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。
【莲藕】
味甘、性平、味涩，无毒。
【发明】
莲子生长于淤泥之中却不受浊气沾染。其根茎贯通各个孔窍，连接各种脉络，尤其能够交通心肾（黄宫指中焦脾胃或心肾相交之处），是通调津液的佳品。入心和脾的血分，性质寒凉但不致泄泻，味涩但不致滞碍。适用于产后出血以及血淋、尿血患者。新产后的妇女无论体质偏冷还是偏热都应忌食。唯独生藕不禁忌，因为它能止住热渴、破除瘀血。生吃可以止住霍乱引起的虚性口渴。蒸熟吃可以开胃并充实下焦。捣碎浸泡沉淀出的淀粉服用，可以治疗虚损导致的失血，以及呕吐腹泻和下血。又有因血痢导致牙关紧闭不能进食的情况，频繁服用后大便自然排出，胃气自然开通，就能进食了。但市场上售卖的多用豆麦菱粉伪造冒充，不可混淆使用。藕节的味道非常涩，能止住突然大量脱失的各种出血，产后出血者，隔水炖热，与童子小便混合饮用。有一人患血淋症，小腹胀痛，百药无效，用生藕汁调和发灰服用，三天后血止疼痛消除，因为它的药性专门消散瘀血而没有耗伤真元的弊端。
【莲实（莲子）】
味甘、性平、味涩，无毒。去掉心中绿色的苦芯就不会伤害胃气。
【发明】
莲子汲取了水土的精华，能补益中气、滋养心神、益气清心、固精止泻，消除崩漏和白带赤白浊，能使心肾相交而达成水火既济的奇妙效果。古人治疗心肾不交、劳伤、白浊，使用清心莲子饮。治疗补益心肾、益精血的方剂有瑞莲丸，都是取其补益中焦脾胃、稳固堤防以御水湿的含义。
【石莲子】
味甘、性寒，无毒。
【发明】
石莲子本是老化的莲子，从莲房脱落落入淤泥，经过长时间变得坚硬漆黑如石头，因此得名。它是治疗热毒所致噤口痢的专用药物，取水土之余气，补助脾阴并涤除热毒。然而必须配合人参的大力作用来提振胃气，才能见效。如果痢疾日久导致胃气虚寒，出现牙关紧闭不能进食的情况，那么石莲子就会像戈戟一样造成伤害，况且世间很少见到真正的石莲子。如今药店中竟有一种水生植物的果实伪充，这种子产自广东东部，味道大苦大寒，严重损伤胃气，医生如果不加考察，误投给身体受损的患者，往往使轻病加重，重病致死。至于肾虚精滑的人，错误地认为骨髓藏中有热而峻烈地使用苦寒药物铲伐虚阳，会导致精气更加无法收摄，难道不会造成“虚虚”（使虚者更虚）的祸患吗？
[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"?