The efficacy and function of lotus leaf pedicel

Chinese medicinal materials are very common, and there are many types of them. There are also some differences in their efficacy. Therefore, before choosing, you need to have a good understanding of them. Do you know about the medicinal material lotus leaf bud?

[Other names] Lotus nose (Compendium of Materia Medica), lotus pedicel (Records of Medicinal Herbs in Lingnan).

[Source] It is the leaf base of the lotus plant of the Nymphaeaceae family. Collect lotus leaves from July to September, cut off the leaf base and part of the leaves around the petiole, and dry them in the sun or use them fresh.

[Habitat distribution] It is produced in most parts of the country, mainly in Jiangsu.

[Properties] The dried leaf stalks are usually cut into circular or diamond shapes, with a diameter of about 6 to 7 cm. The front side is purple-brown or green-yellow, with a slightly waxy powdery frost, and the veins are slightly concave, radiating outward from the center; the back side is yellow-brown, with a remnant of the petiole base in the center, and the veins are protruding. The texture is light and crisp. The taste is bitter. The best leaves are those that are thick, dry, light green and not broken.

[Chemical composition] Lotus leaf stalk contains nelumboline, pronelumboline and nelumboline.

[Pharmacological action] Toxic doses of nelumbosyl can cause convulsions in frogs, mice, rabbits and dogs (similar to strychnine). Intravenous injection of 5-7 mg/kg into anesthetized dogs can reduce blood pressure by 30-50 mmHg for 20-30 minutes. Larger doses can cause paroxysmal convulsions without reducing blood pressure. Small doses can stimulate breathing. A concentration of 0.001 can stop the beating of isolated frog hearts. The median lethal dose (mg/kg) is: intravenous injection in rabbits - 26.4; subcutaneous injection in mice - 79.4, intravenous injection - 38.2; lymph sac injection in frogs - 113.8; phenobarbital and chloral hydrate have the effect of counteracting its death or convulsion. Its methyl hydroxide has a curare-like effect, but its toxicity to warm-blooded animals is 1.6 to 5.6 times greater than that of nepenthesine, while its toxicity to cold-blooded animals is less.

【Properties and flavors】 ① "Supplement to Compendium of Materia Medica": "bitter, flat, non-toxic."

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and dampness, harmonizes blood and stabilizes pregnancy. Treat bloody dysentery, diarrhea, pregnancy and fetal movement disorder.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 1.5 to 3 qian; or made into pills or powder. For external use: decoct in water and wash.

[Additional prescription] ① To treat bloody dysentery: boil lotus leaf stems in water and drink the resulting solution. (Puji Fang)

【Discussions by various scholars】 ① "Ben Jing Feng Yuan": "For spleen and stomach medicine, only the lotus leaf stalk is used, because its rich taste is better than other parts."

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

【Source】 From "Supplement to Compendium of Materia Medica"

Through the above introduction, everyone has a good understanding of the Chinese medicine lotus leaf stalk, which has a very good effect in treating diseases. However, it should be noted that when using lotus leaf stalk, some methods and techniques should be mastered for healthy and scientific consumption.