Lian Zi Xin
Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.
โฏ TCM Properties
Clears Heart Fire; Calms the Spirit; Promotes Heart-Kidney Communication; Secures Essence and Stops Seminal Emission; Cools the Blood and Stops Bleeding; Clears Heat and Eliminates Irritability
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Nelumbo nucifera is an aquatic perennial herb in the family Nelumbonaceae, native to Asia and tropical Australia. It grows from a stout creeping rhizome anchored in pond mud, sending up long petioles that bear large, peltate, water-repellent leaves rising above the water. Solitary flowers, 15-25 cm across, range from white to deep pink, with numerous yellow stamens surrounding a flat-topped receptacle that hardens to enclose oval seeds in individual cavities. Lian Zi Xin refers specifically to the green plumule, the small embryonic shoot found within each mature lotus seed. The plumule is bitter-tasting, slender, and removed and dried separately from the seed kernel for medicinal use in East Asia.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | โ | โ | โ |
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional Chinese Uses
Lian Zi Xin (lotus plumule, lotus embryo) is the tiny green embryo found inside the lotus seed, intensely bitter in taste and distinctly cooling in character. It is used in Chinese medicine to clear Heart Fire โ addressing the restlessness, insomnia, oral ulcers, and feverish irritability of excess Fire in the Heart. As a simple brew, it is one of the most common home remedies in China for heat-type insomnia and emotional agitation, and is frequently combined with other heart-calming herbs.
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.