Lotus Leaf Profile
Also known as- Nelumbo nucifera, Sacred Lotus, Red Lotus, Indian Lotus, Bean of India, Sacred Water-lily, Egyptian Bean, Padma, Pankaja, and Kamala.
Introduction
The lotus is the national flower of India, and is found growing wild throughout Asia and Australia, but is nearly extinct in the wild in its native Africa. It is often depicted in religious motifs in Egypt and Eastern and middle Eastern cultures. The large leaves are often used as a wrap for food, and lotus leaf has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for centuries to help control bleeding. The lotus is one of the most celebrated and well-known of flowers, and has been part of the sacred folklore of India and Southern Asia for over 5,000 years. Every part of the plant is edible, from the root to the flower itself, and it is used in every type of dish from soup to dessert.
The lotus is symbolic of immortality and resurrection in Southern Asia, where the flowers often bloom from dried pond beds after a rain. The seeds of the lotus are among the longest lived seeds in the world, maintaining their viability for as long as 1300 years. This remarkable viability has led Western scientists to study the lotus' chemical composition in the hopes of understanding something about the aging process. This study has shown the presence of an enzyme that seems to repair proteins before it grows, which may hold the secret to its ability to germinate and bloom even after 1300 years.
Constituents
alkaloids (nuciferine), flavanoids, L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase
Parts Used
Leaf
Typical Preparations
The various parts of the lotus are prepared in many ways. Leaves are often used fresh to staunch bleeding and reduce fever as a poultice, and have been prepared in various ways to treat a wide variety of ills. These preparations include decoctions, alcohol extraction, boiling to paste and dried in tea.
Summary
Traditional medicine has used the lotus leaf, stamen, stem, flower and root to treat a wide variety of ills. Modern science has identified at least seven different chemical actions that support the traditional uses. The most potent of these are the astringent qualities and antibacterial action of the flowers and leaves. Lotus leaves also have an unusual quality that has been widely studied in Western science * the ability to remain dry in water. Among the conditions that the lotus leaf has been used to treat are piles, leprosy, parasites, fever, vomiting, infection, ringworm and sexually transmitted diseases.
Precautions
The lotus is widely consumed as a food throughout southern Asia. There are no cautions connected with its use.
