MALAYSIA 
SINGAPORE Semen Nelumbinis
荷花與蓮子
荷，屬於睡蓮科，是中國相當悠久古老的植物，古人稱盛開的荷花為芙蓉或芙藻，含苞待放的則稱為菡萏。詩人李白所寫的「清水出芙蓉」，就是指天然沒去雕飾的荷花。
一般人喜歡荷，因為她從上到下都有用處：荷花美麗可觀賞；荷葉可以為食物增添美味，例如荷葉杞子蒸水魚；莖部，即是蓮藕，清脆爽甜；當荷開花後結出的種子-蓮子，兩者用來入饌都鹹甜皆宜，廣受男女老少喜愛。
當然，除了美觀和美味，荷的藥用價值更受人稱許。無論是花蕊、蓮鬚、蓮蓬(成熟的花托)、荷葉、荷梗、藕節、蓮子，以至蓮子的青嫩胚芽心，全部都可以入藥。其中最為人熟識的應是蓮子。蓮子性味甘，澀，平，藥理作用清心益腎，固脾止瀉 ，有收斂，鎮靜和輕微的滋養作用。臨床應用於清心火而寧神，治腎陰不足而致的心腎不交，表現為精神煩躁，睡眠不寧，心悸，煩熱，口乾，尿赤，或有夢遺。蓮子有清心火(清熱鎮靜)功用，輕症可配百合，生薏米，沙參，以水煎服即可。
使用注意：有實熱積滯和大便秘結者慎用蓮子。
余大夫 (資料由余仁生中醫師提供)
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