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HERBS of the LOTUS

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Water usually finds the lowest place but on the lotus it finds the highest. The lotus speaks a high form of silence: it speaks from the heart. Speaking silently is most loud. When it speaks it tells the story of life in a small (humble) container. Life is very precious for those who can hear. The lotus will root very deep before it shows off.

Silk is the essence, or spirit, of the lotus, found in its hollow root. The root measures time with sectioned growth.

Red and purple flowers are yang. Gold flowers with a touch of white are yin. In Buddhist and Taoist philosophy, the lotus teaches how to appreciate life: life is beautiful and meaningful. An herbalist will tell you that the lotus is food for the mind as well as the body.

The lotus doesn’t cluster and it grows beautifully in the worst conditions, mud.

The lotus dissolves toxins in the blood and is good for chemical dependency. It treats the spirit by releasing the desire for the negative and replacing the self with confidence and positivity.

The seeds can be taped at certain ear points for drug dependency, like huang biu liu xing seeds. They can also be placed on open cuts as a poultice.

The mature root is starchy. This should be saved for winter or used in a soup after being cut and dried. The baby roots are tanner and good to eat after being made into a gluten-like powder. This is good to treat babies born drug dependent. The root can also be used for gum disease, stopping internal bleeding, blood stasis, anemia. It can be smashed up into a pill

HERBS OF THE LOTUS

HERB NAMES:

PIN YIN [Action Category]

Pharmaceutical (P)/

English (E)

CH

PROPERTIES

FUNCTIONS: Indications

[Special Preparations]

(N ) CONTRAINDICATIONS

(') CAUTIONS

DOSE

LIAN ZI [SB] [L]

P: Semen Nelumbinis Nuciferae

E: lotus seed

Sweet

Astringent

Neutral

Tonifies Sp, stops diarrhea: chronic diarrhea, poor appetite

Tonifies K, stabilizes essence: premature ejaculation, spermatorrhea, excessive uterine bleeding, leukorrhea

Nourishes H, calms spirit: palpitations, anxiety, insomnia

N Abdominal distension or constipation

6-15g

OU JIE [B-s] [L]

P: Nodus Nelumbinis Nuciferae Rhizomatis

E: lotus rhizome node

Sweet

Astringent

Neutral

Stops bleeding: vomiting or coughing blood, chronic bleeding; reckless movement [fresh, juice]; deficient cold bleeding [partially charred]

9-15g [dried];

30-60g [fresh]

HE YE [H-t] [L]

P: Folium Nelumbinis Nuciferae

E: lotus leaf

Bitter

Slightly sweet

Neutral

Clears summerheat, raises Sp yang: fever, irritability, excess sweating, scanty urine, diarrhea

Stops bleeding: vomiting blood, LW stagnation [fresh, external compress or wash]

N Deficient or cold bleeding

' Counteracts fu ling

9-15g;

30g [alone]

LIAN XIN

P: Plumuia Nelumbinis Nuciferae

E: lotus plumule

Bitter

Cold

Drains H fire: mental confusion or delirium, insomnia, irritability

Stops bleeding and binds essence: vomitting blood, spermatorrhea

' Abdominal masses or constipation

1.5-6g

LIAN FANG

P: Receptaculum Nelumbinis Nuciferae

E: mature lotus receptacle, lotus peduncle

Bitter

Astringent

Warm

Disperses blood stasis and stops bleeding: endometriosis, blood in urine

Stops bleeding and calms fetus: threatened miscarriage

Dispels summer-heat and dampness: diarrhea

3-9g

song of spirit child

two becoming light of one

lotus eternal