Library

[Background Information]
Book: Feng Shi Jin Nang Mi Lu (Secret Records of Feng's Brocade Bag)
Author: Feng Chuzhan
Dynasty: Qing Dynasty
Chapter: Lotus Seed Meat (Lian Rou)
Category: Comprehensive

[Translation]

Lotus seed is also known as Ou Shi. It inherits the clear and fragrant qi of heaven and earth, and embodies the harmonious flavor of the soil; therefore, its taste is sweet, its nature is neutral, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian, and Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian. Earth is the mother of all things, and postnatal yuan qi relies on it for generation and transformation. When the mother qi (Spleen qi) is harmonious, blood and qi flow smoothly, shen is nourished, and diseases have no origin. Lotus seed precisely possesses the transformative power of Jia Se (planting and harvesting, symbolizing the characteristics of Earth); it is the fruit of the Spleen organ. Thus, its primary functions are to tonify the Middle Jiao, nourish the Shen, and benefit Qi and strength. It regulates the blood and qi of the twelve meridians, supplements deficiencies in the five Zang organs, clears heat from the Middle Jiao, calms the mind, relieves thirst, stops dysentery, treats lower back pain and seminal emission. Consuming more lotus seeds brings joy, dispels hundred diseases, and its efficacy specializes in tonifying the Spleen and benefiting the Heart. Long-term consumption clears the Heart fire, delays aging, extends life, and prevents hunger. If the lotus heart is not removed during consumption, it induces vomiting; therefore, it must be removed before use, steamed, and dried.

For cases of dysentery accompanied by an inability to eat, commonly known as "Jin Kou Li" (Tight-Mouth Dysentery), this condition is critical. One may use one liang of fresh lotus seed meat, five qian of Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma), and five qian of Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), decocted in water into a thick liquid, administered slowly sip by sip. If the patient desires food after finishing the dose, the illness will improve. Combined with Tu Si Zi (Cuscutae Semen), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus), Shan Zhu Yu (Corni Fructus), Shan Yao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), Che Qian Zi (Plantaginis Semen), Rou Dou Kou (Myristicae Semen), Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus Rotundus), Ju Hong (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Rubrum), Qian Shi (Euryales Semen), Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Bu Gu Zhi (Psoraleae Fructus), and Ba Ji Tian (Morindae Officinalis Radix), it treats morning diarrhea caused by dual deficiency of the Spleen and Kidney. As a dietary therapy, to prevent hunger after ingestion, steam Shi Lian Zi (Stone Lotus Seed), remove the heart, grind into powder, and form pills the size of wu zi (wuju berries) using honey. Take thirty pills daily; this is a celestial prescription. For white turbidity and seminal emission, use equal parts of Shi Lian Zi (Stone Lotus Seed), Long Gu (Fossilia Ossis Mastodi), and Yi Zhi Ren (Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus), grind into powder, take two qian per dose, and swallow with rice water on an empty stomach. For red turbidity due to Heart deficiency, use Lian Zi Liu Yi Tang (Lotus Seed Six-One Decoction): take six liang of Shi Lian Zi (Stone Lotus Seed) and one liang of Zhi Gan Cao (Prepared Licorice Root), grind into powder, take one qian per dose, and swallow with Deng Xin Cao Tang (Junci Medullae Decoction). Shi Lian Zi (Stone Lotus Seed) is harvested after frost in the ninth month; those that are hard, black like stone, obtained from broken pods, or fallen into water and mud are of good quality. Currently, a type of Shi Lian Zi sold in markets resembles Fei Zi (Torreya Seed), tastes extremely bitter, originates from Guangdong, grows on trees, and is a woody fruit, which is unsuitable for medicinal use.

Ou (Lotus Rhizome) inherits Earth qi for growth; thus, its taste is sweet. Raw, it is cold; cooked, it is warm. It enters the Heart, Spleen, and Stomach meridians. Raw Ou is sweet and cold, capable of cooling blood, stopping bleeding, clearing heat, and purging the Stomach. Therefore, raw Ou is mainly used to dissipate blood stasis, treat hematemesis, epistaxis, postpartum blood stagnation, traumatic injuries, stop heat-induced thirst, relieve cholera-like restlessness, and detoxify alcohol. Cooked Ou is sweet and warm, capable of strengthening the Spleen, opening the appetite, benefiting blood, and nourishing the Heart. Thus, it greatly tonifies the five Zang organs, solidifies the Lower Jiao, aids digestion, stops diarrhea, generates flesh, and long-term consumption brings joy and pacifies anger. Although born in muddy slime, its body is pure white, its taste is sweet and crisp, its pores are exquisite, and threads are hidden inside. It treats blood disorders, relieves thirst, and tonifies the Heart and Spleen; truly an excellent fruit. It can also detoxify crab poison. Postpartum women should avoid raw and cold foods, but Ou is different because raw Ou can break blood stasis.

Lian Xu Xu (Lotus Plumule Filament), also known as Fo Zuo Xu (Buddha Seat Filament), has a sweet and astringent taste and a warm nature. It enters the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and also connects to the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian. Thus, it can clear the Heart and enter the Kidney to consolidate essence and qi, darken hair, stop hematemesis, and treat slippery discharge. Combined with Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex), Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus Rotundus), Sha Yuan Ji Li (Astragali Complanati Semen), Yu Jiao (Colla Corii Asini), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus), Fu Pen Zi (Rubiae Fructus), Sheng Gan Cao (Raw Licorice Root), and Mu Li (Ostrea Concha) to make pills, it is most effective for treating nocturnal emission and spermatorrhea.

Lotus seed meat specifically enters the Heart, Spleen, and Kidney meridians. It tonifies the middle, nourishes the Shen, clears the Heart, prevents seminal leakage, clears fire, unblocks blood vessels, brightens ears and eyes, strengthens the Spleen and Stomach, stops diarrhea and dysentery, prevents metrorrhagia and leukorrhea, facilitates the interaction between Heart and Kidney, consolidates essence, and gladdens the Shen. The green lotus heart, named Lian Yi, has a bitter and cold nature. It clears the Heart and removes heat, also treats blood thirst, postpartum brown lochia, and hematemesis due to mental overexertion. Take seven lotus hearts and twenty-one grains of Nuomi (Glutinous Rice), grind into powder, and take with wine. It also treats urinary enuresis and seminal emission: take a handful of lotus hearts, grind into powder, add one fen of Chen Sha (Cinnabar), take one qian per dose, and swallow with plain water. Shi Lian Zi (Stone Lotus Seed) further clears the Heart. He Bi (Lotus Peduncle/Stem Base) is excellent for calming the fetus, expelling blood stasis, preserving healthy blood, and driving out bloody dysentery. Lian Fang (Lotus Receptacle), i.e., the lotus pod, when burned to ash, stops bleeding very quickly. Used raw and decocted in wine, it promotes labor and expels the placenta. He Ye (Lotus Leaf) assists the Spleen, promotes appetite, stops bleeding, consolidates essence, calms the fetus, stops diarrhea, breaks blood stasis, and relieves thirst. It is also added to formulas for Lei Tou Feng (Thunder-Head Wind), as recorded in *Fu Ren Liang Fang* (Good Prescriptions for Women). He Ye draws up the clear qi of the Shaoyang Meridian; its shape resembles an upward-facing cup, symbolizing the Zhen Trigram. When food and medicine sense this qi transformation, how can the Stomach qi fail to ascend? He Hua Ban (Lotus Petal) calms the Heart, lightens the body, and preserves youth. It should not be used with Suan (Garlic) or Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix). Lian Xu (Lotus Stamens) benefits the Kidney, astringes seminal emission, clears the Heart, and stops hematemesis. Ou (Lotus Rhizome) is sweet and cold, primarily verified for treating blood disorders, dispersing blood stasis without coagulation, treating upper epistaxis and hematemesis, lower postpartum blood accumulation and restlessness, detoxifying alcohol, relieving thirst and anger, bringing joy, and clearing the Heart to remove heat. Mixed with honey and chewed, it fattens the abdominal viscera and prevents parasites; cooked and eaten, it solidifies the Lower Jiao, opens the Stomach, aids digestion and transformation of essences, and treats stranguria and dryness/thirst after illness. Lian Jie (Lotus Node) crushed with Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix) to extract juice also treats epistaxis and hematemesis; adding wine and Tong Bian (Child Urine) yields faster results.

[Main Indications] (Integration with Smallpox/Rashes) Lotus seed clears the Heart and relieves restlessness. It strengthens the Spleen, opens the appetite, and stops diarrhea. It can be commonly used during the stages of pustule formation and scabbing in smallpox/rashes. It is a key herb for the Heart, Spleen, and Kidney systems.

[Commentary] The lotus flower emerges from the mud unstained, lives continuously, contains secrets in every node, and has white flesh in the center. Internally, it implies the function of clearing the Heart. Its roots, filaments, flowers, fruits, leaves, nodes, skin, and hearts are all fine medicines. They inherit fragrant qi and combine with the flavor of Jia Se (Earth/Spleen). As the fruit of the Spleen, and since the Spleen belongs to Central Yellow, it can mediate the interaction between Water and Fire, and integrate Wood and Metal. When Earth qi is prosperous, the four other Zang organs are at peace, and the merit of the lotus is great.