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Lotus seed and leaf, Nelumbo nucifera. Botanical plate: Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.ART.696 - Nelumbo nucifera - Yūshi Ishizaki - Cock Bl
Plate: Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.ART.696 - Nelumbo nucifera - Yūshi Ishizaki - Cock Bl. Ishizaki Yūshi. Public domain.

Lotus seed and leaf

Nelumbo nucifera · 莲子

Seeds & Grains. Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda.

Also called Lian zi, He ye, Sacred lotus

Pinyin: Lián Zǐ

Spanish: Loto

Sanskrit: पद्म (Padma)

The seeds and leaves of the sacred lotus, eaten as food and used in Chinese medicine to calm the heart and stop loose stools.

Did you know? A study found that lotus seeds about 1,300 years old could still sprout, which shows how long they can stay alive.

What it may help, and how strong the proof is

  • Sleep. Used in calming formulas for restless sleep. Human trials are lacking.
    Traditional proof
  • Digestion & gut health. Used for loose stools and watery diarrhea in tradition. Human trials are few.
    Traditional proof
  • Weight. Lotus leaf tea is sold for weight loss. Most evidence is from animal and lab studies, and human proof is limited.
    Traditional proof

Parts of the body

Brain & mind, Gut & intestines, Stomach, Energy & metabolism

Traditional use

Chinese medicine uses lian zi to calm the heart and stop loose stools, and he ye to clear summer heat and stop bleeding. Ayurveda also uses the lotus, called padma, in its herbal tradition.

How it is classified

Herbal actions
Astringent, Tonic, Nervine. Energy: neutral.
Chinese medicine
莲子 Astringe & stabilize. Nature: neutral. Flavour: sweet, astringent. Enters the Spleen, Kidney and Heart channels.

How people take it

Seeds are eaten in soups, desserts, and congee. Decoctions use about 9 to 15 grams. Leaf is brewed as tea.

Food, decoction, tea and powder.

Where to get it

Grown in ponds and water gardens across Asia. Sold as dried seeds, often peeled, dried leaf, teas, and patent medicines. Fresh seeds are sold in Asian markets.

Be careful

Generally safe as food. Large medicinal amounts are not well studied in pregnancy. Lotus seed is starchy and can be binding in large amounts, so people who are constipated should start small.

Avoid if: pregnancy.

Mixing with other things

  • Works well together

    Paired with lotus seed in Shen Ling Bai Zhu San to calm loose stools.

  • Works well together

    Paired with Chinese yam in Shen Ling Bai Zhu San to strengthen digestion.

The honest take

Lotus seeds are a common food with a long history in Chinese medicine. Human proof for sleep and weight claims is thin. Lotus leaf weight-loss claims come mostly from animal studies and marketing.