Sacred Lotus

Description

Common Name: Sacred Lotus
Scientific Name: Nelumbo nucifera
Family Name: Nelumbonaceae

Edible Uses :

• The root, leaf and seed are consumed in Korea as a tea, braised in soups or dishes.
• The stems, rhizomes and leaves are eaten cooked with other vegetables, pickled in vinegar or soaked in syrup.
• In Chinese recipe, the stem is cooked as food.
• At Vietnam, stem is used as vegetable and salads.
• The seeds can be popped like popcorn, ground into powder and eaten dry or used in bread making.
• The roasted seeds are a perfect substitute for coffee.
• The starches which are extracted from the rhizomes are consumed as breakfast or added in fast food in China.
• The blossom and leaves of Lotus is used to make liquors in Korea.
• In Taiwan, the leaves of Lotus are used as a beverage or food.
• The unexpanded leaves and young shoots are consumed in Sulawesi, either boiled or raw.
• The rhizomes are added to salad or pickled in vinegar or salt.
• The unripe seeds are eaten raw, boiled or roasted, while the ripe seeds are boiled or roasted.
• The seeds are added in food dishes, soups, sweetmeat, pastries, cakes and desserts.
• The young rhizomes are consumed raw as salads in Thailand.
• In Japan, China and Malaysia, the rhizomes (matured) are consumed stir-fried, deep fried and stuffed.
• The rhizome of Lotus is common in Japanese bento food and nimono.
• The rhizome pieces (dried) are consumed by frying as chips.
• In India, the flower stamens are infused with water in order to add fragrant to the tea.
• The fresh petals of Lotus are also consumed.
• Young tender leaves are cooked and consumed in Thailand with savoury sauce and the petals are used to garnish.
• In China, dried leaves are used to make herbal tea.
• In China, the leaves of Lotus are used as wrapper for tamale which is a special Chinese pastry found in China.
• The leaves are used to wrap rice preparations.
• In India, the young leaf stalks, leaves and flowers are consumed as vegetable.

Medicinal Uses :

• The dried mature seeds are used as tonic or sedative.
• The embryos (dried) are used as sedative and haemostatic.
• The dry stamens are used as an astringent.
• The dry leaves are used as hemostatic.
• In Japan and China, the leaf is used to treat summer heat syndrome.
• In traditional Chinese drug, embryo is used to cure insomnia, overcome nervous disorders and cardiovascular diseases.
• In traditional Chinese medicine, the leaves are used as a treatment for haematemesis, haemoptysis, epistaxis, metrorrhagia and haematuria.
• Roots are used in traditional Korean medicine as antiproliferative and antidiabetic remedy.
• Seeds are used to treat cancer, tissue inflammation, leprosy and skin diseases on folk medicines. It is also used as antiemetic, cooling agent and poison antidote.
• The seeds and fruits are used to treat hyperdipsia, halitosis, dermatopathy, menorrhagia, fever and leprosy.
• The rhizomes are used to treat pharyngopathy, spermatorrhoea, pectoralgia, small pox, leucoderma, dysentery, diarrhea and cough.
• In Ayurvedic medicine, the stem is used to treat strangury, leprosy, vomiting, nervous exhaustion and skin diseases.
• In traditional Chinese herbal medicine, seed is used as an antiobesity therapy.
• Leaves possess astringent and diuretic properties which are helpful in curing sweating, fever and strangury.
• In Malayan medicine, Lotus is used as a tonic for fever.
• In Java, Lotus is used as an astringent and to treat vomiting and diarrhea.
• In China, Lotus is used in facial cosmetic.
• In India and Indonesia, the juice extracted from the peduncles and petioles are used to treat diarrhea.
• The seeds are used in Vietnam as a cure for dysentery, leucorrhoea, spermatorrhoea, insomnia, palpitation, anorexia and general debility.
• The leaves are used to treat bloody stools, gingival, haematuria and subcutaneous haemorrhage.
• The stamens are helpful for metrorrhagia, spermotorrhoea, haemoptysis and insomnia.
• The whole plant of Lotus is used as an antidote for mushroom poisoning.