Sacred Lotus Leaf
Ayurvedic Energetics:
Rasa: sweet, bitter, astringent
Veerya: cooling
Veerya: cooling
Vipaka: sweet
Gunas: light, unctuous, slimy
Doshas: KP- ; V+
Pharmacological Action: leaves: refrigerant, hemostatic ; root: demulcent; flowers: sedative, bitter, diuretic, astringent, hemostatic, refrigerant, cholagogic and expectorant; seeds: demulcent
Clinical Research: The presence of various alkaloids have been reported from the entire plant including nuciferine, neferine, lotusine, and isoliensinine. The ether extract of the petals and stamens yielded quercitin; the aqueous extract of the leaves yielded flavonoids, quercitin, isoquercitrin and leukodelphinidin. The seeds contain between 2-3% oil comprised of myristic, palmatic, oleic, and linoleic acid. The alcoholic root extract have shown CNS-depressant and diuretic activity in rodents.
Traditional Uses: The leaves are boiled with Mimosa pudica (Lajjaalu) in goat's milk to treat diarrhea ; the leaf paste is applied to the body in fever and inflammatory skin conditions; young leaves are taken with sugar to treat rectal prolapse . The stamens are mixed with ghee and jaggery and used in treating hemorrhoids. The leaves and flowers are both useful in many varieties of raktapitta, or bleeding disorders. The flowers are sometimes prescribed to promote conception. The petals alleviate thirst and inflammations. The seed powder mixed with honey is given in cough. The roots are said to be health for teeth. Taken with ghee, milk, and gold it is a general tonic said to promote strength, virility, and intellect.
Indications: bleeding disorders, menorrhagia, hemorrhoids
Health Benefits of Lotus
Various Lotus parts offers several health benefits. Lotus is a cooling, promoting complexion, sweet, and cure diseases of kapha, and pitta, such as burning sensation, and inflammatory skin conditions.
The stamens are used in flavoring the tea.
The seeds can be popped like popcorn, ground into powder, and eaten dry or used in bread making. The roasted seeds can be used as coffee substitute.
Tender rhizomes, stems, and leaves of lotus are edible, and its seeds are rich in protein as well as minerals. Lotus stem consists of 6, 2.4, 0.2 mg/100 g calcium, iron, and zinc respectively. Root is also a source of starch or arrowroot.
Lotus plants provide several bioactive ingredients like alkaloids, flavonoids, antioxidants, antisteroids, antipyretic, anticancerous, antiviral, and anti-obesity properties. They have antidiarrheal, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, hypoglycemic, immunomodulatory, psychopharmacological, antioxidant, aphrodisiac, lipolytic, antiviral, anticancer, and hepatoprotective activities.