甘平涩，无毒。
发明 莲出淤泥而无浊气沾染。其根通达诸窍，联绵诸络，尤为交媾黄宫，通调津液之
上品。入心脾血分，冷而不泄，涩而不滞。产后血 及血淋、尿血宜之。新产生冷皆忌。独
生藕不禁，为其能止热渴、破留血也。生食止霍乱虚渴。蒸食开胃实下焦。捣浸澄粉服食，
治虚损失血，吐利下血。又血痢口噤不能食，频服则结粪自下，胃气自开，便能进食。但市
者皆豆麦菱粉伪充，不可混用。藕节之味大涩，能止骤脱诸血，产后血 ，隔水顿热，和童
子小便饮之。一人患血淋胀痛，百药不应，以生藕汁调发灰服之，三日血止痛除，以其性专
散血而无伤耗真元之患也。
甘平涩，无毒。去心中苦薏则不伤胃。
发明 莲子得水土之精英，补中养神，益气清心，固精止泻，除崩带赤白浊，能使心肾
交而成既济之妙。昔人治心肾不交、劳伤、白浊，清心莲子饮。补心肾益精血，有瑞莲丸，
皆取其补益黄庭，实堤御水之义。
甘寒无毒。
发明 石莲子本莲实老，于莲房堕入淤泥，经久坚黑如石，故以得名。为热毒噤口痢之
专药，取水土之余气，补助脾阴而涤除热毒。然必兼人参之大力开提胃气，方始克应。若痢
久胃气虚寒，口噤不食则为戈戟也，况乎世鲜真者。今药肆中乃以一种水实伪充，其子出自
粤东，大苦大寒，大伤胃气，医者不察，误投伤残之躯，往往轻者为重，重者致毙。至于肾
虚精滑之人，误认髓藏有热而峻用苦寒铲伐虚阳，精愈不能收摄，得无虚虚之患乎。
[Lotus Root]
Sweet, neutral, astringent, non-toxic.
[Invention/Commentary]
The lotus grows in mud but is not tainted by turbid qi. Its rhizome penetrates all orifices and connects various collaterals; it is particularly effective in facilitating the interaction between the heart and kidney (Huanggong refers to the middle jiao spleen/stomach or the intersection of heart and kidney), making it a superior agent for regulating body fluids. It enters the blood aspect of the Heart and Spleen channels; it is cold without causing diarrhea, and astringent without causing stagnation. It is suitable for postpartum bleeding, as well as strangury with blood (Xuelin) and hematuria. It should be avoided by women immediately after childbirth, regardless of whether their constitution is cold or hot. Raw lotus root is uniquely permitted because it can relieve thirst due to heat and break up retained blood. Eating it raw relieves the deficiency-thirst caused by cholera. Steaming it opens the appetite and strengthens the lower jiao. The starch obtained by crushing, soaking, and settling the root is taken orally to treat deficiency-loss and blood loss, as well as vomiting, diarrhea, and lower gastrointestinal bleeding. In cases of bloody dysentery where the jaw is clenched and eating is impossible, frequent consumption leads to the natural passage of formed stool, the restoration of Stomach qi, and the ability to eat. However, what is sold in markets is often falsely made from bean, wheat, and water chestnut starches, and must not be used indiscriminately. The taste of lotus node (Oujie) is extremely astringent and can stop sudden massive hemorrhage. For postpartum bleeding, it is heated over boiling water and drunk mixed with the urine of a young boy. One patient suffered from strangury with blood and distending pain, responding to no other medicines. Taking raw lotus root juice mixed with ash of hair cured him in three days, stopping the bleeding and relieving pain, because its nature specifically disperses blood stasis without harming the true yuan (vital essence).
[Lotus Seed]
Sweet, neutral, astringent, non-toxic. Removing the green bitter plumule (embryo) from the center prevents injury to the Stomach.
[Invention/Commentary]
Lotus seed absorbs the essence of earth and water; it tonifies the middle jiao, nourishes the spirit, benefits qi, clears the heart, secures essence, stops diarrhea, and eliminates metrorrhagia and leukorrhea with white and red turbidity. It enables the interaction between the Heart and Kidney, achieving the wondrous effect of Water-Fire Ji-Ji (mutual coordination). Ancients used Qingxin Lianzi Yin (Clear Heart Lotus Seed Decoction) to treat Heart-Kidney non-interaction, exhaustion injuries, and white turbidity. Ruilian Wan (Auspicious Lotus Pill) tonifies the Heart and Kidney and benefits essence and blood. Both formulas utilize the principle of tonifying the Huangting (middle jiao/spleen-stomach area) and solidifying the dike to control water dampness.
[Stone Lotus Seed]
Sweet, cold, non-toxic.
[Invention/Commentary]
Stone lotus seed is essentially an aged lotus seed that has fallen from the lotus pod into the mud, becoming hard and black like stone over a long period, hence its name. It is a specific drug for treating "Jinkou Li" (dysentery with inability to eat due to heat toxin). It takes the residual qi of earth and water to supplement Spleen yin and cleanse heat toxins. However, it must be combined with the powerful action of Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) to lift and open Stomach qi to be effective. If dysentery has lasted long, leading to deficient-cold Stomach qi and clamped jaws preventing eating, Stone Lotus Seed would act like a weapon causing harm. Moreover, genuine Stone Lotus Seeds are rare in the world today. Modern pharmacies often pass off a water plant fruit as such; this fake seed originates from eastern Guangdong, is extremely bitter and cold, and severely damages Stomach qi. If physicians fail to examine this and mistakenly administer it to patients with damaged constitutions, mild conditions may become severe, and severe conditions may lead to death. Furthermore, individuals with Kidney deficiency and seminal emission, who mistakenly believe there is heat in the marrow storage and thus harshly use bitter-cold drugs to destroy deficient yang, will find that essence becomes even harder to retain. Would this not result in the danger of "deficiency inducing deficiency"?