Latin:
Nelumbo
nucifera
Gaertn.
Family:
Nympheaeceae
Vernacular
names:
Sanskrit -
Kamala -
Svetakamala
- Pankaj;
Hindi -
Kanwal;
English -
Sacred
lotus; Unani
- Kanwala;
Malayalam -
Tamara;
Tamil -
Tamarai;
French -
Nelumbo;
German -
Indische
Lotosblume;
Persian -
Nilufer
Part Used:
leaves,
root,
flowers,
seeds
Ayurvedic
Energetics:Rasa:
sweet,
bitter,
astringent
Veerya:
cooling
Veerya:
cooling
Vipaka:
sweetGunas:
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
Formulations
and
Dosage:seed
powder : 5-8
g bidroot
powder : 5-8
g bid