Lotus seeds, called lian zi in Chinese, can be used in food as well as purely for medicine. This Chinese herb is used mainly for the spleen, heart and kidneys, but also possesses calming qualities.
History
The lotus flower originated in India, but was taken to China, as well as to other parts of the world, 2,000 years ago. Now it is grown on a large scale in China, with the majority of the seeds coming out of the south.
Food
Lotus seeds are used in many Chinese soups and desserts. They are sweet-tasting and are a good source of protein.
Benefits and Contraindications
One of the medicinal benefits of lotus seeds is stopping chronic diarrhea, according to Mike Adams, creator of NaturalNews.com and HerbReference.com. Subhuti Dharmananda, director of the Institute for Traditional Medicine in Portland, Oregon, says the seeds "alleviate restlessness, palpitations, and insomnia."
Warning
Because lotus seeds have antidiarrheal properties, people with indigestion or constipation should avoid them.
Fun Fact
Lotus seeds are also eaten in the southern United States, called by the Cajun population "graine a voler," which in French means "flying seed." The name stems from the phenomenon that the seeds can actually pop out of the pods on their own as the pods dry.
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