, headache, vomiting blood, nosebleeds, and uterine bleeding dysentery.

5. Continuous

Stamen nelumbinis refers to the dried stamens of the lotus flower, with the seeds removed.

Chemical composition: mainly tannins.

Uses and dosage: Treats postpartum hemorrhage, hemoptysis, and nocturnal emissions. Take 5-10g daily in the form of a decoction.

6. Lotus root

Lotus root is one of the vegetables that contains a moderate amount of calories. 100 roots provide about 74 calories and are rich in minerals and vitamins.

Lotus root is an excellent source of fiber; 100g of the root provides 4.9g, or 13% of the daily fiber requirement. Fiber helps lower blood cholesterol, blood sugar, body weight, and constipation.

Lotus root is one of the best sources of vitamin C. 100g of root provides 44mg, or 73% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C (a powerful antioxidant). It is essential for collagen synthesis in the body. Collagen is a major structural protein in the body necessary for maintaining the integrity of blood vessels, skin, organs, and bones. Regularly consuming foods rich in vitamin C helps protect the body from scurvy, develops resistance against viral infections, strengthens immunity, accelerates wound healing, and removes harmful, cancer-causing free radicals from the body.

Additionally, it contains moderate amounts of several valuable B complex vitamins such as pyridoxine (vitamin B6), folate, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and thiamin. Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) acts as a coenzyme in neurochemical synthesis in the brain that affects mood. Sufficient pyridoxine levels help control irritability, headaches, and stress. It also protects against heart attack risk by controlling harmful homocysteine ​​levels in the blood.

Furthermore, lotus root provides a good source of important minerals such as copper, iron, zinc, magnesium, and manganese. Copper is a cofactor for many important enzymes, including cytochrome c-oxidase and superoxide dismutase (other minerals that function as cofactors for these enzymes are manganese and zinc). Along with iron, it is also essential in the production of red blood cells.

With its crisp texture and sweet taste, lotus root also provides electrolytes in optimal balance. The sodium-potassium ratio is 1:04.

According to Health and Life