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Nelumbo folium, Lotus Leaf, He Ye 荷叶

He Ye (TCM)
Descourtilz, M.E., Flore médicale des Antilles, vol. 8 (1829)

Botanical name:
Nelumbo nucifera

Parts used:
Leaf, fresh or dried

Temperature & Taste:
Neutral (slightly Cool), Bitter, slightly Sweet

Uses:
1. Clears Heat:
-Fever, Irritability, Excess Sweating
-Restlessness, Irritation (Da Ming)
-Thirst due to Fever
-especially for 'Summer-heat'; acute Heat disorders in Summer

2. Raises the Yang, Stops Leakage:
-Diarrhea from Spleen deficiency
-also used for Obesity

3. Stops Bleeding:
-Bleeding from the lower body from Heat
-Vomiting Blood
-abnormal Uterine Bleeding from Blood heat (Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
-the carbonised leaf is especially used for Bleeding, especially for Blood in the stool or Uterine Bleeding
-Fresh leaf can be used for Bleeding from the Lungs

4. Moves the Blood, Clears Stasis.
-traditionally also viewed as resolving Blood Stasis.
-"good for relieving abdominal pain due to blood distention" (Chen Cang Qi)
-"promotes dispersion of placenta after delivery" (Chen Cang Qi)
-Blood stasis following Birth and Blood Stasis from Trauma (Li Shi Zhen)


Dose:
1. Fresh leaf is stronger for clearing Heat, especially during the Summer. It's also best for Bleeding from Heat in the Blood.
2. Carbonised leaf is used to stop Bleeding.
3. Taken with wine or decocted in wine to move the Blood.
Decoction of the Dried Leaf: 3–9 grams;
Decoction of the Fresh leaf: 15–30 grams
Carbonised Leaf in Decoction: 3–6 grams

Preparation:
1. According to some traditional texts, the leaf should be stir-fried when used medicinally. (Da Ming)
2. The leaf is carbonised to enhance the Hemostatic effect.

Substitutes:
Lotus and Water Lily are very similar in use. In general the corresponding part of each plant can be used as a substitute. 

Main Combinations:
1. Summer-heat disorders:
i. Lotus leaf with Lonicera Jin Yin Hua,
ii. Lotus leaf with Magnolia bark (Hou Po), Watermelon seed (Xi Gua)
2. Bleeding from Heat, Lotus leaf with Madder (Qian Cao Gen), Crisium Xiao Ji, Rhubarb (Da Huang), all partially charred (as in Shi Hui San [Ten Partially-Charred Substances Powder])
3. Obesity, Lotus leaf with Job's Tears (Yi Yi Ren) decocted as a tea

Cautions:
Generally Safe.
1. Not used in Cold-type Bleeding.

Main Preparations used: