The Effects of Lotus Seed Hearts That Few People Expect

Lotus seeds are renowned in Traditional Chinese Medicine for their numerous health benefits. So, what are the effects of lotus seeds?

What are Lotus Seeds?

Lotus seeds, also known as lotus hearts or “lian xin,” are scientifically referred to as Embryo Nelumbinis. They are the green germ found within the lotus seed. The most notable effects of lotus seeds include calming the mind and clearing heat.

The lotus is a flowering aquatic plant with a cylindrical rhizome that grows deep into the mud, known as lotus stems. The lotus leaves are round, approximately 60 cm in diameter, with a deep center and long stalks that rise above the water’s surface. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the leaves are called “lian ye” and are used for medicinal purposes.

Lotus flowers have many overlapping petals, which can be white or pink. When they first bloom, the petals close around the flower bud, then open wide. The fruit contains numerous seeds known as “lian ru.” The outer layer of the lotus seed is covered in a smooth green shell, while the inner seed is white and divided into two parts, revealing the germ known as the lotus heart.

Traditional healer Bui Hong Minh, president of the Ba Dinh Traditional Medicine Association, shares: “Lotus seeds are bitter, cooling, and enter the heart meridian, providing functions to clear heart heat, calm the spirit, induce sleep, and lower blood pressure. They help clear heat and are used for conditions of internal heat, anxiety, insomnia, and hypertension.”

Lotus seeds are the green germ inside the lotus seed.

Lotus seeds are believed to contain various compounds, including: Neferin, lotusin, nuxiferin, pronuxiferin, methylcoripalin, demetulcoclaurin, alkaloids, flavonoids, and amino acids.

Benefits of Lotus Seeds

If you purchase whole lotus stems or seeds to extract the germ, you should keep the seeds for cooking. The benefits of lotus seeds are numerous, including:

• Nourishing pregnant women and fetuses.
• Improving skin health.
• Relieving headaches.
• Treating anemia.
• Managing diarrhea.
• Providing anti-aging effects.

Uses of Lotus Seeds

1. Lotus Seeds Help Calm the Mind and Treat Insomnia

Lotus seeds are known as a remedy for chronic insomnia, especially suitable for older adults. They contain chemical components that have calming effects and improve sleep, such as asparagin and alkaloids like nelumbin, nuciferin, and liensini.

It is advisable to use a low dosage (around 5-10g) and combine lotus seeds with other herbs like honey, goji berries, or chrysanthemum flowers to make a calming tea. It is recommended to drink no more than 2 cups of lotus tea daily to protect health. Note: Do not drink tea on an empty stomach.

To use lotus seeds for insomnia, it is best to consume lotus seed tea 1-2 hours after dinner. This timing helps relax the mind and allows the body to absorb the benefits more easily.

2. Supports Blood Pressure and Stabilizes Heart Rhythm

Scientific studies indicate that lotus seeds are effective in reducing blood pressure and stabilizing heart rhythm. Individuals with hypertension and rapid heartbeats can use lotus seeds as a tea effectively.

Lotus seeds are known as a remedy for chronic insomnia.

3. Lotus Seeds Help Clear Heat and Detoxify

Lotus seeds help clear heat and detoxify the body. Additionally, individuals prone to boils, itching, or rashes will find regular use of lotus seeds very effective. Due to this property, lotus seeds are also excellent for alleviating hangovers.

To achieve effectiveness, combine this herbal remedy with licorice, steep in boiling water, and drink like tea about 15 minutes after meals.

4. Lotus Seeds Aid in Treating Urinary Retention

Thanks to their cooling and calming properties, lotus seeds help treat internal heat that leads to urinary retention. They can be steeped in hot water and consumed like tea.

5. Lotus Seeds Treat Diabetes

Research results have demonstrated that isolating α-glucosidase inhibitors from herbs such as green tea leaves, olive leaves, and others shows promise. The alkaloid activity found in lotus leaves and lotus seed tea has been shown to inhibit α-glucosidase in vitro. Therefore, lotus leaves and lotus seed tea are expected to be effective in preventing post-meal glucose spikes.

Scientific studies on the composition of lotus seed tea also reveal that it contains polysaccharides and alkaloids, which help control glucose absorption, regenerate insulin hormones, and regulate lipid levels in the blood effectively.

Patients can brew 12g of lotus seeds to drink every morning and evening.

6. Lotus Seeds Treat Hypertension

Most patients suffering from hypertension should use lotus seed tea to stabilize their blood pressure. Modern medical research shows that drinking lotus seed tea acts on blood vessel walls. This mechanism helps relax smooth muscle in the vessel walls, reducing resistance in blood vessels, improving blood circulation in the coronary arteries, alleviating chest pain, and calming the mind, thus stabilizing blood pressure and preventing arrhythmias effectively.

7. Weight Loss with Lotus Seeds

Many women wonder whether drinking lotus seeds can help with weight loss. The components within lotus seeds contain alkaloids that support and maintain sleep at appropriate doses. A good, deep sleep is essential for the functioning of bodily organs, helping to combat weight gain. When you experience insomnia, it may lead to late-night snacking or the need to supplement nutrition to recover energy, making it easier to become obese.

Furthermore, lotus seeds help detoxify and purify the body, increasing digestive activity, thus simplifying and facilitating nutrient absorption and metabolism.

In fact, it has been proven that when used in the correct dosage and manner, lotus seeds can aid in weight loss for those with high cholesterol or obesity.

Lotus seeds help detoxify and purify the body, increasing digestive activity.

8. Improves Skin Health

Due to the high antioxidant content in lotus seeds, they help prevent damage from free radicals and support skin health improvement.

Additionally, lotus seeds contribute to reducing acne, improving dull and oily skin.

9. Supports Anti-Depression

Lotus seeds also contain isoliensinine and liensinine, which have calming effects, helping users feel relaxed, reducing stress, and supporting the prevention of depression.

How to Use Lotus Seeds Properly?

While considered a benign herbal remedy with many wonderful benefits, to achieve the highest efficacy, you need to use lotus seeds correctly.

To select quality lotus seeds, you should choose mature lotus seeds. After that, remove the outer silk layer, soak them in water, and extract the lotus germ.

Once harvested, lotus seeds should be roasted to eliminate toxins.

You should begin using lotus seeds with the smallest dosage, gradually increasing it. During use, if you notice symptoms like anxiety or rapid heartbeats from the dosage, you should reduce the amount.

Note that lotus seeds should only be used for about one month, followed by a break of approximately one month before resuming use. Continuous use for several months can lead to toxin accumulation, which may harm health.

If using lotus seeds to treat insomnia, to achieve the best results, it is essential to combine them with a reasonable work, lifestyle, and rest regime to aid the restoration of sleep regulation and ensure that insomnia does not recur.

Precautions When Using Lotus Seeds

When using lotus seeds, it is vital to be cautious, as not adhering to the recommended dosage can lead to unfortunate consequences. Overuse of any substance is detrimental, especially since lotus seeds have strong pharmacological effects. The safe daily dosage is no more than 20g of lotus seeds.

Some individuals should refrain from using lotus seeds indiscriminately:

• Individuals with Cardiac Issues: The alkaloid content in lotus seeds is very high, which has strong pharmacological effects and impacts mental health. Therefore, dosage is crucial, and it should not be used for an extended period.
• Individuals with Yin Deficiency: Those suffering from Yin deficiency should avoid consumption, even though it may allow for sleep initially. This is because shortly after, one may experience fatigue, memory loss, irregular heartbeat, and arterial blockage. Women may also encounter menstrual disorders.
• Individuals with Physiological Problems: Long-term use of lotus seeds can affect physiological functions, most notably leading to a decrease in sexual desire.
• Individuals with Digestive Issues: Improper use or overdosing on lotus seeds can cause bloating, indigestion, and constipation. Due to their high vitamin and mineral content, consuming them while experiencing digestive disturbances can lead to more challenging absorption for the body.