甘，平，涩。不去心令人作吐，凡使须去心，蒸焙用。得茯苓、山药、白术、枸杞子
青心名莲薏，苦寒亦入药。
谢在杭曰∶赵州宁晋县有石莲子皆埋土中，不知年代，居民掘土往往得之有数斛者，其
状如
乃以番莲子代之，
甘，平。凡用蒸熟，烈日晒裂，取仁，亦可舂取粉用，入涩精药连壳亦可。
苦，寒。其子中肉黄白色，心内空，无青芽，形细长而头圆，壳光黑坚硬如石，故
莲，别是一种药物，非藕实也。
按李濒湖曰∶今药肆一种石莲子，状如土石而味苦，不知何物也。缪仲醇曰∶石莲子产
广中
者，
若无节者，更黑味极
石莲肉为细末，每服二钱，米汤
曰石莲，形似莲子。
又按明滕可斋神农本经会通云∶山东有一种木，生石莲仿佛藕实。石莲子但形细长而头
光圆
如，贾人又以
服，呕吐反增，恶食愈甚，若
用者，不察去心之说，杀人不少，予特着此以
目类纂必读云、余考群书，多言石莲即深秋之老莲子也。按莲
破无心，自是别种，以之治白浊及噤口毒痢殊有神圣之功，又非老莲子
产于何地耳。清心莲子饮并瑞莲丸，俱是肆中之石莲劈破无心之一种，非老莲子也
之二说不同用者，宜审之。
Sweet, neutral, astringent. Failure to remove the plumule may induce vomiting; therefore, when used, the plumule must be removed, and it should be steamed and dried. It harmonizes with Poria (Fuling), Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Shanyao), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu), and Lycii Fructus (Gouqizi).
Those with a green plumule are called Lianyi (Lotus Plumule); they are bitter and cold, and also serve as medicinal materials.
Xie Zaihang stated: In Ningjin County, Zhao Prefecture, there are Stone Lotus Seeds buried in the soil for an unknown number of years. Residents often unearth them when digging, sometimes obtaining several hu (a unit of volume). Their appearance is like... merchants substitute them with Indian Lotus Seeds.
Sweet and astringent, warm. Harvested and dried during flowering time. Avoid using with Rehmanniae Radix (Dihuang), Allium Fistulosum (Cong), and Allium Sativum (Suan).
Bitter, neutral. Adversely affected by Verniciae Oleum (Tongyou); subdued by Argentum (Baiyin) and Sulfur (Liuhuang).
Sweet, neutral. When used, steam until cooked, dry under intense sunlight until cracked, extract the kernel. It can also be pounded into powder for use. For formulas intended to consolidate essence, the shell may be used intact.
Bitter, cold. The flesh inside the seed is yellowish-white, the center is hollow, without a green sprout. The shape is slender and long with a rounded head, and the shell is glossy black, hard, and stone-like. Thus, [Stone] Lotus Seed is a different medicinal material, not the fruit of Nelumbo nucifera (Ou Shi).
According to Li Shizhen (Li Binhu): Currently, in herbal shops, there is a type of Stone Lotus Seed that resembles earthy stones and tastes bitter; its identity is unknown. Miao Zhongchun stated: Stone Lotus Seeds are produced in Guangdong. Those without nodes are even darker and taste extremely... Powder the flesh of the Stone Lotus Seed; take two qian per dose with rice soup. They are called Stone Lotus, resembling lotus seeds.
Furthermore, according to the "Shennong Benjing Huitong" by Teng Kezhai of the Ming Dynasty: There is a tree in Shandong that produces Stone Lotuses resembling lotus fruits. Stone Lotus Seeds are merely slender and long with smooth, rounded heads... Merchants also use... If taken, vomiting increases, and aversion to food worsens. Those who use it without examining the instruction to remove the plumule have caused many deaths. I specifically wrote this to... "Mulu Zuandi Bidu" states: I have examined various books, which mostly state that Stone Lotus is simply old lotus seeds from late autumn. According to [analysis], if the lotus is broken and has no heart/plumule, it is naturally a different species. Using it to treat leukorrhea and dysentery with inability to eat (Jinkou Du Li) yields miraculous results; it is not old lotus seeds. Regarding where they are produced, the prescriptions Qingxin Lianzi Yin (Clear Heart Lotus Seed Decoction) and Ruilian Wan (Auspicious Lotus Pill) both use a type of Stone Lotus from shops that is split open without a plumule, not old lotus seeds. These two theories differ; users should examine them carefully.