He Ye
Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.
โฏ TCM Properties
Clears Summer-Heat and Resolves Dampness; Raises Clear Yang; Cools the Blood and Stops Bleeding
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Nelumbo nucifera, the sacred lotus, is a large emergent aquatic perennial in the monogeneric family Nelumbonaceae, native to a vast area extending from northeastern Australia through tropical and warm-temperate Asia. The plant grows from a thick, jointed, creeping rhizome buried in the muddy bottom of ponds, marshes and slow-moving water. Long petioles arise from each rhizome node and lift the leaves well above the water surface; the leaf blades are nearly circular, peltate, 25 to 90 cm across, with a slightly funnel-like upper surface that is markedly water-repellent due to a wax-papillate cuticle. Solitary, fragrant flowers are borne on stout peduncles standing 1 to 2 meters above the water, 10 to 25 cm across, with many pink, white or rose tepals around a flat, golden-yellow receptacle. As the fruit matures the receptacle enlarges into a characteristic woody, inverted-cone seedpod containing 10 to 30 hard, dark brown ovoid seeds. The mature green leaf gathered in summer is the medicinal He Ye.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | โ | โ | โ |
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional Chinese Uses
He Ye (lotus leaf) is a cool, bitter herb used in Chinese medicine to clear Summerheat and dispel Heat from the Exterior, stop bleeding from Blood Heat, and ascend and raise clear Yang Qi. It addresses fever and digestive symptoms from summerheat and damp invasion, as well as certain types of bleeding from Heat in the Blood. Its ability to raise clear Yang makes it useful for diarrhea and digestive weakness from Spleen Qi sinking, and is a classical herb for this pattern in formulas such as He Ye Sheng Yang Tang.
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.